(Radio Iowa) – A bill that became law this week increases the state tax credit for volunteer firefighters from 100 to 250 dollars. Another approved by the governor last week will, for the first time, let voters approve a property tax levy to support the operations of a local fire department. About 90 percent of the firefighters in Iowa are volunteers and Iowa Firefighters Association president Nick Riley of Traer says legislators recognized volunteer firefighters took on new risks during the pandemic as emergency responders, transporting Covid patients to hospitals.

“Their interest in us has greatly increased throughout the pandemic,” he says, “which was greatly, greatly appreciated by everyone.” Riley says the association is hoping to take another step in 2022 and get legislative approval of a pension fund that volunteer firefighters could contribute to. Riley says the Iowa Firefighters Association has found a financial institution that will manage it.

“We can sit down with some of the legislators that had some of those big questions of: How will it be run, how will it funded, what will a fire fighter at the end of his service — how can he get his money?” Riley, like many, has a family history in the profession. His dad was a firefighter for 33 years in Mount Pleasant. His brother served for 15 years and Riley has been a firefighter for the past 12 years. The Iowa Association of Firefighters represents 15-thousand volunteer and career firefighters.

(Radio Iowa) – The new map from the U-S Drought Monitor shows worsening conditions across Iowa. Only five percent of the state is shown as having normal conditions, all in the southeast, while drought gained more ground practically everywhere else. Parts of eastern and far southwestern Iowa are in the abnormally dry category, but the majority of the state’s in drought.

A week ago, 56-percent of Iowa was in moderate to severe drought, now, it’s 76-percent. Severe drought covers about 40 of the state’s 99 counties, including virtually all of northern Iowa and much of the central region.

A heat advisory is posted for much of the state today (Thursday), as highs are forecast to reach the upper 90s to around 100 degrees, with heat indices in southwest Iowa climbing to 107.

(Radio Iowa) – One person was injured in a truck-train accident in northwest Iowa. A semi with a gravel dump trailer collided with a Burlington Northern-Sante Fe train at about 1:15 p-m today (Thursday) at a crossing about three miles west of Le Mars. The semi was coming down a hill heading eastbound and the train was going northbound.

The driver was airlifted to a Sioux City hospital in serious condition. The Plymouth County Sheriff says the crossing signals were working at the time of the accident.

[updated] (Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has signed legislation that establishes tougher penalties for rioting and protests that block pedestrian or vehicle traffic. The law also provides new legal protection to police, so they cannot be sued for most on-duty actions. “Like so many Iowans, I was raised to be grateful to the heroes who patrol our streets at great personal risk and sacrifice and tragically this fundamental and wholesome part of America’s culture is now under vicious attack,” she said. “…Iowa’s law enforcement will always have my respect and I will always have their back.”

Republican legislature in other states have passed similar bills this year. Iowa’s new law makes rioting a felony and someone convicted of unlawful assembly could be sentenced to up to two years in prison. Reynolds says amid calls to “defund the police,” this bill takes just the opposite approach.  “Last summer when lawless mobs across the country co-opted peaceful protests to riot and loot, Iowa experienced its share of unrest,” Reynolds says. “…The public peace is too important and the safety of our officers too precious to tolerate destructive behavior.”

Nearly all Democrats in the legislature voted against the measure, arguing the penalties in the bill were too harsh and that the G-O-P had turned its back on racial justice efforts. Representative Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines, a member of the House Black Caucus, says the bill sends the wrong message to people of color and young people. “Iowa is beginning to be looked at around the country as a state that is going backwards,” Gaines says, “…sending out a message that Iowa is not a welcoming state.”

Representative Ross Wilburn of Ames, the first black Iowan to be chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, says the governor’s approval of this bill is a giant step backwards. “She gave into the prejudice within her own party,” Wilburn says, “and we want to live up to our civil rights history here in Iowa and be a role model for the rest of the country for meaningful change surrounding our criminal justice system.” Reynolds had asked the Republican-led legislature to include proposals to track data from traffic stops and ban racial profiling in the bill, but those were left out.

