(Radio Iowa) – The trade group that represents 400 Iowa trucking companies and suppliers is backing a bill that would require anyone seeking a commercial drivers license in Iowa to pass an English proficiency test. Blake Grolmus is with the Iowa Motor Truck Association.

“We’ve very unfortunately seen many recent and very public examples of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles driven by individuals who could not speak, read or understand the English language,” Grolmus said. Passing a test showing the ability to speak English and read road signs would be required for people renewing their commercial drivers license as well as those applying for a C-D-L for the first time.

The bill calls for a one-thousand dollar fine for truck drivers who aren’t proficient at English caught driving in Iowa — and even heftier fines for any trucking company caught employing a trucker driving through Iowa who cannot speak or read English. “Roadway safety and protecting the integrity of our workforce is a top priority of the Iowa Motor Truck Association,” Grolmus said, “and over the last three to five years we’ve unfortunately seen significant degradation of the professionalism and quality of the drivers that are on our roadways as well as the unvetted carriers who are employing these individuals.”

Federal law doesn’t require drivers to be fluent in English, but they must be able to communicate clearly and understand road signs. Last June, the Trump Administration issued guidelines that let law enforcement officers stop truckers from continuing their route if the driver is unable to answer questions posed in English, asking things like “What are you hauling? and “What is your destination?”

“Since then more than 12,000 drivers nationwide have been placed out of service, including 500 in the state of Iowa,” Grolmus said, “ninth most among the 50 states.” Grolmus says penalties are necessary because taking the driver out of the semi isn’t enough — because they can just wait until the officer leaves, get back in the semi and start driving.  “We feel this bill is necessary to start attacking the issue at its root — the chameleon carriers who have created and perpetuated this issue,” Grolmus said.

“By requiring verification of English language pruriency prior to the issuance of a CDL, we can stop these drivers from getting behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler in the first place and by giving our law enforcement partners the ability to levee significant fines and penalties against the carriers that employ these drivers, we can make a difference in getting these bad actors off of Iowa’s roads.”

The proposal has cleared initial review in the Senate and key lawmakers say they may recommend minor adjustments to the bill when the Senate Transportation Committee debates it next week.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that’s cleared a House committee would impose new sanctions for student-led protests and any educator who publicly celebrates assassinations or politically motivated violence — including the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk — would lose their state license. The legislation would require schools to have a make-up day for every day there’s a student-led protest in a school district.

Teachers or administrators who lead a school protest or give advice to students about protesting would lost their state license if the bill becomes law. The bill passed the House Education Committee last (Wednesday) night with the support of 14 Republicans, but none of them spoke in favor of the bill during the meeting. Representative Elinor Levin, a Democrat from Iowa City, was among the nine committee members who voted against it.

“This bill attempts to curtail First Amendment protected free speech,” Levin said. “While we all live in a time when political violence is real and is a serious concern, we cannot be the thought police here in the Iowa Legislature.” There was a subcommittee hearing earlier in the day on the original version of the bill, which just dealt with revoking educators’ licenses for making public comments celebrating politically motivated violence. Melissa Peterson of the Iowa State Education Association called revoking a teacher’s license blatantly unconstitutional.

“In 1987 the Supreme Court decided that a public employee could not be held liable for something that they did outside of the workspace,” Peterson said, “outside of their particular job.” The Iowa Association of School Boards also opposes the move. Melissa Johnson is a lobbyist for the association. “We think this is a violation of First Amendment rights,” she said. “Teachers or whoever should have the right to say what they want when they’re not at school.”

The bill mentions the killing of Charlie Kirk five times and the policy on revoking educators’ licenses to teach or be a school administrator would take effect on September 10th of last year. That’s the day Kirk was shot to death. Last fall several Iowa teachers were suspended or fired after complaints about comments they made on social media after Kirk’s death.

(Red Oak, IA) – Police in Red Oak report two women were arrested recently on separate Driving While Barred (DWB) – Aggravated Misdemeanor – charges. At around 5-p.m. Wednesday, Officers with the Red Oak P-D arrested 35-year-old Bailie Ann Preston, of Emerson, for DWB, and early today (Thursday), Red Oak Police arrested 31-year-old Paige Rae Wooley was arrested in the 1500 block of Highway 34, on the same charge.

Bonds for both women were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where their bonds were set at $2,000 each.

(Atlantic, IA) – During a brief meeting of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, the Board, Wednesday (Feb. 11th) voted to terminate the employment of now former High School Counselor Jesse McCann. Their action followed a motion by Board Member Chet Meneely, based on a recommendation by Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen.

