(Radio Iowa) – The new Board of Regents Free Speech Committee met for the first time Wednesday on the heels of the governor signing a bill into law requiring free speech training at the three state universities. Regent and committee chair, Gretta Rouse of Emettsburg, made some comments as the meeting started. “As far as this committee goes, the most critical thing I want to emphasize is that free speech is a hallmark of our society — and in higher education, it is absolutely critical that we not only protect that right — but that we have it embedded in the education that the students receive,” Rouse says.

The new law came after lawsuits or concerns raised at the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa & Iowa State University. “Institutions of higher education must be places where the explanation of ideas is embraced as a core value,” Rouse says. “It has been said before — but I will say it again — the Regents absolutely support free speech and the formation of this committee is an example of how we take this issue very seriously.”

Rouse says the committee is charged with ensuring everyone’s free speech is allowed. “This group will continuously evaluate what our universities are doing to protect free speech, and we will continue to examine our policies, as well as continue to examine best practices from outside the regents system,” Rouse says. Regent staffer, Aimee Claeys, says the state law requires annual training. “The purpose of that is really to provide high-level training on the fundamentals of the First Amendment with a focus on freedom of expression,” Claeys says. “And to complement that training, the universities are committed to providing additional more in-depth training in targeted areas to target groups, such as training for administrators or faculty.”

The committee voted to explore hiring an outside company to develop a training program — as Claeys says that would likely be the best way to get the training started on the campuses this fall. She was asked if the training will be mandatory. “For this first year it would certainly be required, but at this point, we don’t anticipate there being any kind of student or employee penalty for not completing it,” she says. “We would instead use encouragement and reminders to reach full compliance.”

Claeys says they will review the compliance and take action if it is not up to the level they desire. The Free Speech Committee is also looking to develop a survey that could be used on all three campuses to gauge on-campus feelings about free speech.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says the state has made good progress on Covid vaccinations and she has no plan to offer the kind of incentives other states are trying — like college scholarships and lottery prizes — to encourage more people to get vaccinated. “I’m not going to do a lottery,” Reynolds says. “We’re still doing every thing we can. We are working with every venue we can.”

Reynolds points to pop-up clinics at farmers markets, Iowa Cubs baseball games and the Iowa Barnstormers indoor football games. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about six out of 10 adults in Iowa have had at least one Covid shot. Among Iowans 65 and older, the vaccination rate is 86 percent. “I am really happy with where we’re at,” Reynolds says. “If you go to the website and look at the states, we’re doing really well.”

Vermont has the nation’s highest percentage of its population fully vaccinated against Covid. Iowa ranks 19th, with nearly 44 percent of residents fully vaccinated.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s first female governor is ruling out a run for federal office and making it clear she’ll seek reelection in 2022. “I can say with great confidence I am not leaving Iowa,” Reynolds says.

Governor Kim Reynolds told reporters in Lake View yesterday (Wednesday) she has no intention of running for the U.S. Senate if Republican Senator Chuck Grassley decides not to run for reelection next year. In 2022, Reynolds will be running for reelection. “We’ll make a formal announcement later, but I’m not done with what I want to do. I’ve got some things I want to continue to work on,” Reynolds says. “I love this state…Our family’s here. I have 11 grandchildren here and so I want to stay in the state and you can work on policy and be effective in what you’re doing.”

Reynolds, a Republican, took over as governor four years ago when Terry Branstad resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to China. In 2018, she was elected to a full, four-year term. Several Democrats are considering a run for governor, including State Auditor Rob Sand who won his first statewide race in 2018.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds chose Black Hawk State Park in Lake View as the backdrop for a bill-signing ceremony to approve a budget that expands spending on the state park system by two-million dollars. The plan also includes about 42 million dollars for a variety of water quality initiatives. Reynolds notes the first bill she signed into law as governor back in 2018 set the framework for using a variety of funding sources to finance projects to clean-up Iowa lakes and waterways. “We’re still not where we need to be,” Reynolds says, “so we’ll continue to look for opportunities to expand it.”

Early last year, Reynolds proposed a plan to raise the state sales tax — use part of the extra tax revenue to finance water quality projects and the rest to offset deeper income tax cuts. Reynolds called it her “Invest in Iowa” plan, but she quickly tabled it when the pandemic hit and created economic uncertainty.

The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening, and approved a request from Wild Willy’s Fireworks owner Mark O’Brien, for a permit to hold a Community Fireworks Demonstration event on June 12th. The demonstration will last about 45-minutes or so, and is scheduled to take place between 8-p.m. and 10-p.m. The demonstration be held just east of the Atlantic Little League diamonds, across from the KJAN Studios on north Olive Street. It’s intended to be a family friendly event, with the possibility of food vendors on site.

The Atlantic City Council also approved an order for an application to close East 6th Street between Chestnut and Poplar, from 10-a.m. until 12:30-p.m. on June 13th, for the benefit of children during a church service.  In other business, the Council, Wednesday, set June 16th as the date for a Public Hearing on the passage of an Ordinance (#1009), that would amend the City’s Code of Ordinances by changing the method of election from plurality, to primary and if necessary, run-off elections.

John Lund says Atlantic currently has a “plurality-takes-all” system, where someone only needs to get the most votes on the first and only ballot, to win (see the chart below). Under the alternative, Primary System, a true majority, 50.01 (or, 50+1, if you will) is required to become Mayor, a member of the Council, and Park Board. Iowa allows for both types of elections.

