Iowa Democrats presented dramatic changes for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses to national party leaders today (Thursday). Iowa is one of 16 states and Puerto Rico applying to be among the five states that will vote first in the next presidential election cycle. Iowa Democrats propose using mail-in voting in the weeks ahead of Caucus Night, with the winner announced that evening. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says that means precinct leaders will no longer have to count heads in the room and use complex mathematical formulas to determine which candidates get how many delegates.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Scott Brennan, a member of the Democratic National Committee, says a mail-in process to indicate presidential preferences was used in Nevada, North Dakota and Hawaii in 2020.

Democratic National Committee member Mo Elleithee (eh-LAY-thee) in January suggested Iowa’s Caucuses didn’t meet the list of standards party leaders are looking for in a state that kicks-off the presidential campaign, but he’s praising these proposed revisions.

Frank Leone (lee-OWN), another member of the Democratic National Committee, was in Iowa to observe the 2020 caucuses.

Other members of the committee suggested if New Hampshire retains the first primary, it would consider the new Iowa Caucus process very similar to their primary. New Hampshire also has a state law requiring it to hold the nation’s first presidential primary. Brennan, the former Iowa Democratic Party chairman, pointed out Iowa law requires both major parties to hold Caucuses eight days before any other state votes.

A final decision from the national Democratic Party is expected in August. Republicans have already set their 2024 calendar and the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses remain first.

The town of Denison is holding its very first Immigrant Heritage Festival today (Friday). The president of the Denison chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Alma Puga, says she organized the festival as a way for immigrants of all backgrounds to share their cultures.

The 2020 census showed more than a third of the community is foreign-born. Puga says in recent years she’s seen a growth in the immigrant community – with residents from Sudan, Laos, and Central American communities. Patty Ritchie is helping organize the event. She says it will be a chance to highlight all the different languages and customs that makeup Denison. She says she wishes more Iowans understood the amount of diversity the state holds.

The event will also serve as a fundraiser for a scholarship fund for Latino seniors at Denison High School. Ritchie hopes the festival can help them increase the number of students who receive financial aid. The festival will feature everything from cultural dances to a parade to the unveiling of the community’s newest mural. It’s a work of local art that reads “Immigration is Beautiful.”

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Thursday.

The first arrest involved Sheriff’s Officials serving three separate warrants on 53-year-old Rene Telesforo Valdivia of Fort Collins, Colorado for Failure to Appear on two counts of Possession of Marijuana and one count of Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd Offense. Valdivia was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Also Thursday Montgomery County Deputies met with Deputies from Mills County Sheriff’s Office who were transporting 18-year-old Michael Anthony Monson of Omaha to the Mills/Montgomery County line. Monson had a warrant for OWI 1st Offense. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

(Updated w/corrections) – Four people were injured following a collision between a car and a Caterpillar construction vehicle in Union County on Thursday afternoon.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the accident happened at approximately 1:55 p.m. when a 2015 Chevy Malibu driven by 68-year-old James Teague of Lenox was traveling southbound on N Cherry Street Road at the same time as a 2012 Caterpillar 140H construction vehicle owned by Union County Secondary Roads was traveling the same direction. The Malibu swerved to miss colliding with the CAT but struck the drag hook bracket and sidewall of the left rear tire. The Malibu then lost control and went across the road to the northbound ditch and struck a field drive causing the car to go airborne. The car came to rest on its wheels.

4 occupants were in the Malibu and were all transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center. James and Victoria Teague were subsequently airlifted to a Des Moines hospital for treatment of serious and life-threatening injuries, respectively.  4-year-old Savannah Teague suffered minor/non-incapacitating injuries. The driver of the CAT, 23-year-old Kolton Phelps of Creston, was not injured.

The Malibu sustained extensive damage and the CAT had little to no damage. No citations were issued.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 42-year-old Justin Alan Robertson of Greenfield on three warrants. Warrants were for Stalking-Violation of a Protective Order, and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana 2nd Offense. Robertson was booked into the Union County Jail on $7,000 cash only bond.