(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Democrats are hosting their County Convention at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce meeting room on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10-a.m. until Noon. Registered Democrats residing in Cass County are invited to attend. Individuals eligible to vote may register as Democrats at the event. Youth age 13+ who will not be 18 by Election Day 2024 may participate as Youth Delegates and also have the opportunity to participate in the Youth District and State Conventions. Press and observers are welcome, as long as they do not
interrupt or interfere with the Convention.

At the county convention, Cass County Democrats will finalize their county platform, and elect delegates to represent the county at the Democrats’ district and state conventions, on
May 4 and June 15, respectively. Cass County’s delegates to the state and district conventions will represent Cass County in two areas: developing Iowa’s state democratic platform, and representing the county’s presidential candidate preferences.

A political platform is a set of goals, strategies, and principles designed to address current political issues. The Cass County Democrats began developing this year’s county platform during the caucuses held on January 15. Platform resolutions developed at the caucus covered topics including affordable childcare, food access, senior housing, gun control, reproductive freedom, environmental sustainability, and more. Delegates elected at the county convention will represent Cass County’s values and platform while assisting with the development of the Iowa Democrats’ state platform.

In addition to platform development, delegates to the state and district conventions also represent Cass County’s presidential candidate preferences. Starting this year, instead of selecting presidential candidates at the caucus, Iowa Democrats indicated their preferred presidential candidate via presidential preference cards sent through the mail. Presidential preference cards were mailed to those who requested them (via mail or internet form) by February 19, 2024. The cards were required to be returned by March 5, 2024. All 50 votes cast in Cass County were for President Biden.

For more information about the county convention or the Cass County Democrats, contact County Chair Denise O’Brien at 712-249-3197 or casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow
the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems.

(Radio Iowa) – A week-long, statewide traffic enforcement program will be launched this Wednesday as Iowans plan to celebrate the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. Brett Tjepkes, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, is reminding Iowans to take it easy on the green beer, lest they make a potentially-deadly mistake by getting behind the wheel. “St. Patrick’s Day is one of our nation’s most popular holidays. There’s a lot of festivals, parades, parties, and drinking alcohol comes with that,” Tjepkes says. “The amount of alcohol that’s consumed is higher than average around Patrick’s Day, so we’re just encouraging people to make good decisions and that includes to refrain from driving while intoxicated.”

Tjepkes says law enforcement officers across the state will be on the lookout for lawbreakers. “The Iowa State Patrol, sheriff’s departments, and police departments across Iowa are going to be looking for intoxicated drivers,” Tjepkes says. “We want people to make good decisions and we want them to have fun, but we don’t want that day of fun to turn into a tragic or devastating time by driving while intoxicated and injuring themselves or others.” If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, Tjepkes says to give the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. And if you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, he says to take away their keys and help them get home safely.

“Last March, there were 26 traffic fatalities on Iowa’s roads and almost 40% of those happened the week of St. Patrick’s Day. We know that there’s an increased amount of drinking, and drinking and driving,” Tjepkes says, “and so planning ahead, designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or an Uber or Lyft service would really be a good decision if somebody’s had too much to drink.”

Tjepkes says to be on watch for pedestrians, as an increase in alcohol consumption and pedestrian traffic can be a dangerous combination. If you’re on foot, he says, cross streets in well-lit areas and use the crosswalks.

(Radio Iowa) – The A-A-R-P Foundation is again providing free tax help. Foundation vice president, Mioshi Moses says it’s the largest volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program in the country. “We focus on helping older adults with low to moderate income, complete their tax returns and also secure tax refunds,” Moses says. She says they have several locations in Iowa.  “We provide service both in person and virtually so you can go to our website at AARP foundation.org/tax aid and find our site locator tool on our website where you can enter your zip code and you’ll be directed to the site nearest you,” she says.

Moses says they know that tax time can be stressful for many people. “Last year in Iowa, we serve more than nine-thousand people and we’re able to help secure more than eight million dollars in refunds for them,” Moses says. She says older Americans may see some changes when they file their returns. “For some taxpayers when they turn 65 they are eligible for an additional standard deduction,” she says. “They may find that they face a reduction in income or no longer qualify for other deductions.”

The A-A-R-P Foundation tax help will be available through April 15th.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously passed a bill that would require radon mitigation systems in newly constructed homes in Iowa. Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says radon is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the move could help reduce Iowa’s rising cancer rate. “Iowa’s cancer rate now ranks number two in the nation. It is the only state where the cancer rate is actually rising,” Wilz said.

“An estimated 1440 additional Iowans are diagnosed with cancer each year, not to mention radon is responsible for nearly 21,000 deaths in these United States and approximately 400 of those deaths happen in the state of Iowa.” Wilz says it’s far less expensive to install what are called passive radon control systems in a home as it’s built rather than putting one in an existing home.

“Iowa and North Dakota are the only states in the country in which every county is rated radon zone one — the highest risk,” Wilz says. “The EPA recommends that all homes built in zone one should be built with radon resistant features.” According to Wilz, good home builders are already meeting this requirement. “Basically this is a preventative method to help save lives,” Wilz says.