Lund says the benefits of changing to a majority system, include: The winner of the final vote has a genuine mandate to lead the City by a majority of the voters, and can claim their leadership and priorities are what Atlantic wants. And, it prevents a scenario where the Mayor is the plurality winner, not because they are a respected individual in the community, but because they have a devoted base of support, and respected candidates divide the vote. In this scenario, according to Lund, someone could become Mayor for four-years that half of the citizens or even a super majority, activity opposes.

In related news, the Council, also set June 16th as the date for a public hearing on an ordinance amendment that would change the term for Park Board members from six-years to four-years, which the Park Board indicates a couple of years ago, they wish to see implemented.

The Council set the wages for 2021 Pool personnel, and, after reviewing the contract and bonds, approved the W. 22nd Street Sidewalk Project contract and bonds. The sidewalk/walking path project was awarded to Henningsen Construction during the Council’s meeting May 19th, and came in under budget, in the amount of $103,904.56.

In one of the final items of business, the Council passed a Resolution eliminating a requirement that City Employees and visitors to city buildings must wear face masks. Councilman Gerald Brink said “Get rid of those stupid things [meaning, masks],” and Mayor Dave Jones said “If you ain’t got your shots, get your shots. You know…stop playin’ stupid games, go get your shots. You know, we get everyone healthy and keep goin’ that way.”

The Mayor reminded citizens also, to keep their lawns mowed, and Councilman Casady reminded people yard sale signs are NOT to be posted on street sign posts, utility poles, or in the grassy in the area between a street and the sidewalk, known as the City’s right-of-way.

(Radio Iowa) – The former C-E-O of Make-A-Wish Iowa has pleaded guilty to embezzling from the charity. Forty-year-old Jennifer Woodley was arrested in late January. The Associated Press reports Woodley has entered a written guilty plea to two counts of first-degree theft and one count of fraudulent practices. She’ll be sentenced in July and the A-P reports prosecutors will recommend probation rather than prison, plus require some sort of restitution.

Woodley was accused of giving herself a 10-thousand dollar bonus and of using the Make-A-Wish foundation’s credit cards to make thousands of dollars worth of personal purchases. Woodley is the mother of four children. Two daughters have undergone brain surgery. One of them received a trip through Make-A-Wish Iowa before Woodley became the group’s C-E-O.

(Radio Iowa) – The Democratic leader in the Iowa House is stepping down and a new House Minority Leader will be chosen on June 14th. House Democrats elected State Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City as their leader after the 2018 election and then again after the 2020 election. In a written statement, Prichard said it has been a great honor to serve in the role for the last three years, but after conversations with his family, he’s decided to step aside and let his Democratic colleagues select a new leader.

Republicans hold a 59-seat majority in the Iowa House. Democrats occupy the remain 41 seats. Prichard, who was elected to a fifth term in the House in 2020, said he would serve out his current term, but Prichard did not indicate whether he will seek reelection in 2022. Prichard is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves and an attorney. He briefly ran for governor four years ago.

The Iowa Department on Aging is pleased to announce Angela Van Pelt as the new State Long Term Care Ombudsman.

As the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Van Pelt will lead a team of Local Long-Term Care Ombudsmen, Managed Care Ombudsmen, professional and support staff who advocate for the residents/tenants of Iowa’s nursing facilities, assisted living programs, long-term care facilities and elder group homes.

“Van Pelt’s experience within Iowa’s aging network, her collaborative leadership style and her passion for ensuring that all Iowans, especially our most vulnerable, deserve to live their lives in a safe and thriving environment will serve the office and Iowan’s well” said Linda Miller, Director of the Iowa Department on Aging. 

Van Pelt has a master’s degree Public Administration from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Upper Iowa University. Before joining the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Van Pelt was the Iowa Department on Aging’s Public Information Officer and Legislative Liaison. Van Pelt has an extensive background in program administration and policy including advocacy, legal and national policy research, public affairs and strategic communications experience within both public and private sectors.

Van Pelt will begin her position on June 11th, 2021.

ANAMOSA – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a correctional officer was assaulted by an inmate at approximately 9:09 a.m. today (Wednesday) at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Authorities say an inmate that was secured in restraints and being supervised by an officer became upset during a virtual disciplinary hearing with an administrative law judge. The inmate began acting out in a violent manner.

When the officer that was supervising the inmate tried to restrain him, the inmate became violent towards the officer. An additional officer arrived and assisted in restraining the inmate. In the process of subduing the inmate, the officer that was assisting in the restraint suffered an injury to his arm.

The officer that was injured in the incident was taken by department vehicle to the local hospital for evaluation, and was found to have suffered a soft tissue injury to his arm. The other officer involved was examined by facility medical staff and found to have not suffered injury. The inmate was evaluated and found to have not suffered injury.

The incident, the second to occur in a little over the past two months, remains under investigation. In March, registered nurse Lorena Schulte and correctional officer Robert McFarland died at the Anamosa State Penn, after they were beaten with a hammer by two inmates who were trying to escape.

The Harlan Police Department reports four arrests. On Tuesday, 32-year-old Michael Ryan Schoemann, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Pottawatomie County warrant. Schoemann was transported to the Shelby County Jail. On Monday, 43-year-old James Robert McIntyre, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. McIntyre was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

This past Sunday, 31-year-old Robert Erin Stephens IV, of Dunlap, was arrested following a traffic stop. Stephens was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

And, on May 28th, 22-year old Hannah Jean Hennick, of Williams, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Hennick was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while suspended.