(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests:

Daniel Jay Kitchens

On Jan. 1st, deputies arrested 65-year-old Daniel Jay Kitchens, of Thurman, for Burglary 3rd Degree and Violation of a No Contact Order. Kitchens was being held at the Fremont County Jail on a $10,000 cash/surety bond. Authorities say Kitchens was previously released on Dec. 7, 2023 after posting a $5,000 cash/surety bond on a charge of Extortion. He was also released Nov. 16, 2023, after posting an $18,000 cash bond for an incident involving the discharge of a firearm during an altercation.

Justin Kase Moore

On Tuesday, Jan. 2nd, 39-year-old Justin Kase Moore, of Council Bluffs, turned himself into the Fremont County Jail on an active warrant for Eluding. It is alleged that in July of 2023, Moore lead Fremont and Mills County Deputies in a pursuit while operating a motorcycle on Interstate 29. The pursuit was terminated upon entering Nebraska and a warrant was issued in the case. Moore was released after posting a $1,000 cash/surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says the 2024 Iowa legislature should focus on improving access to child care and affordable housing rather than another round of tax cuts. “What does an Iowa family of four who’s a middle class family just trying to make their way in the world, what does their budget look like on July 1 versus June 30 and what have we done in the legislature to address in a way that’s truly meaningful and not just headline grabbing?” Konfrst asks. The state income tax accounts for about 46 percent of current state revenue. Republicans are considering getting rid of the state’s personal income tax and Konfrst says that’s a non-starter with Democrats.

“What really lowers costs for families? The past tax cuts that Republicans have passed have really been great for special interests, for big corporations and for the richest Iowans,” Konfrst says. “500,000 Iowans haven’t seen a dime from the tax cuts, so if there are going to be tax cuts, we need to make sure they’re targeted at middle and lower income families.” Konfrst says the latest data shows Iowa will be short 25-thousand housing units by the end of the decade and it’s time for the state to be more creative in supporting affordable housing.

“What can we do in small communities to ensure that existing housing stock can be rehabilitated in a way that lets families move in and have starter homes in these communities? What can we do to provide incentives for (home) building?” Konfrst asks. She says Democrats also support zoning changes and incentives that would help convert vacant commercial space into housing.

The 2024 Iowa legislature convenes Monday.

(Radio Iowa) – A man was found dead following a fire at a rural Dallas County home Monday. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department reports getting a call about the fire in rural Dallas Center at 9:42 p-m Sunday. Deputies found the home engulfed in flames and a woman outside who told them her husband was still inside.

Firefighters located 80-year-old Dennis Felt dead inside the home. An autopsy is planned on his body. The Sheriff’s Department says the fire appears to be accidental.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports three recent arrests:

On New Year’s Day, 51-year-old Bret Samuelson, of Glenwood, was arrested on a warrant out of Colfax County, NE. No bond was set. And, 29-year-old Cierra Van Scyoc, of Glenwood,was arrested on a Mills County warrant. She posted bond, and was released.

On Saturday, 43-year-old Barbara Riley, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Barred. She posted bond, and was released.

And, the Glenwood Resource Center reported to police on Dec. 28th, an incident of vandalism.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), held their annual organizational meeting, in Greenfield. The Board re-elected Jerry Walker as Chair, and Nathan Baier as Vice-Chair.

In other business, the Board approved the appointments of Supervisors to various/numerous commissions, and Board Alternates. They also approved the appointments of: an ADA Coordinator; Condemnation Board Member(s); Conservation Board Member(s); Medical Examiner and Deputy Medical Examiners; an RC&D Committee Member, and Nathan Jensen as Weed Commissioner.

The Adair County Supervisors approved several matters pertaining to the County Engineer and Secondary Roads Department, including compensation for fences as follows: $55 for rods and $85 for posts. They passed a Bridge Ratings Resolution and Right-of-Way Contracts.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented also, his weekly report on Secondary Roads Department Maintenance and Activities.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) re-elected Steve Baier as “Permanent Chair,” and Mark O’Brien as “permanent Vice-Chair.”  And, voted to approve a motion by O’Brien, to change the dates of their regular meetings to bi-weekly (the first and third Tuesday of each month).

The schedule is subject to the discretion of the Board Chair and County Auditor Kathy Somers, and as needed. Previously, the Board held their meetings every Tuesday of the month. Somers said she doesn’t see a problem with changing the meeting schedule.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved the Atlantic News Telegraph, Anita Tribune and Griswold American, as the Official County Newspapers for publishing County meeting agenda, minutes and other business.

