WASHINGTON – On January 31, 2016, the night of her graduation, Sarah Root, a twenty-one year-old Iowan from Council Bluffs, was struck and killed in Omaha, Neb., by Edwin Mejia, who entered the country illegally and was driving drunk – three times over the legal limit.  Today (Thursday), on the third anniversary of her death, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), along with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and 11 of their colleagues, re-introduced legislation in honor of Sarah, to allow federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person.

Ernst said “It is wholly unacceptable that someone who is here illegally and is responsible for the death of another human being is not considered an enforcement priority nor is detained by ICE. We have an obligation to the Root family, and to the American people, to ensure that no person falls victim to this injustice again.  Sarah’s Law brings us one step closer to restoring justice in our broken immigration system by allowing ICE to detain and hold these criminals accountable.” Grassley said “The tragic death of Sarah Root three years ago and the ongoing search for her killer underscore the serious attention border security and immigration enforcement require in America. Sarah’s life was cut short by an undocumented immigrant who disregarded the rule of law and decided to get behind the wheel after drinking.  The Obama Administration refused to take custody of Sarah’s killer because it didn’t consider him a priority, allowing him to disappear into the shadows. The Roots have been robbed of their daughter, and at least for now, they have been robbed of justice.  Our legislation, named in Sarah’s memory, will ensure that those who harm or kill Americans will be taken into custody and removed while also ensuring that victims and their families get the information they deserve from the government as they pursue justice.”

Sen. Sasse said “Edwin Mejia’s mugshot shouldn’t be on a most wanted poster — Edwin Mejia should be in jail, serving hard time for the life he took and the pain he left behind. Sarah’s Law is common-sense legislation that Sarah and her family deserve to have signed into law. Congress should waste no time sending this legislation to the President’s desk for his signature.” And, Sen. Fischer said “No family should have to endure the tragedy and pain the Root family has experienced. Sarah’s Law would end the flawed policies that allowed her killer to evade justice. Let’s honor Sarah’s memory by enacting this important solution to make our communities safer.”

Sarah’s mom, Michelle Root said Thursday, “Our family is very grateful for Senator Ernst and her willingness to continue to push for Sarah’s Law.  It means a lot to us that she is reintroducing this bill on the third anniversary of Sarah’s death.  This law is to make sure no other family has to go through what our family has.  Sarah’s killer is still on the run and if this law was in place when she was killed we wouldn’t be looking for her killer today – he would be in custody and serving his time.” Following state criminal charges of motor vehicle homicide and outreach by local law enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) used its discretion to decline to issue a detainer on Edwin Mejia, Sarah’s killer. Subsequently, Mejia posted bond, disappeared and now, three years later, still remains at-large.

About Sarah’s Law:

Sarah’s Law would amend the mandatory detention provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the federal government to take custody of anyone who entered the country illegally, violated the terms of their immigration status or had their visa revoked and is thereafter charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. The legislation also requires ICE to make reasonable efforts to identify and provide relevant information to the crime victims or their families. Under this law, Mejia would have been detained by law enforcement and not allowed to flee from justice. The Root family would have been kept up-to-date on Mejia’s status and federal immigration authorities’ efforts to remove him from the United States.

In January 2017, President Trump implemented major parts of Sarah’s Law via Executive Order, which included prioritized detention of criminal illegal immigrants and the creation of the Office of Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement. Passage of Sarah’s Law would codify the order into law, to prevent future administrations from withdrawing President Trump’s executive order, or deprioritizing the detention of illegal immigrants who commit crimes involving death or serious bodily injury, and restricting information to victims of such crimes.

Read the text of the bill here: https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/21e944d0-2303-4b6b-9e49-29d27d2cb3ca/7BF5E49D64C2DD140F05CA3C8495BCA3.sarah-s-law.pdf

A hit-and-run accident Wednesday night in Creston resulted in an OWI charge. Authorities say 48-year old Cody Patrick Shay, of Shannon City, was cited for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into the incident that took place at around 10:50-p.m. in the 500 block of N. Chestnut Street, in Creston. Officials say Shay was driving a 2017 Audi Q5 northbound on Chestnut, when his vehicle struck a legally parked 2011 Ford Focus owned by a Creston man. Shay left the scene but was located a short time later at another location, still in his vehicle. Damage from the incident amounted to $9,000.

(Radio Iowa) — A good Samaritan is credited with saving a mother cat and her litter of six kittens from certain death. Deann Nelson, spokeswoman for the Midlands Humane Society in Council Bluffs, says they got the call Wednesday as temperatures were plummeting. “Someone had found a box of kittens in a dumpster at an apartment complex,” Nelson says. “We went down and picked them up. It turned out to be a mom and kittens, taped up in a box.” All seven cats are in decent shape now and Nelson says they were obviously pets.  “They were in good weight and they looked pretty good,” Nelson says. “Actually, they were socialized and in good health so they had been somebody’s cats.”

With all of the resources available, Nelson is still appalled by this type of animal cruelty, as the cats wouldn’t have survived long. “There’s so many other avenues that people can take,” Nelson says. “You don’t have to do that. There’s rescues and shelters and even just good Samaritans who will bring them in for you. There’s no excuse.”

