DES MOINES – Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) applauded two new grants to update and replace Iowa’s aging statewide bus fleet. Currently, nearly 63% of the state’s public buses exceed the federal standard for use of life, according to the Iowa Public Transit Association.

The $27.8 million provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation includes a $12M grant for the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) to purchase 90 new buses, cutaways, and vans for 26 of the state’s transit systems. The project is intended to improve transit system conditions, service reliability, and lower maintenance costs for providers across the state.

The new funding also includes a $15.8 million grant to IDOT for local transit agencies to purchase battery electric buses and charging equipment, as well as transit facilities construction and workforce development activities.

That $15.8 million grant will support the following agencies in the Third District:

5 replacement buses for Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA)
1 replacement and 2 expansions for Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA)

“Many Iowans rely on dependable and safe bus systems to be connected to jobs and services and to contribute to our economy,” said Rep. Axne. “Our state’s transit agencies serve all 99 counties, providing millions of rides to Iowans across the state. I’m glad to see this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law come to Iowa and I look forward to seeing how this project will connect our communities. I will continue working across the aisle to secure additional investments to bring our state’s infrastructure into the 21st century.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $375.7 million in FY22 funding for the bus and bus facilities grant program that awarded these funds. Rep. Axne was the only member of the Iowa House Delegation to vote for the landmark infrastructure legislation that will provide at least $5 billion in critical infrastructure investments to the State of Iowa.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Montgomery County man was injured during a rollover accident early Wednesday morning (Aug. 17). Rescue personnel responded at around 2:28-a.m. to the area “North of the Fish Farm” on 550th Street, for a single vehicle accident.  An investigation by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office concluded that a 2003 Buick Lesabre being operated by John Mullenix, of Red Oak, was traveling South on 550th Street.

The vehicle entered the west ditch and rolled approximately 4 or 5 times. Mullenix was ejected as the car rolled. Due the extentof his injuries, Lifelight was called to the scene of the accident for direct patient care and rapid transport to a medical facility.  The accident remains under investigation at this time.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Griswold Fire and Rescue, Cass County EMS and Lifelight 1.

(Allamakee County, Iowa) – An investigation into the May 9, 2022 death of a northeastern Iowa man has resulted in an arrest. The Lansing/New Albin Police Departments along with the Iowa DCI announced today (Friday), 67-year-old Andrew Raymond Karvel is charged with Murder in the 1st Degree, in connection with the death of 83-year-old Daniel William Lundy, in the Lansing/New Albin area. Police responding to a medical call where a man was unconscious and not breathing, determined Lundy was deceased.

Karvel remains in the Allamakee County Jail, where he is being held without bond. The investigation remains active. Authorities say no further information will be released at this time.

The Lansing/New Albin Police Department is being assisted by the Iowa DCI’s Major Crimes Unit, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Thursday, of 37-year-old Jacob Jones, from Glenwood. Jones was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge.

(Radio Iowa) – August has been a busy month for an 18-year-old from northern Iowa who is the 2022 Iowa State Fair Queen. Mary Ann Fox of Osage was crowned the queen of the Mitchell County Fair on August 3rd and 10 days later she won this year’s State Fair Queen contest. “It was quick, it was exciting and I like to say that it didn’t give me a chance to get my nerves running. I just got thrown into it,” Fox says, with a laugh. She does not consider herself a pageant person. “Not at all!” she says. “This definitely wasn’t anything that I had specifically wanted to accomplish.. I was just here to promote my county and promote my background and promote agriculture.”

Fox graduated from Osage High School this spring. As state fair queen, she has been awarded eight-thousand dollars in scholarship money. “Starting on Monday, I will be a freshman at Iowa State University,” Fox says, “and I will be majoring in ag engineering.” Fox was recently elected as a regional officer in the Future Farmers of America officer. Her dad raises corn and cattle. “I like to say that my future plans within the 10 or so years are to find an answer to a problem going on in agriculture and just to make farmers like my dad — make their lives easier,” Fox says. “…I love looking out at a field of corn, so I just hope to end up there again.”

Mary Ann Fox. (Iowa State Fair photo)

The job of State Fair Queen means Fox is spending a fair amount of time in the livestock rings, handing out ribbons to exhibitors showing all sorts of animals. “I’ve had some people tell me to be careful so one of them doesn’t step on my foot,” Fox says, ” but I know my way around the animals and I’m just there to see the smiles on the 4-H and FFA members’ faces as I hand them their purple ribbon.” Fox has attended the state fair all her life, but has never been an exhibitor. Fox was crowned State Fair Queen last Saturday night and she says there was a bit of a mad dash soon after. “Growing up on the farm, I have three times as many jeans as dresses, so I definitely had to go shopping for dresses on Sunday morning,” Fox says, with a laugh. “Since then I’ve loved just being able to be at the Fair every single day and being able to watch the sun rise in the morning and the sun set at night. I just love it here.”

The final day of the 2022 Iowa State Fair is Sunday, but Fox will continue in her role through the opening weekend of the 2023 State Fair. She’s planning to visit as many county fairs and events next summer as she can.

The Atlantic Police Department will be partnering with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic, IA on Monday August 22nd for a special traffic enforcement project. Officers and Deputies will be focusing part of our enforcement in the city of Atlantic and part in the county. The Labor Day “Step Wave” is underway now, through September 5, 2022, with law enforcement agencies focused this “Step Wave,” on Impaired Drivers.

Always remember to plan ahead if you will be celebrating with an impairing substance. If you plan to indulge, plan for a sober driver to take you home. Call someone to give you a ride if you feel impaired! Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take the role seriously and do not partake in alcohol or any other drugs.