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Adoptive brother taking plea deal in Iowa girl’s death

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — The adoptive brother of a 16-year-old girl who died of malnutrition in her family home has reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Court records say a hearing is scheduled Friday for 22-year-old Justin Ray. The records don’t outline the deal or how he’ll plead. Ray’s previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of child endangerment and two of willful injury.

Police say he “drop-kicked” Sabrina Ray down basement stairs sometime between April 15 and May 1, leaving her unable to walk, talk, eat or drink normally. The girl’s body was found May 12 in the Perry home she shared with her adoptive parents, who have also been charged. The girl weighed just 56 pounds.

GOP women – including Ernst – frustrated by Trump’s approach to abuse charges

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prominent Republican women say they’re frustrated by President Donald Trump’s handling of abuse charges against men in the White House’s midst.

Trump has refused to personally voice support for the ex-wives of two former White House aides who say their husbands abused them. He tweeted over the weekend that men’s lives have been shattered by “mere” allegations.

Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia says it’s difficult being a Republican woman and having to “fight through” the administration’s muddled message to women. Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, from Red Oak, said on CNN that she’s “extremely disappointed in this situation. Abuse is never OK.”

Republicans have long struggled to attract female voters. The party is defending its House and Senate majorities in the midterm elections.

More info. released on Council Bluffs officer/suspect incident

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Council Bluffs Police have identified the Officer and suspect involved in an incident that took place early Tuesday morning, that resulted in the Officer being dragged by an SUV. During the course of the investigation the suspect was identified as 24-year old Cody Michael Doss, of Council Bluffs. Doss is a white male, 5-feet 10-inches tall, weighing 150-pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and a tattoo on his neck.

Cody Michael Doss

Warrants for his arrest have been issued on charges that include Assault on a Peace Officer, Eluding a Peace Officer and Interference with Official Acts. The officer, Anthony Friend, suffered a minor injury to his leg, which did not require immediate medical assistance. Officer Friend is back to full duty and is in good condition.

As of last report, authorities say Doss remains on the run, and his current location is unknown. Anyone with information on the location of Cody Michael Doss can call 911, the Criminal Investigations Division 712-328-4728 or crime stoppers 712-328-7867. Do not approach the man, as he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The incident involving Doss and Officer Friend began at around 12:08-a.m., Tuesday, when the Officer saw a man sitting in a car who was believed to have warrants. As the Officer approached the vehicle, which was parked in a convenience store parking lot in the 3000 block of Avenue G, he spoke with the male suspect (Doss) and ordered him out of the vehicle. When the suspect refused, the Officer began to open the vehicles’ door. As he did so, the suspect put the vehicle in reverse and sped backwards, trapping the Officer’s hand in the door.

The Officer was dragged about 20-to 30-feet before freeing himself. He was able to remain on his feet during the incident. The suspect took off in the black, early 2000’s model Chevy Tahoe, with Iowa license plate FEH-415.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 2/14/18

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:00 a.m. CST

COUNCIL BLUFFS/kjan — Council Bluffs Police have identified the Officer and suspect involved in an incident that took place early Tuesday morning, that resulted in the Officer being dragged by an SUV for about 30-feet.  During the course of the investigation the suspect was identified as 24-year old Cody Michael Doss, of Council Bluffs. Doss is a white male, 5-feet 10-inches tall, weighing 150-pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and a tattoo on his neck. Warrants for his arrest have been issued on charges that include Assault on a Peace Officer, Eluding a Peace Officer and Interference with Official Acts.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has ordered a prominent Iowa City landlord to pay $5.6 million to the widow of a maintenance worker who fell to his death. The Johnson County jury returned the verdict against Jeffrey Clark, the manager of Apartments Downtown, Inc. The case stems from the 2014 death of 40-year-old husband and father Bronson Ganka, a handyman for the apartments company.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man sought by the U.S. Army and others for years has been sentenced in an Iowa federal courtroom to three years in prison. Federal prosecutors say 57-year-old Daryl Grisby, of Dyersville, was sentenced Tuesday in Cedar Rapids after pleading guilty last September to aggravated identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number. He first went on the run in the 1980s after being court-martialed by the Army for assault.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials are warning the public to throw out any Fareway packaged chicken salad, because it could be contaminated with salmonella. The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals issued a joint statement Tuesday calling for the move. The agencies say the chicken salad sold at Fareway stores was produced and packaged by a third party for the store and has been connected to multiple cases of salmonella across the state.

