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House panel votes to bar cities, counties and state of Iowa from issuing ‘vaccine passports’

News

April 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A House committee has approved legislation to forbid Iowa businesses, schools and government facilities from denying entry to people who haven’t had the Covid vaccine. In addition, all government entities in Iowa would be barred from issuing I-D cards with a person’s vaccination history. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says employment, travel and normal participation in society shouldn’t be decided by whether someone has been vaccinated.

“I think vaccine passports are unAmerican,” Holt said. “I think they’re unconstitutional and I think they’re unacceptable.” During a public hearing on the bill, Nicole Hasso of Johnston told lawmakers she wants to return to B-C — Before Covid — and she opposes any kind of a vaccine mandate.

“This is a personal choice,” Hosse says. “This is an individual choice and we should not be told how to live our lives or what we’re going to put in our bodies or what we can’t put in our bodies.” A number of other speakers urged lawmakers to go farther and prohibit hospitals and health care facilities from requiring that patients or visitors be vaccinated against Covid-19. Courtney Collier of Waukee says it’s about body autonomy.

“Let’s not muddy the waters any more than we already have this last year with more inhumane and tyrannical dictates,” she said. Holt says he’s spent several weeks negotiating over the details — and is sympathetic to critics who say the bill doesn’t go far enough.

“I started out exactly where many of you talked about today and basically went backwards based upon getting to the point where I felt we could get something actually signed into law,” Holt says, “as opposed to academic discussions that don’t result in action.” A spokeswoman for the Iowa Hospital Association says hospitals need to have a patient’s medical history, including information about vaccinations, in order to provide the best care and the association opposes changes in the bill.

Pursuit on I-80 leads to Exira

News

April 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A pursuit that apparently started with a traffic stop on Interstate 80 late Monday night, ended with the suspect driver leading authorities into Exira via Highway 71 and County Road F-58. According to dispatch reports, the vehicle was abandoned in Exira and the suspect took off on foot.The man was said to have been wearing a white t-shirt, but no other description was available. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center told KJAN News (at 3:30-a.m.), that as of their last report, the subject had not been located.

During the chase, which began at around 11:30-p.m., speeds approached and/or exceeded 120 mph. A law enforcement vehicle said to have been taken out of commission near the Brayton curves, when its transmission failed.

Additional details are currently not available.

Nebraska man killed in Fremont County crash

News

April 27th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A man from Nebraska died during a collision between a pickup and a semi tractor-trailer Monday afternoon, in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of the pickup, 47-year-old Michael A. Cox, from Ravenna, NE, who was not wearing a seat belt, died when his eastbound vehicle crossed the center line of Highway 21 and struck the rear dual wheels of the westbound semi, driven by 35-year old Nathaniel J. Pegelow, of Salisbury, MO. The accident happened at around 1:45-p.m.

The Patrol says when the collision occurred, the left front tire of the pickup came off and struck a westbound SUV driven by 24-year-old Veronica Marie Barreto Rosa, from Lincoln, NE.  The pickup came to rest in a ditch. The other two vehicles came to rest on the roadway.

US Census count for Iowa: 3,190,369. That’s 4.7% growth in the decade

News

April 26th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. Census data shows Iowa’s population grew four-point-seven percent in the last decade. The Census Bureau estimates Iowa’s population was nearly three-point-two million on April 1st of 2020. The once every 10 years census is used to calculate lots of things, including how many members each state shall have in the U.S. House.

By this latest count, Iowa will still have four representatives in the U,S. House. Based on overall population trends, it’s possible Iowa will lose a seat in congress after the 2030 Census.

In the past decade, Iowa’s population grew more than neighorhing Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, but Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota all had higher population growth than Iowa.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office seeks the public’s help in locating stolen truck

News

April 26th, 2021 by admin

(UPDATE: Officials confirm the vehicle was found Monday evening. No other details are currently available)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen pickup. A 2018 Black Chevy 3500 Diesel Crewcab was stolen from Fernwood Avenue in Red Oak on Sunday night at about 10:00 p.m.

If anyone has any information about the stolen truck, please call Montgomery County Crime-Stoppers at 888-434-2712.

FEMA individual assistance to 3084 Iowa homeowners, renters hit by derecho

News, Weather

April 26th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted about 73-hundred inspections of Iowa homes that were damaged by the derecho last August and concluded about 42 percent were eligible for FEMA’s individual assistance program. John Mills is a spokesman for FEMA.

“FEMA has approved nearly 3100 households and already provided more than $11 million in individual assistance grants,” he says. “That money is helping survivors with basic home repairs, temporary rental assistance. We’re helping with lodging reimbursement and other needs.” The Washington Post is reporting 19-thousand Iowans who applied last year for FEMA’s individual assistance program got notices that they were not eligible.

