A recently released study by the Marine Corps found all-male squads were safer, more efficient and more lethal that squads the included women. Iowan Joni Ernst is the only female combat veteran in the U-S Senate, and says she is aware of the study, but hasn’t read the full report. “It is very interesting — I do think we have a number of challenges as we move into integrated combat roles for men and women. It is fascinating as we go through this,” Ernst says.

The Republican from Red Oak says she wants more information on the performance of women in the military. “I would like to see more than just a Marine Corps study,” Ernst says. “I would like to see across the board how we are integrating females into those combat roles in all branches, whether it is through the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, etcetera.”

Ernst says the role of women in the military has been changing rapidly. “Going back to several weeks ago, we did have two females who graduated from the Airborne Ranger Training Brigade at Fort Benning, they completed Ranger school,” according to Ernst. “They are showing that women can compete and complete these types of courses. We need more information as actually move into integrating within the combat role, on the ground in combat.” She is anxious to see how the role of women in the military develops.

“I think many of us agree that certainly there are roles for women in combat. We want to make sure that no standards are lowered to enable women to participate. Certainly we have women who can meet those standards,” Ernst says. She says we need to do “what is right and best for all of our troops.” Ernst is lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and did a tour of duty in Iraq.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods is adding 60 jobs at ones of its Council Bluffs plants a month after closing a beef plant in Denison. Company officials say the Council Bluffs plant would add jobs to help produce pork chops and roasts. Plant manager Doug Griffin says he’s excited to be creating more jobs in Council Bluffs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two more University of Iowa presidential search committee members met eventual pick Bruce Harreld during his campus visit several weeks before his name was released as a candidate. Business school dean Sarah Gardial and Faculty Senate President Christina Bohannan confirmed Wednesday they attended a speech Harreld gave in July and had lunch with him. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Harreld also met Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter and search committee chair Jean Robillard.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Colorado man has waived his right to a speedy trial on a murder charge in Black Hawk County. Thirty-seven-year-old Steve Fordyce Jr. is accused of shooting 43-year-old Donald Harrington in Waterloo last month. Fordyce had been scheduled to stand trial in November, but waived his right to the speedy trial at an arraignment hearing Tuesday.

RAYMOND, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a motorcyclist and a car driver have died in a head-on collision in Black Hawk County. The accident occurred Wednesday morning on a road between Jesup and Raymond. Names of the victims have not been released.

Just like popular television shows, real-world experts help government agencies and private companies nab cyber criminals. As technology continually changes, IT professionals say there is an increasing need for more cyber detectives and investigators. Headline-making data breaches such as the recent Ashley Madison hack are drawing attention to the need for professionals who can stop cyber criminals in their tracks.

Professor of Information Technology at Des Moines Area Community College Bryan Burkhardt says a vast spectrum of computer-related crimes including identity theft, harassment and virtual terrorism are becoming increasingly common. “As we continue to push more and more of our lives into a digital fashion, there are more and more opportunities for bad guys and bad gals to use digital devices to help commit crime, and so therefore I think that need is just going to escalate.”

He says there are opportunities for cyber-security professionals in both the public and private sectors. At the state and federal level, they help law-enforcement agencies investigate computer criminals such as hackers or child predators. And in the private sector, cyber-security exerts can prevent and assess emerging threats.

Des Moines Area Community College offers a two-year program in criminal justice with an emphasis on electronic investigation. Burkhardt says students learn how digital data is stored, used and deleted, along with vital communication and problem-solving skills for cyber crime fighting. “They also understand that the computer can only tell one component of it, or the digital device or mobile phone can only tell one component of it. It’s ultimately also linking it with a human story.”

As technology evolves, Burkhardt notes there will be a lifetime of learning for computer crime experts. And he says a good candidate also will have an understanding of legal rights and a curiosity to search for answers to questions that have never been asked. “You merge the scientist, the respectful legal entity as well as the technology strength person and you’ve got yourself a very good digital investigator.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for cyber detectives and investigators was about 77 thousand dollars a year in July of 2014.

(Iowa News Service)

The City of Atlantic’s Code Enforcement Officer reported to the City Council, Wednesday, that efforts to get people to comply with City Code regarding dilapidated properties and un-mowed lawns, met with success this past summer. Kris Erickson said the first thing she did when she was named to the positon, was to raise the City’s fees for abatements. That was accomplished with assistance from the City Administrator, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent and Street Department Superintendent.

