(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she is happy to see a new House Speaker elected to end what she calls “the chaos and dysfunction over the past few weeks.”  “It was inexcusable. And it was embarrassing. And the eight chaos agents in our conference who teamed up with every single Democrats to paralyze the House should be ashamed of the damage they did to the American people by shutting down the floor. But it is time to move forward,” Hinson says.

Hinson says new House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has a plan in place to address the key issues like getting the budget done to avoid a government shutdown. “The schedule has already changed. We are moving forward with our single subject appropriations bills. And, again, my outlook on that hasn’t changed either,” Hinson says. “We have to pass the most conservative appropriations bills possible. And I don’t want to see a government shutdown. I don’t want to get into hypotheticals until we’ve had a chance to have a conversation as a conference. ”

The Republican from Marion represents Iowa’s Second District, and says her party had a lot of conversations in the last couple of weeks about the path forward and what that looks like. I am hopeful. And I believe in our newly elected speaker, Speaker Johnson, that he’ll be able to unify our conference around an agenda that will hopefully keep the government open and funded and give us the leverage we need to be able to negotiate to get conservative wins with the Senate,” she says.

Hinson says she hopes to get an updated timeline for the Farm bill soon. The other three members of the Iowa House delegation voted with Hinson for the new speaker and issued statements after the vote.

First District Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks says Johnson “is a humble servant leader that I trust to carefully guide our Republican Conference.” Third district Representative Zach Nunn says with the speaker vote over it’s time to double down on the necessary work to address the most pressing needs facing our country: reining in government spending, protecting Medicare and Social Security, passing a Farm Bill. Fourth District Representative Randy Feenstra says he has “full confidence that, under Speaker Johnson, we will continue to uphold our Commitment to America and deliver for our families, farmers, main street businesses, and rural communities.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Police in Atlantic report five recent arrests, including the arrest of three people on separate Assault charges. Officials say:

• 32-year-old Cody Pleis, of Atlantic, was arrested Oct. 21st,  Domestic Abuse Assault and Violation of a No Contact Order.
• 17-year-old Xavier Anaya, of Atlantic, was arrested Oct. 23rd, for Simple Assault, Harassment 2nd Degree, Public Intoxication, and Interference with Official Acts.
• and, on Oct. 25th, 30-year-old Nathan Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Asault.

Other arrests by the Atlantic P.D. include:

• 34-year-old Jennifer Larson, of Atlantic, who was arrested Oct. 24th, for Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent, and
• 49-year-old Joseph Vesta, of Atlantic, who was arrested Oct. 20th for Theft in the 5th Degree (shoplifting). Vesta was cited into court and released from the scene.

CARROLL, Iowa – Several school children suffered minor injuries during a school bus rollover accident, Wednesday morning. Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau said first responders were dispatched at approximately 7:18 a.m. to the scene on Granite Avenue just north of Breda. Officials say nine students were on the bus when the crash occurred, and two reported minor injuries.

Initial reports indicate the bus entered the ditch and then rolled onto its side. Berlau says a secondary bus picked up the uninjured students to transport them to class. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Breda Fire Department, and Carroll County Emergency Medical Services also assisted at the scene.

SPENCER, Iowa (KCAU) — An officer with the Spencer Police Department reportedly killed a dog on Tuesday after a person sent two dogs after officers responding to a welfare check. According to a release from the Spencer Police Department, they responded to a requested welfare check on a person believed to be dealing with a mental crisis at a home located on the 900 block of E. 7th Street. The release said that the resident was aggressive and had two dogs charge at the officers.

One of the dogs continued to chase officers off the property and continued to charge an officer until the dog was eventually killed, the release said. The resident went back inside the home and did not cooperate for approximately two hours until finally being taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.

The Spencer Police Department was assisted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Okoboji Police Department, Spencer Municipal Hospital, Spencer Fire, and Season Center Mobile Crisis.

(Radio Iowa) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District is now running two all-electric school buses, the only ones in the state. School Transportation Manager Scott Wing says the e-buses have several advantages, including the fact they’re eco-friendly. “There are no tailpipe emissions for these vehicles,” Wing says. “We have students that are around the buses at bus stops, at schools, while they’re loading. Emissions are certainly something that crosses your mind when you’re thinking about the pollution aspect and emissions going into lungs.”

Electric school bus (Cedar Rapids CSD photo via Flickr)

The e-buses are part of the district’s partnership with the Iowa Department of Tranporation and Alliant Energy. The Nevada and Sigourney school districts acquired electric-diesel hybrid buses in 2008.

(Radio Iowa) – Two statewide officials who were just elected in 2022 have endorsed a G-O-P presidential candidate and Governor Kim Reynolds — the Republican who got the most votes in last November’s election — could be next. “I don’t have any specific timeline on that, but I haven’t ruled it out,” Reynolds says. “…This next election is just too important.”

Former President Donald Trump has been posting messages on his Truth Social platform, criticizing Reynolds for not endorsing him. Early this year Reynolds said she was neutral in the race, in order to welcome all the candidates to campaign here and she hosted a series of “Fair Side Chats” at the Iowa State Fair with most of the candidates who’re competing against Trump for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the governor told reporters the lack of border security is one of the issues that could motivate her to get directly involved in a presidential campaign. “Just inflation and just the decline of this country…it’s really important,” Reynolds said, “and so I’m not going to not consider it.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird endorsed former President Trump last week. State Treasurer Roby Smith endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy late this summer.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, discussed the likelihood of offering an early retirement incentive plan. In the past, the matter was brought up for discussion every three-years.  Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen noted it’s been a while since they offered the Early Retirement incentives.

Johnsen said at this time, the District is looking at the possibility of adding staff in positions that currently are not offered, and in positions where extra staff are needed.

Dr. Johnsen says her past experiences in dealing with Early Retirement plans, have seen personnel considering the change having served 20-years in their district. The number of retirements is traditionally capped at five per school year. She said 55 “Is a solid age” before it is often considered, but the Board can choose the number of years of service. “Lot’s of times,” she said “it’s continuous service, too.” The main benefit to offering the plan, she said, is cost-savings to the District. Johnsen said that’s evident in spread-sheet of information compiled by ACSD Director of Finance, Lisa Jones.

Board President Laura McLean said in the past, “The Board would chose to do this working around a situation where we needed to save money…like it’s almost a way of reducing staff without having to fire people.” Kristy Pellett explained it was used as a great tool for those years when the District was faced with declining enrollment.

Dr. Johnson said the proposal would be sent to all staff members, with a deadline for those who qualify to submit their request for early retirement, and so many days after the application is turned in, for them to change their mind.

Kristy Pellett says the district has an early notification policy that offers money to those who make their intentions to retire known before early retirement is offered. Superintendent Johnsen explained…

No action was taken on implementing an early retirement incentive plan during Wednesday’s Atlantic School Board meeting. The Board is expected to make it an action item at a future meeting.
In other business, the Atlantic School Board also discussed offering the Aviation Program to students outside the district and other matters, but also took no action at this time.