SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Two northwest Iowa jails were found to not be in compliance with state law. KTIV in Sioux City reports the O’Brien and Woodbury County jails failed to follow the law with regard to recouping medical costs from inmates. Officials say O’Brien County was taking money for medical expenses before inmates were convicted. As for Woodbury County, its violation included not filing a claim for reimbursement before taking the funds.

Sheriffs say there’s confusion about what state law, the part passed by lawmakers, and the state administrative code, drafted by the executive branch, allow them to do. But both Woodbury and O’Brien County sheriffs say taxpayers will end up picking up more inmate medical bills because it’s often not practical to pursue them in court.

Iowa Ombudsman Bernado Granwehr says jails across the state weren’t upholding the rights of inmates when it comes to medical expenses, by pulling the money directly from inmates’ accounts. The state’s ombudsman’s report says only inmates convicted of a crime can be charged medical expenses, and even once convicted, that can only happen after filing a claim in court.

O’Brien County Sheriff Bruce Devereaux says his jail used to take money from inmates’ commissary accounts – up to 25% – to pay for medical expenses so those costs wouldn’t fall on the taxpayer. The ombudsman notes the problem – the administrative code says inmates are responsible for their medical bills – while the state law only concerns post-conviction inmates and requires a separate court process. Either way, he says constitutional rights have to be respected.

The ombudsman’s report also looked into how jails were charging inmates for “room and board.” Again, that’s something they can only charge if the person is ultimately convicted. Both Woodbury and O’Brien Counties are in compliance in that regard.

(Radio Iowa) – If you were to try counting all of the trees on the University of Iowa campus on this Earth Day (Monday), you’d need to be able to count to eight-thousand. The man who leads the team that cares for them all realizes he’s one of the lucky people who’s found the perfect job for himself. U-I arborist Andy Dahl says he’s been planting and caring for trees since he was five years old. “I used to pick up acorns and put them in my pocket and plant them all over, or mow around the baby oak trees coming up in my parents’ yard,” Dahl says, laughing. “My dad would get so angry that I was leaving those, missing big swaths of grass to let the trees grow, so yeah, my love of trees started at an early age.”

The U-I has been named a Tree Campus USA for the 15th straight year, in large part because of those eight-thousand trees which cover an astounding 350 different species.  “I’m big into diversity, so the more species of trees you have, the less chance you have of something like Dutch elm disease or emerald ash borer coming in and wiping out wide swaths of trees,” Dahl says, “so we try and plant a wide diversity of trees to avoid that.” The list of trees on the Iowa City campus includes an apple tree that was grafted from one planted by Johnny Appleseed, and a horse chestnut tree grown from the one that symbolized hope for Anne Frank as she hid from the Nazis during World War Two. One of Dahl’s campus favorites is the giant American elm on the Pentacrest, just outside Schaeffer Hall.

“It’s a former state champion and it dates back to the 1870s,” Dahl says. “It is very, very large. Now in 1998, we lost about 30 feet of height in it from the straight line winds, but it’s still hanging on. I think it’s beautiful. Others think it has character with the scars over the years from the storms.” That’s the only tree on campus that’s being treated chemically in order to prevent the scourge of Dutch elm disease. Several campus tree plantings are planned as part of Earth Day celebrations, while Dahl and some co-workers will be on the Pentacrest at 10:30 A-M, handing out 100 whorled milkweed plants to students and anyone else.

“We’re going to give them away in little cups, so people can grow them on their windowsill until later,” Dahl says, “or they can do what we call guerrilla planting: if you see a spot in the ditch, on a railroad track or something, you can plant that to benefit these native pollinators.” He says the whorled milkweed species will grow to two or three feet in height with white flowers. It’s native to Iowa and is vital for insects like bees and butterflies, especially monarchs.

BONDURANT, Iowa — [KCCI] A juvenile died and another was injured, as the result of an off-road motorcycle accident Saturday evening, in rural Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a call just before 6:30 p.m. reporting the accident near Northeast 118th Avenue west of the South Skunk River.

Authorities say two juveniles were riding off-road motorcycles when the accident happened. When emergency responders got there, they said they found a juvenile male with critical injuries. “Emergency personnel who arrived on the scene immediately began life-saving treatment but were unsuccessful and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” according to a news release.

Authorities have not yet named the person who died.

(Radio Iowa) – Lawmakers sent the governor a bill to cut Iowans’ income taxes by a BILLION dollars next year, they set up the framework for a nearly nine BILLION dollar state budget and then concluded the 2024 legislative session this weekend.

The session officially ended at 4:23 a.m. Saturday. A bill to establish a single income tax rate of three-point-eight percent next year was approved during that final, 20-hour-long day. Governor Kim Reynolds suggested something similar, but slightly lower in January. This weekend Reynolds said she was proud tax cuts are being reduced and accelerated beyond the plan passed in 2022. Lawmakers this year approved another Reynolds priority — mandating that the salary for first year teachers be at least 50-thousand dollars.

Senate President Amy Sinclair of Allerton says those are standout accomplishments of the 2024 legislative session. “We passed bills this year that will put Iowa’s income tax rate at the sixth lowest in the nation and Iowa’s starting teacher pay at the fifth highest, not even accounting for cost of living,” Sinclair said. “And we all know that Iowa is a very cost effective place to live.”

