(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s trucking industry would get significant liability protection from lawsuits under a bill that’s cleared its first hurdle in the Iowa House. David Scott is a lobbyist for the Iowa Motor Truck Association. He says delivery trucks, construction vehicles and pick-ups owned by businesses would be covered as well as semis. “We brought this bill forward in the hopes to bring some fairness to nuclear verdicts around the country of $50 (million),$60 (million), $90 million dollars,” Scott said. “The legislation provides a degree of predictability to all 804,000 commercial vehicles in Iowa.” The bill would exempt businesses from paying damages in cases where their employee was found negligent in a trucking accident.

Kellie Paschke, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice, representing trial lawyers. She says the bill protects bad actors who fail to maintain trucks or tell drivers to stay on the road when they’re supposed to be resting. “These are decisions that are made by employers, not employees,” Paschke said, “and what this bill does is make the employees the scapegoat for the employers’ bad decisions.” The state’s farm cooperatives, the Pork Producers and farm equipment dealers as well as two convenience store chains back the bill. Scott Weiser is a lobbyist for C-R-S-T and Annett Holdings, the state’s two largest trucking companies.

“We know it’s a difficult issue but the time has come,” Weiser says. “The availability of the market for our insurance is very, very tight.” Dan McKay, an insurance consultant for the Iowa Bar Association, says insurance rates for commercial vehicles are competitive. “We have to talk about the people who are injured or damaged by the negligent acts of this carrier,” McKay said. In civil cases in which a trucking company is considered liable in an accident, non-economic or pain and suffering damages could be no more than one million dollars if the bill becomes law.

The bill cleared a House subcommittee this (Tuesday) morning. The proposal was part of Governor Kim Reynolds’ legislative priorities last year, but ran into opposition in the House.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), took action on a handful of matters to come before them. They approved a Class-C Liquour License for the Bluebird Hill event venue, in rural Atlantic. The Board unanimously passed a Resolution to withdraw from a 28-E agreement with Workforce Development Chief Elected Official Consortium. Supervisor Wendy Richter explained that, in essence, decisions made by Workforce Development adversely affected the counties in the consortium.

In other business, the Supervisors acted to approve wage changes for the Treasurer’s deputies/staff. Following their six-month probationary periods, Stacie Linfor and Bailey Smith were bumped-up from $19 per hour to $20 per hour. The Supervisors received a quarterly report from Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes.

The Board also received a monthly report from Mental Health/General Assistance Director Deb Schuler. With regard to General Assistance, Schuler said….

On the mental health side of her position, Schuler said she attended numerous meetings in December.

And, the Supervisors received a weekly report on Secondary Roads Department Maintenance and Activities, from County Engineer Trent Wolken.

Wolken said bid letting on Bridge #84, a dirt road north of Griswold, on Seattle Road, took place. There were three bids. The low bidder was A.M. Cohron and Son, at $112,400.Their part of the project, which the Board will act on approving next week, involves erecting the structure, and includes salvaged beams.

Their final order of business, was to approve Michael Dreager as Grove Township Trustee.

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds has approved more than $440,000 to cover a backlog of Iowa Veterans Trust Fund (IVTF) grants that were approved by the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs between March 3, 2021, and November 3, 2022, before the program was temporarily suspended due to insufficient funds. The funds are from the state’s allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The IVTF, which is funded by the Iowa Lottery Authority and managed by the commission, receives a $500,000 annual appropriation from the Iowa Legislature to help eligible veterans and their families with expenses related to dental care, education, or emergency needs.  Over time, the commission obligated funding beyond the program’s appropriation, recently resulting in a backlog of applications and insufficient funds to reimburse veterans’ expenses.

“I’m pleased that this funding will finally provide veterans the financial assistance they were approved to receive,” Gov. Reynolds stated. “We owe Iowa’s veterans a debt of gratitude and we must ensure that the services we offer them are available when needed.” Todd Jacobus, Commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home and Interim Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said “I’m grateful to Governor Reynolds for providing these funds. This will have a significant and very positive impact on veterans in need of emergency support and assistance.”

The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will begin processing payments immediately to fulfill any outstanding grants that were approved between March 3, 2021, and November 3, 2022. No further action is required by veterans whose applications have been approved by the commission and are awaiting payment.

Veterans who have questions about an application or the program should contact Melissa Miller at Melissa.Miller2@iowa.gov or 515-727-3443.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday afternoon, of a Council Bluffs man. 55-year-old Derrell Dewayne Jenkins, Jr., was arrested following a traffic stop on 188th Street in Mills County. Jenkins, Jr., was charged with OWI/2nd offense, with bond set at $2,000.

There were two accidents Monday afternoon in Mills County. The first happened at 189th Street & Bunge Avenue, at around 3:10-p.m. Officials say a 2019 Toyota driven by 66-year-old James Withrow, of Papillion, NE., was stopped at the controlled intersection, on 189th Street, with his turn signal on, indicating his intent to turn right onto westbound Bunge Avenue. A 2020 Chevy, driven by 25-year-old Mason George, of Council Bluffs, was westbound on Bunge, approaching 189th. Authorities say Withrow failed to yield from the stop sign, and entered the intersection before striking the right rear bumper of the Chevy. No injuries were reported.

The second accident happened at around 5:07-p.m. Monday, at 195th & Eastman Road, in Mills County. Authorities say the driver of a 1996 Toyota, 59-year-old Mark Ratzlaff, of Glenwood, was traveling east on Eastman Road, when he lost control of his car, which went into the north ditch. He thought his car rolled about three times, because he heard three loud crashes after he entered the ditch. Because he didn’t have cell phone reception, Ratzlaff waited until he got home to call 911 and report the accident.

He refused any medical assistance, but the Sheriff’s Deputy investigating the crash, strongly urged Ratzlaff to have his wife take him to the hospital to be checked-out.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest at around 2:30-p.m., Monday, of 41-year-old Jessie Wade Stauffer, of rural Creston. Stauffer was pulled over at Lucas and Elm Streets, and charged with Driving while Barred. He was transported to the Union County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.