Representative Austin Baeth of Des Moines is a doctor of internal medicine. “Radon is responsible for about 400 cancer deaths in Iowa per year, more than car accidents,” Baeth says. “In fact, 70% of our homes have a radon level above EPA recommended levels, yet only have been checked for radon in the last decade.”

In 2022, lawmakers passed a requirement that schools do frequent and thorough testing of radon gas levels in all Iowa school buildings and develop radon reduction plans.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest Saturday afternoon, of a woman on an assault charge. Authorities say 38-year-old Sarah Shanelle Barnwell, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 3:50-p.m. in the 200 block of S. 1st Street, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – a Simple Misdemeanor. Barnwell was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – A man who drove to Arizona several times to mail fentanyl pills to his partner in Sioux City was convicted by a jury, after a five-day trial in federal court. Federal authorities say 33-year-old Aki Awou from Omaha, Nebraska was convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. According to authorities, on Feb. 21, 2024, before heading to trial, Awou’s partner-in-crime, and brother, 20-year-old Karem Bol of Sioux City entered a guilty plea to five counts:

• Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
• Two counts of possession with intent to distribute.
• Aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Possession of firearms by a drug user
• possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says evidence shows between January 2022 and May 2022, Awou traveled to the Phoenix, Arizona area where he would mail packages containing thousands of fentanyl pills to Bol’s address in Sioux City. The pills were disguised as oxycodone. The Omaha Police Department’s Gang of Intelligence Unit utilized a GPS tracker on Awou’s vehicle to pinpoint Awou’s travels and possible package locations which included addresses in Sioux City and post offices in Arizona. Authorities say postal inspectors were able to intercept a package and conduct a controlled delivery at one of the addresses located in Sioux City. Afterward, postal inspectors executed a search warrant, during which Bol was seen throwing firearms out a second-story bedroom window.

During the search, authorities identified a second location tied to both men and obtained a second search warrant for that residence. In the second location, authorities found additional illegal substances as well as documents identifying both Bol and Awou as residences of both Sioux City locations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the day after the search warrants took place, postal inspectors received notices of another package being delivered from Arizona to an address in Sioux City. The inspector was able to intercept the package before the delivery which revealed the package contained thousands of fentanyl pills.

The office says laboratory results revealed Awou’s fingerprints were present on three packages used as evidence and Bol’s palm print was located on the package used during the controlled delivery. The gathered evidence also identified Bol and Awou as known gang members. While awaiting sentencing, both men remain in the custody of the United States Marshal. Awou and Bol both face a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The Sioux City Police Department and the Omaha Police Department were assisted by:

• The United States Postal Inspector
• DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force
• Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department
• U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The safety of police officers will be addressed at the upcoming Sioux City city council meeting. KCAU reports Monday’s council meeting will have members of the Sioux City Police Department asking the city for its approval of a $40,375 purchase of 85 suppressors. Suppressors are attachments to firearms that significantly diminish the noise emitted when shooting off ammunition. Sergeant Todd Sassman said the department is getting serious about the hearing health of its officers.

“There’s been a lot of studies about hearing damage with officers and gunfire,” Sassman said, “repetitive shootings on the ranges or if there are shooting incidents out on the street that officers can severely damage their hearing.”

Right now, Sioux City police have about 10 suppressors attached to their rifles. But Sergeant Sassman said members of the department are showing signs of hearing loss. “Thankfully, we’ve never had an officer yet that has been in a shooting situation in a confined space where a firearm was discharged and they actually have a traumatic injury,” he said. “We’ve noticed over the years – I’m just shy of my 30th year, and we tend to, once we get up in that 20-30 year range, myself included, your hearing is definitely not as good as it was.”

Once the purchase is approved by the city, the Sioux City Police Department would have around 90 officers with suppressors attached to their rifles.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Villisca was arrested Friday night on active felony warrants for Felony Eluding, Driving while revoked, Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd Offense, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says42-year-old Anthony Thomas Germann was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and was being held on full bond.

WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) — Waterloo police say they have positively identified the remains found at the Waste Treatment Plant on Monday, KCRG reports. In an update on Friday, police said the remains were identified as Darrin Lenton, who had been reported missing on July 10, 2021, when he was 49.

Police said no foul play is suspected in this case, which remains under investigation.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a soybean by-product spill in a tributary of the Boyer River in Harrison County.

On March 8, the DNR Atlantic Field Office was notified about a transportation truck losing control spilling a feed additive called soybean soapstock. KSX Transportation LLC was carrying approximately 40,100 pounds of product when, due to icy road conditions, the truck rolled off the road and released an unknown amount of product.

Upon release, the product reached an unnamed tributary of the Boyer River. Clean-up efforts have begun. The tributary has been dammed. Booms have been placed approximately 250 feet downstream and a pumper truck is on-site removing the product from the tributary for proper disposal. The by-product did not reach the Boyer River.

No injuries were reported and no dead fish were observed. Water samples were collected. The investigation is ongoing.