“Right after the derecho hit and the disaster was declared, FEMA began accepting disaster assistance applications and people asked for assistance,” Mills says. “We don’t want people to rule themselves out, so when in doubt, we encourage people to apply for assistance.” Mills says a home owner or renter is not eligible for the program if the property is covered by insurance or they’re received assistance from other government agencies or charities. In addition, the residence must also be declared uninhabitable.

A state report issued last fall indicated more than 200-thousand private insurance claims had been filed by derecho victims and insurance payouts had topped one-point-six BILLION by last November. Mills says the U.S. Small Business Administration has issued 27 million in disaster loans to businesses as well as homeowners and renters hit by the derecho. Some of those loans were to help with tree removal expenses on private property.

State receives latest tobacco settlement money

News

April 26th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The state of Iowa recently received a payment of nearly 53 million dollars from the tobacco companies involved in the 1998 settlement agreement. The spokesman for Iowa’s Attorney General, Lynn Hicks, says the payments are made every April. “We’re up now to one-point-three-six billion dollars that has come into the state as a result of the settlement with the tobacco companies,” Hicks says. The state sold bonds based on the settlement to get money up front and uses the payments each year to pay bondholders. Hicks says that’s what will happen this year.

“The bulk of this — about 78 percent — goes to those bondholders who bought the bonds issued by the Tobacco Settlement authority…the rest. including 11-point-six-million dollars this year goes into the state’s general fund. So it’s up to the legislature and the governor as to how that money will be spent,” according to Hicks. He says they worked with the State Treasurer recently to refinance the bonds.

“So as a result the state is going to save some money. About 176 million dollars over the life of the bonds,” Hicks says. The settlement also created restrictions on the advertising, marketing, and promotion of cigarettes, including a ban on targeting children through advertising. Hicks says those efforts to cut smoking have had success.

He says 24 percent of U-S adults smoked at the time of the settlement, and we are now down to around 14 percent. Iowa and 45 other states were part of the settlement, and Hicks says the state will continue getting payments as long as the tobacco companies continue selling cigarettes.

U.S. 59 south of Hancock to close Friday, April 30 for culvert replacement

News

April 26th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – April 26, 2021 – The Iowa DOT’s Council Bluffs Construction Office reports a box culvert replacement project on U.S. 59 over the West Nishnabotna River .2 miles south of Pottawattamie County Road G-30 south of  Hancock will require closing the roadway to traffic beginning on Friday, April 30, until June 30, weather permitting.

During this part of the project, motorists will be detoured around the work zone using Pottawattamie County roads G-30, M-47, U.S. 6, and U.S. 59. (See the attached map)

Atlantic School Board to meet Wed. evening

News

April 26th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 6-p.m. Wednesday, April 28th, in the High School Media Center, and via YouTube. On their agenda is:

  • A Special Presentation on the Home School Assistance Program
  • Action on the following resignations: Rachel Larsen, Kindergarten Teacher; Denise Sharp, Paraeducator; Shannon Hayden, Food Service, and Wynter Waltz, Food Service.
  • The Board will act on Contract Recommendations for: Michelle Fritz, MS Spec. Ed. Teacher; Cheryl Andersen, ESL Teacher/Coordinator; Terry Hinzmann, Summer School Supervisor, and Bob Gross, Volunteer Softball Coach.

The Board will also act on proposal requests, with regard to the Athletic Facilities Improvement Project, including matters pertaining to the High School Fence, and Baseball/Softball Lettering. At the conclusion of regular business, the Board will adjourn into a closed session for Superintendent Steve Barber’s annual evaluation.

2 arrests in Page County

News

April 26th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. On Saturday, Deputies responded to a motor vehicle accident on Highway 59, north of Shenandoah. During the investigation, 48-year-old Aaron Dean Bennett , of Nebraska City, NE was arrested for interference with Official Acts. Bennett was transported to the Page County Jail.

During the booking process at the jail, Bennett was additionally charged with: Assault on a person in certain Occupations, and Assault with intent to commit sex abuse. He was being held on a $7,000 cash-only bond, pending future court appearances.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the accident. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted at the scene of the accident.

Wells, Steven W.

And, on Monday, April 26th, Deputies in Page County arrested 51-year-old Steven William Wells, of College Springs, on three Page County warrants, with a cash-only bond totaling $30,000. The warrants charge Wells with:

  • Violation of probation from an original sentencing charge of Eluding Speed 25mph over second or subsequent offense
  • Violation of probation from an original sentencing charge of Driving while Barred habitual offender
  • and Violation of probation from an original sentencing charge of Driving while barred

Wells was arrested at the Page County Courthouse without incident and transported to the Page County Jail.