DES MOINES – On Friday (today), Gov. Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that extends critical regulatory relief for an additional 30 days to those on the frontlines of COVID19 recovery.  The proclamation continues to strongly encourage Iowans, businesses, and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The proclamation also continues to extend the waiver on transportation restrictions for overweight loads.

The proclamation can found online here.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R plans to test dozens of sites across the state for substances known as “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and fertility issues. The class of harmful compounds known as PFAS has been widely use in consumer goods for many years. D-N-R environmental specialist Matt Graesch says they’ll start testing the water at 53 sites in July.

“Can we come up with a relatively simple way of figuring out which wells we need to sample first to collect enough data to guide future efforts rather than blanket sampling every well,” Graesch says. “We weren’t sure what we were going to find.” The department has identified more than 100 wells in the state that are near facilities where PFAS is known or thought to be used.

“I drew a half a mile buffer around each of the PFAS locations and ran a query to figure out which of the active, highly susceptible public water supply wells were within a half a mile.” The chemicals have been used in industrial settings for decades, and in consumer goods from cookware to clothing to carpet. Officials are increasingly detecting contamination in soil and water across the country, raising concerns about long-term exposure.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – April 2, 2021 – A pavement resurfacing project on Iowa 39 from U.S. 59 to Avenue C in Denison will require closing the roadway to traffic beginning Friday, April 9, until Monday, April 26, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office.

During this project, motorists will be detoured around the work zone by using U.S. 59, Arrowhead Road, and Avenue C. The Iowa 39 detour will start on Friday, April 9, to complete milling work. The detour will then be removed for the weekend and then put back in place on Monday, April 12 so crews can complete the widening part of the project. Once this is completed, the detour will be removed once again.

On Monday, April 26, a detour will be back in place so crews can complete the work between U.S. 59 and C Avenue.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Joni Ernst says President Biden’s more than two-trillion dollar infrastructure plan is too bloated to get G-O-P support.  “We don’t want to see a lot of extraneous things put into the package and that’s where I think we’re going to run into a lot of heartburn,” Ernst says.

Ernst says the plan contains every progressive wish list item under the sun, like support for electric vehicles and labor unions. Other elements in the plan can be debated separately, according to Ernst. “Things like child care and child care facilities — that’s wonderful. Those are things I work on, but that doesn’t necessarily go into this type of package,” Ernst says.

Ernst suggests a starting point for Biden Administration negotiations with congress could have been the bill that unanimously passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last year. “I am a member of that committee, worked really hard on that plan,” Ernst said. “…It would have been a really great place to kick off from, but instead the Biden Administration chose to go an entirely different route…so: ‘Please, Mr. President. Let’s go back. Take a look at the bipartisan work that was done in the last congress and let’s go from there.'”

Ernst says last year’s bipartisan highway bill included crucial funding to repair and replace the lock and dam system on the Mississippi River.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office late Friday morning reported five arrests took place over the past four days. Authorities say:

• On Tuesday, 56-year old Richard Dennis Sutton,  was arrested following a traffic stop. Sutton was cited for several traffic violations, and arrested on a Violation of a Court Protection Order. Also arrested Tuesday in Pott. County, was 20-year-old Izaac Aguilar Samaniego. He was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop in Crescent. A passenger in his vehicle, 20-year-old Breanna Nichole Delong, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• On Wednesday, 43-year-old Matthew John Hecker, of Oakland, was arrested for Contempt of Court – Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order.
• And, there were two separate arrests on Thursday in Pottawattamie County: 38-year old Amanda Marie Vacanti was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and, 24-year-old Brent Joseph Burke was arrested for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a man from Nebraska was arrested Thursday on drug charges. Officials say 23-year-old Ruben Rodriguez-Sigala, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,300.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a man and a woman from Glenwood were arrested March 27th on child endangerment, drug and other charges. Authorities say 34-year-old Daniel John Vornbrock and 30-year-old Melissa Louanne Vornbrock both face charges that include: 3 counts of Child Endangerment and three counts Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Melissa faces additional charges of 3counts of Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Theft in the 5th Degree. Her bond was set at $12,600. Bond for John Vornbrock was set at $11,300.

On Tuesday, 42-year-old Michael Brian O’Hara, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested for Carrying a Weapon, 2 counts Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $4,300. On Thursday, 31-year old Bryce Franklin Simmons, also of Bellevue, NE., was arrested on two Warrants for Failure To Appear, with bond set at $6,000. And, 40-year old Joshua Edward Mastin, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, Operating Non-Registered Vehicle, and Failure to Proof of Financial Liability. Bond was set at $300.

Creston Police, Thursday night, arrested 35-year-old Robert Eugene Kibbe, III, of Creston, at his residence. Kibbe was arrested on on outside agency warrant, Possession of drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with official acts. He was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by a judge.

Our 8:07-a.m. newscast w/Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS