(Radio Iowa) – The legislature has passed a bill requiring motorists in Iowa to yield not just to pedestrians in crosswalks, but to bicyclists, skateboarders and people on scooters or in wheelchairs. It expands current state law, which says drivers face criminal charges if they injure or kill a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Representative Jon Dunwell of Newton says it’s important to protect others using a crosswalk to navigate traffic.

“Speaking as someone who back in 2000 I was in a bike lane and got hit by a truck and spent seven days in the hospital with four operations, and I can tell you how important it is with bikes and cars on the road that we protect bicyclists and create these safety areas,” Dunwell said. Representative Thomas Gerhold of Atkins says the bill will save lives and prevent injuries.

“Create more awareness from drivers when they are approaching a crosswalk, either marked or unmarked,” Gerhold said. The bill is headed to the governor’s desk. It passed the House at the end of February on an 84 to eight vote and the Senate approved it unanimously last week. The neighboring states of Nebraska, Minnesota and Illinois have similar laws.

(Radio Iowa) – Work is progressing on crafting the new Farm Bill, and Iowa’s Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says he’s hopeful the legislation that’s so important to the heartland will be finalized soon. “We’ve got the text ready to go, but before we can release the text, we have to know the tax score, what it’s going to cost,” Feenstra says. “The Congressional Budget Office has got to create that score because we’ve got to know, how do we pay for this? That’s what we’re waiting for.”

The Farm Bill is typically updated every five years, but a new version didn’t materialize last year, and Congress passed a one-year extension which will last through this fall.  “We’ve been dragging this thing out, but we’re really hoping that by May we can get it out of committee, and then mid-June, get it off the floor of the U.S. House, and then it’s up to the Senate,” Feenstra says. “I know our producers, just talking to them around all of my 36 counties, this is a really big deal.”

Feenstra says there’s a lot of concern over the crop insurance element of the Farm Bill. “With our low commodity prices right now, with soybeans below $12, and corn around $4.30, everybody’s worried because insurance is that safety net,” Feenstra says. “The input costs of putting that crop in, you’ve got to cover yourself and that’s the big, big issue.” He says there’s also a great deal of concern about the export market and finding new free trade agreement areas in which to grow.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – One person was injured and transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, following an accident that occurred at around 7:39-a.m. near 5th and Elm Streets. According to Atlantic Police, a 1996 Ford Explorer was traveling west on 5th Street, when for reasons unknown, the SUV crossed the travel lane and collided with a legally parked 2006 Dodge Durango that was facing east on 5th Street.

The unidentified driver of the Ford was transported to the hospital to be evaluated for possible, minor injuries, and unknown medical issues that may have caused the accident. Richter & Son Towing in Atlantic responded to pull the two vehicles apart, as emergency responders were unable to get the doors open and the driver of the Explorer out of their vehicle for further evaluation. Cass EMS and Atlantic Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Atlantic Police at the scene. Addition information was being withheld at this time. Police ask that anyone with information about the incident call the Atlantic P-D at 712-243-3512.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a former Atlantic woman was arrested last week for Driving While Barred, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 27-year-old Brittany Marie Asay, of Dubuque, was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Stuart at around 11:30-p.m. on April 10th. During an investigation, the Stuart K9 Officer and his K9 were deployed. The K9 gave a positive indication to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle, a 2014 Dodge Charger. A probable cause search was conducted, resulting in the locating of several items of known drug paraphernalia, including a large glass bong, a marijuana pipe in the form of a bracelet, a marijuana grinder, a metal sorting tray, and a pipe used to smoke THC wax. Asay was released later that same day on a $1,000 bond.

On April 11th, Adair County Deputies arrested 43-year-old Randy Scott Shuey, of Casey, on a Federal warrant for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Shuey was held without bond until being turned over the the ATF the following day.

18-year-old Lucas Kaden Wilson, and 19-year-old Cody Ryan Brunow, both of Woodbine, were arrested early Saturday morning (April 13th) in Adair, on Felony warrants for Participating in a Riot. Both men were held in the Adair County Jail until released a short time later, on $5,000 bond, each.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report two people were arrested over the weekend. On Sunday, 35-year-old William Wilsey, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000. And, on Saturday, 54-year-old Kenneth Coyle, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Coyle posted bond and was released.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department today (Monday) released a report on arrests and citations issued between March 22nd and April 14th. Those arrested include:

On April 14th: 25-year-old Rudy Altamirano, of Atlantic, for OWI.

Last Saturday, (April 13), 28-year-old G Love Kovac, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order.

On April 12th: 28-year-old KR Takauo, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication, and, 30-year-old Taylor Force, of Atlantic, on two counts of Child Endangerment.

Last Thursday, Atlantic Police arrested 39-year-old Winser Ekiek, of Atlantic, for Driving While License Barred

On the 10th, 50-year-old Dan Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox., Disorderly Conduct, Interference with Official Acts, and Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place.

There were four Atlantic arrested on April 9th:

• 20-year-old Sabastian Hernandez, for Public Intoxication
• 31-year-old Jason Mark, for Disorderly Conduct and Public Intox.
• 24-year-old Jackson Sally, for Violation of Probation,
• and 26-year-old TK Narios was arrested for Public Intox. & Disorderly Conduct.

On April 7th, Atlantic Police arrested 21-year-old Kaden Mahan, of Atlantic, for Public Intox.

On the 6th, 34-year-old Brett Edward Pryor, of Atlantic, was arrested for: Assault while participating in a Felony (3 counts); Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree (for damage/loss amounting to $300 to $700); Public Intoxication; Interference with Official Acts; Possession/Carrying of a Dangerous Weapon while under the influence, and Going Armed with Intent. His bond was set at $20,000. Separately, 39-year-old Winser Ekiek, of Atlantic, was arrested on the 6th, for Driving While License is Barred.

On April 5th, 28-year old Sheets Atan, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox. & Disorderly Conduct.

Two Atlantic men were arrested for Public Intoxication on April 4th: 37-year-old Jeffrey Knight, and 23-year-old Luke Altheide, were taken into custody. On April 3rd, A-PD Officers arrested 47-year-old Terrance Frazier, of Atlantic, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury. And, on the 2nd, 28-year-old G Love Lovac, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order.

Here are the arrests that occurred March 22nd-30:

03/22/2024: Lovac, G Love, 28 of Atlantic, for Violation on No Contact Order.

03/23/2024: Castillo, Christopher, 37 of Atlantic, for two counts of Violation of Probation.

03/24/2024: Mahan, Coda, 19 of Atlantic, for Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts.

03/30/2024: Bashor, Amanda, 47 of Clarinda, Violation of No Contact Order.

All of the above defendants were booked into the Cass County Jail. The following subjects were cited into court and released:

03/28/2024: Jespersen, Keith, 66 of Atlantic for Compulsory Education Violation 1st offense; Jespersen, Vicki, 63 of Atlantic for Compulsory Education Violation 1st offense.

04/01/2024: Beadle, Abyy, 34 of Atlantic for Disorderly Conduct.

04/14/2024: Moses, Rosemary, 25 of Atlantic for Simple Assault and Criminal Mischief 4th.

04/03/2024: Frohlich, Lynn, 53 of Audubon for Driving While Licensed Barred and later transported to a bordering county on a Warrant for Failure to Appear.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular, weekly meeting Tuesday morning in their Guthrie Center Courthouse Board Room. Their tentative agenda is as follows:
9:00 AM, April 16, 2024
1. Call Meeting to Order, Pledge of Allegiance
2. Approve Consent Agenda
a. Minutes from April 9, 2024
b. Claims from April 3, 2024 through April 16, 2024
c. Liquor License Renewal—Twin Vines LLC—License #LC0049513
3. Public Comments: Board Chair will ask audience for comments, limited as described below.
4. Mary Meritt; Discuss/Action
a. Donate to the Board a book titled “The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates” by Matthew J. Trewhella
5. Cover Letter for EMS Request for Proposal; Discuss/Action
6. Other Business
7. Supervisors Updates
8. 10:00 am Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Guthrie County Budget
9. Adopt Resolution 24-25: Resolution for the Adoption and Certification of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2024 and Ending June 30, 2025 per Iowa Code 331.434(5)
10. Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Appropriations; Discuss/Action
11. Adjournment

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(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republican lawmakers are working on another round of state income tax cuts. “We’re having good conversation around the tax policy that’s still floating around here,” Grassley says. “I feel confident we’ll be able to achieve speeding up the tax cut before we head home.” Tax cuts approved in 2022 will shrink the state individual income tax to a single rate just under four percent by 2026.

In January, Governor Reynolds suggested going lower, to three-point-65 percent (3.65%) and making that rate retroactive to January 1st of THIS year. Grassley says House Republicans are developing a plan. “I don’t think it’s been settled what that will look like,” Grassley says, “but I feel pretty confident that we’ll be able to find resolution on that.” Tomorrow (Tuesday), is the 100th day of the 2024 legislative session. It’s a target date for adjourning the Iowa General Assembly and the last day legislators get expense money in addition to their salary, but there’s no legal deadline for concluding the session.

Later today (Monday), the House Appropriations Committee will meet to consider six different bills outlining state spending plans for the budgeting year that begins July 1st. The Iowa SENATE has released a tentative schedule for debating nine bills today (Monday).

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting Tuesday morning (April 16th). Here’s their agenda:

1. Call meeting to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll call of members
4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairman
5. Read minutes as presented. Chairman to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.
6. Board chairman will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.
7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates
8. Secondary Roads Update
a. Approve the Title VI Non-Discrimination Agreement IDOT and Montgomery County, IA and Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
b. Approve The United States Department of Transportation Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances
c. 8:45 a.m. Public Hearing for Proposed Vacation of Alley in the Unincorporated Town of Stennett located in Sections 27, T73 N, R38W located between East Depot Street and Wayne Street, lying between lots 22-30 to the north and lots 31-42 to the South.
d. Public comment (Must state your name and address when addressing the Board. Limited to two minutes per person.)
e. Approve/Disapprove Resolution 2024-13 To Vacate an Unimproved Alley
f. Approve/Disapprove Resolution 2024-14 To Quit Claim Deed Alley Property
9. New Business
a. Approve schedule change of the Regular Board of Supervisors meeting to Wednesday June 5th at 8:30 a.m. due to the Primary Election on Tuesday June 4th.
b. Discuss/Approve Montgomery County Personnel Handbook Changes
c. Personnel Evaluation- Montgomery County Maintenance Director-Anticipated to be Closed Session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i) and action as necessary
10. Discuss and start agenda items for next meeting
11. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
12. Adjournment
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