Erickson said “The purpose of raising the fees was to hopefully minimize the number of properties that are abated each year, as well as make them current. In doing so, the price of equipment used by the City to clean-up neglected properties was set at an hourly rate, which she says “Has had the desired effect we were hoping [for].”

The City’s Code of Ordinances pertaining to grass mowing was recently changed to state that a person who was in violation of the ordinance requiring the grass to be mowed , would no longer receive a letter in the mail notifying them they were in violation before City crews mowed the property if it was at 12-inches at the 1st and 15th of each month. The City would then bill the property owner for the time and equipment. Erickson said that change didn’t exactly work out as planned.

She said since there were a few “hiccups” in the new system, Mayor Dave Jones suggested to Erickson that “Instead of going back on piles of paperwork, certified letters and deadlines,” the City send out postcards be made up on a one-time notice warning citizens if they were in violation, and giving them a weekend to comply.

She said that little change in itself has cut-down on the number properties the city has had to mow. Altogether, there were 45 grass abatements. There also weren’t too many properties that required clean-up by Erickson and Wastewater Treatment plant staff, but there was one property in particular with no one living there, that took hours to clean-up, and a struggle with the property owner to get them to comply. The property at 808 Birch was cleaned-up in late August.

Erickson said the problem in the back yard wasn’t immediately noticed, because it was hidden from view. There was a privacy fence that, while maintained on the outside to keep up appearances, was neglected on the other side. Once all the brush was cleared away from the back yard, a scaffolding used for installation of siding was observed against the house. Neighbors said it had been there for a couple of years.

The property owners were identified as Imperial One Properties. It cost the City a total of around $3,254 to clean up the mess. The City has been in contact with the owners and is working to recoup the cost of time and labor expended. Erickson said she is working with Interim City Attorney Dave Wiederstein on how to deal with abandoned or unattended properties. Information has been gathered she said, that will allow the City to move forward with legal proceedings.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods is adding 60 jobs at one of its Council Bluffs plants a month after closing a beef plant in Denison, Iowa. Tyson officials said Wednesday that the Council Bluffs plant would add jobs to help produce pork chops and roasts. The plant that specializes in retail-ready beef and pork products already employs about 1,100. Plant manager Doug Griffin says he’s excited to be creating more jobs in Council Bluffs.

A month ago, Tyson eliminated about 400 jobs about 70 miles away in Denison when it decided to close the beef production plant there. At the time, company officials said it needed to reduce its beef production capacity.

24-hours prior to the deadline for submitting nomination papers to run for city offices during the Nov. 3rd elections in Cass County, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports that as of 5-p.m. Wednesday, some additional candidates have filed for various elected seats.

As previously reported here on KJAN, in Anita, Ben Daughenbaugh has filed for Mayor. Daughenbaugh now faces a challenge from Timothy Miller for the top post in Anita. And, Thomas R. Harris has filed to run for one of two seats on the Anita City Council.

In Cumberland, incumbent Mayor Nancy Virginia Couglin filed for re-election, while incumbent Sandra K. Eversole, and Scott W. Becker, have filed to run for two of three seats on the City Council, one of which is to fill a vacancy.

In Griswold, incumbent Ryan Askeland has filed for re-election to his Council seat. Carmen Sorensen has filed nomination papers to run for the second of three seats open on the Council. No one has as yet, filed to run for Mayor. Voters in Griswold will also be asked to decide on Public Measure C, which asks if the City should change the Mayor’s term from a two-year term to a four-year term.

In Lewis, Jon E. Mosier has filed papers to run for Mayor, while Leroy Easter and Marvin Bradfield have filed for one of three seats open on the Council. Lewis voters will also decide on Public Measure D, which asks if an annual levy, the amount of which will not exceed a rate of twenty-seven cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of the taxable property, is authorized for providing moneys for public library services?

In Marne, incumbent Mayor Randy Baxter is running unopposed for re-election. Two incumbents, Alan Cranston and Lori Holste, along with Michael Jensen, are running for three of five open seats on the City Council. No candidates have filed to fill the remaining two seats. Marne voters also have an issue to vote on. Public Measure E asks “Shall an annual levy, the amount of which shall not exceed a rate of one dollar and fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of the taxable property in the unified law enforcement district be authorized for providing additional moneys needed for unified law enforcement services in the district?”

