(Radio Iowa) – A bill co-sponsored by Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn would block Iran’s access to six billion dollars designated for humanitarian aide. It was part of a recent prisoner swap between the U-S and Iran.  “This bill would provide a surgical strike, as it were, in rescinding the  licenses involving the $6 billion transferred from South Korea to Qatar in September of 2023,” Nunn says, “effectively cutting off Iran’s access to these  funds.” Iranian oil money had been held in South Korean banks since 2019 and the six billion has been transferred to Qatar’s central bank, but it has not been distributed to Iran yet. Nunn says Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world and if that money is released, it would let Iran redirect resources to groups like Hamas.

“This would ensure that those assets don’t flow to Iran and the government of Iran,” Nunn says. Nunn’s bill was among a dozen approved by the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday. Nunn says the bill calls for the U-S to review any transaction — anywhere — that involves transfers of five million dollars or more to Iran.

“In fact, our own Department of Justice recently found that Turkish Halkbank had illicitly transferred approximately $20 billion worth of restricted Iranian funds through a so-called ‘humanitarian exception,’ but none of that was used for the people of Iran,” Nunn says. “Instead, that money was used to directly threaten the United States and train terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas.” Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, says there have been Iranian backed strikes on U-S forces in the Middle East since the Hamas attacks on Israel last month.

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, reports a Carroll man, 45-year-old Darwin Robinson, Jr., was sentenced last week to more than 5-1/2 months in prison on federal gun and drug charges. Robinson pled guilty July 20, 2023, to illegally possessing a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Robinson was previously convicted of cocaine-possession and three domestic abuse assaults which prohibit a person from possessing any firearm.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed Robinson had prohibitive convictions and was a regular user of methamphetamine while possessing a .40 caliber handgun. On March 22, 2021, law enforcement stopped the vehicle Robinson was driving and officers seized 2 small bags of methamphetamine from Robinson and a loaded .40 caliber handgun from the vehicle. Robinson admitted that he planned on selling some or all of the methamphetamine that was found.

Sentencing was held November 9th in Sioux City Federal Court. United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Robinson to 70 month in prison and five years of supervised release following his imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Robinson remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Carroll, Iowa Police Department, Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – News around the world told of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to southwest Iowa, in 1959. Liz Garst was eight years old at the time but she remembers his visit and has stories to tell. Garst will present a program on Sunday, November 19 at 2 pm at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Old Armory), in Atlantic.

The Garst Family has deep roots in the history of Iowa. Based on her family experience in Coon Rapids, Liz tells of agricultural development especially during the mid-century explosion of farm productivity. She tells entertaining stories from her personal memories as an 8-year-old participant. There is a powerful message about the ability of an individual to make a difference.

Liz Garst

Liz manages banking and farming interests for the Garst family. She is the granddaughter of Roswell and Elizabeth Garst the hosts for Khrushcev. She likes to tell a good story. Liz is a volunteer and board member Whiterock Conservancy which is dedicated to finding balance between agriculture, the environment and people.

Her presentation, Sunday, is one of the series of programs sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). There is no fee but donations are appreciated. Everyone is welcome. The Building located at 201 Poplar Street, Atlantic is handicapped accessible.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert, Tuesday, updated the Board of Supervisors on Secondary Roads Department maintenance projects and activities.

Six Secondary Roads Department employees, she said, were undergoing specific training in Atlantic, Tuesday. Albert handed-out to the Board some pictures of the K Avenue Railroad Bridge. Albert received a call last Thursday from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, informing her the bridge had been damaged by deep gouges caused by an unknown implement or device.

The railroad owns the K, L and Q Avenue bridges in Montgomery County, and the County is not allowed to conduct any type of maintenance on them. She said “The railroad can choose to close these bridges if they want to. They are the railroad’s bridges…they own the bridges.” She urged the Board to keep that in-mind.

In other business, Karen Albert updated the Supervisors in Montgomery County on the 180th Street precast concrete box culvert project.

She said work on the 250th Street bridge continues, as well. When the 250th Street bridge project is completed, the County plans to hold a dedication ceremony and grand opening.