TRAER, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report, that on February 19, 2024, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Major Crime Unit and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46-year-old Karina Cooper at her residence in Traer, Iowa.

Karina Cooper was arrested for her role in the shooting death of her husband, Ryan Cooper, on June 18, 2021. She was transported to the Tama County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Murder in the First Degree, a Class A Felony. Cooper is being held at the Tama County Jail. Bond is to be determined.

Karina Cooper

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at 641.484.4111, the DCI at 515.725.6010, or email dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

No further information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the government-run Veterans Administration hospitals and clinics need to develop a strategy to keep up with what’s happening in the private sector when it comes to artificial intelligence. “While progress tends to be incremental, occasionally a process or technology emerges that pushes our boundaries out significantly,” Miller-Meeks says. “The integration of artificial intelligence or augmented intelligence in health care offers this opportunity.” Miller-Meeks says there appear to be pitfalls in A-I when it comes to data privacy, but A-I could help quickly and accurately diagnose health issues and predict patient risks — and save money.

Miller-Meeks suggests clear guidelines for human input is critical, however. “If the data A.I. learns from is incorrect or biased, it can make incorrect, predictions that result in over or under diagnosis or mistreatment,” Miller-Meeks says. The Veterans Health Administration is the country’s largest health system, with 172 hospitals and over 11-hundred clinics. “While A.I. holds great promise, the reality is it’s a new, developing technology and we’re still figuring out what is possible and practical and ethical,” Miller-Meeks says.

Miller-Meeks, a Republican who represents Iowa’s first congressional district, is an eye doctor and an Army veteran. She made her comments during a hearing hosted by the U-S House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County (IA) Auditor’s Office reminds persons interested in running for county offices, that the first day for Democratic, Republican and Libertarian candidates to file nomination papers in the office of the county auditor, is Monday, March 4, 2024. Last day to file is Friday, March 22, 2024. Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state:www.sos.iowa.gov

The county positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION are:
Sheriff
Auditor
District 1 Supervisor
District 4 Supervisor
District 5 Supervisor

List of current position holders – County Offices:
Sheriff………………….Darby McLaren, Republican
Auditor…………………Kathy Somers, Republican
District 1 Supervisor….Stephen Green, Republican
District 4 Supervisor…..Steven Baier, Republican
District 5 Supervisor…..Bernard Pettinger, Republican

The filing periods for the November 5, 2024, General Election are:
• U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative and State Office: July 29 – August 24, 2024 (5:00 p.m.)
• County Office: August 5 – August 28, 2024 (5:00 p.m.)
• Ag Extension, Soil & Water Conservation District, Hospital Trustee: Anytime up until August 28, 2024
Monday, August 5, 2024 is the first day for candidates nominated by petition to file nomination papers for county-wide or township offices for the General Election with the County Auditor’s office. Last day to file is Friday, August 28, 2024. Nomination papers may be circulated now. Nomination petitions and other election forms (including a Candidate’s Guide to the General Election) are available at the office of the County Auditor, and from the Iowa Secretary of State (sos.iowa.gov) via the internet.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: The Cass County Auditor, Courthouse 5 W 7th St, Atlantic, IA 50022 Phone: 712-243-4570 and Fax: 712-243-4572. Email: skarns@casscoia.us.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Two local churches are teaming-up to offer those 14-years of age or older, and who have intellectual or physical limitations, a prom-like night of celebration. The honored guests dress up and are treated to an evening of dinner, dancing, flowers, karaoke, photo booth pictures and goody bags filled with fun swag for them to take home. Billie Hoover is part of the group that’s helping to chair the “Shine like Stars” event, in March.

Hoover says they really look forward to the annual event they’ve had since 2018 (with some modification, of course during the COVID years).

She says opportunities and special recognition such as Shine Like Stars for those with physical or intellectual limitations aren’t very prevalent, and it’s a unique demographic in our community. It also offers a chance for the community to volunteer.

Any lady or gentleman who would like to attend the event can come to the First Church of Christ’s “Yes to the Dress-up” in Atlantic, on Feb. 25^th, from 2-until 4-p.m., and see if there is a dress or suit they might like to have for the event – at no charge. The free, Shine Like Stars event takes place March 16^th, from 6-until 8:30-p.m., at the First Church of Christ. Doors open at 6-p.m. Any interested guests or volunteers can sign up at https://www.fccatlantic.com/ministries , or see links on the FCC’s Facebook page.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, make your check out to FCC/Shine Like Stars, 1310 SW 7^th Street, Atlantic, Iowa, 50022. If you need more information, contact one of the following committee members:

Monica Sanny Brandt, 515-971-6270 (monicabrandt17@gmail.com)

Emily Clark, 402-980-0934 (eclark811@gmail.com)

Billie Hoover, 712-250-0286 (bhoover265@gmail.com)

Stephanie Kinzie, 712-249-8087 (stephanie.kinzie@mvtransit.com).

(Radio Iowa) – The federal government says Iowa isn’t processing food assistance applications fast enough. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack sent Governor Kim Reynolds and 43 other states letters urging them to improve the efficiency of their SNAP benefits programs. Luke Elzinga, with the Des Moines Area Religious Council or DMARC, says delays in getting SNAP benefits can be detrimental to those who need them. “For a lot of people, that’s the difference between having funds to feed their families or not,” Elzinga says. “These are people who are waiting for benefits to pay for groceries.”

The letter from U-S-D-A says Iowa has an application processing timeliness rate of just under 83 percent. That’s far below the feds’ acceptable performance rate of 95 percent. Elzinga says he’s concerned the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services doesn’t have sufficient resources to process applications. Elzinga says, “Our HHS, those workers who are processing those applications, they have a lot of work on their hands, especially during the Medicaid unwinding.”

A spokesperson for Iowa H-H-S says the department continues to review and make improvements to the process for reviewing SNAP applications.