The Mentor in Violence Prevention program is teaching Iowa high school and college students how to prevent sexual assault. M-V-P coaches the students to intercede when they recognize signs of looming sexual violence. Iowa State University student Tucker Carrell participated in M-V-P while in high school and says sometimes it’s hard to speak up, but it’s important to act.

“I know one of the biggest things that we consistently talked about and that I really took from this whole program was just listening to things happen, being that bystander,” Carrell says. “It really almost hurts you more and affects you more because you hang on to that and you remember that as well as letting you know whoever is committing some kind of action or harmful act know that’s okay or think that is okay.”

A recent study found one in five women are sexually assaulted while in college. Alan Heisterkamp, director of the Mentors in Violence Prevention Leadership Institute, says silence in the face of disrespect or assault condones sexual violence, so the program teaches bystander intervention.

Heisterkamp says, “You may think that it’s wrong but if we speak out or respond in a way to correct the behavior, often times the abuse or the inappropriate comments can come back on me because the culture of that system doesn’t support those prosocial behaviors.” Carrell and Heisterkamp made their comments on the Iowa Public Radio program, “River to River.”

(Radio Iowa)

Republican Congressman Steve King says the reaction will be “politically nuclear” if President Obama bypasses congress and issues an executive order granting some sort of legal status to illegal immigrants. “First, the president has no constitutional authority to make up laws as he wishes they would be, but he threatens to do so anyway,” King says. “…If the president does this and five to nine or more million people get a ‘you are now legal’ slip from the president of the United States, that throws us into an instantaneous constitutional crisis.”

Congress faces another deadline in September to approve a federal budget or pass a stop-gap measure to avoid a government shutdown. King says those discussions may break down if President Obama uses an executive order on immigration policy. “This would be the most blatantly unconstitutional act by any president of the United States ever if he does what his trial balloons and his own threats have promised to do,” King says. “And so, as the intensity of that gets closer and closer, it’s more and more likely that something like that will happen.”

Reports indicate President Obama is considering executive action that would make more undocumented immigrants eligible for green cards and place more people on the “deferred action” list, so deportation proceedings are delayed. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says it “would be a shame” if Republicans in congress decide to shut down the government over the immigration issue.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say no one was hurt when a deer slammed into the window of a restaurant in Sioux City. The City Journal reports the 4-point buck hit the exterior glass of a double-paned window at Rebos yesterday afternoon. The interior window did not break and the deer did not enter the restaurant. Sioux City Animal Control officials say the deer was badly wounded in the incident. It was later euthanized.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s workforce agency is defending herself against accusations of mismanagement. Iowa Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert came before the Senate Government Oversight Committee on Wednesday. During two days of hearings, a former workforce judge has said he was unfairly fired and staffers questioned why they were told to keep quiet about the agency’s decision to grant unemployment benefits to people who didn’t seek them earlier this year.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man in northern Iowa has been arrested after authorities say he made threatening statements against school children. Acting Floyd County Attorney William Baresel said Wednesday that Loren Saxon was arrested Sunday. He faces charges of terroristic threats and public intoxication.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of a Waterloo man linked to a 2011 gang-related shooting. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled in a decision issued Wednesday that gang evidence and a police interview were properly used in the trial of Montez Caples.

Wednesday (Aug. 27th) was the last day for candidates to file their nomination papers for County Offices. In Montgomery County, the following persons filed by the 5-p.m. deadline:

Montgomery County Ag Extension Council (Vote for 5)
· Darcy Dalton
· Linda Parker
· Joseph Jardon
· Lori Dekay
· Misty Adams
· Kate Fridolph

Montgomery County Recorder (Vote for 1)
· Carleen Bruning (Rep)

Montgomery County Treasurer (Vote for 1)
· Carol Strovers (Rep)

Montgomery County Attorney (Vote for 1)
· Bruce Swanson (Rep)

Montgomery County Supervisor District #1 (Vote for 1)
· Steven D. Ratcliff (REP)

Montgomery County Supervisor District #2 (Vote for 1)
· Joshua A. Wiig (REP)
· Karen Blue

Montgomery County Supervisor District #4 (Vote for 1)
· Mark L. Peterson

Montgomery County Hospital Trustees (Vote for 3) 6 year term
· Lorin Peterson
· Kenneth Rech
· Sarah Wearin Smith

Montgomery County Soil & Water Commissioner (Vote for 2) 4 year term
· Kirk Baird
· Roger Cerven
· Deborah Howe
· Mary Robinette

Stanton City Council TFV (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Douglas Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Douglas Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

East Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

East Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Frankfort Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Frankfort Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Garfield Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Garfield Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· Ron Gerlt

Grant Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Grant Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Lincoln Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Lincoln Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Pilot Grove Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Pilot Grove Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Red Oak Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Red Oak Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Scott Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Scott Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Sherman Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Sherman Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Washington Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Washington Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· Cheryl Case

West Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
· None Filed
·
West Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
· Joseph Jardon

2. Public Measure for Appointment of Township Officers

SHALL THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEASURE BE ADOPTED?
Shall the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors fill the offices of Township Trustees and Township Clerks by appointment as the terms of office of the incumbent officers expire?

3. Stanton Special Election

Stanton City Council Vacancy (Vote for 1)
· None Filed

Questions may be directed to the Montgomery County Elections Office at 712-623-5127.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court is hearing attorneys, judges, and law professors give their opinions on what would happen if the state eliminated the requirement that all attorneys must pass the bar exam before beginning practice. Currently only Wisconsin allows attorneys graduating from in-state law schools to skip the test.

The Iowa State Bar Association has suggested Iowa adopt the policy called diploma privilege allowing students graduating from law schools at Drake or the University of Iowa to practice law without taking the bar. Supporters say it will help reduce the debt of law students by allowing them to enter the work force sooner and may help slow declining law school enrollment.

Opponents say the bar exam serves an important gatekeeping purpose of weeding out lawyers unprepared to begin practicing law.