(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa legislature is working on a bill to address the surge in thefts of catalytic converters — easily accessible vehicle parts that are attached to exhaust systems to reduce pollution. Representative Cherielynn Westridge of Ottumwa says it costs as much as three-thousand dollars to get a stolen catalytic converter replaced.

“I’ve heard many personal stories of those who have had it happen repeatedly outside the same apartment, so we do have a problem,” she says. “What this bill does is make sure that there’s a paper trail for those who would break the law and to give a tool to law enforcement when they’re trying to find the person who stole that catalytic converter.” According to the insurance industry, there was a 325 percent increase in catalytic converter thefts from the beginning of 2018 to the end of 2020.

Westrich says officials in her local transit authority tell her catalytic converters have been stolen from many buses, too.
“And so they have to figure out a place to house their buses and other vehicles so that people don’t steal their catalytic converters,” Westrich says. Someone who steals a catalytic converter can get something in the range of 500 dollars for it, as it contains precious metals that can be extracted once the part is melted down. The bill requires sellers to show recyclers and scrap metal dealers either a receipt showing they’ve purchased a replacement catalytic converter within the past month or the certificate for a vehicle that’s recently been junked.

Recyclers and scrap metal dealers are to keep a confidential log of that paperwork, too. “That’s to give our great law enforcement tools to prosecute those who would steal things — specifically catalytic converters,” Westrich says. Representative Charlie McConkey of Council Bluffs was part of a subcommittee that worked on the bill. “This is good legislation that we’ve needed because there is a huge uptick in catalytic converter thefts,” McConkey says.

The Iowa Senate must agree to a slight change the House made in the bill before it can go to the governor for her approval. Last year, nearly a dozen states passed laws designed to deter thefts of catalytic converter thefts.

(Radio Iowa) – A second person wanted in the deadly shooting at a Cedar Rapids nightclub was arrested today (Monday)in Illinois. The U-S Marshal Service announced they arrested 29-year-old Dimione Walker near Chicago on a first-degree murder charge related to the April 10th shooting at the Taboo Night Club in Cedar Rapids. He is also facing charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Two people died and ten were injured in the shooting. Cedar Rapids police earlier arrested 32-year-old Timothy Rush on second degree murder and other charges linked to the shooting

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information on a male subject who is currently using the identification of an elderly Cass County resident. The suspect (see his pictures below) has recently made purchases in Atlantic and is the suspect of thousands of dollars in fraudulent activity. He may be displaying a Kansas identification. The suspect vehicle is also pictured below.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A former Cass County Deputy who currently serves with the Iowa State Patrol, and officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, were recognized this (Monday) afternoon at the Cass County Courthouse, for the intervention of a security threat towards the President of the United States, and other government officials. An Agent with the Department of Homeland Security Intelligence and Analysis Division, in Des Moines, was on hand for the presentation of awards to Sgt. Tyler Shiels and Sheriff Darby McLaren. The Agent, who only identified himself as “Jim,” said the way the incident was handled was exemplary. It all began with a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Cass County.

Tyler Shiels receives an award from the Dept. of Homeland Security

Sgt. Sheils (Now Trooper Shiels) initiated a routine traffic stop on a vehicle being driven aggressively by 25-year-old Kuachua Xion, of California, on December 21^st, 2021. The Agent said Sgt. Shiels’ intuition and quick thinking, prevented an attack on the government by a single perpetrator.

Cass County Sheriff Darby McClaren receives an award from the Dept. of Homeland Security

Sheriff McLaren credited Shiels’ training with being able to see the driver’s answers weren’t making sense, and was able to communicate with him to draw out more information.

Sgt. Shiels said his training and experience came together to save the day.

The Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene, along with other agencies, past the initial traffic stop. According to the criminal complaint Xiong initially said he was recently fired and was traveling to DC to “photograph the White House. ” He then allegedly began talking about the political situation in the nation’s capital, dismissing right-wing conspiracy theories, how he was on his was to Washington, D-C, to allegedly “do whatever it takes” to kill government leaders on his hit list.

The list included President Biden, the president’s chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. When he spoke with investigators, he described his would-be victims as “evil individuals.” Xiong was found to be in possession of an AR-15 style rifle, loaded magazines, boxes of ammunition, and several items of body armor, and medical kits.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), have announced the agency has secured $90 million in federal flood recovery funds through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) CDBG Disaster Recovery programs for southwest Iowa communities. The funding, which comes from federal HUD dollars earmarked for disaster recovery, was granted by the Iowa Economic Development Authority as part of a competitive application process.

The funds from the grant are being used for property acquisition, new housing construction, and infrastructure development for new housing. Funds for new housing units, which are a combination of owner-occupied and rental properties, are available first for residents who experienced a loss due to the 2019 floods but will also be opened to low- and moderate-income buyers in affected communities.

