Two men who were allegedly trying to pick fights in Council Bluffs Monday evening, were stabbed by a man who they allegedly assaulted. Council Bluffs Police say just before 7-p.m. Monday, Council Bluffs police and fire personnel were dispatched to the area of North 42nd Street and River’s Edge Parkway for a stabbing. 19-year old Ronald Buchanan of Council Bluffs and 27-year old Tevin Vanderpool, of Omaha, were both on the ground, bleeding from their abdomens. Medics transported both to a trauma center in Omaha for treatment; each were found to have received one puncture wound. Buchanan was in stable condition and Vanderpool was in critical condition at last report.

Officers were able to quickly determine that their alleged target, 27-year old Andrew Poeckes, of Council Bluffs, who was still at the scene, had stabbed both Buchanan and Vanderpool. Poeckes, who was treated at a Council Bluffs hospital for facial injuries, was released after being interviewed by detectives. Poeckes told detectives after he left work in downtown Omaha, he was walking to his Council Bluffs home, crossing the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge. While on the bridge, Poeckes noticed Buchanan and Vanderpool on the bridge as well. He said the two men were being loud and aggressive, and attempting to start fights with other people on the bridge.

As Poeckes walked past them, Buchanan and Vanderpool reportedly made derogatory comments directed at him. Poeckes stated that he did not respond to the comments and continued to walk eastward, across the bridge. Buchanan and Vanderpool followed Poeckes and as he neared the bottom of the bridge on the Iowa side, Buchanan and Vanderpool began to assault Poeckes, repeatedly punching him in the face and pulling on his clothing.

While he was being attacked, Poeckes was able to pull out a small folding pocket knife that he was carrying in his pocket and stabbed both Buchanan and Vanderpool one time each in their abdomens. Several witnesses in the area gave statements that indicated that they saw Buchanan and Vanderpool assaulting Poeckes, with Poeckes eventually swinging back at them to protect himself. The witnesses did not realize that Poeckes had a knife in his possession until after both Buchanan and Vanderpool were laying on the ground, bleeding from their mid‐sections.

The case remains under investigation, but preliminary indications are that Poeckes was acting in self‐defense when he used his pocket knife to fend off Buchanan and Vanderpool. The County Attorney’s Office has been consulted and at this time authorities anticipate requesting arrest warrants for Buchanan and Vanderpool, charging each of them with assault. Detectives are interested in speaking with any other citizens who were on, or near, the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge Monday evening, who may have witnessed anything relevant to this case. Please call  712‐328‐4728 if you have any information to share.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has some big decisions to make about several controversial measures approved by the Legislature. Topics include limiting duties of the attorney general, changing how judges are picked, sports betting, prohibiting the use of Medicaid funding to pay for sex-reassignment surgery and prohibiting the government spending on sex education courses offered by Planned Parenthood.

On sports betting, Reynolds says she’s hearing from people concerned about gambling addiction and from those who say sports betting is happening anyway and should be regulated.
Reynolds declined Tuesday to give her views on the bills, saying she’ll analyze each and make a decision.

More than 100 bills have been sent to Reynolds, who has 30 days to make decisions. She’s signed nearly 50 measures passed by the Legislature so far.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a pursuit that began in the County Monday afternoon ended with the arrest of a Nebraska man. 30-year old David-John Kalani Kaneala Kauai, of Omaha, faces charges that include Theft in the 2nd Degree, Eluding, Reckless Driving, and Speeding. Additional charges are pending in Page County. Authorities say at around 3:36-p..m., Deputies attempted to stop a 2009 Ford F-350 near the intersection of S. Avenue/Highway 34 east of Stanton.

The vehicle however, fled the scene eastbound on Highway 34 into Adams County. The pickup entered a farm field and eventually came back to Highway 34, and back into Montgomery County. It turned southbound onto Highway 71. The truck continued southbound on Highway 71 at speeds over 100 mph, until it hit a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle at Highway 2/Highway 71 east of Clarinda. The vehicle then went into the ditch just south of that intersection.

Kalani Kaneala Kauai was taken into custody without further incident. Authorities determined the vehicle he was driving had been stolen from Council Bluffs earlier in the day, Monday. The Iowa State Patrol is handling the accident investigation. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Page County Sheriff’s Office, Clarinda Police Department, and Clarinda EMS.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer today (Tuesday) reports 37-year old Amanda Thompson, of Atlantic, was arrested April 5th, on an active Carroll County Warrant.  Thompson was later released to Carroll County Deputies. On April 18th, 35-year old Laura Lynn Madden, of Audubon, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, No Insurance and Expired Registration.  Madden was subsequently cited, and released on promise to appear in court.

