BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) – Regulators are proposing a nearly $13 million fine against a podcaster accused of hiding the origin of automated phone calls that used the slaying of an Iowa college student to promote white nationalist messages. The Federal Communications Commission says Scott Rhodes violated the Truth in Caller ID Act, which bars the manipulation of caller ID information.

Officials say Rhodes used an autodialer to make hundreds of recorded calls to Brooklyn, Iowa, numbers, citing the killing of Mollie Tibbetts. The Mexican man charged in her death is suspected of living in the U.S. illegally.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines police say a suspect was shot early Friday morning while struggling with officers trying to take him into custody. Officers were sent around 6:20 a.m. to check a report about a domestic dispute involving a threat. Police say that when the two officers tried to arrest a man at the scene, he attacked them and wouldn’t give up. One of the officers shot the man in an arm, but he wouldn’t let medics fully assess his injuries. A wound in his torso was discovered at a hospital. He’s been listed in serious condition. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is –not– among the 15 states that have joined the lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s new rules putting further restrictions on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says his group supports the litigation. “Many, many, many people here in Iowa and around the Midwest are food insecure and have not experienced the economic recovery that others have,” Lehman says. “By putting this rule in place that’s made a lot of people who are at risk and are vulnerable in a really bad spot.”

The rules call for stricter work requirements for those receiving SNAP benefits. Lehman says they want the court to issue a ruling forcing the U-S-D-A to rewrite the regulation. “We want to see the USDA go back and do the rulemaking the way it ought to be,” Lehman says. “It ought to reflect the values that were put in place in the Farm Bill that governs the program and the program ought to be out there to help people where it’s needed appropriately.”  Lehman says most of those who’ve been getting SNAP assistance are in dire economic circumstances.

“There are many studies that show that the vast majority of people who take advantage of SNAP benefits are people who are caring for a needy adult, caring for a child,” Lehman says. “They are not what we consider available to work because they’re occupied with these other things.” Reports say the rule changes would deny food stamps to nearly 700,000 SNAP recipients.

February 1st:

• Margaret Slepsky of Atlantic (Winner)

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports 45-year old Martin Basaldua, of Lenox, was arrested today (Friday), on an active Taylor County warrant for Identity Theft – Fraudulent Practices in the second degree. Basaldua was being held on a $5,000 bond, pending an initial appearance before the Magistrate.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports six people were arrested on drug and other charges, following the execution of a search warrant Thursday, in Lenox. Authorities say Taylor, Adams and Ringgold County Deputies executed a search warrant at 200 West Grove Street, in Lenox, in connection with an on-going theft investigation in Adams County. Officials report as a result, the following persons were arrested on charges listed:

• 38-year old Abraham Schweers, and 46-year old Lynette Huber, both of Lenox, were charged with gathering where controlled substances are used. Their cash bonds were set at $5,000 each, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.
• 24-year old River Pecha-Nichols, of Lenox, was charged with possession of stolen property, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to deliver – methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of counterfeit money, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Pecha-Nichols is being held without bond until seen by the Magistrate.
• 31-year old Melissa Christie, of Lenox, was charged with possession with intent to deliver – methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of counterfeit money, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, possession of a schedule II-controlled substance. Christie was additionally wanted on an outstanding Page County Warrant for a probation violation on an original charge of operating while intoxicated. She was transported to Page County by Taylor County Deputies to be held. After her release from Page she will be transferred to Taylor and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.
• 31-year old Zackary Haley, of Villisca, was arrested on an outstanding Adams County warrant for multiple probation violations on an original charge of gathering where controlled substances are used. Haley was transferred to Adams County and being held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.
• and, 38-year old Michael Hughes, of Lenox, was charged with possession of a controlled substance – marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hughes was being held on a $1,300 cash bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has posted reports on several arrests and prisoner transfers in/out from the past week. The Incarceration report had been off-line since Dec. 17th, and brought back on-line today (Friday), after some software upgrades. Among those arrested over the past week:

• On Thursday, 27-year old Mary Denine Likely, of Omaha, Nebraska, was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness following a fight that occurred at the jail.
• 32-year old Jason Troy Riddle was arrested Wednesday for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on I-80, in Council Bluffs. Dispatch reported Riddles’ vehicle was traveling east in thew westbound lanes near the one-tenth mile marker. It was stopped near mile marker 12, and the arrest was made. In addition to the OWI charge, Riddle was cited for Reckless Driving and Driving on the Wrong Side of a Roadway.
• On Sunday, 24-year old Anthony Michael McCoy, of Avoca, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McCoy was a passenger in a vehicle pulled-over in Avoca.
• Last Saturday, 60-year old Leslie Alan Royer was arrested following an investigation into an alleged assault at a residence west of Carson. Royer was taken into custody for Assault/without intent, causing bodily injury or mental illness, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – 1st offense.
• The afternoon of Jan. 23rd, 19-year old Brandon Joseph Burghardt, of Carter Lake, was arrested following an investigation into the theft – vehicle related. Burghardt was charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree/1st offense, Theft in the 3rd (Theft from a motor vehicle), and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree (for damage under $300). His bond was set at $4,300 altogether. 26-year old Patrick Allen Eggerling, of Avoca, was also arrested January 23rd. He was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault/ Strangulation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Jan. 31, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program has released its 2019 Annual Report. The report highlights progress made on construction and design projects over the last year. It also features information on public outreach, program status, statistics for work completed in 2019, and a preview of 2020 activities. To view the report online, visit www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov/2019annualreport

Click on the map to enlarge

Iowa DOT District 4 Engineer Scott Schram says “The program was very busy over the last year working toward opening the dual, divided freeway and completing the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over I-29. The program’s annual report provides a high-level overview of all of the work that occurred in 2019 and provides a summary of how the Iowa DOT is delivering this important highway improvement project.”

To find out more about the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement program, go to www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov.

A year ago, many Iowa Democrats were debating how to pronounce Pete Buttigieg’s last name. He’s now projected to be among the top-tier finishers in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

Earlier this week, Radio Iowa listeners heard the closing arguments from Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar. Radio Iowa requested an interview with Bernie Sanders, but a campaign spokesman said the impeachment trial had complicated the senator’s schedule.