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Governor to sign bill letting Iowa officers arrest, deport undocumented immigrants

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has sent the governor a bill giving state and local law enforcement officers authority to arrest undocumented immigrants and have them deported. The vote came two hours after the U-S Supreme Court allowed a similar Texas law to take effect — at least temporarily — while an appeals court reviews the policy. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says Iowa must act because the federal government isn’t doing its job.

“We have never had such a situation on our southern border and extraordinary times require extraordinary measures,” Holt said. Holt says the bill pushes the envelope when it comes to state authority to enforce immigration law, but he says that’s what is required to address a clear and present danger.

“There are many in our country and in our state illegally who just came here for a better life. We know that,” Holt said, “but there are also gang members, drug dealers, terrorists and people who have killed American citizens who are endangering our citizens.” The bill passed with the support of nearly all Republicans and a couple of Democrats in the House. Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says this bill may put the state in a legal quagmire because immigration policy is constitutionally reserved for the federal government.

“Illegal immigration is a serious problem that requires action, yet the approach laid out in this bill misses the heart of what it truly means to address this issue,” Scheetz said. “…Moreover, this bill in attempting to solve only one problem risks creating others, fostering fear among immigrant communities, disrupting families and potentially hindering cooperation with law enforcement.”

Governor Reynolds says the Biden Administration has failed to enforce immigration laws and she looks forward to signing the bill into law.

Union County man charged with vehicular homicide after deadly Madison County crash

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

A Creston man faces several charges related to a fatal crash last month in Madison County. Authorities say 30-year-old Charles Lohoff, was driving recklessly, and under the influence, when he crashed around 4 a.m. Feb. 4 in the 1000 block of Pitzer Road, between Dexter and Earlham. Lohoff’s passenger, 42-year-old Jonathan Taylor, of Adel, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lohoff was charged on March 18 with homicide by vehicle-operating under the influence, homicide by vehicle-reckless driving, and knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury.

Criminal complaints say that black box data obtained from the truck Lohoff was driving show he was driving 110 mph right before the crash and 90 mph at the moment of collision with a telephone pole.

Lohoff (Madison County S/O photo)

According to court records, Lohoff has posted a $40,000 bond and is scheduled for an initial appearance on April 2nd.

Hawkeyes Finish 7th at All-American Intercollegiate

Sports

March 19th, 2024 by admin

HOUSTON – The University of Iowa men’s golf team concluded their final round of play at the All-American Intercollegiate hosted by Houston. Iowa played their final round at four-under par, their best of the tournament. Iowa’s final round performance was the lowest team round of the final round. The Hawkeyes finished 7th as a team at 19-over par (293/306/284 = 883).

Junior Ian Meyer fired a final round 5-under par (67), a season low for the Deephaven, Minn. native. Meyer had six birdies and just one bogey in his final round including a stretch of three straight birdies. Meyer finished the tournament at 2-over par tied for 14th.

Senior Mac McClear tied Meyer on the leaderboard at 2-over par. McClear shot 1-over par (73) during Tuesday’s final round. It is McClear’s second top-25 finish of the season.

Freshman Noah Kent carded a final round 3-under par (69). Kent finished the tournament at 7-over par, tied for 34th, moving up 40 spots in the standings.

Texas Tech won the tournament at 7-over par, beating the field by two strokes. Bret Gray of Sam Houston and Yuki Moriyama of UNLV went to a playoff to determine the individual medalist. Moriyama claimed the individual medalist after getting a birdie on the first playoff hole.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes have over two weeks off before they travel to Naples, Fla. where they will play host in the Calusa Cup at Calusa Pines Golf Club.

Hinton School District makes changes are hazing incident with wrestlers

News, Sports

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa school district is working to change extracurricular policies after a hazing controversy involving the wrestling team that parents say targeted seven freshmen. Police investigated after a video on social media showed a wrestler from Hinton High School being held down and tasered during the state duals tournament in Coralville in early February. During last night’s (Monday) school board meeting Superintendent Ken Slater says the district met with parents to come up with suggestions to improve the district’s handbook.

