Two Iowa Republican lawmakers say the effort to repeal and replace Obamacare is not over despite the failed attempt to push a bill through the U-S House. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he expects work to continue on the effort, even as the president moves to work on tax cuts. “I think what the White House is basically saying is that they’re going to work on something else to get passed first — but starting this very day there’s got to be work on health care reform — because you can’t just let Obamacare just fall of its own weight,” Grassley says.

First District Representative Rod Blum, a Republican, refused to vote for the bill in the House before it was pulled from a vote. Blum agrees with Grassley’s assessment. “The president is going to move on to other things, he wants speaker Ryan and the leadership in the House…to continue to work on this, continue to debate it, continue to research it, and once we come to an agreement, he’s more than likely to get behind what we agree to,” Blum says.

He says he expects another alternative to eventually be worked out. “It’s not dead, it’s not going away, we’re going to continue to work on it in the House,” Blum says. “And I’m convinced what we needed was more time.” Blum says he is optimistic that with more time they will come up with a proposal that will work.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County, Monday morning, arrested a man wanted on a warrant for 2nd Degree Theft. 33-year old James Dale Bascue, of Treynor, was taken into custody without incident at his residence in Treynor, and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports 30-year old Cory Laird, of Creston, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Laird was taken into custody on a Union County warrant on a charge of Failure to Appear for a Debtor’s Exam. He was later released from the Jail on a $475 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Area Emergency Management Directors remind residents that the National Weather Service will conduct a Tornado Drill on Wednesday, March 29th, between 10 and 11:00 a.m. The purpose of the drill is to ensure that Iowans can adequately receive a Tornado Warning.

The test warning will be sent through all communication channels normally used for severe weather dissemination. NOAA weather radios will sound an alert, outdoor warning sirens throughout the County will be activated and a mass message will be sent through the Cass County Emergency Notification System, reminding people of the drill and prompting them to take action.

Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator, says “This is an excellent opportunity for residents, businesses, and schools to review their tornado safety plans and practice their own procedures in the event of actual severe weather.”

To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, residents can go to the KJAN home page and click on the Cass County Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) link. Once on the link page, you can sign up by entering your cell phone, e-mail and/or pager number, city and zip code. There are also links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA).

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new survey suggests that farmland values in Iowa have inched upward in the past six months. A report from the Iowa Realtors Land Institute Chapter No. 2 says the farmland values climbed nearly 1 percent from September to March, hitting $6,545 an acre. The Des Moines Register reports that the increase was the first since September 2013.

The report says, however, that farmland values are still 2.8 percent lower for the past 12 months. The institute’s surveys suggest that the average value of Iowa’s farmland has dropped about 25 percent since March 2013. Iowa farmland values peaked in 2013 but have since fallen along with commodity prices.

The institute surveys about 135 agricultural real estate brokers, appraisers and other professionals.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest early this (Tuesday) morning, of 47-year old Teri Ann Nelson. Nelson, who’s from Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 1:20-a.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. She was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail. And, at around 1:50-p.m., Monday, Red Oak Police arrested 50-year old James Kent Otte, of Red Oak, on an active Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. Otte was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Monday evening, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year old Lorena Rene Jennings, of Shenandoah. Jennings was taken into custody at around 7:15-p.m. on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on a $2,000 bond.

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department report two arrests early this (Tuesday) morning. At around 12-a.m., Shenandoah Police conducted a traffic stop on Highway 59 at Nishna Road. Upon further investigation, 21-year old Dillon White-Vojchechoske, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension – a simple misdemeanor. White-Vojchecoske was transported to Page County Jail and held on $435 bond.

And, at around 1:40-a.m., Shenandoah Police stopped a vehicle in the 200 block of Willow Street. After an investigation, officers arrested 33-year old Ryan Woods, of Shenandoah, for Operating While Intoxicated (2nd offense) – an aggravated misdemeanor. Woods was able to post a $2,000 bond and was released, pending an initial court appearance.

The Iowa House has waded into the touchy topic of what some people do with racy digital images of their partner after a nasty break-up. The House has passed a bill that makes it a crime to post a sexually-graphic picture or video online or send it to someone else via text or email without the consent of the person pictured.

Representative Greg Heartsill, a Republican from Columbia, says current Iowa law offers no legal remedy to people who are the target of “revenge porn” and this bill would classify that kind of retaliation as criminal harassment. “The days of ripping up a photograph and destroying the negative to get rid of any unwanted images that you’re not particularly proud of — those days are over, ” Heartsill says. “With digital technology, all of these photo images and video images have an indefinite shelf-life.”

Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton, was the only “no” vote on the bill. She says bill backers have “good intentions.” “The way it’s currently written, I think that language probably does tread into the area of unconstitutionality,” Wolfe said. “But, I hope I’m wrong.”

The bill now must clear a committee in the state SENATE by Friday to remain eligible for consideration this year.

(Radio Iowa)