Bill backer aims to crush the cars of men who pay for sex

News

February 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A retired state trooper who’s a legislator is calling for crushing the vehicles of men convicted of paying for sex and requiring law enforcement agencies to issue press releases to publicize prostitution ARRESTS. However, his bill failed to clear an initial hurdle in the House because, as written, the vehicles of ALL of those charged with prostitution would be seized — and that includes both people involved. Amy Campbell, a lobbyist for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, says the group is against the bill because some women might be further victimized if this becomes law.

“There are cases where there are young women who have been human trafficked that are involved in prostitution and we have some big concerns about that in this bill,” Campbell says. Stephanie Fawkes Lee of the Iowa Justice Reform Coalition says the family of someone merely accused of prostitution will become victims, too. “If it was a mistake, you’re talking about a spouse and children that will be affected by this,” she says. “…We’re also concerned about the forfeiture fine, that it’s excessive, when you’re talking about vehicles, semi-trucks.”

Lisa Davis Cook is a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice which represents the state’s legal community. “We do have a system of you’re innocent until you’re proven guilty and this is, right off the bat before there’s even a trial, you’re publishing the names of people and we have a real concern about people’s rights and what’s going to happen with this,” she says.

Representative Clel Baudler, a Republican from Greenfield, is the retired trooper who’s sponsoring the bill. He’s hoping to convince his colleagues to advance the bill this week. Baudler argues it’s most likely the man arrested for prostitution is the one who has a vehicle that can be seized. “I’m not putting down the woman. I’m putting down the John,” Baudler says. “You take the money away, and we won’t have as much human trafficking. That’s my opinion.”

Baudler says it’s common for law enforcement to seize a vehicle when they’re making a prostitution arrest. His bill calls for keeping that vehicle impounded and then having it crushed if the person pleads guilty or is convicted in a trial.

(Radio Iowa)

Key committee leader ‘putting the brakes’ on death penalty bill’s progress

News

February 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A bid to allow executions for convicted cop killers and those who kidnap, rape and murder children in Iowa has essentially been tabled for the year. Republican Brad Zaun, of Urbandale is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Zaun says he has just two days left to take action on policy bills in his committee — and death penalty legislation will NOT be on the agenda. “I’ve got a full plate and I’m trying to prioritize things and, right now, it’s not my priority,” Zaun says. “It’s my decision to do this.”

Zaun supports giving Iowa courts the option of a death sentence for those convicted of murdering a peace officer or a child who’d been kidnapped and raped. “I’m not a death penalty advocate, but in this very narrowly written bill, I would support that,” Zaun says. “…But as judiciary committee chair, I am putting the brakes on that bill.”

A more than hour-long hearing on the proposal on Monday afternoon sparked a mini-debate among a few senators. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, took issue with many of those who testified against capital punishment. “I look forward to the day when unborn babies are defended with the same volume and strenuous defense as a baby rapist…or cop killer,” Schultz said.

Democrat Tony Bisignano, of Des Moines, was in the state senate in the 1990s when a death penalty bill was soundly defeated. “It does grab us internally to say: ‘We want revenge. This makes me sick!'” Bisignano said Monday. “And then we stop and think: ‘Are we the judge?’ There is only one judge and I’ll leave it to him.”

Earlier this month, a bill that would have allowed a death sentence for first degree murder convictions stalled in the Iowa House. A death penalty supporter in the House or Senate could try to tack the issue onto another bill, but the rules for legislative debate make that a difficult, if not impossible task.

(Radio Iowa)

Public hearing to be held during Atlantic School Board meeting, 2/14

News

February 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A public hearing will be held Wednesday evening at the high school in Atlantic, with regard to a five-year extension of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) for the Atlantic Community School District. The District received $708,671 from the ISL last year. The hearing on its renewal takes place as part of the regularly scheduled Atlantic School Board meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m. in the High School Media Center.

The ISL, as allowed by Iowa Code, may be used for any general fund purpose. As proposed, the levy would be in effect from July 1st, 2019 for a period of five-years. The proposal states: “Additional funding for the ISP for a budget year will be determined annually by the Board of Directors [Board of Education], and will not exceed 10% of the total regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under [the Iowa Code] as a budget adjustment for the budget year. Moneys received by the District for the [ISP] may be used for any general fund purpose, but will not be subject to collective bargaining [pursuant to Iowa Code], and will not be used for employee pay or benefits.”