Prior to their vote, the Atlantic School Board heard from Liam Spencer, a student at the Atlantic High School, an advocate for a recent student protest and representing some of the students with regard to the district’s handling of McCann’s employment earlier this month, and in months prior, when allegations began to surface concerning his alleged inappropriate behavior with students.

Spencer questioned the Board about their response to the situation, but he was reminded by Board President Josh McLaren the Public Comment portion of the meeting is not  an “interactive” time, meaning the Board would not respond, per Board policy, and only allow comments or questions to be heard.

No charges have been filed against McCann, in connection with the allegations. More than 40 people attended the meeting, and at least 118 people watched the meeting via YouTube.

In other business, Board President McLaren announced a Special Election will be held with regard to the filling of the school board seat left vacant by the resignation last month of Laura McLean. During their Jan. 14th meeting, McLaren said the Board would publicize the vacancy and accept applications to fill the position, but he acknowledged if there were enough signatures on a petition to call for a special election, that would take place.

During tonight’s (Feb. 11th) meeting, McLaren acknowledged a petition with the required signatures was received, and he outlined the process the procedure would take to submit nominations for candidates seeking the Board seat.

Nominations are due-in by March 6th at the School District’s Business Office at the Achievement Center. The Special Election itself will be held March 31st.

And, the Atlantic School Board set their Work Session on March 25th as the date and time for Public Hearings on the 2026-2027 School Master Calendar, and FY 27 Budget.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Flood Center would have to develop a statewide flood resiliency plan by the end of 2027 under a bill eligible for debate in the Iowa House. Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake says the plan should outline ways to safeguard critical assets. “Ranging from utility infrastructure and emergency facility to natural resources against environmental threats like flooding,” Wills said.

The bill as originally written would have required the plan to address water quality issues, but that’s been removed from the legislation. “I don’t think that we want to muddy the waters by putting water quality in here when it’s a flood resiliency plan,” Wills said. Under the bill, there’s no requirement in the report that any identified issues have to be addressed. Wills says it would be up to state and local governments and individual landowners to make those decisions voluntarily.

The House Public Safety approved the bill today (Wednesday) on a 22 to one vote.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of murder in a fatal bar shooting in Linn County. Duvall Walker Junior was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting of Cameron Barnes in the midst of a brawl at the Cocktail’s and Company bar in Marion on St. Patrick’s Day of 2023.

One of the potential jurors admitted he had seen a news story about Walker’s conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The district court allowed the man to be on the jury after he said it would not impact his decision in the murder case.

The Appeals Court ruling says allowing the juror to stay prejudiced the case, and ordered a new trial for Walker.

(Radio Iowa) – The Ames City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and education based on someone’s gender identity. Iowa removed gender identity from its civil rights law last year and the legislature is considering a bill to ban local governments from adopting civil rights protections beyond the state civil rights act. Ames Council member Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen says she does not want to bend to what she sees as bullying behavior.

“I think as we face a state government that is increasingly inserting its control of our every move, I believe that it is important to makes Ames’ stance on this issue clear,” she says. The ordinance passed 5-1 with council member Tim Gartin was the only no vote.“At a time when cities desperately need to reset the relationship with the legislature who holds all the cards with respect to property taxes, I think it would be prudent given the interest they have in at least exploring this bill, to pause our efforts on this to see what the legislature does,” Gartin says.

Other council members said it was important to make the city’s stance on gender identity clear, even if the legislature’s bill becomes law. The city’s new ordinance goes into effect Saturday.

(Atlantic, IA) – Cass County Auditor Kathy Somers reports the CAM Community School District special election will be held in Cass County, IA on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Election Day Voting
Pre-registered voters must provide an approved form of identification at the polling place to receive and cast a ballot.
Approved forms of identification include: Iowa driver’s license or non-operator identification card, U.S. Passport, U.S.
military or veteran’s identification, Tribal identification/document, Iowa voter identification card with PIN number.

Voters who are not pre-registered, such as those registering to vote on Election Day, or changing precincts, must provide
proof of identification and proof of residence using Election Day Registration documents. A voter who is unable to provide
an approved form of identification, or prove their residence, may:
• Have another registered voter from their precinct attest to the voter’s identity and residence, or
• Cast a provisional ballot and bring proof of identity and residence to the Cass County Auditor’s Office by 12:00 PM
on March 5, 2026.