In January, Governor Kim Reynolds also asked legislators to overhaul the state’s nine Area Education Agencies and she signed a reorganization plan last month. Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque says the changes centralize power in Des Moines. “Iowans will remember how Republicans chose to serve their governor rather than their constituents,” Jochum said. “They slashed our Area Education Agencies and put special interests over Iowa’s children.” House Democratic

Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights says kids with special needs are going to suffer.”I want to talk about moms who are trying to figure out how they’re going to get the occupational or mental health therapy they need,” Konfrst said, “and we’re just getting started. Imagine what will happen next year.” House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans put a lot of work in to make changes in the governor’s original plan to protect the A-E-A’s special education services, while letting schools choose how to use the rest of the money that had been going directly to the A-E-As for other services.

“Schools are excited to have some opportunities to have some flexibility with some of those funds,” Grassley said. “…The bill we were able to put together I think will continue to deliver on those special ed services.” In the closing moments of the 2024 legislative session, Republicans voted to reassign Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents to work on cases related to the law Governor Reynolds signed to have Iowa’s legal system arrest and deport immigrants who are in Iowa illegally. Republican Representative Taylor Collins of Mediapolis says two million dollars is in the budget for up to a dozen Division of Criminal Investigation agents to support the effort.

“To address the rise in illegal immigration and related criminal conduct or as assigned by the commission of the Department of Public Safety,” Collins said.

Early Saturday, the House voted to prohibit state regulators from granting new casino licenses until 2029, but the Senate adjourned without taking up the measure. It means Cedar Rapids is likely to seek a casino license when the current moratorium expires July 1st.

(Radio Iowa) – The chair of the Federal Trade Commission was in Iowa this weekend to hear concerns about consolidation in the fertilizer industry with the sale of a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa. A Koch Industries subsidiary is buying the plant, but the sale is being reviewed by the F-T-C — and the agency could try to block the acquisition over competitiveness issues. During an Iowa Farmers Union forum, Ankeny farmer LaVon Griffieon said it’s harder for farmers to make money and stay in business when a handful of companies control equipment, seeds and supplies like fertilizer.

“This just keeps happening and happening in every aspect and so we really need to pay attention to what we’re doing to the heartland.” After the forum, F-T-C chair Lina Khan said she understands the concerns given that the state invested millions in incentives to get the plant up and running as a competitor to Koch.

“The goal being to have another company in the market to have some competition. The idea that now within a few years that competition that everybody invested in might go away seems troubling to a lot of people and I can understand that.” Khan says if the F-T-C decides to intervene it will file a lawsuit to stop the purchase from being finalized. A judge would make the final decision.

In a statement, a Koch Fertilizer spokesperson said the company is confident the deal will go through after the F-T-C hears from more customers and completes its analysis.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House have voted to send 95 BILLION dollars of emergency assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. In written statements, Congressman Randy Feensta said while some want us to turn our backs on an ally like Israel, he will not and Congressman Zach Nunn said America must be unwavering in its support of Israel.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion said in her written statement that President Biden’s foreign policy has shown weakness to our adversaries and the package would keep America out of conflict.

In a video statement after Saturday’s votes, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks said supporting our allies against dictators and communist governments is completely necessary.

(Radio Iowa) – Early Saturday morning, the Iowa House overwhelmingly voted to extend a moratorium on new casinos in Iowa until 2029, but the Iowa Senate adjourned for the year without voting on the measure. The current moratorium will expire July 1st. Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the proposed rules would have effectively blocked Cedar Rapids from getting a casino license.

“It’s not the right or the prerogative of the legislature to deny the second largest city in our state and its voters, citizens the right to have a casino operation,” Scheetz said. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says lawmakers, not state gambling regulators, should set the policy. “I think it fits in perfectly with our role,” Kaufmann says. “I think this fits in perfectly with making sure the Racing and Gaming Commission can do their job.”

Kaufmann says the commission has vague rules for considering casino license applications.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa [KCCI] — The man Marshall County authorities believe killed two people in rural Marshalltown is now in custody. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year-old Ilias Julian Lasley was taken into custody in the 4700 block of Merle Hay Road in Des Moines on Saturday afternoon. Authorities have been searching for Lasley since Friday.

Lasley has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Marshall County authorities identified the victims as 28-year-old Mario Murillo and 33-year-old Frances Tillie Gasca, both of Marshalltown.

According to a news release: “Marshall County Deputies were dispatched to the 2600-mile of 182nd Street, Marshalltown Iowa for a welfare check on occupants of the residence. When deputies arrived, they located a male and female deceased.”

Ottumwa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, late Saturday night, said 41-year-old Brandon Michael Hanners, who was convicted of Habitual Offender in Des Moines County, failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required, Friday.

Hanners is a 6’1″ tall, 191 pound white male. He was admitted to the work release facility on 03/07/2024. Persons with information on Hanner’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Brandon M. Hanners (Iowa DOC photo)

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910 

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Fire Department was paged-out to a report of smoke coming from the Edward Jones building this (Saturday) afternoon, at 508 Poplar Street. The Cass County Communications Center received numerous calls about smoke coming from the northwest side of the building, at around 2:25-p.m.

Atlantic Police and Cass County Deputy Kyle Quist also responded, with Quist using a drone to get an aerial view of the roof and surround area. Firefighters hosed-down a corner of the building where most of the smoke was observed, and the shingles had apparently burned.

According to Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel, a discarded cigarette caught some leaves on fire outside/next to the building. The flames moved up the corner of building and into the awning. Damage to the building was estimated at $2,500. There were no injuries.

(Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson)