(Radio Iowa) – Third district Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines is one of the Democrats who pressed for votes on a package of public safety initiatives that cleared the U.S. House Thursday. “I think it dispels that lie about ‘defunding’ the police,” Axne says. The package would provide money to recruit and retain officers and would set aside funding specifically for small police departments.

“To ensure that cities like Atlantic, Red Oak, our sheriffs’ departments that are under 125 people or less have their own system to go through,” Axne says. “We’re not going to compete with the Chicago’s and the New York’s anymore to make sure that they get the funding that they need.”

The House passed four different law enforcement measures. One would provide money to hire social workers to respond to 9-1-1 calls involving people in a mental health crisis. “So that our police officers aren’t engaged in those issues, they can focus on the job, and we can have experts who deal with those,” Axne says. The House also voted to increase federal funding for crime victim support services and provide grants to police and prosecutors to investigate sexual assaults, shootings and homicides.

“Just to ensure that, quite honestly, we start solving more of these crimes,” Axne says, “and making sure that we’re addressing victims’ needs at the same time.” There were some tense moments yesterday (Thursday) as a few progressive Democrats refused to support bringing the bills up for votes, but after months of internal negotiations, a majority of House Democrats got the bills passed. Republicans in the House voted for some of the bills and opposed others.

All three Republicans from Iowa voted for the Invest to Protect Act, to provide federal grants to police departments.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  You’re invited to attend a picnic in Atlantic Sunday afternoon. Kimberly Spillers, with Rural Community Solutions, says the “Pick a little, talk a little” event will be held from Noon until 3-p.m., at the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park. After eating, discussion will take place on important pre-midterm election topics of public education, the environment, choice for women, healthcare and mental health, with several experts presenting.

Spillers says this is the first of several events scheduled to gather the community to discuss tough public topics to build unity and understanding that helps Cass County better-function as a democracy to make decisions together.

Other events of the same nature, are scheduled will take place at the Family Table Restaurant in Atlantic, on the following Saturday’s in October: the 1st, 15th, and 29th, from 9-until 10:30-AM. The 15th is dedicated to helping first-time voters know what to expect when they go to the polls Nov. 8 or vote absentee.

All are hosted to promote democracy by the Cass County Democrats.

(Avoca, Iowa) – A collision north of Avoca, in Shelby County, Thursday night, claimed the life of a man from Emerson. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 33-year-old Timothy Steve McFarland, of Emerson, was traveling north on Highway 59 at around 8:19-p.m., when a 2005 International tractor pulled out from a farm drive at 525 Highway 59.

When the tractor, driven by 49-year-old Robert Arkfeld, Jr., of Manilla, entered the highway in an attempt to turn south, McFarland was unable to stop. His cycle hit the front of the tractor, resulting in suffering fatal injuries. McFarland died at the scene. Robert Arkfeld, Jr. was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal fugitive from Omaha was arrested Wednesday in Fort Dodge. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office was notified by authorities that Cameron D. Carodine, a known Bloods criminal street gang member was wanted on outstanding warrants related to a federal investigation based in Omaha. When the police arrived, Carodine leaped from a second-story window and attempted to flee on foot.

Carodine was transported to a Fort Dodge hospital for clearance and ultimately booked into the Webster County Jail. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident and criminal charges may be filed against the individuals who assisted Carodine in evading arrest in Fort Dodge.

DES MOINES, IA – A woman from Arizona woman was sentenced Thursday (today) in a Des Moines federal court, to six years in prison for Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility. According to the U-S Attorney’s Office, 32-year-old Ruby Katherine Montoya was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay $3,198,512.70 in restitution.

According to court documents, Montoya, and co-defendant Jessica Reznicek, as early as November 8, 2016, and continuing until May 2, 2017, conspired with other individuals to damage the Dakota Access Pipeline at several locations within the Southern District of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa, and the District of South Dakota. Specifically, Montoya admitted to damaging and attempting to damage the pipeline by: (1) using an oxyacetylene cutting torch to burn holes in the pipeline, and (2) setting fire to pipeline instrumentation and equipment in Mahaska, Boone, and Wapello Counties within the Southern District of Iowa. Reznicek, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment on June 30, 2021.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal said, “The sentence imposed today demonstrates that any crime of domestic terrorism will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted by the federal government. The seriousness of the defendant’s actions – that occurred multiple times, at different locations, resulting in over $3 million dollars in restitution – warranted the significant prison sentence imposed by the Court and should deter others who think of engaging in such criminal acts.”

Following the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The sentence received by Ruby Montoya sends a clear message that those who commit violence through an act of domestic terrorism will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted. The FBI is committed to protecting the American people. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring domestic terrorists to justice.”

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Iowa Department of Public Safety, Fusion Center; Iowa State Fire Marshall; Des Moines Police Department; Sheriff’s Departments in Mahaska, Boone, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Jasper, Polk, Sioux, and Wapello Counties in Iowa; Lincoln County in South Dakota; and Minnehaha County in Minnesota. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.