In Massena, incumbent Mayor Linda Reineke has filed for re-election, while incumbents Kevin and Adam McCunn have filed for re-election to one of three seats on the City Council, with Micah Lee running in an Appointed position on the Council.

In Wiota, there will be a three-way race for two seats on the City Council. Incumbent Jon Schwarte is running for re-election, while newcomers Steven R. Havens and Jim Fischer are hoping they will be voted into office. No one had filed to run for Mayor, as of Wednesday evening.

And in Atlantic, three out of four incumbent Councilpersons have filed for re-election. They include Dana Halder – At Large, Chris Jimerson – 1st Ward, and Linda Hartkopf – 4th Ward. Third Ward Councilperson Ashley Hayes had not yet filed nomination papers as of Wednesday evening. And, Dick Casady, who was appointed by Mayor Dave Jones earlier this year to fill a vacancy on the Council, is currently unopposed in his bid for election to the 5th Ward. No candidate has filed to run for the single open seat on the Parks and Rec Board.

Voters in Atlantic will also have to make up their minds on Public Measure B, which asks “Shall the City of Atlantic, in Cass County, Iowa, issue its bonds, paid with local option sales tax (LOST) revenue in an amount not exceeding the amount of $875,000 for the purpose of paying for the cost of restoring the historic ballroom/theater and creating a multi-purpose facility on the second and third floors of City Hall?”

Persons wishing to run for elected City Offices in Cass County have until 5-p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17th to file nomination papers with the Cass County Auditor’s Office.

The Atlantic City Council discussed, but took no action on who will be appointed as the next City Attorney. The search began early last month after Jamie Arnold announced his resignation. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee declined to make a recommendation to the Council on the three applicants for the job, choosing instead to let the Council discuss the matter first.

The prospects include Clint Fichter, of Avoca, with Fichter Municipal Services and Law; J.C. Van Ginkel, with Van Ginkel Law Offices, and, David Weiderstein, with Otto, Lawrence and Weiderstein Law Offices, both located in Atlantic. The applicant who is appointed would fill the vacancy position from October 1st, 2015 through December 31st, 2016.

Councilperson Linda Hartkopf said she felt comfortable with having Wiederstein resume full-time role of City Attorney, based on the fact he has experience in that arena already. Mayor Dave Jones suggested J.C. Van Ginkel would be a good choice because David Weiderstein is the Cass County Attorney, and former Attorney for the City of Atlantic, who hired Jamie Arnold. Arnold worked for Wiederstein’s law firm until his abrupt departure. Wiederstein has been serving as the City Attorney in the interim.

Jones said he prefers J.C as a “Matter of principal.” He explained “Dave’s the County Attorney. He’s our City Attorney. Basically, he’s gonna hire our next City Attorney. My concern is ‘Our we picking our City Attorney, or is Dave picking our City Attorney?'” Wiederstein said even though he did pick the City Attorney the City still went through the bidding process when it came time to appoint that person.

J-C Van Ginkel served as Assistant City Attorney many years ago, when his dad James Van Ginkel was the City Attorney. Jones suggested going with Van Ginkel will allow Wiederstein get his office staffing needs met in the interim. He felt the City would eventually end up hiring someone from Wiederstein’s office anyway.

After some discussion, the Council decided to let the Personnel and Finance Committee take written questions from the Council for each of the candidates, with members of the Council sitting in on the interview process with the Committee as observers. The date and time for the interviews was not set at Wednesday night’s Council meeting.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest last Friday of an Atlantic man on a drug-related charge. 41-year old Dan Douglas Christensen was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Christensen pled guilty to the offense and was released from custody on Saturday.

On September 10th, deputies arrested 39-year old Joseph William Baker, of Griswold, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for Child Support Hearing. Baker was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on $1000 bond.

On Saturday, September 12th, 46-year old Wade Michael Rich, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense (Aggravated). Rich was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on Sunday, 19-year old Amanda Lynn Cooper, of Atlantic, was arrested by Cass County deputies on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense (Aggravated). Cooper was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on her own recognizance.