(Des Moines, Iowa) – A restaurant in Montgomery County is among a dozen establishments in Iowa that were cited for food safety violations in recent weeks. That’s according to a report from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (IDALS). The Iowa Capital Dispatch says the state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. You can read a complete report about some of the most serious violations and the establishments that were cited by IDALS, HERE.

In southwest Iowa, IDALS reported that at the Bucksnort (322 E. Coolbaugh St., in Red Oak), during a July 12th visit by inspectors, imitation crab meat was found. The meat was “visibly spoiled with a sour smell” inside one of the coolers. The inspector also reported watching the staff handle ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands, and reported finding multiple unspecified foods that had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety.

In the past month, state and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and grocery stores for hundreds of food-safety violations. (Photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

In addition, the staff was thawing food in the basin of the handwashing sink. The inspector also reported, without elaboration, “missing” flooring and “a large hole outside of kitchen entrance.”

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision in Creston Thursday evening caused a police estimated, $5,500 damage, but there were no injuries. Authorities say a 2020 Chevy Equinox driven by 19-year-old Lucas Rushing, of Creston, was traveling east on Townline Street at around 6:20-p.m., and attempting to turn right onto N. Vine Street, when the SUV failed to stay in its own lane.

The vehicle struck the driver’s side of a 2003 Chevy pickup, that was stopped at a posted stop-sign at the intersection, facing north on Vine Street. The pickup was being driven by 50-year-old Adan Vega, of Creston.

Vega told police he thought the SUV was traveling faster than it should have been, before it rounded the corner and hit his pickup. No citations were issued, but the police report stated Rushing made an improper turn and failed to keep in the proper lane.

Both vehicles were driven away from the scene, following the investigation.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Multiple law enforcement agencies were part of a chase that began in West Des Moines and ended in Altoona Thursday morning after police say a woman stole a police car. WHO-TV reports Sgt. Dan Wade, the Public Information Officer for the West Des Moines Police Department, said the incident began around 2-a.m., when an officer responded to the area of S. 60th and Village View Drive on a mental health call. While trying to assist an adult woman at the location, Sgt. Wade said she slipped into the police car and drove away.

Police were able to track the car using GPS as the woman went east on Mills Civic Parkway, then north on I-35/80. The top speed of the chase was clocked at 125 miles per hour said Sgt. Wade. Near 86th Street on I-80 stop sticks were used to try to disable the vehicle. The vehicle exited I-80 in Altoona and came to rest at the intersection of Highway 65 and 8th Street, where law enforcement was able to take the driver into custody. The chase lasted about 20 minutes.

The driver has been hospitalized to receive the mental health treatment she needs, but will face charges upon her release.

One other responding law enforcement vehicle had minor damage from the incident, but no bystanders were injured or involved. The Iowa State Patrol, Urbandale Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Altoona Police Department assisted the West Des Moines Police Department in the pursuit and arrest.

LANSING, Iowa (KCRG-TV) — The City of Lansing will have to lean on the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services, while the city hires new police officers. KCRG reports that on July 15, the New Hampton City Council approved hiring Conrad Rosendahl as the new Chief of Police. Rosenthal was the former Police Chief for the Lansing/New Albin Police Department. With Rosenthal gone, Lansing was down to just two officers.

But according to Lansing Mayor Mike Verdon, those two officers are set to leave as well.

You can read his full statement below:

“Our chief of police resigned to take the position of chief at New Hampton. Thereafter one of our two officers submitted his resignation and is assuming the same duties in New Hampton. The other officer also resigned and is, I believe, going to return to work in EMS with the Gundersen Health System in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. The last day for the two officers will be this Friday, the 26th.

Until such time as we can hire staff to replace the three departing individuals, law enforcement services will be provided by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s office.

Thank you,

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Service reports Nishna Valley Trails is holding a Kids Bike Ride on August 10th, 2024, beginning at 10:30-a.m.  The ride starts in the Schildberg Recreation Area west parking lot. Participants will check-in and start the ride at the west Rotary Shelter, at the Schildberg Rec. Area.

The ride will consist of three age groups: 0-5 yrs old, 6-12 yrs old, and 12 yrs and up. The ride length is set according to age the of the participants. The event is FREE, and all ages welcome. Be sure to wear your bicycle helmet for a sweet surprise.

The ride is co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner in Atlantic, IA. Questions: Call Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning, at 712-769-2372. After the ride check out Atlanticfest going on downtown!

(Radio Iowa) – Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to those who live in Osceola and Pottawattamie Counties. Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend says you should see if you qualify. “We want anybody whose job has been affected to apply for benefits,” she says. Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickenson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, O’Brien, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury Counties had already been approved for the disaster relief.

“We get these disaster areas and the president issues a proclamation for that area, what that means for the state of Iowa is that those disaster related unemployment claims are paid by the federal government,” Townsend says. She says the source of the money isn’t the most important issue.

“That doesn’t matter to the to the regular you know Joe on the street who just wants to get his benefits so we encourage anybody who has any questions to contact us,” she says. You will need your Social Security Number and the name and address of your last employer or prospective employer to file for disaster assistance.

(Radio Iowa) 0- Cedar Falls is fighting a wave of hate speech that’s appearing through graffiti. Several sites along the city’s trails and public infrastructure were spray-painted this week with swastikas and homophobic slurs. Sonja Bock, a member of the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission, points to the current divisive political climate and past attitudes as contributors to the outbreak.

“We’re in a time where we’re extremely polarized,” Bock says, “and some of these groups are gaining momentum again like they did in the old days.” Bock is concerned that far-right extremism has been present in northeast Iowa for a while, and current events have emboldened those groups to speak out.

“I think it’s been quietly brewing probably ever since Obama,” Bock says. “There are several factions that have really intently mobilized and have done a really good job of spreading their message to certain groups, especially in rural areas.” In addition to the hate symbols, a telephone number appeared this week at one of the vandalized sites that’s linked to a white supremacist group.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say roughly 1,600 acres of land along the Missouri River in Woodbury County is being transferred from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska after President Biden signed the Winnebago Land Transfer Act. The Act was passed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Congress.

The land, known as Winnebago Bend Wildlife Area, including the majority of the waterfowl refuge at Snyder Bend Wildlife Area, will become part of the Winnebago Reservation. It will be posted with signs stating that Winnebago Bend and the portion of Snyder Bend is no longer open for public use.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources had agreed to manage the land for public hunting and other recreation in 1981.