“We believe that, in the end, Hinton will be stronger and safer for all students. Now is the time for us to come together and work for the betterment of all students. We are all Blackhawks,” Slater says. Slater says the new changes will likely be finalized this summer. Holly Keegan is one of the parents who met with administrators and told the board she wants to make sure a wrong is made right.

“There can be no more blame on the freshman parents, no more saying ‘we’re making a bigger deal than what it is,” Keegan says.

The high school principal and athletic director both said earlier this month they are stepping down at the end of the school year. And the school board accepted the resignation of head wrestling coach Casey Crawford last night. Crawford will stay on as a math teacher.

Baier files for June 4th Primary in Cass County (IA)

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports Steve Baier, of Griswold, filed his nomination papers today (Tuesday) to run for re-election in the June 4th Republican Primary for County Supervisor in District 4. Baier is currently the Chair of the Cass County Board of Supervisors. The filing period for persons wishing to run for County Office ends at 5-p.m. Friday, March 22nd.

As previously mentioned, the following Republicans have also filed their nomination papers (Name/Office/date filed):

Kathy Somers, of Atlantic – County Auditor (March 4th) – Incumbent

John Westering, of Atlantic – County Sheriff (March 4th)

Bernard Pettinger, of Anita – Supervisor/District 5 (March 6th) – Incumbent

Stephen S. Green, of Atlantic  – Supervisor/District 1 (March 13th) – Incumbent

Steve Baier, of Griswold – Supervisor/District 4 (March 19th) – Incumbent

Grassley ‘not…pessimistic’ TikTok ban will pass in the Senate

News

March 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that could potentially ban TikTok which passed the U-S House last week is now arriving in the Senate, where some observers say it faces a graveyard. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he’d like to see restrictions placed on the popular social media app and he believes the legislation -will- pass in the Senate, eventually.

“I am not that pessimistic about it,” Grassley says. “I think it’s going to not move as quickly as it did in the House, but nothing moves quickly the United States Senate. I think it’s going to have a hearing in the Commerce Committee before it gets out of committee.”

The House passed the bill last Wednesday (352-65) that would force ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell the app or face being banned across the U-S. Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, backed the bill, saying ByteDance is beholding to the Chinese Communist Party, and Grassley agrees that TikTok is a threat.

“A good case is made for compromising our national security,” Grassley says. “So much information can be tapped from anybody’s phone, and that’s 170-million Americans, for use as China wants to use it.” Grassley fears how all that potential data mining could be used to harm the U-S. “We all know that China is a competitor to the United States, and a potential danger to the world,” Grassley says.

Given its wide user base, Hinson said she fears TikTok could even be used to manipulate our elections.

The Pat McAfee Show To Broadcast From Iowa City Friday

Sports

March 19th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Pat McAfee Show is broadcasting live from the University of Iowa on Friday, March 22, to help tipoff NCAA Women’s Basketball March Madness.

Friday’s show, hosted by UI’s Recreational Services, will air live on ESPNEWS, ESPN+, and The Pat McAfee Show YouTube channel from 11 a.m. to approximately 2 p.m. (CT) at the UI Field House, located on the west side of campus near UIHC and Slater, Rienow, Petersen, and Hillcrest residence halls.

Fans of the show are encouraged to attend. Admission is free, but capacity is limited to the first 2,500 fans in attendance. This is standing room only, non-ticketed event. Fans will be required to enter the facility through the southeast main doors with event access beginning at 8:30 a.m.

All fans will be subject to security screening along with inspection of all bags and carry-in items.

Fans who plan to attend should be aware of parking limitations around the facility with numerous construction projects occurring across campus.

The Pat McAfee Show, the highly successful and innovative weekday sports talk and discussion program, made its debut in 2019 and has simulcast on ESPN since last September. McAfee will be joined by A.J. Hawk, Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit, Tone Digs, Kyle “Gumpy” Cathcart, Zito Perez and Evan Fox, among others. The group regularly traveled with College GameDay during the 2023-24 football season, presenting Friday shows live on college campuses drawing large, passionate audiences.

Confirmed guests for this Friday’s show include Roman Reigns and former Hawkeye All-American and NFL All-Pro Dallas Clark.

