(Fremont, NE) – A Montgomery County (IA) man is dead following a crash Wednesday afternoon in Dodge County, Nebraska. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, 32-year-old Anthony Branam, of Villisca died when the vehicle rear-ended a semi-tractor trailer at around 3:30-p.m., Wednesday, on Highway 77, north of Fremont, NE.

The driver of the semi was not injured. Authorities say the crash closed a stretch of the highway for about three hours.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says political rhetoric has become too heated on both sides of the partisan divide, but she voted against the formal reprimand of a fellow Republican because House Democrats haven’t taken similar action against other Democrats. Hinson voted against censuring Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar for posting an animated video online that depicted him attaching President Biden and killing a New York Congresswoman.  “It’s absolutely wrong to depict violence against another member of congress and the president and there’s no excuse or justification for that behavior,” Hinson says. “…Violent rhetoric is unacceptable.”

But Hinson says Democrats failed to censure a California Congresswoman last year who had called on protesters to get more confrontational. “Accountability for wrongdoing shouldn’t be determined by your party, but Speaker Pelosi has set that unequal standard,” Hinson says. “…I’m commuted to making sure we lower the temperature in our nation’s political discourse and that’s the way I’m choosing to lead on this issue in Iowa’s first district.”

Randy Feenstra of Hull and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa — the other Republicans in Iowa’s U.S. House delegation — also voted against removing a fellow Republican from his committee assignments, but did not make public statements about their votes. Nor did Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, who voted to censure the G-O-P congressman for his social media postings.

(Radio Iowa) – The state Board of Education has approved rules for the new law that makes it easier to form publicly-funded charter schools. The board’s attorney, Thomas Mayes, told them this process will be quite different than what they’ve seen in the past. “I don’t think that the educators, the general public has fully processed the change this statute made. It’s big and bold — as some things should be — but when something is big and bold, the butterfly effect, it’s major,” Mayes says.

He says it will be a different process when the charter schools come to the board for approval. “Ordinarily, we think about waiving statutory requirements. Or I am seeking a waiver of X. The default rule for the charters is they are exempt from that. They don’t have to prove that they need a waiver — they’re just exempt from it,” Mayes explains. “Except, unless it’s specifically listed or two areas where they are required to seek a waiver. That language is critical, because a waiver implies that somebody has a burden to prove something.”

Mayes talked about some of the other exemptions in the charter school law. “They are exempt from limitations regarding year-round schools. they are exempt from the August 23rd start state. Because those were not specifically listed as things to which they either must comply or must seek your permission,” he says.

May says they received several public comments on the new rules and many were helpful in moving them forward. Board staff say they have received around six requests for information on charter schools. Groups that want to open a new charter school in Iowa next fall now have until February to submit an application.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County, Thursday, said a Malvern man was taken into custody Wednesday. 40-year-old William Cody for OWI/1st offense. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) – Two people were injured in a house explosion in eastern Iowa last (Wednesday) night. KCRG-TV reports Jones County dispatch got a 911 call about a disturbance. A woman in Monticello claimed her husband was threatening to blow up the house. Deputies arrived and tried to talk with the man, who allegedly set off a device in the basement, damaging the structure and starting a fire. The man and a deputy were hurt, but the report says neither had life-threatening injuries.

The man, identified as 62-year-old David Costello, is being held on a court-ordered committal.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging have announced that they will host their 3rd Annual Secret Santa for Seniors, holiday gift program. According to Aubury Krueger-Kutchara, Connections’ Director of Community Engagement, the agency is looking for nominations for older community members aged 60 or older that have little or no family near, that would benefit from some holiday cheer.  The organization is also looking for community members that would like to “adopt” an older community member and purchase gift cards from their wish list.

Krueger-Kutchara says they are focusing on gift cards again this year to ensure health and safety of older community members and donors. She says “Our seniors are thrilled to be able to shop for wanted items without affecting their tight budget.” Three years ago, Connections staff came together, and thought it would be great if there was a holiday giving program specifically for seniors.  There were many programs throughout our service area for children and families, but no programs just for older community members.  In the previous 2 years, Connections has been able to bring holiday joy to 139 seniors across its service area.

Tasha Jones, Elder Rights Specialist with the Connections Agency, says “It is such an honor to be able to offer this unique program again to our very special community members. A common theme in talking with our seniors is the gratitude they have to receive gift cards to purchase wanted items without choosing between a basic need and to be remembered during the Holiday Season. Our program is a great example of how community comes together to support each other and its members.”

To find out how you can nominate an older community member for the program, or how you can donate contact Tasha Jones at tjones@connectionsaaa.org

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa’s Auditor of State Rob Sand announced today (Thursday)), “Pi Day,” the winners of the first Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Awards. Included among the area award winners was Cass and Ringgold Counties, and the City of Beaconsfield, in Ringgold County.

Auditor Sand established the PIE program in 2019. 79 counties and 267 cities took Auditor Sand’s opportunity to share how they are using practical tips and tricks to reduce waste, by filling out the Office’s “PIE” chart. Iowa’s local governments also developed “PIE” recipes to be shared by their creators with other public entities statewide. Cost-cutting measures range from shutting off the lights to reduce energy costs, to the creation of policies that reduce travel expenses.

Cities and counties were awarded points, based on the number of cost-cutting measures implemented in 2019 and 2020.

This year’s PIE Awards go to:
• Largest City: Cedar Rapids, population 132,301*
• Smallest City: Beaconsfield, population 18*
• Largest County: Polk County, population 490,161*
• Smallest County: Ringgold County, population 4,964*
• Most Submissions Within a County: Johnson County, 100% participation among agencies.
• Most Improved: A tie between the cities of Dysart and Wilton. Each more than doubled the number of efficiency measures from 2019 to 2020.
• Overall Best Performing City: Montezuma, 42 efficiency measures.
• Overall Best Performing County: Fayette, 50 efficiency measures.
• Best Performing County, Largest Fifth in Population: Johnson County
• Best Performing County, Second Fifth in Population: Fayette County
• Best Performing County, Middle Fifth in Population: Tie between Iowa and Cass Counties.
• Best Performing County, Fourth Fifth in Population: Mitchell County
• Best Performing County, Smallest Fifth in Population: Ida County
• Best Performing City, Largest Fifth in Population: Cedar Rapids
• Best Performing City, Second Fifth in Population: Montezuma
• Best Performing City, Middle Fifth in Population: Plainfield
• Best Performing City, Fourth Fifth in Population: Alleman
• Best Performing City, Smallest Fifth in Population: Ricketts

The winners of this year’s PIE Awards will receive a pie of their choice, hand delivered by Auditor Sand. Auditor Sand thanks all of the PIE participants and appreciates their efforts to save
taxpayer money.

*Based on 2019 Census