(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak responded Friday night (May 17) to the 100 block of E. Prospect Street, for a reported fight in progress. Upon further investigation Officers arrested 22-year-old Matthew Scot Kepler Thomason at around 6:50-p.m., on two-counts of Serious Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Thomason was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – A man who was convicted by a jury for receiving and possessing child pornography was sentenced, this past Thursday (May 16, 2024), to 16 years in federal prison. 35-year-old Anthony Michael Tucker, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a jury verdict finding him guilty of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.

Evidence at trial showed that in January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a Cybertip from Google that accounts belonging to Tucker contained over 85 images and seven videos of child sexual abuse material.  The images and videos included depictions of sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.

During trial, jurors watched a video-recorded interview of Tucker speaking with an Iowa DCI agent where he admitted he was responsible for the content on the Google account and stated, “there’s more that I run across…those are just the ones I kept.”  In 2010, Tucker was previously convicted for Lascivious Acts with a Child.  Tucker, then 21, had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female.

Tucker was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Tucker was sentenced to 192 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense.  He was also ordered to pay $1,200 in additional fines and assessments.  Tucker must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Tucker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc

For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

(Sioux  City, Iowa) – A registered nurse from northwest Iowa was sentenced today (Friday) in Sioux City District Court, to seven months in federal prison for stealing controlled substances from patients and falsified medical records at a life care center where she was employed. 32-year-old Cassandra Lynne Vonnahme, of Arcadia, in Carroll County, was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Vonnahme pled guilty to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, and one count of false statements relating to health care matters on November 30, 2023.

Vonnahme admitted that between November 2020 and December 2020, she diverted controlled substances and falsified related medical records. The controlled substances she stole and the records she falsified pertained to actual patients. Evidence at sentencing also revealed that Vonnahme burglarized 5-6 homes after losing her job as a nurse for stealing patient’s medication. She was later convicted of impersonating a public official after another burglary in Carroll County in 2021, where she pretended to be a county assessor in order to gain entry into a stranger’s home and then stole controlled substances.

In addition to her prison sentence and fine, Vonnahme must serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Vonnahme was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has approved a bill that establishes state oversight of traffic cameras that generate tickets for speeding. Cities and counties will have to submit an application to the Iowa Department of Transportation, showing the camera is placed in an area due to the number and severity of traffic accidents there. The law also says fines from traffic camera tickets must be used on law enforcement expenses.

The governor VETOED another bill today (Friday). Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

The governor has now completed action on ALL the bills that passed the 2024 Iowa legislature. Just today (Friday), she approved new limits on the T-H-C content in consumable hemp products, like gummies. The new law will make it illegal to sell the products to anyone under the age of 21. Reynolds says she has concerns about the limits, but decided to sign it into law to protect minors from dangerous and intoxicating products.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the student loan bailout is hurting the military’s ability to recruit new soldiers.*

The Republican from Red Oak says the anti-American rhetoric on campuses and online has also influenced those considering military service. Ernst is a retired National Guard soldier, and made her comments while discussing recruiting with the Secretary of the Navy.

Ernst says the Biden Administration’s student loan payoffs haven’t helped.[

Ernst says part of the challenge of recruitment that we don’t reward those who serve enough or we give their benefits to others that don’t deserve them.

(Radio Iowa) – With the Memorial Day weekend just ahead, it’s predicted travelers from Iowa will be on the roads in record or near-record numbers. Brian Ortner, with Triple-A Iowa, says the motor club is forecasting more than three-point-six million people across the Midwest will be traveling 50 miles or more during the long weekend, which is up 136-thousand travelers from last year.

The vast majority of vacationers will be traveling by car, and Ortner says gasoline prices in Iowa are more than a dime a gallon cheaper than a year ago.

For families on a budget, vacations can be expensive ventures, with gasoline being one of the biggest costs, so Ortner says this is welcome news.

For Iowans traveling by air, Triple-A says the average price for a round-trip domestic flight will cost 778-dollars, which is up two-percent from Memorial Day weekend last year.

AUDUBON, Iowa — A boil advisory has been issued for the City of Audubon in Audubon County, following a water main break. The incident happened late this (Friday) morning, when a contractor hit a main near the city water tower, resulting in pressure loss.  Nearly 1200 connections are affected by the break. City officials have isolated the leak, and have shut down the water treatment plant until repairs are complete.

Once repairs are completed the affected area will be disinfected and flushed. City officials are notifying residents via radio, the city website, Facebook, and the Audubon city marquis.

Officials say there is no reason to believe water quality has been compromised, but as a precaution, customers are encouraged to boil water that will be consumed or used for food preparation. Water should be boiled for two minutes and allowed to cool before use. Water is safe to use for showering, laundry, general washing and outdoor use without boiling.

Two sets of bacteria samples will be collected for testing. The boil advisory will be lifted once two consecutive sets of bacterial samples have tested negative for bacteria.

(Radio Iowa) – Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver announced this (Friday) afternoon that he’s undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Whitver, in a written statement, said he is remaining in the Iowa Senate and continuing in his role as majority leader. Whitver said he is responding well to radiation therapy and intends to lead Republicans through this election cycle in the same way he has since become leader in March of 2018.

In his statement, Whitver said he appreciates the kind words and prayers he and his family have received. Whitver and his wife, Rachel, are the parents of three children. Whitver, who is 43, was first elected to the Senate in a special election in January of 2011. He grew up in Grinnell and was a starting wide receiver for the Iowa State football team for three years.  Whitver was first elected to the Iowa Senate in a special election in January of 2011 and he earned a law degree from Drake the next year. After the 2016 election, Whitver’s Republican colleagues voted to have him serve as president of the Iowa Senate.

Jack Whitver

Governor Reynolds today (Friday) released the following statement of support for Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and his family:

“Jack Whitver is a strong and capable leader, and a good friend. I admire and support his decision to remain in his role while undergoing treatment, and I am confident in his ability to do so. Kevin and I know this path well, and also the incredible advancements that have been made with treatment. We pray for his full recovery, for his wife Rachel and their children, and for his medical team. I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of Iowans.” 

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday), signed into law, a bill [SF2368] relating to education, which modifies provisions related to the sale of real property by school districts, charter school and open enrollment funding, and the participation in school activities by students enrolled in charter schools, into law. Her signature on the bill came during a ceremony at Horizon Science Academy in Des Moines.

Additionally, the governor announced a new $7 million charter school grant program that will support infrastructure costs, awarding up to $500,000 for new charter schools and up to $200,000 for existing schools. The grant program will be available through the Iowa Department of Education and the application period will open on June 3, 2024.

“Public charter schools provide yet another school choice for parents and guardians looking for the education that’s best suited for their children’s abilities and needs. Charter schools are tuition-free, independently operated public schools that have the freedom to design their curriculum and classrooms to meet specific educational objectives. Some specialize in STEM, foreign languages, and providing at-risk youth with resources and opportunities to succeed in the classroom,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Today, by signing this bill and launching a new infrastructure grant program for start-up and expansion costs, we take a bold step in expanding the charter school opportunities to parents and students across the state.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests took place this (Friday) morning:

• 21-year-old Chase Rounds, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He posted bond and was released.
• 27-year-old De’One Denson, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving while barred. His bond was set at $2,000.