(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand says his office will conduct an audit of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Sand says the audit comes at the request of State Representative Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown. Cahill tells Sand the audit is needed after the unexpected layoffs in July of eleven full-time staff.

She says these cuts were made without input from the Legislature and occurred despite the home receiving an additional one million dollars in state funding during the budget process.

Cahill says in her letter to Sand that the cuts are in direct conflict of their mission to “provide a continuum of care to Iowa’s veterans and their spouses in an environment focusing on individualized services to enhance their quality of life.”

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Commission held a hearing today (Tuesday) to review potential changes to the state’s renewable energy rules. Environmental groups claim the rules, written in 2017, are outdated and have been used by utilities to mislead Iowans about their renewable energy usage. They want them rescinded and new rules put in place.

Environmental Law and Policy Center attorney Josh Mandelbaum says they believe the rules are actively causing harm to the public by facilitating, legitimizing and failing to hold an account deceptive utility practices All sides will submit their concerns about the rules to the commission next month for further review and discussion.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — A man and a woman were arrested this (Tuesday) afternoon in Red Oak, on numerous charges. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 34-year-old Dylan Thomas Griffeth, and 26-year-old Abigail Jean Kates, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody at around 12:15-p.m., at a residence on E. Market Street.

Griffeth was arrested on five Iowa warrants that include two counts of probation violation — each carries a $10,000 cash-only bond; Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd offense ($5,000 cash-only bond); Harassment in the 3rd degree; and a warrant for violation of a no contact order (with bonds at $300 each). Griffeth was also charged with interference with official acts ($300 bond).

Abigail Kates was arrested for Violation of a no-contact order, Interference with official acts, and being an Accessory after the fact. Her bond was set at $300.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Fourth Judicial District parole officer also assisted in the arrest of both subjects.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On August 22, 2024, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office to Combat Human Trafficking partnered with law enforcement and service providers from across the United States to conduct a multi-state human trafficking operation.

This operation, named “Coast to Coast,” was a grassroots effort involving 12 states with the common goals of identifying trafficking victims, offering these victims much-needed services, arresting traffickers, and making our communities safer. The following Iowa agencies assisted in the operation:

Department of Public Safety (including the Iowa State Patrol and the Division of Intelligence & Fusion Center, Division of Criminal Investigation, and Division of Narcotics Enforcement); Ames Police Department; Ankeny Police Department; Bettendorf Police Department; Burlington Police Department; Cedar Rapids Police Department; Clinton Police Department; Davenport Police Department; Des Moines Police Department; MINE Task Force; Ottumwa Police Department; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Scott County Sheriff’s Office; Wapello County Sheriff’s Office; West Des Moines Police Department; and prosecutors with the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Scott County Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

Iowa joined law enforcement agencies and service providers from New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, and Washington to carry out the operation. Private organizations also assisted, including the Human Trafficking Training Center, Safe House Project, and Nurses Against Trafficking.

Dorothy’s House, Chains Interrupted, and Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services provided victim services during the Iowa operation. Seventeen adults were contacted and offered food, lodging, medical services, drug rehabilitation, counseling/therapy, and childcare. Seven adults were contacted, detained, or identified during the operation.

Further details cannot be released at this time as the investigations are ongoing.

Human trafficking continues to be an issue across America and agencies across the country are taking it seriously to minimize its devastating impacts. For more information on Operation “Coast to Coast” from a national perspective, please contact Dan Nash at dan@humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com.

If you suspect human trafficking in your area, please call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.