(Radio Iowa) – When the pandemic forced Iowa State University to switch from in-person to remote learning in the spring of 2020, I-S-U psychology professor Jason Chan feared unsupervised online exams would unleash rampant cheating. Chan figured students would be at home where they could look up anything in the textbook or online. When scores came back, Chan was surprised to see they were very close to the scores students got before moving online.

It led to an I-S-U study of the scores of nearly two-thousand students in 18 classes. Chan says students who were receiving Bs before the lockdown were still pulling in Bs when the tests were moved online and unsupervised.

While the study results indicate online exams still provide a reliable assessment of student learning, Chan warns there are potential weak spots, especially with the emergence of Chat-G-P-T and A-I writing tools.

(Radio Iowa) – The states of Iowa and Nebraska are suing the Environmental Protection Agency. The attorneys general for the two states are accusing federal regulators of illegally delaying year-round sales of gas with a 15 percent ethanol blend. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says they sent a notice to the E-P-A that they were going to sue.

Governor Reynolds and the governors of six other Midwest states asked the E-P-A in 2022 to allow E-15 sales in their states THIS summer. Bird says the E-P-A has done nothing and they are dragging their feet. The E-P-A has restricted sales of E-15 in the summer months, citing concerns about air pollution.

In a written statement, Reynolds said the E-P-A is showing its disdain towards clean, renewable, American-produced ethanol.

(Atlantic, IA) – As school approaches, Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) wants to remind everyone who plans to have their student ride SWITA to school that they need to register by August 14, 2023 in order to be able to ride the SWITA bus during the first week of school.

Registration and payment can be done online at www.swita.com, or by calling the SWITA office at 712-243-2518. Rides are $1.50 each way and a minimum payment of $30 is required to start transportation. SWITA transportation is completely separate from the yellow school bus, so simply informing the school you plan to ride SWITA does not mean you are registered to ride, you must register with SWITA. Transportation is open to the public and is ADA accessible.

Transportation is available to the following schools:

• Atlantic K-12
• Atlantic Pre-Schools
• Glenwood K-12
• Glenwood Pre-Schools
• Harlan K-12
• Harlan Little Cyclones Pre-School
• Shelby County Catholic School
• Red Oak K-12
• Red Oak Pre-School

Registrations that come in after the August 14 deadline will be scheduled for the second week of school that starts August 28, 2023. This allows SWITA staff and drivers to build routes efficiently to serve you better. Any questions, please contact SWITA at 712-243-2518 or email swita@swipco.org. SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says four people were arrested from Aug. 3rd through the 6th. One of those arrested was taken into custody twice….

08-03-2023 Randall Dean Herring – 63 – Council Bluffs, IA – Possession of Controlled Substance – Bond: $2,000.00 – Loc. of Arrest: 189th St – Time of Arrest: 2259

08-05-2023 Jessie Lee Simmons – 51 – Vilisca, IA – Warrant out of Adams County – Bond: $1,200.00 – Loc. of Arrest: Hwy 34/221st St – Time of Arrest: 1029

08-06-2023 Jesus Angel Perez-Franco – 21 – Council Bluffs, IA – OWI 1st – Bond: $1,000.00 – Loc. of Arrest: I29 mm42 – Time of Arrest: 0230; 08-06-2023 Brok Uriah Brule – 18 – Glenwood, IA – Violation of No Contact Order – No Bond – Loc. of Arrest: Mills County Jail – Time of Arrest: 2322

08-07-2023 Brok Uriah Brule – 18 – Glenwood, IA – Violation of No Contact Order – No Bond – Loc. of Arrest: Mills County Jail – Time of Arrest: 0045

(Harlan, Iowa) –  The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests conducted from July 12 through the 31st. In order of earliest to the latest arrests:

7-13-23: Matthew Allen Strong, age 28, Exira, IA, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Strong was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

7-15-23:  Cory Christopher McCoy, age 39, Harlan, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. McCoy was transported to the Shelby County Jail; Amber Lynn Goodenberger, age 29, Westphalia, IA was arrested following a call for service in Westphalia. Goodenberger was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Burglary 3rd, Criminal Mischief 2nd, Possession of Burglar’s Tools, and 2 counts of Child Endangerment; Nathaniel Martinez Ornelas, age 18, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 400 block of 6th St. Ornelas was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Reckless use of Firearm, Provide False Identification Information, and 7 counts of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon.

7-16-23: Michael Patrick Monson, age 24, Manning, IA was arrested following a call for service in the area of 9th St and Maplecrest Dr. Monsoon was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication.

7-18-23: Mamuch Diw Guin, age 40, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 1000 block of Chatburn Ave. Guin was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication.

7-20-23: Zachariah Kai Rush, age 37, Omaha, NE was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Rush was transported to the Shelby County Jail; Zane Michael Hytrek, age 31, Omaha, NE was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 59. Hytrek was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Barred.

7-21-23: Miguel Paredes, age 26, Harlan, IA was arrested on an active warrant out of Thurston County, Nebraska.

7-22-23: Michael Joseph Fleming, age 37, Council Bluffs, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Redwood Rd. Fleming was charged with Speeding, Failure to Maintain or use Safety Belt, No Valid Driver’s License, Reckless Driving, Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Interference with Official Acts, and Eluding.

7-23-23: Samantha Allison Flicker, age 35, Bala Cynwyd, PA was arrested following a traffic stop at Redbud Rd and Hwy 44. Flicker was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Affix Drug Stamp; Karl Walter Rieders, age 37, Wyncote, PA was arrested following a traffic stop at Redbud Rd and Hwy 44. Rieders was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Affix Drug Stamp.