Election Day Registration documents may be found at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/edr.html.

Absentee Voting
In-person-absentee voting will take place at the Cass County auditor’s office:
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. February 11 – March 2, 2026
• 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday, February 16 and Friday, February 27, 2026

To vote by mail, submit an absentee ballot request form to the county auditor’s office by 5:00 p.m., February 16, 2026.
• Absentee ballot request forms are available at sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html or the
county auditor’s office. Request forms received after the deadline will be rejected in accordance with state law.
• Absentee ballots must be returned to the county auditor’s office by 8:00 p.m. on election night, March 3, 2026.
Absentee and special-voter ballots will be counted at the county auditor’s office on Election Day.

Accessibility
Any voter who is physically unable to enter a polling place has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle. For more information,
contact the county auditor’s office at 712-243-4570, or email auditor@casscoia.us. For TTY access, dial 711 + 712-243-4570.
Election Security and Audit
• Voting equipment will be used to tabulate the election results.
• The public test of election equipment will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the courthouse,
and will continue until the required test is completed.

Sample Ballots
May be viewed on the County’s website: https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-government/elections/special-elections/.

Polling places are listed below. Precincts with a temporary polling place change are indicated with an asterisk (*). Voters affected by these changes will receive an official Notice of Temporary Polling Place Change by mail.

Polling Locations
Anita Community Center (805 Main St.)
• Benton, Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln Townships
• Cities of Anita and Wiota
• Voters of the CAM school district extending into Adair and Audubon Counties *

Cumberland Community Center (200 W 2nd St.)
• Union Township
• City of Cumberland
• Voters of the CAM school district in Bear Grove and Noble Townships*

Massena Public Library (122 Main St.)
• Edna, Victoria, and Easterly Massena Townships
• Westerly Massena Township*
• City of Massena*
• Voters of the CAM school district extending into Adams County*

These polling place changes apply only to the March 3, 2026, CAM Special Election. For more information, contact the auditor’s office at 712-243-4570, or at the Cass County Courthouse.

No candidates will appear on the ballot.

Public Measures

CAM Community School District Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax – Public Measure DH
Shall the Board of Directors of the CAM Community School District, in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, and Cass, State of Iowa, for the purpose of purchasing and improving grounds; constructing schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; purchasing of buildings; purchase, lease or lease-purchase of technology and equipment; paying debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of libraries; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; renting facilities under Iowa Code Chapter 28E; purchasing transportation equipment for transporting students; lease purchase option agreements for school buildings or equipment; purchasing equipment authorized by law; or for any purpose or purposes now or hereafter authorized by law, be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, to levy annually, a voter-approved physical plant and equipment property tax not to exceed One Dollar Thirty-Four Cents ($1.34) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district commencing with the levy for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or each year thereafter?

CALHOUN COUNTY, Iowa – One person died and 32 others were injured, when a bus carrying members of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team crashed late this (Wednesday) morning off of Highway 4 near Twin Lake, in northwestern Iowa’s Calhoun County. The crash happened shortly after 11:00 am. The Iowa State Patrol said the bus went off the roadway and overturned in the ditch.

One person died at the scene. The others were transported either by air ambulance or ground ambulance to various hospitals in the area. The crash remains under investigation.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Calhoun County Sheriff and EMS, Rockwell City Police Department, Calhoun County Emergency Management, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and supporting agencies.

(Atlantic) Officials with the Cass County Fair, Tuesday, reported on their social media page, that “Thanks to a national grant from Fairs.com, every fair board, volunteer team, and agricultural society across Iowa will receive fully funded training, tools, and support to strengthen the future of local fairs.”

Thanks to the grant, the Cass County Fair Board is able to host a “You make the difference” Fair workshop at the Cass County Community Center this Saturday, Feb. 14^th, in Atlantic, beginning at 9-a.m. The Board invites anyone passionate about the future of the Cass County or other area fairs, to participate. That includes Fair board members, exhibition organizers, volunteers, community leaders, chamber members, county supervisors and superintendents, extension council members, sponsors, and anyone else who loves everything about their county fair.

Attendees will learn:

• Proven strategies to raise more money for fairs and communities
• Effective tools to recruit and retain volunteers
• Practical solutions to prevent volunteer burnout and maintain strong engagement

The workshop will be led by Ian Hill, an award-winning advocate for ag societies and fairs.

The event is free to attend, but organizers request advance registration to ensure an accurate headcount.

To register, visit iowafairs.com, click on “Meetings,” then select “District Meetings.”