The box the kittens were found in

She’s confident the cats will all be adopted soon. The person responsible for taping the animals into the box and dumping it at the Chapel Ridge Apartments has not been found.

(Thanks to Karla James, in Omaha)

A Sheriff’s Deputy from Pottawattamie County observed a suspicious truck parked at a motel in Avoca, this (Thursday) morning, while on routine patrol. After he contacted the driver, 24-year old Johnathan Lee Jay Behrens, of Harlan, it was determined Behrens had an active warrant through Pottawattamie County. Behrens arrested at around 1:50-a.m., and transported to Pott. County Corrections, where he was being held on $2,300 bond for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, and Theft in the 5th Degree. A Cass County man arrested earlier this week by Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy, was picked-up by Pott. County Deputies on a Felony warrant for Gambling-Entice participation in a fraudulent game. 39-year old Stephen Keith Zeibig, of Griswold, was transported to the Pott. County Jail, Monday and held on a $5,000 bond.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 38-year old Ian Lee Leib, of Shelby, was brought to the Pott. County Jail by an Audubon County Deputy. Leib was being held in the Pott. County Jail for Violation of Probation, and on a Fugitive from Justice warrant from Audubon County. His bond was set at $10,000 altogether.  Authorities say 49-year old Michael James Ray, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Wednesday afternoon for Attempted Burglary in the 3rd degree, after deputies were called to a residence on Ray Lane for a disturbance. A 28-year old woman told the Deputy that her neighbor (Michael Ray) came to her door and began banging on the door and tried to push it open. An investigation determined he allegedly tried to force his way into the woman’s apartment in a burglary attempt. Ray was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

At around 2:40-a.m. today (Thursday), 32-year old Nicholas James Gatlin, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on charges of Domestic Assault with Injury and Obstruction of Emergency Communications, following an incident involving his 32-year old wife. She suffered apparent, minor injuries during the altercation. Gatlin was brought to the Pott. County Jail and held on without bond.

Police in Creston report the arrest at around 1:36-a.m. today (Thursday), of 20-year old Sundiata Ani Edwards. The Des Moines woman was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended, and later bonded out on a $300 bond. Wednesday night, Creston Police arrested 32-year old Sean Patrick Bagby, of Creston. He was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bagby was later released on a $1,300 bond. And, Wednesday evening, Creston Police arrested 26-year old Tina Louise Perrigo, of Creston, for Driving While Suspended. She was released on a $300 bond.

(8-a.m. News)

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Insurance Division says it now overseeing a program that will help the roughly 500-thousand Iowa Medicare users. The director of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), Kris Gross, explains the program. “Medicare Patrol or S-M-P is a program to help Medicare beneficiaries prevent and detect fraud, errors and abuse,” Gross says.  Gross says there are a couple of ways Medicare users can help. “One is their Medicare summary notices — which shows what services they’ve had — and by monitoring those summary notices they can see if there are inappropriate charges, or things that they really didn’t receive services for,” Gross says.

And she says they can help by reporting scams that try to get personal information. “Remembering that Medicare and Social Security are never going to call you for your Medicare number. They have it,” Gross explains. “So, you should not be giving out those numbers to anyone who would just call you on the phone.”  The program allows you to call and talk to someone about any concerns. “If someone suspects fraud, errors or abuse, they can call S-M-P. Our 800 number is 800-351-4664. Or they can email us at smp@iid.iowa.gov,” according to Gross.

While she doesn’t have the state specific numbers — Gross says Medicare fraud added up to 50 BILLION dollars nationwide in 2017. “That’s a big number, and the S-M-P program and our S-M-P counselors across the state are hear to help people investigate those fraud errors and abuse — and if necessary — get them reported to the appropriate federal agency,” Gross says.  You are also are encouraged to visit shiip.iowa.gov/smp To learn about new Medicare insurance scams and discover tips and tools to prevent and report Medicare fraud.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Several schools, businesses and agencies are remaining closed as Iowa’s record-breaking and dangerous deep freeze continues. The National Weather Service has posted wind chill advisories or warnings for Iowa, but they’re expected to expire later this (Thursday) morning. The bitter cold that beset the nation’s midsection broke records in several Iowa cities Wednesday, including Des Moines. The minus 20 handily broke the 1965 low of minus 17. The Wednesday wind child hit minus 40.

The minus 25 degrees in Waterloo broke the Jan. 30 record of minus 24 set in 1951. Estherville, Lamoni, Mason City and Ottumwa also had record low temperatures. Here in southwest Iowa, many schools are running two-hours late this morning, due to the chilly weather.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of killing a 16-month-old girl is scheduled to go on trial next week in Pottawattamie County.  District Court records say 23-year-old Javon Jennings has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His trial is set to begin Tuesday in Council Bluffs. He’s accused of killing Jazlynn Harshbarger, who was pronounced dead at a Council Bluffs apartment on April 19 last year after officers and medics sent there to check a report about an unresponsive child . Police say he was the sole caretaker of the girl when she was fatally injured. Her injuries included a broken left leg.