With the spike in traffic fatalities in Iowa during 2016, the state senate’s Democratic leader says traffic safety should be a priority issue for the 2017 Iowa legislature. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids was elected leader of Senate Democrats after the November election.  “In 1970, Iowa had over 900 motor vehicle fatalities. Last year, we were down to 317, now we’ve jumped way back up to 400. That’s the wrong direction. We need to work together to continue to drive those numbers down, but that requires people who are committed to making state government work.”

Officials say the latest data indicates at least 401 people died in traffic accidents in Iowa during 2016. In southwest Iowa, Cass County had the most fatalities, at 14, followed by Pottawattamie County, with 13. Adams, Guthrie and Montgomery Counties had zero traffic fatalities last year.

Hogg says legislators need to make sure there are enough state troopers patrolling the state’s highways. “And, by the way, unfortunately Republicans are leading with this effort to take away health benefits from our law enforcement officers and other public workers. I don’t think that’s a solution to the problem. I think we need to support our state troopers,” Hogg says. “We need to add to their numbers.”

Hogg says the state needs “better” laws about distracted driving, too. “You’re going to see an effort to take away automated traffic enforcement in some places. Well, there are some places in the state where that’s important and then, finally, we need a stronger driver’s education system.”

Hogg made his comments during a town hall meeting stop in Mason City on Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa)

A traffic stop early this (Wednesday) morning in Fremont County, resulted in the arrest of a man from Tennessee on numerous drug and weapons charges, as well as multiple warrants from out of state. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports 27-year old Jeffrey Sizemore, of Millington, TN, was found to be in possession of Meth, Marijuana, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and dangerous weapons. A records check revealed he was wanted on numerous warrants.

Sizemore was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held pending an initial court appearance.

Jeffrey Sizemore

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police video shows an Iowa trooper jammed the barrel of his loaded rifle into the shoulder of a suspect at the end of a police chase, leaving the man injured. The Associated Press obtained the video through an Iowa open records law request. It shows suspect Shanne Arre reacting in pain after Iowa State Patrol officer Jeremy Probasco strikes him with the weapon.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — A man who died after a fall at a state park near Boone has been identified as an Ames resident. The state Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday identified the fall victim as 63-year-old Danny Dean Carlile. He was among about 100 people who joined for a New Year’s Day hike Sunday morning at Ledges State Park. Carlile lost his footing while taking photos at an overlook and fell about 60 feet. He was flown to a Des Moines hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Massachusetts-based company says it hopes to build a manufacturing and distribution center in eastern Iowa that eventually will employ 500 people. Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch announced Tuesday that plastic-container company Sterilite wants to build a $73 million facility on 160 acres of land. KWQC-TV reports it would be the largest building in Davenport. City officials will begin considering an incentive package that would include 15 years of property tax rebates and road improvements.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says it “makes sense” for Iowa to consider legislation that would require voters to show identification when casting an election ballot in the state. The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday that such a requirement would ensure voters are valid and aren’t voting in more than one state. State officials do not track voter fraud statewide, but cases of fraudulent voting are exceedingly rare in Iowa.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — A man who died after a fall at a central Iowa state park has been identified as an Ames resident. The state Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday identified the fall victim as 63-year-old Danny Dean Carlile. Carlile was among about 100 people who joined for a New Year’s Day hike Sunday morning at Ledges State Park, south of Boone.

Carlile had left a trail to take photos at an overlook known as Solstice Rock when he lost his footing and fell about 60 feet. He was flown to a Des Moines hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones will swear-in two law enforcement officers during the City Council meeting at City Hall beginning at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday.  Lt. Dave Erickson, who officially took over as Chief of Police on January 1st, will take the Oath of Office. With Erickson’s promotion to Chief, and the resignation of Officer Cody Eckles, the City was down two full-time officers. The first Officer to join the City is Cameron Ward, who comes to Atlantic from the Griswold area. Ward will also take the Oath of Office Wednesday evening from Mayor Dave Jones.

In other business, the Council will hold a Public Hearing on the Development Agreement with the Whitney Group, LLC, authorizing an annual appropriation of Tax Increment Payments and pledging certain tax increment revenues to the payment of the agreement.

The hearing will be followed by a Resolution approving the Urban Renewal Joint Agreement with Cass County, with regard to a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for the Elite Octane, LLC ethanol plant project. Afterward, Susan Fisher, with the EPA, will update the Council on efforts to remove PCE (a chemical found in Dry Cleaning Solvent) contamination found in certain areas of the community.

And, the Council will act on a Resolution endorsing the Use of City Funds for matching funds for [an] Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant. The grant requires matching funds from the City in the amount of $100,000 for an ADA accessible pier, gravel parking lot and engineering fees, associated with the Schildberg Recreation Area campground and bathhouse projects, which will cost an estimated $500,000 altogether. Cass County has already committed $25,000 as its share of the match. If approved, and Enhance Iowa CAT grant would cover the $175,000 in cost for the bathhouse to be located adjacent to the campgrounds.