(Radio Iowa) – It’s been nearly six months since the state launched the new 9-8-8 hotline number for people seeking crisis mental health support, and the call volume has doubled. Foundation Two Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids is one of the two non-profits contracted with the state to run 9-8-8 call centers. C-E-O Emily Blomme says though they are still behind initial federal call estimates — in part because the state hasn’t launched a major campaign to promote it yet. “And they’ve done that partially at our request, because we wanted to make sure that we could get up and be staffed and make sure the quality wasn’t decreasing, and that people were getting what they needed before the Department of Health and Human Services doing a giant media push,” Bloome says.

She says the organizations are starting to work on figuring out how to centralize dispatch for mobile crisis teams statewide and integrate the service with 9-1-1 dispatchers. “We’re just on the front end of this still. And so once we get things up and running a little bit more and do some of those, those projects and figure out what we need to do, I think we’ll continue to see an increase,” she says.

Blomme says she’s been pleased with her call center’s 9-8-8 operations so far. The vast majority of calls are answered in-state and in less than 12 seconds.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids officials say their investigation continues after an explosive device was found in a residential neighborhood that’s about a mile northeast of downtown Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids Police say on Tuesday morning, a concerned citizen notified police there was something suspicious in an alley behind a home that’s near an elementary school. Technicians from the Cedar Rapids Metro Hazardous Devices Unit determined it was an improvised explosive device.

The immediate area was cordoned off, the device was safely removed and a statement released by city officials says the device was mitigated.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-O-T is urging drivers to slow down and pay attention to what’s ahead after a D-O-T vehicle was heavily damaged Tuesday in a crash on Interstate 29 in western Iowa. According to a spokesperson for the Iowa D-O-T, a motor enforcement officer was inside his vehicle, providing traffic control at a crash south of Onawa, in the southbound lanes of I-29, when a semi hit his S-U-V from behind. The officer inside the S-U-V was injured, taken to a hospital and has been released.

The D-O-T says investigators do not know yet if the winter weather conditions at the time of the crash played a role in the accident — but the agency is urging drivers to slow down and focus on the task of driving, especially when conditions are less than perfect.

(Radio Iowa) – The Fort Dodge couple who allegedly drowned their infant daughter shortly after she was born on November 16th have pleaded not guilty to first degree murder. In a Webster County District Courtroom on Tuesday, 24-year-old Taylor Blaha and 31-year-old Brandon Thoma submitted written pleas of not guilty during their arraignment. Both were arrested and charged with first degree murder last month for the death of their infant daughter. Thoma faces an additional charge of abuse of a corpse after allegedly disposing of the baby’s body.

Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll says the search for the baby’s remains continues. There’s a $1500 reward through Webster County Crimestoppers for information that leads to the discovery of the baby’s body.

Court documents show Blaha gave birth in the bathroom of her apartment. Blaha told detectives she and Thoma panicked and drowned the baby to stop her from crying.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held their second meeting of the week today (Wednesday, Jan. 4), during which they heard a report from County Engineer Nick Kauffmann. Kauffman spoke with regard to a Right-Of-Way (ROW) and Temporary Easement Purchase, which the Board approved. The Resolution reads as follows…

He also addressed the matter of a Resolution pertaining to Fence Compensation with regard to changes in the ROW.

That Resolution also passed. The Board accepted also, a Rolling Hills Windfarm Road Use Agreement and acknowledged completion of work. The Adair County Supervisors heard FY 2024 funding requests from the Adair County Historical Museum, MATURA, and the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG).

The request for the Museum was for $4,000, the same amount requested in previous years, according to the museum’s George Feazell.

The funding request for MATURA was for $20,660, which was slightly more than they requested last year ($18,663). And, the funding request from SICOG Executive Director Beth Waddell was for $6,384.35 for the non-incorporated areas of Adair County.

All of budget requests were taken under consideration for when the Adair County Supervisors begin work on their budget.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department has issued a report on numerous arrests dating from Dec. 22nd through Jan. 3rd. Most recently:

• 37-year-old Katrina Shotwell, of Atlantic, was arrested January 3rd, on Cass County warrants for Tampering with Records and Violation of Compulsory Education 2nd Offense.
• On the 2nd, 31-year-old Hans Chanson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Burglary 2nd Degree, Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, and Public Intoxication.
• There were three arrests in Atlantic on January 1st: 20-year-old ST Sam, and 19-year-old AM Marino, of both Atlantic, were arrested for Public Intoxication; and, 37-year-old Eric Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.
• Atlantic Police cited 54-year-old Amy Christensen, of Atlantic, in court on Dec. 31st on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. She was released at the scene.
• On the 29th, 44-year-old Todd Glade, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.
• Atlantic Police arrested 22-year-old Nathaniel Gangwer, of Atlantic, on Dec. 28th, for Driving While License Denied, Suspended, cancelled or revoked.
• On the 27th, 42-year-old Amanda Michaels, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• On Dec. 26th, Atlantic Police arrested 50-year-old KR Takauo, of Atlantic, for Public Intox., and 50-year-old Barnes Narious, of Atlantic, for Going Armed with Intent, and Dangerous Use of A Weapon in the Commission of a Crime.
• And, on December 22nd, Police in Atlantic arrested 29-year-old Benser Mark of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication.

With the exception of Amy Christensen, all of the aforementioned individuals were transported to the Cass County Jail, booked-in, and held, pending a court appearance.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – James Matthew Hargens, age 37, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on December 15, 2022, to 121 months in prison following his plea of guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography. Hargens will be required to register as a sex offender and serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison. Hargens was also ordered to pay restitution.

In November 2021 a social media application sent a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an account that uploaded several images and videos of child pornography. The cybertip was referred to Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children and the Council Bluffs Police Department initiated an investigation. The investigation led to a search warrant at Hargens residence. A forensic analysis identified that Hargens received, possessed, and downloaded numerous images and videos of child pornography.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, the United States Secret Service National Computer Forensics Institute who provided training and equipment and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.