IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A review by The Associated Press shows that ex-offenders who violate Iowa’s strict ban on voting by convicted felons face severe legal consequences, even when it’s unclear whether they knowingly broke the law.

The review found that felons can be arrested, jailed, ordered to pay fines and even imprisoned after trying to cast ballots. In all, 10 have been charged with felony election misconduct for voting since 2017.

A man who is disabled from a brain injury was prosecuted after he mistakenly believed poll workers would alert him if there was a problem with his eligibility. A man who cast a provisional ballot after disputing that he was ineligible still owes $2,300 in court costs. The mayor of one town was forced to resign and prosecuted for illegally voting after a judge revoked his deferred judgment in a drug case.

Defendants and their supporters argue that the consequences are draconian. Prosecutors say they are enforcing laws intended to safeguard elections from participation by ineligible voters.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Thursday) announced additional appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions, including persons from western & southwest Iowa.

The following appointments are subject to Senate confirmation:

County Finance Committee:  Melvyn Houser, Carson; Amanda Waske, Tingley

Economic Development Authority: Lisa Hull, Clarinda.

Environmental Protection Commission: Ralph Lents, Menlo.

Iowa Great Places Advisory Board: Barbara Determan, Early

Council on Human Services: Carol Forristal, Macedonia

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council: Timothy Carmody, Council Bluffs (Council Bluffs’ Police Chief)

Mental Health and Disability Services Commission:  Maria Sorensen, Greenfield. Sorensen, the wife of District 20 Representative Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, said  “I’m so incredibly grateful to be appointed to the Mental Health and Disability Board . After losing my brother who struggled with those sort of issues, I hope to make a positive impact for others in his honor.”

Maria Sorensen

Mental Health Risk Pool Board: Eugene Meiners, Templeton

Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board: Matthew Wyant, Crescent

School Budget Review Committee: Martha Bruckner, Council Bluffs

Iowa Workforce Development Board: Andy Roberts, Council Bluffs

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa agency that has been marketing Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature economic program has abruptly taken steps to lay off its communications staff. Iowa Workforce Development on Tuesday asked for the resignation of communications director Cory Kelly, a former military spokesman who had been with the agency two years. Agency leaders told two other full-time information specialists who reported to Kelly in the communications bureau that their jobs would be eliminated in coming weeks.

IWD Director Beth Townsend told The Associated Press in an email that the agency is “reorganizing our communications area.” She did not elaborate. Kelly said Thursday that he was surprised by the change, but proud of the work he accomplished. During his tenure, the agency helped promote the governor’s Future Ready Iowa initiative, which aims to increase the number of residents who get postsecondary education.

The Atlantic Rotary Club is putting out a call for all parents, students, and community members to nominate a teacher who deserves recognition for going above and beyond the call of duty. The Rotary  is seeking nominations for the 6th Annual Rotary Club of Atlantic Outstanding Teacher Award, and they would love to hear from you! The award, designed to recognize excellence in education in the Atlantic Community Schools, can be given to any certified, full-time teacher who spends at least 60% of his/her time instructing students. The teacher selected will receive recognition at a school employee event, and will also receive a $3000 cash award. The award may be used to enhance the educational resources of the teacher, further the teacher’s education, or for any other purpose which the selected teacher deems appropriate.

Gini Jordan, Atlantic 5th grade teacher was the 2018 award winner. She has since retired from a long career in Atlantic. The outstanding nominees each year make this process difficult and exciting. Past award winning teachers have had “exceptional nomination forms and letters of support from the community,” according to Ted Robinson, 2019 Rotary President. He says “We are hoping to continue the tradition of a strong pool of applicants this year. The selection process is always difficult, but we enjoy seeing the dedication to students and the art of teaching that comes through in each of the nominations.”

The Atlantic Rotary Club has been a dedicated supporter of education in the community for many years through senior scholarships, and annual events such as senior recognition and new teacher welcome. In addition, they are frequent contributors through funding for many school needs such as updating technology in the classroom, supporting curriculum for local preschools, and a number of other school requests. Members of the club have been continually insistent that it recognizes and supports the talented educators that are the heart of our schools, and Robinson says they are very happy we have been able to continue this program.

For teachers to be considered for the 2019 award, completed nomination forms, including letters of support, must be received by Friday April 19th. Nominated teachers will be evaluated based on their skill with students, classroom management, parent communication, peer interaction and community involvement. Teachers must be nominated by three individuals- they can be current or former students, parents of students, co-workers, or any combination of these. Forms were sent via email to all current parents through from the Atlantic Community School System in March. Application materials may be found on the Rotary Club of Atlantic website: www.atlanticrotary.com under the Grants and Scholarship tab. Hard copies of nomination forms may also be picked up from any school administration office, or at First Whitney Bank. Completed nominations may be dropped off, or mailed, to First Whitney Bank, Attn: Ted Robinson, P.O. Box 271, 223 Chestnut Street in Atlantic.

It is the intention of the Atlantic Rotary Club, through this award, to recognize and reward outstanding educators in our public school system who exemplify the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” through their continuous dedication to students, parents, peers and the larger community, as well as the art and practice of education. This award is funded by proceeds from the Atlantic Rotary Club’s annual auction, which is made possible by the generous donations of local businesses and community members.

