Republicans in the Iowa Senate have sent the governor a bill that significantly changes Iowa’s workers compensation system, but not as dramatically as Republicans originally suggested in February. The bill no longer cuts off workers comp benefits at age 67. It does not reduce benefits for shoulder injuries as significantly as the bill’s original version did. Senator Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, calls those changes a start. “It makes a very dangerous bill better,” Boulton says. “It does not solve all the problems.”

Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says the bill is necessary because too many lawsuits are being filed and the 1913 law was designed to quickly determine benefits to injured workers and AVOID lawsuits. “I believe this bill returns the law to its intended balance, protecting employees and employers,” Breitbach says, “and ensuring everyone is paid in a timely manner while providing the intended predictability.”

According to Boulton, the end result still is a “wish list” from “corporations and insurance companies.” “It’s about preserving corporate profits at the expense of Iowa’s most vulnerable citizens,” Boulton said. “…I am floored by what this legislation seeks to do to working Iowans. It is unconscionable.” Breitbach shot back: “I think it should scare us the number of claims that attorneys have filed in the last month because they’re afraid we might change the law.”

Earlier this month, Governor Terry Branstad said he was “pleased” Republican legislators were preparing a workers comp system adjustment and he’s expected to sign the bill into law. Branstad has accused lawyers of “tilting” workers comp and making it more of a “long term disability” system rather than temporary financial help while a worker recovers from an injury.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge says Gov. Terry Branstad doesn’t have to testify under oath in a lawsuit filed by a fired Division of Criminal Investigation agent who blames Branstad for destroying his career. Judge William Kelly, a Branstad appointee, rejected Larry Hedlund’s request to depose Branstad in Hedlund’s wrongful termination lawsuit. Kelly ruled in favor of the Iowa attorney general’s office, which is representing Branstad and argued the governor was too busy to face a two-hour deposition.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel has approved a bill that would toughen Iowa’s regulations for texting and driving. A subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee unanimously agreed Monday to support the legislation. It’s now eligible for a full committee vote. The bill would allow a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver specifically for texting. It’s a secondary offense under current law, meaning an officer must have another reason to initiate a traffic stop.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has passed a bill that would ban local governments from increasing the minimum hourly wage, effectively cutting pay for some workers. The GOP-controlled Senate voted 29-21 Monday for the measure, which already passed in the Republican-majority House. The bill now heads to GOP Gov. Terry Branstad, who supports it.

HARLAN, Iowa (AP) — Remains of an Iowa soldier who died in the Korean War are being returned for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Monday that the remains of Army Sgt. Donald Noehren, of Harlan, Iowa, will be buried April 3. The agency says the 23-year-old Noehren was reported to have died at a prisoner camp on Jan. 22, 1951. DNA analysis of remains recovered in 2005 later helped confirm his identity.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board, Monday evening, received an update on several projects and proposals. Director Seth Staashelm said the Sunnyside Pool Steering Committee looked at several pool renovation and or construction concepts provided by Waters Edge Aquatic Design out of Lenexa, KS., and came to the conclusion a $4.5-million dollar pool renovation would be the best out of four plans presented by the company, using some elements of each plan.

The concept plan chosen by the Sunnyside Pool Steering Committee, will be available to the public for viewing later this week on the Parks and Rec website, and by other means. There will also be tri-fold handouts a traveling display with 3-D renderings of the pool layout and design. The information will be made available during local events such as Produce in the Park, AtlanticFest and other activities or events. The plan to be presented is by no means the final picture of what the pool will look like, at least this point in time.

A $3.7-million bond vote for the project isn’t likely to happen until July 2019. If a bond is approved, Staashelm says it would cost the taxpayers about 81-cents per $1,000 assessed residential property valuation and $1.30/$1,000 for commercial properties. If the bond is approved, construction on the project wouldn’t start until 2020.

Staashelm said his first priority right now is the Schildberg Recreation Area project, which is still in the running for an Enhance Iowa grant. He said there’s still a gap in local fundraising that must be met before he meets with the Enhance Iowa Board
He says they still need to raise $25,000.

