(Radio Iowa) – The three Republicans who serve in the U-S House have voted against bills that would create a path to citizenship for so-called Dreamers who were illegally brought into the U-S as children AND for farmworkers living in the U-S without authorization. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Cedar Rapids, says the bill won’t fix the immigration issue. “First of all, we need to point at what’s happening at the border right now. There’s a national security, a public health and a humanitarian crisis happening right now at the southern border,” Hinson says. “That’s a direct result to me of President Biden’s executive orders that incentivized and increased illegal immigration.”

She says she would support a bipartisan approach to fixing the immigration issues. “I am a hundred percent supportive of taking a look at all of our visa programs, the process of immigration, for legal immigration. But is concerning to me when we look at this and say — look there’s a hundred thousand migrants who crossed the border in February alone. That’s up from 78-thousand in January and from the looks of that, the trend is continuing here in the month of march,” Hinson says.

Hinson says the bill is too much. “There are so many immigrants in this country that have gone about it in the right way. And to in essence to create a cut in the line for people who have broken the law to come here — I think is too far,” according to Hinson. “We need to focus on a solution that actually looks at the long-term ramifications of these policies.”

Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says the border must be secured before congress explores any substantial immigration reform. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa also voted against both bills. Congresswoman Cindy Axne of Des Moines, the only Democrat in Iowa’s D-C delegation, supported both bills. Axne says adults who were brought into the country as children know America as their home and deserve the opportunity to get out of legal limbo and fulfill the American dream. Axne says the other bill about farm workers includes provisions she introduced last week that are designed to revise and expand the U-S-D-A’s affordable rural housing programs.

March 19, 2021 (DES MOINES, IA) –  The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, Friday, approved awards for seven established companies, which will assist in the creation of 179 jobs and result in almost $105 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Burlington, Cascade, Iowa City, Johnston, Nevada, Rock Valley and West Des Moines. The board also approved innovation funding in support of three startups located in Carroll, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Of the three start-ups, Classroom Clinic in Carroll offers school-based telehealth services to rural school districts. It offers an innovative solution for rural mental health services, which in turn could improve academic achievement, higher graduation rates and advancement to postsecondary education. The platform allows telehealth providers to effectively connect with schools, students and families to deliver the care they need. The company was awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR) loan for market analysis and IP development and evaluation.

(read more about the other awards, here)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A former Four Oaks youth counselor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing and exploiting a 14-year-old boy in 2018. The Gazette reports that 29-year-old Danielle Hook entered a written plea Thursday to amended charges of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. As part of a deal with prosecutors, a charge of harboring a runaway will be dismissed.

Prosecutors also agreed to recommend lifetime probation for Hook when she’s sentenced May 18. Her convictions on the two counts together carry a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The judge who accepted her plea Thursday ordered her to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Iowans submitted nominations between February 15 – March 15 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2021 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include, in our area, Troy’s Bar and Grill, in Earling.

Other restaurants (in alphabetical order) include:

• Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill, Wilton
• Bambino’s, Ossian
• #DutchFix, Pella
• Fishback & Stephenson Cider House, Fairfield
• Foodie Garage Eatery, Dubuque
• Moo’s BBQ, Newton
• Murph’s Creamery & Grill, Toledo
• Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids
• and The Map Room, Cedar Rapids.

To qualify, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product. Burgers may include any combination of condiments, sauces, cheese or toppings. Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, said “After a challenging year for Iowa’s restaurant industry, it was refreshing to see Iowans rally behind their favorite local burger joint. In total, we had more than 200 towns across Iowa nominated which proves that there are a lot of great tasting burgers all across the state.”

Seven of the Top Ten restaurants are new qualifiers. Returning contestants include Moo’s BBQ, Saucy Focaccia, and Troy’s Bar and Grill. The quest for the winner of the Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The judges’ scores and comments will be accumulated and the winner will be announced on May 3 to kick off May Beef Month.

Peterson says “This year’s Top Ten restaurants are award-winning worthy. But they are only a few of the many restaurants in Iowa that do an outstanding job of promoting and serving our beef products to their customers on behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers. With spring upon us, I challenge Iowans to rally their support behind restaurant owners and Iowa’s beef farmers by choosing to order a beef burger one additional time per week.”

To learn more about the contest and the Top Ten restaurants, including addresses and hours, visit www.iabeef.org.

Last year, The Twisted Tail Steakhouse & Saloon of BeeBeeTown took home the title of 2020 Iowa’s Best Burger. Winners in previous years are: 2019 – Wood Iron Grille of Oskaloosa; 2018 – Café Beaudelaire of Ames; 2017 – The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ of Storm Lake; 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant Adair; 2015 – The Cider House of Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill in Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille in Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Friday, said there were three arrests over the past couple of days. Friday morning, 30-year old Aleasha Lynn Gutierrez, a homeless person, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Eluding. Her bond was set at $5,000. Thursday afternoon, 55-year old Sandra Lea Davis, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Contempt. And, Wednesday afternoon, 22-year old Devin Donte Sattizahn, of Shenandoah, was arrested on a Page County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $2,000.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Hamburg was arrested on Harassment, Extortion and Stalking, charges. Officials say 22-year old Jeremy Rhoades was being held in the Fremont County Jail, pending an initial court appearance. Authorities allege that from March 11th through the 17th, Rhoades began harassing a female at numerous locations around Hamburg. He is also accused of accessing her email and social media accounts, and sending harassing messages to her contacts. It was further alleged that on two occasions Rhoades was armed with a blunt instrument, with the intent to intimidate the victim. He also allegedly threatened to damage the victim’s property for his own financial gain.

Jeremy Rhoades

On March 17th, Rhoades was placed under arrest for Harassment 2nd Degree (third or subsequent offense) and Harassment 3rd Degree. Rhoades was being held on a $1,000 10% bond. The next day, Rhoades was further charged with Harassment 1st Degree (an Aggravated Misdemeanor), Harassment 2nd Degree (a Serious Misdemeanor), Extortion (a Class D Felony), and Stalking while in Possession of a Dangerous Weapon (a Class D Felony).