(Radio Iowa) – Wide areas of central and southern Iowa have had very little snowfall in recent months, not that many of us are complaining. The Des Moines International Airport reported just two-tenths of an inch of snow on December 26th, along with more than two inches in November, which melted quickly. Meteorologist Marvin Percha, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, admits it’s odd. “It’s certainly not normal,” Percha says, “but it’s certainly not unprecedented by any means in terms of snowfall to start the year.” The first day of winter was December 21st, though meteorological winter begins December 1st. Still, Percha checked the records from October 1st through January 1st and discovered, this is unusual, but not significant over the decades.

“In terms of the winter so far, it’s tied with 1931 for 23rd least amount of snow,” Percha says. “Apparently 1889, going into January 1st of 1890, had 0.3, so that was the lowest.” It’s out of the norm to have so much grass visible as we start the new year, following a Christmas that was not white, especially when compared to how much snowfall we’re used to having by now. “On the other hand, if you want to see, say, the highest amounts, there’s been as much as 33.9 inches in 1984 by this point,” Percha says, “so it’s certainly well below normal but not any sort of record.”

While there’s no precipitation expected for the region for almost a week, the long-range forecast says rain and snow are likely -next- Monday.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held their 2024 Organizational meeting this (Tuesday) morning, followed by their regular Tuesday session. During the organizational meeting, the Board elected to retain Mike Olson as Board Chair, and Charla Schmid as Vice-Chair. They also decided to continue holding their meetings every Tuesday at 8:30-a.m.  In other action, they designated the Red Oak Express as the Official County Newspaper. The Board opted not to include the Villisca Review as a secondary source for publication of County business. The Supervisors set the 2024 County Employee’s Holiday Schedule, and named Supervisors to serve on numerous committees.

During regular business following the reorganization, the board unanimously approved a new resolution for this year regarding bridge embargoes per Iowa Code. Chair Mike Olson said the move comes primarily to allow for enforcement of the weight limits on the county bridges put in place by the county engineer. Every bridge in Montgomery County is legally embargoed whether it’s 40 tons or below.  Per Iowa law, the embargoed bridge restrictions apply to any implements pulled by farm equipment such as grain carts and wagons, semi-trailers, and manure tanks. The limitations will remain in place until a county engineer certifies that said limitations have been resolved.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were arrested over the past few days on separate warrants. On Dec. 31st:

• 61-year-old John Micheal Hudson, of Hastings, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and on a warrant for Assault with Intent-Serious Injury. His bond was set at $3,000.
• 36-year-old Clayton Shane Gieck, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Bond set at $5,000.
• And, 46-year-old Rebeka Marie Cantu-Sosa, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Dec. 31st, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $25,000.

On Dec. 28th, 21-year-old Tabitha Marie Rae, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Mills County on a Pottawattamie County warrant for FTA on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine & Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

In other activity, Agri-Valley Farm Management, LLC, of Silver City, reported to the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, an incident of Theft in the 2nd Degree. The report was filed Dec. 27th.

Des Moines, Iowa (KCCI) — It’s a new year, and that means new laws are in effect across the country. In Iowa, among the laws that went into effect on January 1st:

House Files:

HF 655 includes miscellaneous changes to the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. According to the legislature, the “act rewrites almost every section” of the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. It was a bill for an act providing for business organizations, including limited liability companies, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions. It was formerly known as HSB 207. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on June 1.

HF 688 concerns “the state rulemaking process and related matters pertaining to agency functions.” It was formerly known as HSB 81. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Reynolds on May 3. Rulemaking procedures and related matters, known as division 1 in the piece of legislation, take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Senate Files:

SF 565 will implement changes surrounding taxation, specifically changes in the administration of tax law by the Department of Revenue. It relates to state and local finance and the administration of the tax and related laws by the Department of Revenue. It makes changes to the Iowa Educational Savings Plan and the First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program. It also has changes related to tax filing status and tax withholding. Come Jan. 1, taxpayers will be required to use the same filing status for Iowa individual income tax purposes as the taxpayer used for federal individual income tax purposes for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023. It was formerly known as SSB 1148. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Reynolds on June 1.

SF 496, which bans some books from school libraries and forbids teachers from raising LGBTQ+ issues, was supposed to take effect Jan. 1. But a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked key parts of the controversial education law. Judge Stephen Locher’s preliminary injunction halts enforcement of the law, which was set to take effect in the new year but already had resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from Iowa schools. The law, which the Republican-led Legislature and GOP Gov. Reynolds approved early in 2023, bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries and classrooms and forbids teachers from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through the sixth grade. Locher blocked enforcement of those two provisions.