(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra is sponsoring a bill to require Medicare to cover over-the-phone tele-health services for another year. That coverage was set to expire on December 31st of this year. “Audio only services are a lifeline to rural communities across the country who still contend with severe lack of broadband access,” Feenstra says. During the pandemic, Medicare began covering patient appointments conducted via video link and over the phone.

Feenstra says many rural residents have no way to make a video connection. He cites a Federal Communications Commission report which found 45 million Americans cannot get broadband with high enough speeds capable of streaming video. “I believe this underscores the need for audio-only telehealth coverage to ensure access to health care for Americans in rural areas,” Feenstra says. “This provision is particularly vital to seniors who shouldn’t have to travel hundreds of miles to receive routine care.”

The U-S House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved the bill yesterday (Wednesday). It allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to bill Medicare for telehealth and delays the in-person visit requirement for mental health services for seniors.

(Radio Iowa) = Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of an Iowa law that would let state officials arrest and deport immigrants who are in Iowa after previously being deported or denied entry to the country. The law is scheduled to take effect July 1st. Rita Bettis Austen is legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.

“It is truly impossible to overstate how terrible this law is, how poorly written it is, how bizarre it is and how extreme it is,” Bettis Austen says. Iowa police do not have the ability to accurately determine a person’s current immigration status, according to Bettis Austen.  “We’ve heard that from law enforcement across the state directly,” she says. Kate Melloy Goettel, legal director with the American Immigration Council, says the law is unconstitutional.

“The crux of this lawsuit is that it challenges the state’s ability to create its own immigration system,” she says, “flouting more than a century of law that leaves that authority to the federal government.” One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is a 68-year-old woman who has a green card and is living in Iowa today.  “She was deported to Mexico in 2005 and waited 17 years to be able to come back to the United States lawfully where her family resides,” Melloy Goettel says. “She has five kids and many grandchildren, most of whom live here in Iowa and she is under great stress and anxiety not knowing if she’s going to be prosecuted under this law.”

Rita Betis Austen. (photo from ACLU news conference)

Melloy Goettel says the law has no exceptions for people who have legal authority to be in the U-S now, but had been removed in the past. Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, says the law is creating fear among immigrant communities. “I think we can all agree that our immigration system needs improvement, but this law is no solution,” she says. “…It doesn’t matter now if they have authorization to be here, they can still be put in prison or deported at the border, often thousands of miles away from their home country.”

Governor Kim Reynolds says President Biden refuses to enforce immigration laws and she has a responsibility to protect the citizens of Iowa. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says states have to take matters into their own hands and she stands ready to defend the law in court.

The U-S Department of Justice announced late Thursday afternoon, that it also has sued the state to try to block the law from taking effect. A similar Texas law is on hold due to a federal lawsuit.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Cass County have released a report on persons arrested from April 20th through May 7th, 2024:

• On May 7th, Deputies arrested 36-year-old Kisauo Stephen, of Council Bluffs, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Kisauo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On May 5th, 57-year-old Rex McDermott, of Elk Horn, was arrested for OWI/3rd Offense. McDermott was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
• On May 3rd, 2024, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 18-year-old Jace Siemer, of Omaha, NE, on the charges that include Speeding, No Valid Driver’s License and Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles.  Siemer was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
• There were two arrests May 1st in Cass County: Ashley Butler, 38, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct.  She was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance; And, Shane Suhr, 33, of Anita, was arrested on a warrant for OWI 3rd Offense.   Suhr was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
• On April 26th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Nicole Anaya, 43, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Driving While Revoked and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana.  Anaya was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond; and, Uriah Hardisty, 35, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Harassment 1st Degree.  Hardisty was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
• On April 23rd, Marion McGrew, 20, of Indianapolis, IN, was arrested in Cass County on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  McGrew was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• And, on April 20th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnathan Vannornam, 24, of Papillion, NE, on the charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Vannornam was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak responded to the 700 block of W. Coolbaugh at around 2:15-p.m. today (Thursday), for a report of someone dumping furniture, where it was clearly marked that it was illegal to do so. After an investigation, Officers cited and released 67-year-old Debra Lynn Benson, of Red Oak, for littering. Red Oak Police were assisted in their investigation, by Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

ATLANTIC, IA— A kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary School in Atlantic, is the recipient of a prestigious award.  During a special assembly of students, teachers and staff, Laurie Fell was presented with a $10,000 check from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, recognizing Fell’s dedication and commitment to inspiring young learners. Ms. Fell was shocked and brought to tears by the announcement which was made by Jennifer Green, Corporate Secretary and Grants Manager for the Lakin Foundation.

Before the check was presented, Green gave the kids a brief background on the Foundation and the award, which of course, began with Mr. Charles Lakin.

Laurie Fell with her “check” in-hand, and her family in attendance. Jennifer Green is on the far left.

Ms. Fell’s class at Washington Elementary

The Charles E. Lakin Foundation annually recognizes four local educators of rural districts within a 40-mile radius of Emerson, the hometown of the late Charles E. Lakin. This year, the foundation received a record setting 245 nominations, showcasing the exceptional educators serving our communities. Ms. Fell was nominated for the award by one of her former students.

In nominating her, the student highlighted Ms. Fell’s use of interactive, hands-on activities that made learning exciting for young learners. Reflecting on their time in Ms. Fell’s class, the nominator expressed how they now recognize the educational pieces embedded within the “games” they once played, thanks to her ability to seamlessly blend play and learning. Laurie Fell’s family was in attendance at the event to offer an additional element of surprise.

She asked Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen later, how this all happened.

It happened because Ms. Fell fosters a love for learning for students of all ages.

(Radio Iowa) – A company in Wisconsin has acquired a business in New Hampton that’s a major supplier to America’s leading motorcycle manufacturer — Harley-Davidson. ATEK Metal Technologies employs 220 people in New Hampton. ATEK, a family-owned company, has specialized in complex aluminum castings used in the aerospace, trucking and defense industries. It’s being purchased by W-A-F — Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry — a 115-year-old company that’s also family-owned.

A low pressure mold at ATEK in New Hampton (photo courtesy of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry)

-A-F makes components for a wide variety of products. According to a news release from W-A-F, the acquisition of the New Hampton company will deepen its reach into supplying products for the motorsports, transportation, agriculture and medical industries.

The C-E-O and co-owner of ATEK says it was not an easy decision to sell, but after meeting with W-A-F leadership, it was clear ATEK in New Hampton would be in good hands.