He’s counting on larger, corporate donations and more private donations to help out. Staashelm says he’ll next meet with the Enhance Iowa Board April 5th. No (additional) work can begin on the project until the award is granted. All the campground pads are in and water/electrical hooks are installed as well for the pads. The campground will hopefully be open by Memorial Day, especially for construction workers involved in the Rec Area Project. A resident camper will oversee the grounds during the camping season.

On a side note, there will be a Healthy Cass County Walk from 11:30-a.m. to 1:30-p.m. April 6th, and an Earth Day event at the Schildberg Rec Area April 22 from 11-until 2. For more information call the Atlantic Parks and Rec Department or see their website.

The level of the Missouri River is rising, but it’s according to plan. Dave Becker, operations manager at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota, says more water is being released to prepare for the start of boating season downriver in a few days. “We started increasing our flows on March 19th to build up for those navigation flows,” Becker says. “We were at 17,000 (cubic feet per second) and we’re at 26,000 and working our way up to 28,000 and the plan is for us to keep it at that flow for a while to help support navigation.”

The barge season begins next weekend (April 1st) at the mouth of the Missouri, north of St. Louis. Becker says they will adjust the flows based on other incoming stream flow below the dam.”If there’s other streams that are providing a lot of water in the river like the James, the Big Sioux, any of those downstream, if they’re really supplementing some of that water for navigation, we might not need to do that so much,” Becker says. “That is a flexible thing.”

The river has risen about three feet at Sioux City and around four feet at Omaha. Both rises are well below flood stage. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported earlier this month it has more than 95-percent of the flood storage available behind the six, main stem dams.

(Radio Iowa)

Police officers from five towns and deputies from two county sheriff’s offices were involved in a three-hour standoff early this (Monday) morning in the northwest Iowa town of Ireton. The incident began as a car burglary, but soon escalated after the victims were looking around their vehicles and were confronted by a man who allegedly made threats with a shotgun. Within minutes, the Ireton home was surrounded by police.

Three people were arrested; a 32-year-old Ireton man, a 25-year- old man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a 16-year-old boy from Ireton. The juvenile is charged with burglary and theft, while the two men were arrested for possession of drugs and aggravated assault.

Hawarden Police News Release:
In the early morning hours of Monday, Hawarden Police Department responded to a confrontation in Ireton after a neighbor found two of their vehicles were broken into. Officers were called to 602 East Street in Ireton after the complainant discovered two of their vehicles had been broken into. As the victim was looking around their vehicles, one of the occupants came out of the residence of 602 East Street and confronted the victims. During the confrontation what looked to be a shotgun was displayed and a threat was made to shoot the victims of the car burglary. Officers responded to the scene within minutes.

Due to the nature of the call and a firearm being displayed, officers from the Hawarden Police Department, Sioux Center Police Department, Rock Valley Police Department, and Orange City Police Department secured the perimeter of the residence and called for assistance from the Plymouth County/Sioux County and Le Mars Special Response Team.

After approximately three hours, the standoff ended peacefully with the three residents inside the house being taken into custody. Arrested were 32 year old Vincent Gabriel Perez-Martinez of Ireton. Perez-Martinez was charged with possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 25 year old David Anthony Burton of Sioux Falls was charged with aggravated assault. A 16-year old male from Ireton was charged with two counts of burglary in the third degree and one count of theft in the third degree. Perez-Martinez and Burton are both in custody at the Sioux County Jail. The 16 year-old male is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Cherokee. Hawarden Police Department was assisted by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Le Mars Police Department, Rock Valley Police Department, Sioux Center Police Department, Orange City Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and the Ireton Ambulance and Rescue. The Plymouth/Sioux County Special Response Team is made up of officers of the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Le Mars Police Department.

(Radio Iowa)

The Harlan Police Department, Monday, released a lengthy report on arrests and incidents dating back to March 1st. Among the most notable arrests: On March 5th, 27-year old Jacob Larson, of Harlan, and 22-year old William Damon, of Earling, were arrested after Harlan Police were called to the 1000 block of Chatburn for an altercation outside that location. Larson was charged with assault on a peace officer, disorderly conduct, interference with official acts and public intoxication.  Damon was charged with disorderly conduct, interference with official acts, and public intoxication. Both men were brought to the Shelby County Jail.

On March 8th, 18-year old Elizabeth Stroud, of Defiance, was arrested after Harlan Police were called to Shopko for a possible shoplifter.  Stroud was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with Theft in the 5^th degree.

