(Radio Iowa) – Democrats in the U-S Senate propose creating a code of ethics for the U-S Supreme Court, a move Iowa Senator and Republican Chuck Grassley opposes, calling it a “hit job” on conservative Justice Clarence Thomas. Grassley serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee which is holding a hearing today (Tuesday) to press Chief Justice John Roberts to create a code of conduct for the court. Grassley says that’s unnecessary. “The Supreme Court has rules that it follows on recusal,” Grassley says. “We just had a justice recuse himself just last week I read because his wife has some stock in a company that is before the Supreme Court.”

The U-S government is set up with a system of checks and balances which Grassley says Democrats are flaunting with their proposed legislation. He says the high court is policing itself. “The court is taking action,” Grassley says, “and under separation of powers, I’m not sure Congress has the authority to tell the Supreme Court what they must do as far as recusal.” Last month, reports accused Justice Thomas of not disclosing hundreds of thousands of dollars in lavish gifts and globe-trotting vacations from a wealthy Republican donor. New rules were put in place on March 7th which set stricter policies for the disclosing of gifts to any federal judge, including Supreme Court justices.

Grassley says he wants to see how those new requirements work out and so far, he says members of the nation’s high court are abiding by the rules.”Seeing what these other justices have done to amend their reports on travel and on entertainment and things of that nature, I think that it’s been pretty much a hit job on Thomas.” Grassley says he sees the court “taking the lead on trying to satisfy people” about any perceptions of improper behavior.

(Adair County, Iowa) – The Iowa Aviation Museum at Greenfield, today (Tuesday) announced James Zangger, of Larchwood, Iowa, is the 2023 inductee into the Hall of Fame. The induction program will be held August 19 at 11:15 following a fly-in breakfast served from 7:30 – 11 am.   Zangger was born July 18, 1949, in Sioux Falls, SD. He grew up and learned to fly on the family farm near Larchwood. His parents, Russell and Dolly Zangger, were flight and ground school instructors at the airport they established on the farm.

Jim began flying lessons at age 10 and accumulated 64 hours by his 16th birthday. On that day (July 18, 1965), Jim soloed a 1946 BC12-D Taylorcraft, a 1959 Cessna 150, a 1956 Piper Tri-Pacer, and flew his solo cross-country flight. Later that week, Jim flew to the county seat and traded in his school permit for a driver’s license. Jim took his private check-ride on his 17th birthday and his commercial flight test on his 18th birthday, followed by instrument and multi-engine ratings. He received his A&P certificate and began Jim’s Aircraft Repair at his home field in Larchwood.

Jim’s aviation career includes flying more than 25 years for Rockwell Collins and contract flying before moving back to Larchwood and operating Zangger Vintage Airpark, the oldest privately owned public use airport in Iowa and a residential airpark since 1991. His aviation awards include the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, and a safety award from the NBAA (National Business Aircraft Association). Jim estimates his total flight hours at 26,750 to date. His parents, Russell and Dolly Zangger, are also members of the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame.

James Zangger (Photo courtesy of Mr. Zangger & the IA Aviation Hall of Fame)

Nominations to the Hall of Fame are made by the public and selection is made by an independent judging committee. Neither the Board nor employees of the Iowa Aviation Museum make nominations or selections. Last year’s winners were Nicholas A. Turner, a native of Elliott, and Connie Rex Younger, who launched his company CY Aviation in Boone, in 1990.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors met this (Tuesday) morning and received a weekly report from County Engineer Trent Wolken, who mentioned the Secondary Roads Department is still working on delivering road rock for driveways in various districts, and are finishing those projects up, but he said that the supply is slow to come out of the quarries. Wolken also updated the status of work on various County Bridges.

Work Bridge 319 west of the landfill over Indian Creek is still on track to begin in June.

Wolken said also, he’s been talking with his employees about insurance enrollment, with the hopes they’ll get sign-ups finished by July 1st. The Secondary Roads Department Budget along with some others in the County, will need to be amended.

In the Supervisor’s Committee Reports, Steve Green mentioned SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council) is looking to acquire some new buses with next year’s budget. Green was also impressed with how much the organization continues to grow and serve southwest Iowa.

Supervisor Mark O’Brien reported on an EMA meeting he attended. He said the new Communications Tower project has been delayed.

Board Chair Steve Baier quipped, “In this day and age of supply chain issues and everything else, I don’t think there is such a thing as a deadline.”

Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa District 3 Republican Representative Zach Nunn today (Tuesday) announced winners of the Iowa Third Congressional District Art Competition. The top three vote receivers from the public voting option will have their art on display in each of the Iowa Third Congressional District offices, and the winner selected by a panel of three art judges will have their art on display in the U.S. Capitol. They include: Noelle Craver, Centerville High School – Overall Winner; and the top three Public Choice award recipients: Karlie Larsen, Mt. Ayr High School; Haagen Arnold, Wayne Community School, & Lily Hepples, North Polk High School.  Larsen won for her art piece entitled “And he saw it was good.”

“I am beyond impressed with the sheer level of talent on display in the Iowa Third Congressional District Art Competition. Students showcased diversity of thought, varying perspectives, and a profound creativity with each piece,” said Rep. Zach Nunn. “I want to extend a deep congratulations to our top winner, Noelle, as well as the top three vote getters in the People’s Choice Award—Haagen, Karlie, and Lily. Thank you also to every student who submitted their artwork for the competition. Iowa is a special place, and our amazing students are a big reason why.”

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Tuesday) released an agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Walnut, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.

Sand reported three findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are found on pages 9 and 10 of this report. The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties and disbursements exceeding budgeted amounts. Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings.

All of the findings discussed above are repeated from the prior year. The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.

A copy of the agreed-upon procedures report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Union County was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant. Creston Police say 31-year-old Dalton James Cormeny, of Creston, was arrested at 110 Manor Dr, in Creston. He was charged on a Union County Warrant for Child Endangerment-Bodily Injury and Willful Injury-Causing Bodily Injury. Cormeny was taken to the Union County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Additional details were not released.

(Radio Iowa) – Marion County is hoping borings taken by the state Ag Department will help them figure out what caused a big sinkhole there. Public information officer, Emily Feagins, says the borings could give a little bit more information about how far the borings went down into the ground, and what they are pulling up that they can’t see. She says there are three theories about the cause — it’s either natural, coal, or lime related.

The last measurements taken show the sinkhole had grown to roughly 35 to 40 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. The Marion County Sheriff is asking for people to stay away from the area. Feagins says she understands why people are interested — they just don’t want anyone getting hurt. (click on the image to enlarge)

Photo courtesy Marion-County EMS

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Red Oak with 23 withdrawals on his license, was arrested Monday evening following a traffic stop near Boundary and Prospect Streets, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 46-year-old Jeffrey Wayne Porter was taken into custody a little after 7-p.m., for Driving Under Suspension. Porter was also cited for Failure to Provide proof of insurance – motor vehicle related. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on bond amounting to $491.25.

Des Moines, IA – State Auditor Rob Sand, Monday, voted to provide Department of Corrections (DOC) employees back-pay owed to them for on-the-job COVID-19 testing. The required testing occurred prior to the employees clocking in for their shifts at the Newton Correctional Facility from July 2020 to May 2021.

“Iowans expect to pay a fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work,” said Sand. “Plus, correctional officers’ jobs are already dangerous enough.”

Sand is one of three members of the State Appeal Board. The board voted unanimously on Monday to provide more than $112,000 in back pay to more than 235 current and former DOC employees.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa legislature has unanimously approved a bill that requires K-through-12 schools to have discipline policies for students who are violent or disruptive. Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, is a former superintendent. “It creates more structure for what schools must include in their discipline policies for threats of violence or incidents of violence,” Evans says, “while still giving the school leeway to adjust based on the specific situation.”

In March, the House voted to require in-school suspensions ANY time a student is removed from a classroom due to violent behavior. Last month, the Senate adjusted the bill giving schools more latitude, but requiring escalating discipline for students who are disruptive or violent. The House has now approved those changes and sent the bill to the governor. Representative Brook Boden, a Republican from Indianola, says lawmakers are responding to teachers, support staff, parents and administrators.

“We listened and we developed language here that will provide the support in education for all the parties,” Boden says, “making sure that we provide the tools needed to ensure that we have environments in which children can learn.” The bill will allow educators to report incidents of classroom violence or the destruction of school property to the State Ombudsman for investigation.

Representative Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City, is a retired teacher who suggests the bill is a good first step to addressing the problem. “I think this bill has come a long way,” Steckman says. “We’ve done lots of negotiating on this. I still think we have a lot more work to do on it.” Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat, is a teacher from Cedar Rapids who urged her peers to back the bill. “It protects our teachers, it protects our kids,” Donahue says. “It makes sure that there’s some clarity around behavior in the schools.”

A report from the Iowa Department of Education indicates there were nearly two-thousand assaults in Iowa schools during the last school year. Over 11-hundred incidents of property damage were reported.