The $90 million housing project represents the largest grant package SWIPCO has ever managed. “We’ve been very fortunate to work with our partners at IEDA and HUD to get the work done on behalf of our member communities,” said SWIPCO Community Development Director Alexsis Fleener, who worked on the grant applications. “We take a lot of pride in being able to deliver for our neighbors and help build our communities back up after such a devastating loss.”

Community leaders in southwest Iowa praised SWIPCO’s commitment to their recovery. “When we needed help with residential buyouts and new housing development after the 2019 flooding, SWIPCO was there for us every step of the way,” said Hamburg City Clerk Sheryl Owen. “It’s been a long few years but seeing the money flowing toward these projects sure helps.”

More than 100 housing units damaged in the 2019 floods have already been demolished as part of the grants, and more than 250 new housing units will be built in the impacted communities. As part of the development, more than $2.5 million in new infrastructure will be constructed to serve the new housing developments.

“There is no denying that the floods were a horrible disaster, but at the same time, these recovery funds represent the largest investment in new housing construction in these communities in at least a generation,” said SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy. Cities building new housing through the grants include Glenwood, Hamburg, Logan, Malvern, Missouri Valley, Modale, Tabor, and Woodbine. Construction will begin this summer and be completed over the next several years.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield, today (Monday), announced Nicholas Turner and Connie Younger are the 2022 inductees into the Hall of Fame.

Nicholas A. Turner was born in 1978 to Larry and Judy Turner.  He grew up in Elliott working in the family business, Turner Copter Services Inc., which was started by his father, a Marine helicopter pilot, upon his return from service in Vietnam.  It provided crop-spraying and heavy-lift services.  Nick joined the Marines in 2001 and trained in the TH-57B/C Sea Ranger and the CH-53D Sea Stallion. In 2006, Nick provided support for President George Bush’s visit to India.  Later, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Flight Line Officer in Charge. In 2009, Nick again deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Weapons Technical Instructor and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as Airborne Mission Commander. In September 2009, Nick was selected to join the Presidential Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) at Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico VA. During his four-year assignment, he participated in missions carrying the president and vice-president and became a White House Helicopter Aircraft Commander, and later was selected as one of twelve White House Liaison Officers.  This position was created to facilitate POTUS transport to and from events where ground transportation may be deemed unsafe or impractical.  During his tenure, Nick planned six overseas trips and over twenty trips across the United States for President Obama. After that assignment ended, Nick held various training and command positions including 2^nd Marine Division Air Officer, supervising training and equipment requirements for three regiments and ten battalions of the Joint Terminal Air Controller (JTAC).  Lieutenant Colonel Turner retired from active duty in 2021 with over 20 years of service and numerous medals and commendations. He lives with his family in Rhodes, Iowa, and is Subject Matter Expert and Event Controller for the Air National Guard in Des Moines.

Connie Rex Younger was born in 1939 near Elmo, MO, to Rex and Margaret Younger.  He joined the Navy hoping to become a pilot but was unable to pass the vision requirements.  He chose the appointment of Navy musician instead and served four years as a US Navy musician. After service, Connie graduated from Northwest Missouri State College with a degree in Music Education. He taught music, played in a band, and worked as a carpenter until taking flying lessons and attaining his ratings. In 1971, he earned a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Education and became a flight and ground instructor for glider and fixed-wing at the University of Illinois. From 1976-to 1996 he worked at Iowa State University as FAR Part 141 Flight Instructor, FAR Part 91 USU Flight Services staff transportation pilot in the Beechcraft King Air 200, Cessna 414, and Aero Commander AC 500 aircraft. He managed Iowa State’s FAR Part 141 Private Pilot program. In 1990, Connie launched CY Aviation Inc. and began managing the Boone Municipal Airport which he continued to do for 26 years. He was a flight instructor, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, and airframe mechanic. He taught glider flying in Ames and seaplane flying on the Mississippi and Rock Rivers in the Quad Cities area and on Saylorville Reservoir. He flew for Denali Air and Kantishna Air Taxi in Alaska providing flightseeing tours. Holding multiple ratings, he logged over 20,000 accident-free pilot hours during his aviation career, including 3000 multi-engine, 2000 tailwheels, 700 gliders, and 150 seaplanes.  He received numerous awards and honors for aviation and was a published composer of “Sea Wise March” for concert band, awarded posthumously in 2018.

An induction program for the two men will be held on August 27 in conjunction with a fly-in.

Nominations to the Hall of Fame are made by the public and selection is made by an independent judging committee.  Neither the Board nor employees of the Iowa Aviation Museum make nominations or selections.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood arrested two men over the weekend. Authorities say 33-year-old Joshua Hastie, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday, for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Possession of Contraband in Jail. He was being held without bond until seen by a magistrate judge. And, on Sunday, 25-year-old Luis Perez, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Child Endangerment. His cash or surety bond was set at $4,000.