7-25-23: Alejandro Isidoro Hernandez, age 47, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 3000 block of 12th St. Hernandez was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment.

7-26-23: Thomas Glen Netzke, age 22, Lamberton, MN was arrested following a traffic stop in the 800 block of Rd M47. Netzke was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Improper rear Lamps.

7-27-23: Rodney Craig Musich, age 57, Earling, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Musich was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

7-29-23: Jason Jerome McClure, age 20, Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in the 1400 block of 6th St.in Harlan. McClure was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

7-31-23: Robin Elaine Andersen, age 60, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop at 12th and Tarkington St.in Harlan. Andersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Revoked.

Note: “Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests:

On Sunday, August 6th, Deputies arrested 21-year-old Dalton Clark, of Atlantic, for OWI/2nd Offense.

There were two arrests July 30th, in Cass County: 33-year-old Tyler Mills, and 44-year-old Robin Troxel, both of Atlantic, were arrested on separate Violation of a No Contact Order, charges.

On July 29th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 30-year-old Jared Meisinger, of Stanton, for OWI/1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was later released on his own recognizance. And, 28-year-old Tyler Schnapp, of Oakland, was arrested July 29th in Cass County, for OWI/1st Offense.  Schnapp was also later released on his own recognizance.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports there were four arrests over the past week. At around 1:23-a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5th, 19-year-old Tyler Nolan McVay, of Fontanelle, was arrested at Main Street & Old Mill Road, in Fontanelle, following a traffic stop. An open 24-pack of beer was observed on the front passenger floorboard of McVay’s pickup. He admitted he was under the legal age of 21, and that he had two containers of tobacco products in his pocket. Following tests for intoxication, McVay was charged with OWI/1st offense, Possession of Alcohol under the legal age/1st offense, and Person using tobacco products under 21. He was also issued a written citation for having an improper registration plate (License plate) lamp. McVay was released that same morning with a citation.

Friday evening, Police in Adair arrested 26-year-old Demetri Nauvon McDonald, of Ottumwa, following a traffic stop on a vehicle with no license plates and dark tinted front windows. As the result of an investigation, McDonald was  charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-3rd or subsequent offense, and Person Ineligible to carry dangerous weapons  (a loaded Glock pistol). McDonald was released a short time later on a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

On August 2nd, Adair Police arrested 31-year-old Tyler Lee Carter, of Adair, for Public Intoxication. He was released later that day on a $300 c/s bond. And, on July 30th, Greenfield Police arrested 33-year-old Kenny Joe Cunningham, of Greenfield, for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, after he allegedly put his head through the passenger side window of a pickup truck. He reportedly broke the window out of anger following an argument with his father.  He was later released on a $1,000 c/s bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has reinstated the law license of an attorney who was arrested last November in the Dickinson County Courthouse and charged with public intoxication. Amy Zenor resigned as Dickinson County Attorney, pleaded guilty to public intoxication and claimed she suffers from a rare medication condition that causes her to appear drunk after she’s consumed carbohydrates.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was first to report the Iowa Supreme Court has reinstated her law license. It happened even after the court’s own Attorney Disciplinary Board concluded Zenor brought alcohol to work with her and that alcohol use was a concern when she worked for Clay County in 2018. A Dickinson County legal secretary told the board Zenor once left a cup in her office that had alcohol in it.

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled Zenor is fully qualified to resume the practice of law and she’s now working in the Palo Alto County Attorney’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents will meet Tuesday to vote on allowing the University of Iowa to purchase Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. The proposal calls for the U-I to pay 20 million dollars for the assets of Mercy Iowa City. The U-I sent a letter to its employees saying the plan includes Mercy entering chapter 11 bankruptcy, and once that process is completed they would join the U-I Healthcare system.

The move comes after Mercy financial investor, Preston Hollow Community Capital, requested the hospital be placed in a court-appointed receivership to keep it from unsustainable financial losses. The U-I says Mercy Iowa City will continue seeing patients throughout the process.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowans can take a step toward a healthier future by stepping back in time during the 9th annual Iowa State Fair Historical Walking Tour that kicks off the Iowa State Fair this Thursday, Aug. 10th. Co-hosted by the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, the historical walking tour is free with the price of admission to the Iowa State Fair. Gov. Kim Reynolds will be joined by Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen, Iowa Healthiest State Initiative Executive Director Jami Haberl, and Healthiest State Annual Walk co-chairs April Schmaltz of Delta Dental of Iowa and Heidi Parkhurst of Bank of America, as well as other fairgoers for the walking tour.

The tour will start at 8:15 a.m. near the Administration Building on the Grand Concourse and finish about 45 minutes later in time for the fair’s opening ceremony at the Public Safety Building. The route is approximately 1 kilometer, or about 1,500 steps for an average walker. Guides from the State Historical Society of Iowa will share stories at several historic sites along the way. This year’s tour highlights include the following:

• George Washington Carver of Ames who gained his start as an agricultural expert in Iowa at Iowa State College.
• Keith Elwick of Benton County whose inventions were the basis for Hawk-Bilt manure spreaders and gained him a meeting with Queen Elizabeth in 1963.
• Jessie Field Shambaugh of Page County who promoted youth clubs – that made her one of the founders of 4-H – and co-authored “Community Civics,” a book about civic engagement.

Iowa has had more USDA secretaries than any other state including the longest-serving – James Wilson of Tama County. The current secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack, has served the second-longest tenure. Details about the program can be found at history.iowa.gov