(Creston, Iowa) – A male student with the Creston Middle School faces a Class-D felony charge of making Terroristic Threats, following an incident that occurred Wednesday night. Creston Police received a report at around 11:12-p.m. Wednesday, with regard to threats the student allegedly made to bring a gun to school today (Thursday). The student allegedly sent pictures and videos to other students with the threat.

Officers investigating the allegations made contact with the suspect and his parents. The suspect was charged after he was interviewed by Police. He was then turned over to juvenile authorities.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, report a Des Moines woman, 52-year-old Guadalupe Ramos, was sentenced on March 28, 2024, after pleading guilty to one count of Theft in the Third Degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor). Ramos was sentenced following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The investigation conducted by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau found Ramos had submitted fabricated documents to an insurance provider to obtain financial benefits to which she was not entitled.

Ramos was arrested on December 14, 2023.  After pleading guilty to third-degree theft (Aggravated Misdemeanor), she was fined $855 and ordered to pay a crime services surcharge of 15%. Ramos was sentenced to one day in jail.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa National Guard say the Guard will conduct the 2024 State Best Warrior Competition (BWC) April 4-7, 2024, at Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center in Johnston, Iowa. The 2024 BWC will represent the first time that a competition event will be expanded into the community, partnering with local agencies and organizations and inviting community members to show their support of competitors.

The purpose of the BWC is to select the best-qualified Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer through a series of tests of endurance, strength, and skills. Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, says “Our focus is to maintain a ‘Ready’ force, ensuring Soldiers are trained with technical and tactical skills and they are masters of their equipment. These types of events are an opportunity to demonstrate the high standards and professionalism of Soldiers and they improve morale by building on friendships and camaraderie. This year we are also expanding our reach into our community and involving our stakeholders in the spirit of the competition.”

Iowa’s BWC is in preparation for Region IV BWC, also held at Camp Dodge and throughout the community of Johnston, this year in May. Winners from each state, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa, will compete on Iowa soil for the first time in seven years.

2024 will also be the fourth year that Kosovo Security Force members will be participating in the competition as part of the ongoing state partnership between Kosovo and the Iowa National Guard.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) — Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department report three individuals were arrested on separate drug charges over the past nearly three weeks. Authorities say on March 24th, 58-year-old Klifford Keith Kennedy, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree theft, Possession of a controlled substance/1st offense – methamphetamine; Possession of drug paraphernalia, and Interference with official acts. Kennedy was released from the Page County Jail after posting bond.

49-year-old Heather Trena James, of Shenandoah, was arrested March 27th on a valid Page County warrant for original charges of Possession of a controlled substance–methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance — marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. James bonded out of custody from the county jail.

On March 29th, Shenandoah Police arrested 43-year-old Alexandra Dawn Lasley, of Shenandoah, for Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.

Other arrests conducted by Shenandoah Police, include:

On March 16th, 29-year-old Nicholas Alan Perkison, of Shenandoah, for Domestic Abuse 1st offense, and Child Endangerment.

On March 22nd, 35-year-old Shaun Michael Webster, of Shenandoah, who was arrested on a Fremont County warrant on the original charge of Probation Violation.

State officials are asking legislators to ban private companies from selling Iowa lottery tickets and games online. Tyler Ackerson of the Iowa Department of Revenue says businesses called lottery couriers are operating websites and smart phone apps. “Customers sign up on there, fund their account, and then the courier uses that money to purchase lottery products on behalf of that customer,” Ackerson says. “These lottery couriers typically partner with a business who sets up a stand alone, brick and mortar location that becomes a licensed lottery retailer and then all of those lottery products are purchased through that location.”

Jake Ketzner — a lobbyist for Lotto-dot-com — says the company started selling Nebraska lottery products online this week and would like to operate in Iowa at some point “We are active in 18 states. It’s not new,” Ketzner said. “Think of it as kind of an ‘Uber Eats’ model for lotto tickets.” State officials have already turned down an application from Jackpocket, a New York based lottery courier that wanted to start selling Iowa lottery games online. Tim Coonan is a lobbyist for Jackpocket, which is owned by sports betting giant DraftKings.

“We had no plans to bring legislation this year to try to advance the ball or improve our position relative to that denial,” Coonan says, “and we’re hoping to have a more fulsome conversation with policymakers about the service we provide.”

According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, parts of already existing state law prohibit online lottery sales, but the agency’s asking the legislature to include an outright ban in a bill dealing with routine tax matters. The chairman of the Senate’s tax policy committee says the debate about online lottery ticket sales should probably be held in a different committee.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has sent the governor a plan to extend post-pregnancy Medicaid coverage for new mothers and infants from 60 days to a full year. The coverage will be limited to families with incomes at or below 215 percent of the federal poverty line. Representative Devon Wood, a Republican from New Market, says that’s in line with surrounding states. “It would put us higher than South Dakota. It would put us higher than Nebraska,” Wood said. “It would put us comparable with Illinois and it would put us just under Missouri and Minnesota.”

The current two months of Medicaid coverage of post-pregnancy care is available to babies and their mothers in households with incomes 375 percent above the poverty line. Representative Heather Matson of Ankeny is among the Democrats who unsuccessfully urged Republicans to keep that higher income threshold for the expanded coverage. “At a time when maternal and infant mortality is on the rise, we should expand coverage for more women, not less,” Matson says.

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says with billions of dollars held in surplus accounts, the state can afford to extra seven MILLION dollars to help more low income families with a new baby. “And that’s frustrating because this isn’t an expensive endeavor and the cost is so high for not doing it,” Konfrst said, “the cost to moms and the costs to babies.”

