(Radio Iowa) – Republican State Senator Zach Nunn of Bondurant plans to run for congress and challenge the only Democrat in Iowa’s D-C delegation. Nunn served two terms in the Iowa House and was elected to the state senate in 2018. He’s also a member of the Iowa National Guard who was deployed this past year. Nunn is the third Republican to announce they’re running in the current third congressional district, which is represented by Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, so a G-O-P primary is likely. Republicans Mary Ann Hanusa, a former state legislator from Council Bluffs, and Nicole Hasso of Johnston, who works in the financial services industry, also plan to seek to the G-O-P spot to challenge Axne. Axne has said she’s considering her options for 2022 and seeking a third term in the U.S. House is one of them.

The state legislature plans to approve new maps for all four of Iowa’s congressional districts next month and the Des Moines metro — where Axne, Nunn and Hasso live — will be in the same district. Hanusa aims to run against Axne, even if Hanusa’s Council Bluffs home is no longer in the same congressional district. According to the US Constitution, candidates are only required to live in the state they plan to represent in the U.S. House, but there’s no requirement they must live within the district.

The Iowa DOT’s 511 system reports (as of 6:18-a.m.) the right shoulder of Interstate 80 eastbound, one-mile east of the Highway 71/Atlantic-Brayton exit, is blocked due to a crash. Additional information was not immediately available.

A regular meeting of the Atlantic School Board will take place 6-p.m. Wednesday (July 14), in the High School Media Center (and streamed live on YouTube). Discussion items on their agenda will include an update on the District’s Facility Project, and a review of Board Policies, Series 300 and 900. Action items include:

• 2021-22 Student Fees (Superintendent Steve Barber says the current fee structure has remained unchanged for the past three-years, and he sees “No reason to make any change for the upcoming school year.” Adult lunch prices have not yet officially been posted. Mr. Barber says “If these lunches need to be different than $3.95, we [the Board] will need to revisit next month.”
• The Atlantic School Board will act on awarding a 2021-22 Fuel Contract, and
• Spring 2022 Coaching Contracts as follows:
  • Head Boys Track – Abby Becker
  • 8th Grade Boys Track – Trace Petersen
  • Head Girls Track – Matt Mullenix
  • Asst. Girls Track – Derek Hall
  • 7th Grade Girls Track – Casey Pelzer
  • 8th Grade Girls Track – Taylor Williams
  • Head Tennis – Michael McDermott
  • Asst. Tennis – Cole Renken
  • Head Girls Soccer – Dan Vargason
  • Head Boys Soccer – Matt Smith
  • Asst. Girls Soccer – Alyssa Dovenspike
  • Asst. Boys Soccer – Mark Anderson
  • Head Boys Golf – Ed Den Beste
  • Head Girls Golf – Kathy Hobson.

The School Board will also act on approving the resignations of Amber Caudle – MS Paraprofessional, and Rob Hansen – HS Asst. Baseball Coach. The are expected to approve also, Contract Recommendations for: Tori Dolch – Freshman Volleyball Coach; Adam Smith – Volunteer Football Coach; Katy Christensen, Vol. Volleyball Coach; Bruce Henderson – Vol. Cross Country Coach; Clair Acker, Jim Mullenix and Roger Warne – Substitute/Activity Bus Drivers.

KCCI in Des Moines reports attorneys for Cristhian Bahena Rivera announced Monday that they will request a new trial after someone admitted to killing Mollie Tibbetts. Bahena Rivera’s sentencing for first-degree murder is scheduled for Thursday. According to court documents, a state prison inmate came forward after Bahena Rivera’s guilty verdict in May. The documents say an inmate housed in a county jail heard from another inmate that he killed Mollie Tibbetts.

That inmate allegedly said Tibbetts was kidnapped for sex trafficking and bound and gagged in a trap house but that he was directed to kill Tibbetts once the search for her got too close. The man allegedly told the inmate that he was directed by the sex trafficker in charge to stab Tibbetts and dump her body near a Hispanic male to make it look like the Hispanic male committed the crime. The reporting inmate said he did not share the confession until he heard Bahena Rivera testify that two other men killed Tibbetts.

Records show another person came forward to law enforcement, stating the same person admitted to them that they had killed Tibbetts. State prosecutors said they learned about the alleged confession during the trial and do not believe it is credible. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said the confession is not credible and they firmly believe Bahena Rivera is solely responsible for Tibbetts’ death.

Bahena Rivera’s attorneys have requested this state inmate to testify. On Monday, a judge ruled that a Mount Pleasant inmate Arne Maki can be transported to Poweshiek County court on Thursday when the sentencing is taking place. It is unclear if Maki is the inmate who came forward. The judge did not rule on the request for a new trial.