Reynolds says she will offer a stand-alone bill in 2022 to accomplish those goals. “The men and women of law enforcement would be the first to acknowledge we should never be afraid to talk about the ways to improve policing,” Reynolds said. “…There’s no contradiction between steadfast support for honorable and selfless police officers — the vast majority –= and a commitment to improving policing.” Democrats say they doubt Reynolds can convince her fellow Republicans to pass that bill.

Governors have 30 days after the legislature concludes to sign or veto bills. Reynolds is taking final action on a few remaining bills today (Thursday), including one that provides state funding for police department equipment.

[Updated] (Atlantic, Iowa)  – Teachers and staff with the Atlantic Community School District were out and about today (Thursday), dressed in orange t-shirts, spreading the advantage of joy, happiness and gratitude through the orange frog training method based around a book by Shawn Achor.

Ashley Mosier, Washington Kindergarten Teacher, said they braved the heat to spread some good vibes…

Mosier says “So many people in our school district and community are already doing amazing things, and we want to highlight those good things.” Mosier says “We are using small steps each day to make big positive changes for our students, our teachers, our district and our community. Being positive has proven to increase productivity and engagement, which leads to success, and success is exactly where Atlantic is headed. Choose to be happy and a part of the orange frog movement.”

Group selfie

Wendy Peterson, Washington Elementary Paraeducator, and others in the group – including Superintendent Steve Barber – also came out to the KJAN Studios to spread their messages.

To learn more about happiness in the workplace, look for iSparkHappiness on Facebook.

Phrases to make your co-worker’s day.

Update 10:07-a.m.: Phone service has been restored at the Clarinda Police Department & Clarinda City Hall.  Have a pleasant & safe day. Keep cool in the heat this afternoon.

(Previous message: All administrative phone lines at the Clarinda Police Department & Clarinda City Hall are currently down. It is unknown at this time when phone service will be restored.)

(Atlantic) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office would like to advise residents of a recent scam call. Authorities say a person called a resident and told them that they (The caller) were with the clerk of court’s office and were calling in regards to paper service. Officials warn these types of calls are NOT legitimate.

Residents are encouraged to hang up if they get a call like that, and do not give out any personal information. Please contact the sheriff’s office if you have any questions or concerns regarding fraudulent calls.

(Radio Iowa) – Police in the southeast Iowa town of Sumner are looking for a blue-green Chevy extended cab pickup after the possible attempted abduction of a 14-year-old girl outside the town’s public library. Sumner police chief Chad Koch says tips have flooded in since the incident on Tuesday morning. “We want to thank everybody for their assistance,” Koch said, “and let everyone know that we are working around the clock to try to bring this incident to a resolution and determine exactly what happened.”

Police are looking for this truck.

The pickup’s license plate is visible in several photos, but as yet, there’s no word on any arrests in the case. The driver, Koch says, has been identified. “We’ve had a lot of calls, messages, information passed our way regarding this incident,” he said, “and all that information has been useful and we sincerely appreciate that.” Chief Koch explains what happened that morning about 10:40. “A young, 14-year-old girl was at the Sumner Public Library parking lot,” he says, “at which time a vehicle pulled up and the driver attempted to entice the young lady into his vehicle.”

The chief says the girl is fine — and she did the right thing by ignoring the man, going inside the library and reporting it.

With Ric Hanson.

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(Updated) The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday evening, of 31-year-old Clinton Harold Overton, from Creston. He was charged with Theft in the 4th. Overton was taken to Union County Jail and has since posted $1,000 bond. And, at around 8:23-p.m., Wednesday, 40-year-old Latisha Gene Breen, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant. Breen was charged with two counts of a Controlled Substance Violation, two-counts of Possession of Controlled Substance- 3rd or subsequent offense, and Failure to affix drug stamp.  She is being held in Adams County Jail without bond until seen by a Judge.

Creston Police said also, a woman reported Wednesday morning, that her daughter’s house had been broken into. A PS-4 and a laptop were reported missing, a window was broken, and her dogs had been let loose.