In addition, “The Instructional Support Levy will be funded by instructional state aid and a combination of instructional support property tax levied annually upon the taxable property within the District,” beginning with the collection of property taxes July 1st, 2019, “And an instructional support INCOME SURTAX imposed annually for each budget year,” not to exceed 20%, and to be determined annually by the Board for each budget year, to be imposed on the state individual income tax, effective Dec. 31st, 2019 and each year thereafter.

Following the Public Hearing on the ISL renewal, the School Board will decide on whether or not to take action on adopting a Resolution to continue the ISL for a period not to exceed five-years. In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on the resignations of: Ginger Bechtold, 6-12 Media Specialist/Teacher; Whitney Hoegh, 4th Grade Teacher; Virginia Jordan, 5th Grade Teacher, and Ben Winford, District Maintenance. They will also act on approving Contracts or Letters of Assignment for the following individuals: Ashley Bollinger, Washinton Level 3 Para; Tracy Purkapile, School Bus Monitor/Driver; Donna Green, Additional driving duties; Cassidy Coenen, and Rebecaa Drake, High School 1:1 Para’s; Kathy Wiebenga, Preschool Para; Martin McCreedy, Substitute Bus Driver, and Karen Vogl, Homebound Instructor.

Discussion items include Summer 2018 Capital Projects planning, which includes: The purchase of a propane bus; Committing $100,000 toward the future HVAC needs; replacing the high school 1:1 computer protective covers, replacement batteries for laptops and some refurbished laptops. (Est. total cost $37,000); Equipping 6th-through 8th grade students with Chromebooks ($145,000); replacement of the middle school bleachers (est. cost $108,000), and converting the high school gym lighting to LED by changing the fixtures, which result in saving of electricity.

And, the Board will act on a Resolution pertaining to improvements of the District’s Athletic Facilities, which calls for the current athletic fields at the Middle School to remain intact, with improvement being made to the current sites without the need to relocate. It also specifies the goals and commitments toward the project, the establishment of a timeline and deadlines within the timeline.

Plans call for historic hotel at Okoboji to be razed

News

February 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) — Plans by the new owners of an historic golf hotel on Okoboji Lake in northwestern Iowa call for the property’s buildings to be torn down to make way for private lakefront homes.

The Sioux City Journal says plans for The Inn at Okoboji were revealed Monday night at a City Council meeting. The plans would see demolition of all The Inn buildings begin next month. They also call for about 69 acres comprised of the golf course and farmland to be turned into green space and a park with paved trails that the owners would maintain.

Rapid City, South Dakota-based Whitecap LLC bought the property at auction in a $5.7 million deal that closed in December without identifying the corporation’s principals. San Francisco hedge fund manager William Duhamel and his wife, Katharine, were the only principals identified Monday night.

Iowa governor releases plan to cut $1.7B in state taxes

News

February 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has released a tax plan that her staff says would reduce individual income taxes in the state by $1.7 billion by 2023.

The Republican governor released a 107-page bill Tuesday. It’s unclear when it will move through the GOP-controlled Legislature, though House GOP lawmakers offered initial support.

The plan would lower tax rates over several years and reduce tax brackets from nine to eight. It would also phase out a system that has allowed Iowans to deduct what they pay in federal income taxes from state tax liability.

Reynolds’ staff says the cuts will be partially offset by expanding the state’s sales and use tax for some online sales and other changes. Preliminary data shows the state will need to address shortfalls in future years.

Democrats say they’re reviewing the bill, which comes amid ongoing budget constraints that have led to agency cuts.

Missing teen from Clarinda

News

February 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in locating a teen who’s believed to have run away from home and may be in the company of a person unknown. 15-year old Cheyenne Rose Fahey, of Clarinda, was last seen in the Shenandoah area. Authorities think she may have left the area.

Cheyenne Fahey

Cheyenne is a white female, five-feet three-inches tall. She weighs about 125-pounds, has light to medium brown hair and blue eyes. She was reported missing at around 5:20-p.m. Monday.

Anyone with information about Cheyenne’s where abouts is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193 or their local Law Enforcement agency.  She has been entered nationwide as a run-a way.