(Radio Iowa) — A bill to let Iowa utilities charge a new fee to customers who install solar panels is among the policy proposals that have cleared a procedural deadline in the legislature. Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says it’s fair for all customers to pay for the maintenance of utility infrastructure.  “The average, everyday person can understand how the utilities have a cost for lines, poles and transformers,” Breitbach said. “The solar customter uses those features…to transmit the power out and get power back in when they’re not producing.”

Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the bill is a “power grab” by the state’s investor-owned utilities. “Iowa’s largest utility monopoly is trying to pull the plug on Iowa’s growing solar industry by creating a new ‘sun tax,'” Bolkcom said. “The new sun tax will kill good jobs and make it virtually impossible for Iowa businesses, farmers (and) homeowners to continue to cost effectively invest in generating their own power.”

A similar bill cleared a House committee earlier this week. Bills dealing with state taxes and spending are eligible for consideration at ANY time, but bills about other policy objectives must have won approval in a House or Senate committee by the end of this week.

(Radio Iowa) — A bill pulled from consideration in the Iowa House drew strong responses from both sides in the abortion debate. Abortion opponents say the bill would have let Iowans sue on behalf of an aborted fetus — just like a man in Alabama is doing. Kim Robbie — the Life Ministries director for Lutheran Family Service of Iowa — addressed members of an Iowa House subcommittee yesterday (Wednesday). “In Alabama, a probate court has just ruled in favor of a birth father having a right to move forward in a case just similar to this situation,” Robbie said.

Others at yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) hearing suggested the bill was an attempt to establish the legal concept of “personhood.”  Daniel Zeno of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, said “There are those of us here today who strongly believe in Roe v Wade and so the extent that this is an attempt to limit abortion rights for women, we oppose this bill.”  Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton who’s an attorney, says the bill would have been a “gigantic legal step” for the state to make. “This bill declares that fetuses, before they’ve been determined to be viable, are entitled to due process and equal protection of the law,” Wolfe says.

Chuck Hurley, the legal counsel for The Family Leader, urged legislators to pass the bill. “Obviously you can’t overturn Roe v Wade with this statute,” Hurley said, “but you can clarify that child is a person.”  The bill’s sponsor said it was “not intended to deal with abortion,” but was an attempt to make common legal procedures part of actual state law. A House Committee did not take up the bill last (Wednesday) night. The panel’s chairman said there were too many unanswered questions about the legislation.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Testimony is underway in the murder trial of an Iowa woman charged with killing her former boyfriend 25 years ago. The testimony so far has focused on the man’s relationships with multiple other women. Fifty-six-year-old Annette Cahill has pleaded not guilty in the beating death of Corey Wieneke, whose body was found in his West Liberty home in October 1992. Prosecutors have no physical evidence against Cahill. Their case relies on a woman who says she was 9 years old when she overheard Cahill confess to the killing weeks after the slaying.

The Muscatine Journal reports that Jody Willier and Wendi Chamberlin testified Wednesday in Muscatine County Court. Willier says she knew of rumors that her fiance Wieneke was involved with other women.
Chamberlin says she and Cahill were among the women Wieneke was involved with romantically.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of stealing from the account of a central Iowa nursing home resident has been given three years of probation. Jasper County District Court records say 36-year-old Christan Maddison was granted a deferred judgment at her sentencing Monday in Newton. A deferred judgment allows Maddison’s conviction to be removed from court records if she fulfills her probation terms.
Maddison also was fined $750 and was ordered to pay restitution. She’d pleaded guilty to dependent adult abuse.

A criminal complaint says Maddison, of Pella, was granted a power of attorney to handle the nursing home resident’s finances. Nearly $195,000 in annuities, investments and Social Security payments were deposited into an account managed by Maddison over 14 months. Newton police say nearly $81,000 did go to the elderly woman’s care, leaving nearly $114,000 missing. Police say the woman’s bank noticed a change in disbursements from the account, such as $15,500 for plastic surgery and payments for tattoos.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Court records say an 18-year-old from Mason City has been accused of sex extortion schemes in three Iowa counties. The records show Christian Gossweiler already has been given two years of probation and a five-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty in Story County. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that authorities say Gossweiler targeted an Iowa State University student he met online when he was using an assumed name. The records say she sent him a nude photo and he later threatened to show the photo to her friends and family if she didn’t do what he wanted or blocked him on social media.

The records say he’s scheduled to go on trial April 16 in Black Hawk County, where authorities say he threatened to release another woman’s photos and videos if she didn’t have sex with him. He’s also charged with extortion in Scott County, accused of using threats to collect more photos from the woman involved in the Black Hawk County case.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County today (Thursday) said two juvenile males – an 8-year old and a 9-year old — face charges of Assault, following a disturbance Tuesday afternoon, in rural Shelby. The victim was the boys’ 71-year old Guardian/parent. No other details were made available. The Sheriff’s Office said also, 28-year old Megan Nicole Peters was arrested Wednesday at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. Peters was taken into custody on a warrant for Willful Injury resulting in Bodily Injury.

35-year old Emily Ann Clayton was transported to Pott. County Correction from the Nebraska Correctional Center in York. Clayton was wanted in Pott. County on a warrant for Violation of Probation. And, 34-year old Zachary Cameron Meyer was transported from the Sarpy County, NE. Jail to the Pott. County Jail, Wednesday, on a warrant for Failure to Appear.