On April 21st, 27-year old Alex Michael Garside and 21-year old Emily Christine Camden, both of Audubon, as a result of a search warrant, were both charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and two-counts of Child Endangerment.  The pair were transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search warrant.

The Harlan Police Department reports 23-year old Collin Reed Smith, of Harlan was cited this (Tuesday) morning, for driving while suspended, following a traffic stop in the 2900 block of 12th Street. Last Saturday, 40-year old Dane Markes Purcell, of Dunlap, was arrested following a traffic stop. Purcell was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while suspended and failure to prove security against liability.

On Friday, 64-year old Mark Edward Olson, of, Harlan, was arrested following a call regarding a possible domestic situation. Olson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault. And, on April 25th, 50-year old Jodie Ann Tuttle, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for an accident. Tuttle was transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active warrant out of Council Bluffs. Tuttle was also charged with driving while barred and failure to prove security against liability.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A Newton company that builds wind turbine blades has settled with state regulators following an investigation into workplace safety violations. The Des Moines Register reports that TPI Composites didn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in the settlement with Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration signed last month.

The settlement requires TPI to restrict employee contact with hazardous chemicals, eliminate fall dangers and alter how the factory stores combustible liquids. The company has adopted new polyethylene suits to protect workers against the chemicals. Iowa regulators gave TPI until Aug. 31 to fix all of the residual safety hazards.

Iowa OSHA levied nearly $155,000 in fines against TPI last year due violations including fire dangers, airborne contaminants, improper record keeping, fall hazards and a shortage of adequate protective gear for employees.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Tuition increases of 3.9% have been recommended to the Iowa Board of Regents. The regents are expected to vote on the proposal Wednesday at their meeting in Urbandale. The increases would take effect next fall at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and Iowa State University in Ames. But no increase was recommended for the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Officials say Northern Iowa has a different competitive landscape and student body makeup.

The tuition increases are being sought because the Legislature has approved an education budget that includes $6 million less than university officials had sought.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 9-a.m. Wednesday in the Greenfield City Hall Meeting Room. On their agenda is the setting of a Public Hearing for a FY 2019 Budget Amendment, and discussion with regard to Tax Increment Financing(TIF), and the Urban Renewal Plan. The Adair County Engineer will present his weekly report, and the Board will review/and or act on a Manure Management Plan, a change to the Courtyard Use Permit, cancellation of the SIRWA Grid Project, and discussion pertaining to the Secondary Roads’ Union Contract.

(Radio Iowa) — State flood aid is included in a bill that cleared the Iowa legislature on Saturday — the final day of its 2019 session. Republican Representative Ray Sorenson of Greenfield says 15-million dollars will be available for local governments in the seven counties hardest hit by this year’s flooding. “These communities would be able to apply for funds to assist with flood response, flood recovery and flood mitigation efforts,” Sorenson says. “These funds could be used to meet federal match requirements or as part of further flood recovery or flood protection efforts in their communities.”

The Flood Recovery Fund will be managed by an already-existing state board created after the massive flooding that hit Iowa in 2008. “This approach will allow us to maximize federal funding and allow communities to move quicker in recovering from this spring’s floods,” Sorenson says.  Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the legislature should have committed more to deal with the “extraordinary damage” from this year’s flooding.  “Based on my experience in the flood of 2008…I am highly skeptical that $15 million is going to be enough before the legislature reconvenes next January,” Hogg said.

He said also, “…I think it is crystal clear that the homeowners and the businesses and the families that have lost so much need more help.” Two weeks ago, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds asked legislators to set aside the 15-million dollars for flood recovery and mitigation. Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says the governor has a team of experts on the ground and he trusts her judgment. “One of the determinations that’s made when you apply for federal funds is if the need is actually here,” Breitbach said. “If we can show we don’t have a need for those funds because we’ve already appropriated more money than is needed, it can hinder some of our qualifications to receive some of those funds.”

Legislators did commit another 10 million dollars to state tax credits for home building, hoping to help RE-building in devastated communities like Pacific Junction and Hamburg.