On March 16th, 50-year old Derrick Kaldenberg, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

On March 17th, 62-year old Leann Grieder, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Grieder was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts.  She was also cited for improper rear lamps.

On March 20th, 21-year old Raymond Powley, of Council Bluffs, and 18-year old Joslynn Johnston, of Harlan, were arrested following the execution of a search warrant.  Powley and Johnston were both transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, prohibited acts, failure to affix drug tax stamp, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and gathering where a controlled substance unlawfully used.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel has approved a bill that would toughen Iowa’s regulations for texting and driving. A subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee unanimously agreed Monday to support the legislation. It’s now eligible for a full committee vote.

The bill would allow a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver specifically for texting. It’s a secondary offense under current law, meaning an officer must have another reason to initiate a traffic stop.

The law now prohibits drivers operating a vehicle from using a cellphone or other hand-held electronic communication device to write, send or read a text message. The bill would expand those rules to include use of social media, games and internet sites.

The Senate passed the bill 43-6 this month, an indication of bipartisan support.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate charges, Sunday. 38-year old Jacquelyn Pratt, of Glenwood was arrested for possession of Marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving                        under suspension. Her bond was set at $1,600. And 41-year old Renae Gaver, of Glenwood was arrested for driving under suspension. Her bond was set at $300.

And, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place Sunday. 26-year old Andrew Michael David Nilsson, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension.56-year old Scott Monore Miller, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Reckless Driving. Bond for both men was set at $300. And, 38-year old Ronnie Darnell Stubblefield, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County, on a Pottawatatamie County warrants for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $2,000.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Stuart man was arrested on drug charges March 19th, following a traffic stop near 130th and Highway 25. An Iowa State Patrol Trooper who conducted the stop conducted a probable cause search the vehicle after detecting marijuana upon approach of the driver’s side door. During the search, marijuana, prescription pills (Adderall) and THC wax were located. The driver, 19-year old Dakota Nicholas Runde, of Stuart, admitted he was selling marijuana he had purchased from a subject in Des Moines. Runde was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver/marijuana (42.5 grams), Prohibited Acts, Unlawful Possession of Prescription drugs, and a drug tax stamp violation. He was later released from the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff said also, 20-year old Jesse Andrew Queener, of Stuart, was arrested March 20th for Carrying Weapons (A loaded handgun) and a felony Possession with the Intent to Deliver/marijuana, charge. Queener was being held in the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, 39-year old John Michael Burgoyne, of Greenfield, was arrested March 19th, on an Adair County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

The Sheriff noted also, the following persons were cited and released for various offenses: 62-year old James Jeffrey Reese, of Bridgewater, for Trespass and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree and a separate charge of Driving Under Suspension; 27-year old Matthew Ryan Johnson, of Fontanelle, was cited for Trespass and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.

42-year old Robert Wayne Long, of Orient, was cited for Obstruction of Emergency Communications and Domestic Abuse Assault. And, 29-year old Ashley Mae Fees, of Orient, was cited for Domestic Abuse Assault. Fees and Long were released on their Own Recognizance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is reporting numerous arrests took place over the past two weeks. On Sunday, 32-year old Christopher Russell Schrader, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Schrader was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

Last Thursday, Deputies in Cass County arrested 50-year old Rex Dean McDermott, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. McDermott was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. That same day, 19-year old Levi Allen Lank, of Massena, turned himself in on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office felony warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana. Lank was booked at the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

Last Wednesday, 58-year old Terry Lee Ranney, of Massena, was arrested in Cass County, on a charge of Domestic Abuse 2nd Offense. Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on his own recognizance.

On March 20th, Cass County Deputies arrested 42-year old Matthew Paul Hardick, of Council Bluffs, on a felony charge of Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent offense, and a simple misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. Hardick was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

On March 15th, 28-year old Carl James Soglin, of Atlantic, was arrested on two Atlantic Police Department a felony warrant for Theft 2nd Degree and simple misdemeanor charge of Theft 5th Degree. Soglin was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,300 bond.

And, on March 14th, 24-year old Tanor Devon Jimmison, of Clarinda, was arrested on a Cass County on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Jimmison was taken to the Cass County Jail where he finished serving sentenced jail time and was released.