Caitlin Clark Earns All-American Status

Sports

March 19th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior guard, Caitlin Clark, earned First Team All-America Honors the United States Basketball Writers Association announced on Tuesday. Clark has earned First Team All-America honors in four consecutive seasons and is the first Iowa women’s basketball player to do so.

The USBWA board decided to honor six first-team players this season and five honorable mention players for a total of 21. The board selected the team based on voting from the entire USBWA membership based on regular-season performance.

Clark owns a career 3,700+ points and she recently became the first Division-I player to record 1,000+ points in back-to-back seasons. A native of West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark is once again a finalist for every major national player of the year award. Clark leads the nation in assists (8.9 assists per game) and in scoring (31.9 points per game) after becoming the first player to finish No. 1 in both categories in back-to-back seasons.

Clark was recently tabbed as the Big Ten Player of the Year and is the first player in program history to be named First Team All-Big Ten four times in four years of competition. She has also led the Hawkeyes to three straight Big Ten Championships for the first time in program history.

FIRST TEAM
Caitlin Clark, Iowa G 6-0 Sr. West Des Moines, Iowa
Paige Bueckers, UConn G 6-0 Jr. Hopkins, Minn.
JuJu Watkins, USC G 6-2 Fr. Los Angeles, Calif.
Angel Reese, LSU F 6-3 Jr. Baltimore, Md.
Kamilla Cardoso, S. Carolina C 6-7 Sr. Montes Claros, Brazil
Cameron Brink, Stanford F 6-4 Sr. Beaverton, Ore.

SECOND TEAM
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame G 5-6 Fr. Haddonfield, N.J.
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech C 6-6 Gr. Summerfield, N.C.
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana F 6-3 Gr. Gorham, Maine
Te-Hina Paopao, S. Carolina G 5-9 Sr. Oceanside, Calif.
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn F 6-3 Sr. Kingston, Ontario

THIRD TEAM
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State G 5-10 Gr. Dublin, Ohio
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech G 5-6 Sr. Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse G 5-5 Gr. Rochester, N.Y.
Alissa Pili, Utah F 6-2 Sr. Anchorage, Alaska
Madison Booker, Texas F 6-1 Fr. Ridgeland, Miss.

HONORABLE MENTION
Lauren Betts, UCLA C 6-7 So. Centennial, Colo.
Aneesah Morrow, LSU G 6-1 Jr. Chicago, Ill.
Rickea Jackson, Tennessee F 6-2 5th Detroit, Mich.
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State F 6-0 So. Centerville, Ohio
Raegan Beers, Oregon State F 6-4 So. Littleton, Colo.

DONNA VENTEICHER, 77, of Manning (3-21-2024)

Obituaries

March 19th, 2024 by Jim Field

DONNA VENTEICHER, 77, of Manning died Monday, March 18, 2024, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center.  Mass of the Christian Burial for DONNA VENTEICHER will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Manning.  The Ohde Funeral Home in Manning is in charge of arrangements.

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Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning.

Burial in the Manning Cemetery.

DONNA VENTEICHER is survived by:

Husband:  James Venteicher of Manning

Children: Brenda Murphy of Merrill; Ken Venteicher of Newton; and Joya (Brad) Riesenberg of Breda

Step-Daughter:  Renee (Troy) Haberl of Cave Creek, Arizona

3 Grandchildren

In-Laws:  Robert Venteicher of California; Rick (Karen) Venteicher of Dallas, TX; Lynn (Sue) Venteicher of Pella; and Diane Scriven of Colorado.

No. 4 Iowa State men prepare for NCAA opener

Sports

March 19th, 2024 by admin

The fourth ranked Iowa State men will be on the court at the CHI Health Center in Omaha Wednesday afternoon as the Cyclones get ready for Thursday night’s NCAA Tournament opener against South Dakota State. ISU is the second seed in the East Region and is 27-7 after rolling to the Big 12 Tournament title last week.

That’s Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger who says the grind of a difficult Big 12 race has prepared them for the tournament.

Otzelberger says the Big 12 exposes weaknesses.

The Jackrabbits are 22-12 and have won eight straight games.