Republicans in the Iowa Senate have sent the House a plan that cuts the current year’s state budget — to prevent a looming deficit. Republican Senator Mark Chelgren, of Ottumwa, called the 88-million dollars in cuts the “appropriate” way to fix a “mess.” “We’ve come in here surgically to make sure that certain areas aren’t affected,” Chelgren says.

Democrats like Senator Rob Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, complain the plan cuts too deeply into budgets for the community colleges and the state universities in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City. “This is a bad budget that does real harm to Iowans,” Hogg said.

Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, complained the budget for the governor’s office wasn’t touched by the cuts. “Not one single dime of sacrifice from the governor’s office,” Quirmbach said. “He doesn’t have to gite up so much as a flower pot.”

Criticism of previous state spending on decorative flower pots was featured in campaign ads for some Republican senate candidates last fall. Senator Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, accused Democrats of offering “miniscule” cuts Thursday to resolve the current budget dilemma. “We have a reasonable proposal here that does solve the problem we’re in,” Garrett said.

State tax revenues ARE growing this year, but not as much as previously predicted — forcing this budget-cutting debate at the statehouse. This plan will be voted upon in the Republican-led Iowa House on Monday. Governor Branstad has indicated to legislators that he’ll approve it.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department today (Friday) reports 25-year old Morgan Dvorak, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. Dvorak was booked into the Cass County Jail. Wednesday, Atlantic Police arrested 23-year old Jacob Sweeney, of Atlantic, for OWI/1st offense, and, 31-year old Daniel Jensen, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault (impeding air flow), and on two Audubon County warrants for Failure to Appear (in court). Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The chiefs of police in Iowa’s two largest cities are praising a “middle of the road” approach to traffic enforcement cameras. Wednesday, a bill that would BAN traffic cameras cleared its first hurdle in the senate. Thursday, ANOTHER bill that would allow the cameras, but direct the traffic fines to road maintenance has emerged from a subcommittee. Senator Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan, is working on the legislation.

“I felt we needed to have an alternative to zero cameras because safety is real and I appreciate the folks who have concerns about liberty, but there’s also a lot of folks who need the liberty of being able to drive down the road without being hit,” Zumbach says. “And so this bill provides an avenue to have good discussion, to be able to come up with something that we feel is fair.”

Zumbach, who is a farmer, has driven semi loads of grain through downtown Cedar Rapids on Interstate-380 for two decades and he appreciates the speed cameras that are placed there. “Before those cameras, it was vividly dangerous,” Zumbach says. “When I talk about the hair standing up on my arms, it did.”

Speed cameras were installed in 2010 along the “S curve” of Interstate 380 through downtown Cedar Rapids. Wayne Jerman, the chief of police in Cedar Rapids, says that stretch of interstate “is not safe for traditional traffic enforcement.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert says the traffic cameras along Interstate 235 that cuts through Des Moines are placed because of design issues, too.

One senator who supports traffic cameras suggests the pending legislation could require a warning, not a fine, the first time a vehicle is caught on camera running a red light or speeding.

(Radio Iowa)

A report of two suspects breaking into vehicles in Council Bluffs early this (Friday) morning, led to a foot pursuit and one of the suspects being hit by a stun gun. Bluffs Police say at around 4:15-a.m., Officers were dispatched to Lincoln Avenue, and when they arrived observed one suspect near the intersection of Frank St and Morningside
Ave. After a short foot pursuit an Officer deployed his taser and was able to apprehend the suspect. The suspect was identified as 25 year old Keith Wise, of Council Bluffs.

At the time of his arrest, Officers were able to link Wise to four vehicle burglaries. He was charged with four counts of Burglary in the 3rd degree, Interference with Official Acts, Eluding, and Possession of Controlled Substance. The second suspect was not located.

Any information regarding this or any other incident can be reported by calling (712) 328-STOP(7867).

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man wielding a fire extinguisher has rescued a burning U.S. flag from protesters in Iowa City. Organizers told the Iowa City Press-Enterprise  that Thursday’s demonstration across from the Old Capitol Mall was aimed at racial and social injustice and U.S. imperialism. The protesters’ actions drew angry comments from some bystanders.

Iowa City Press-Enterprise/Citizen (photo) (A-P)

One man, Matt Uhrin, used the extinguisher against the flames and, despite some pushing and shoving, took one of the flags from the protesters and walked away. Uhrin returned when they set another flag aflame. More pushing and shoving ensued, but he was unable to retrieve the second flag and lost his extinguisher in the effort.

An Iowa City police officer says two of the protesters were cited because they didn’t obtain a permit for the open burn.