(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa is one step closer to acquisition of the Mercy Hospital in Iowa City after the approval of bylaws that allow Mercy’s medical staff to continue practicing after the merger. U-I Vice President of Medical Affairs, Denise Jamieson says the acquisition will be completed on January 31st. She says they have been working to bring Mercy staff on board and welcome them to the U-I Hospitals and Clinics family.

She says U-I personnel will be at Mercy Iowa City starting on January 30th to help in the transition. The Board of Regents approved the staff bylaws in a meeting Wednesday. The U-I’s bid of 28 million dollars for Mercy Iowa City was approved by the bankruptcy court in October.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A report of a possibly intoxicated driver in Red Oak, Wednesday, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police dispatched to the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, located 34-year-old Mark Robert Griger, of Red Oak. Upon further investigation, Griger was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill introduced in the Iowa House would require that students and teachers in Iowa public schools stand at attention and sing the National Anthem daily. Representative Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown, is one of the legislators assigned to review the bill and she asked everyone present to join her in singing the National Anthem.

Cahill says the Iowa Capitol’s a perfect place to sing the song, but patriotism comes from the heart and shouldn’t be forced. “Teachers have enough to do right now without adding another requirement to implement and then handle consequences if students don’t participate correctly,” Cahill said. If the bill as written becomes law, teachers and students who object to singing the National Anthem would be required to stay silent and stand while others sing.

The bill says students in every grade should be taught the words and history of the song and how to love, honor and respect the anthem. It also specifies at least one of the four verses of the song be sung every school day — and on patriotic occasions the entire song would be sung. Republican Representative Henry Stone of Forest City says backing the bill is a no brainer for him. “I support patriotism and anything we can do to advance that,” Stone says. “I look forward to moving this bill forward, having more conversations in committee and to see how that pans out.”

Stone retired after a 23 year career in the Air Force and is the third generation of his family to serve in the military. “I believe in this bill,” Stone says. “I believe it’s something that we can put back in our schools that has added value.” Republican Representative Phil Thompson of Boone also voted to send the bill to the House Education Committee. “Happy to advance any conversation promoting patriotism and civics in our schools,” Thompson says.

Dave Daughton is a lobbyist for the School Administrators of Iowa and Rural School Advocates of Iowa. He says the groups aren’t opposed to patriotism. “We think a lot of this is being taught in classrooms already,” Daughton says. “…We just don’t want to be mandated that all districts have to do it and do it in the same way.” Damian Thompson of Iowa Safe Schools says he’s not crazy about having people kneel or sit for the National Anthem. “I 100% respect their constitutional right to do so,” he said, “and by mandating that they stand, students’ First Amendment rights would be violated.”

The bill only applied to public schools in Iowa. Private schools would be exempt from classroom instruction on the National Anthem and singing the song daily.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – One person is dead and another was injured during a collision Wednesday afternoon, in Woodbury County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 40-year-old Melissa Thede, of Churdan, died in the crash that occurred at around 4:30-p.m.

Authorities say the State Patrol was in pursuit of a speeding 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Thede was driving, as the vehicle was entering the City limits in Sioux City. When the car continued driving erratically, and at high rate of speed, the Patrol terminated the pursuit.

At the intersection of Gordon Drive and Spalding Street, Thede’s car rear-ended a 2012 Dodge pickup driven by 29-year-old Hector Alvarez-Collazo, of Sioux City. The impact caused the Chrysler to roll-over before it struck a 2018 Ford SUV driven by 36-year-old Traci Kellen, of Sioux City.

Thede died at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt. Hector Alvarez-Collazo was wearing his seat belt. He was treated at St. Luke’s Hospital for minor injuries.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – [In an update to our earlier post] Authorities in Mills County, Wednesday, said that on Tuesday,  Deputies with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 40-mile marker northbound of I-29, for a vehicle in the median. Upon arrival 36 year old Daniel Ruiz-Montoya of Council Bluffs, was found to be walking on the side of the interstate.

Daniel Ruiz-Montoya (Mills Co. S/O photo)

During an alcohol investigation Montoya became combative and was subsequently arrested for Public Intoxication and Assault on persons in certain occupations. Montoya is currently being held on a $1,300.00 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued an extension of a proclamation to ease restrictions for transportation of and access to fuel used for heat. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through 11:59 p.m. on February 8, 2024.

The proclamation suspends the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code pertaining to hours of service for crews and drivers delivering propane, diesel, natural gas, and other fuels used for residential, agricultural, and commercial heating purposes.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, today (Wednesday), released a report on arrests that took place since the beginning of the month.

Most recently, on January 12th, Adams County Deputies arrested 57-year-old Kelley Malone, of Corning, for Driving While Suspended. Authorities issued Malone a summons to appear.

On the 5th of January, 36-year-old Daniel Reyes, of Lenox, was arrested in Adams County for Driving While Barred (Habitual Offender), and for having no SR-22 on file. Reyes’ bond was set at $2,000.

And, on New Year’s Day (January 1st), Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County arrested 42-year-old Ross Mendenhall, of Corning, for OWI and Interference with Official Acts. He was later released from the Adams County Jail, after posting a $1,300 cash-only bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – A car in the blind spot of a semi tractor-trailer was struck early this (Wednesday) afternoon in Creston, but there were no injuries. Creston Police say a 2022 Mack semi driven by 51-year-old Damon Terrell White, of Ottumwa, and a 2010 Lexus IS 250 driven by 35-year-old  Vidal Octavio Hernandez-Ortiz, of Leon, were traveling east on Highway 34 in Creston, near the intersection of Laurel Street, when White attempted to merge from the inside lane to the outside lane.

He didn’t see the car in his blind spot. The semi’s right front bumper clipped the rear driver’s side quarter panel of the Lexus, causing a total of $3,000 damage. Both vehicles were driven from the scene. The accident happened at around 1-p.m., Wednesday.

No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – Waverly is dissolving its Economic Development Commission after 15 years, and officials in the northeast Iowa city of ten-thousand are looking to residents for solutions. City Administrator James Bronner says most of the commission’s duties are already being done by existing city staff, but citizen input remains important. Bronner says the key to Waverly’s future growth will come from meeting directly with residents to hear voices that haven’t had representation on the eight-member panel.

Bronner says they need to talk with new segments of the population, because if everyone is of like mind, there will be poor representation. The city council is expected to dissolve the commission early next month.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue, Wednesday afternoon (today), updated an earlier statement issued by Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, with regard to a threat to the High School in Atlantic. In his report, Chief Hogue said “On the 24th day of January, 2024, the Atlantic Police Department received a report of a threat being made at the Atlantic High School.

“After investigating the incident, it was found that the threat was not credible and students and staff were not in immediate danger to attend school the following day. However, due to the seriousness of the threat and the disruption to the school and learning environment, a 14 -year-old juvenile was taken into custody and has been charged with Threats of Terrorism and transported to a juvenile detention center.

“The Atlantic Police Department worked alongside the Atlantic Community School District during the investigation and has made contact with the Iowa Governors School Safety Bureau in regards to the incident.

“No other details are being released at this time. If you have information regarding the incident, please call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.”

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.