Wood, the Republican who led debate of the bill, says she welcomes continued discussion about supporting more new moms, but the bill is an important step to expand post-pregnancy Medicaid coverage to a full year for uninsured mothers and babies. “This bill, as is, is imperative for those moms who need it most,” Wood says. “It would
still put us at 13th most generous (coverage) in the nation.”

A federal law approved three years ago gave states authority and funding to expand postpartum coverage in the Medicaid program. Iowa will soon join 47 states that have approved the expansion.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests, citations and accidents that took place from March 15, 2024, through March 30, 2024. The complete report can be viewed in the following PDF link:

660de22f873a8.pdf

(Atlantic, Iowa; UPDATED) – A Public Hearing was held this (Wednesday) afternoon in Atlantic, with regard to the Proposed Maximum Property Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2025. The Council heard only one objection, and that was from Atlantic resident Barbara Stensvad, who reiterated the “significant protest” she spoke of at the last meeting of the Atlantic School Board, during their Budget Hearing.

During the Council’s regular session that began at 5:30-p.m., Mayor Grace Garrett administered the Oath of Office to Atlantic Police Officer Brock Thompson, who was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Thompson joined the A-PD in 2017, and currently serves as Driving Instructor, Standard Field Sobriety test Instructor, Field Training Officer, and Drone Pilot. Thompson served in the U-S Marine Corps from 2012 through 2016.

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett congratulates Sgt. Brock Thompson on his promotion.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution “Authorizing and Combining Loan Agreements, Approving the Future Issuance of General Obligation Bonds and Providing for the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Same.” The 5-year, $800,000 bank note through 1st Whitney Bank & Trust, carries an interest rate of 4.5%, and will be used to fund segments of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), including…$200,000 for Police Equipment & Vehicles, $230,000 for Fire Equipment, $100,000 for Library Equipment and Building Improvements, and $250,000 for Emergency Generators. A levy and the collection of taxes to pay for the CIP begins July 1, 2024, with a net annual sum of $184,780.

The Council passed an Order to Approve Second Amendment to Ambulance Services Agreement Between City of Atlantic, Iowa, the Cass Health System, Cass County Iowa, and Midwest Medical Transport Company. The agreement includes a subsidy fee of $40,000 per month from now through June 30, 2024, and an annual fee of $625,050 or $52,087 per month, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025…an increase of 84.31%. City Administrator John Lund said voters in the County will have the choice in November, of approving a 75-cent increase in the County-wide tax levy and a small income tax to pay for the ambulance service, or vote “No.”

He said if the voters reject the proposed tax increase, the City would most likely have to resort to dramatic budget cuts to departments that cannot be sheltered through cost allocation through other funds, or it can borrow the funding to cover the annual payment, by paying for a new ambulance and equipment for Midwest Medical, for the City’s share of the agreement with the other taxing entities, which could result in a record-high property tax levy.

In other action, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution setting the date for public hearing on adoption of the FY 2025 Budget, as April 17, 2024. Lund said the budget reflects the Council’s priorities. FY 2025 expenditures, he said, amount to nearly $18.8-million. They also passed a Resolution “Approving Contract and Bonds for the 2024 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project.”

The Council agreed to Terminate City Clerk Services Contract with Marne Effective May 31, 2024, and they passed an Order to Approve The Retail Coach Contract Extension, which had been Tabled during the last meeting. And, since the Council took no action on a motion to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Barb Barrick to Temporarily Provide City Clerk Consulting Services for the City of Atlantic, a Resolution to that effect, failed. Councilperson Elaine Otte on the search for a new City Clerk…

In other business:

• The Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution “Authorizing and Combining Loan Agreements, Approving the Future Issuance of General Obligation Bonds and Providing for the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Same.” The 5-year, $800,000 bank note through 1st Whitney Bank & Trust, carries an interest rate of 4.5%, and will be used to fund segments of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), including…$200,000 for Police Equipment & Vehicles, $230,000 for Fire Equipment, $100,000 for Library Equipment and Building Improvements, and $250,000 for Emergency Generators. A levy and the collection of taxes to pay for the CIP begins July 1, 2024, with a net annual sum of $184,780.y.

The Council tabled a Resolution “Setting the Date for Public Hearing on a Proposed Ordinance Vacating the Street Located between 3009 Palm Street and 3101 Palm Street in the City of Atlantic, until they receive an update on the status of improvements to one of the properties included in the Right-of-way discussion.

Their final order of business, was to change the dates of the July 2024 Council meetings. The meeting will be held July10th and 24th, due to the fact the original meeting set for July 3rd, comes too close to the Independence Day holiday.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says her husband, Kevin, is doing well after being diagnosed with lung cancer in September and immediately beginning treatment with a breakthrough immune therapy pill.  “He actually snuck away and went hunting a couple of weeks ago and so that is the ultimate sign that he is back and doing well,” Reynolds told reporters. “I am blessed beyond blessed. He has the patience of Job and he is a great dad, a great husband, a great grandpa and really, truly, the rock of my family.” Today (Wednesday) is the couple’s wedding anniversary.

“Forty-two years — he deserves a medal let me tell ya,” Reynolds said, laughing. Reynolds posted a message on social media today (Wednesday), saying she’s grateful to have Kevin by her side. The photo that accompanied that message was of the couple’s arrival at the governor’s 2023 inaugural ball.

Governor Kim Reynolds and Kevin Reynolds arrive at 2023 Inaugural Ball in Des Moines. Reynolds posted this photo on X today, along with a message about the couple’s 42nd wedding anniversary. (Photo used with permission from governor’s staff.