(Sidney, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report a man was arrested on numerous charges, Monday, after he allegedly threw rocks at a passing vehicle in the 1500 block of W. Sheridan Avenue, which is just outside the Shenandoah City limits. Authorities say 34-year old Kyle Campbell of Shenandoah was arrested in a nearby parking lot for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He arrested wasn’t without incident. Police deployed a taser on Campbell when he allegedly became combative and began fighting with Police.

Authorities subsequently charged Campbell with Interference with Official Acts – Causing Bodily Injury. He was transported to the Fremont County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Shenandoah Police Department, Shenandoah Rescue, and the Page County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office

(Omaha, Nebraska/KETV) – An estimated $90,000 damage occurred to the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge early Monday morning, when vandals struck the structure that crosses the Missouri River, and connects Omaha/Council. Officials with the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department said on social media, that a person or persons unknown knocked out the LED system “for the foreseeable future.” Police said it appeared a rock had been thrown at the boxes, damaging the computer controls housed inside.

Access to the bridge will continue, but the system that programs the colored LED lights is off line. Omaha Parks & Rec said “It is disheartening to see this kind of action taken against one of our iconic city features. We ask our community and visitors to help us preserve and respect these special landmarks and facilities.”

The main lights on the lower portion of the bridge were repaired. The LED lighting system and digital controls were installed in 2019 at a cost of $720,000. The upgrade also included more security cameras, but it’s unclear if the cameras caught the vandalism.

(UPDATE’S w/suspect dying) (Des Moines, Iowa) –  Officials with the Des Moines Police Department said in a news release, Monday, that a Des Moines police officer and a suspect were hit by a car during a foot chase Monday night. The incident happened in the 3700 block of Southeast 14th Street near Watrous Avenue. According to the statement, “At approximately 7:47 p.m., the officer initiated a radio transmission that indicated he was in a violent encounter with an individual.

“The Des Moines Police Department Communications Center announced a need for assistance and additional patrol units responded,” police said in a news release. “At approximately 7:48 p.m., the Des Moines Police Department Communications Center began to receive calls reporting that a Des Moines Police Department officer, as well as an apparent fleeing suspect, had been hit by a vehicle.”  Police said Monday morning that the suspect, a 31-year-old man, has died. His name has not been released pending family notification. The officer, a 48-year-old man who has been a Des Moines officer since 2017, remains hospitalized. Police did not release his condition.

A statement from Des Moines Police said “The preliminary investigation, including witness statements and examination of evidence at the scene, indicates that the officer observed a sedan-style vehicle driving northbound in the 3800 block of SE 14th Street in reverse. The vehicle pulled into a business parking lot and the Traffic Unit officer stopped to investigate. During the initial conversation, the driver provided a false name to the officer. As the officer investigated, the driver fled on foot, running westbound into SE 14th Street. The officer followed. Evidence indicates that there was a physical struggle, in the southbound lanes of SE 14th Street, as the officer attempted to place the driver in custody. The driver attempted to flee back eastbound into the northbound lanes, with the officer following. There they were both struck by a northbound vehicle, operated by a 28-year-old, female, Ames resident,” police said in a news release. “The fleeing driver was found to have a felony-level, narcotics-related, active arrest warrant, and a barred driver’s license. No charges have been filed against the driver of the vehicle that struck both persons as evidence indicates that the crash was unavoidable.”

(Radio Iowa) – The state appeal board has approved a payout by the University of Iowa for nearly two million dollars in discrimination suits involving two Christian student organizations. A federal judge ruled that the U- I violated the First Amendment rights of Business Leaders in Christ and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship by deregistering the groups for requiring leaders to affirm statements of faith. The U-I said the groups violated its human rights policy for practices such as banning openly gay leaders.

The federal judge ruled in both cases that the University did not apply the policy uniformly to all student groups — and had unfairly targeted the Christian organizations. A federal appeals court upheld the rulings last summer. The settlement funds will go towards attorney’s fees and damages.

(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the Iowa Senate’s tax-writing committee says he’s drafting a five-year plan to dramatically cut state income taxes for individuals AND corporations. Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs says the one billion dollars sitting in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund is just the start.  “We have an opportunity to do a tax moon shot this next year,” Dawson says. “…There’s no reason we should settle for mediocrity.”

Dawson is aiming for a reduction in PERSONAL income tax rates along with eliminating or reducing some of the long list of state tax credits — to reach the other goal of cutting the CORPORATE income tax rate as well. “I will say right now I have no interest in lowering corporate rates without substantially reforming some of our incentives and credits,” Dawson says, “because if we don’t change the back end of the system then all we are is just making the winners more winners and making the losers not as much of losers.”

Dawson says he’s not talking about blowing up the whole tax credit system for businesses. “It doesn’t mean just throwing everything in the trash can, right? There’s obviously different metrics that affect everyone’s individual bottom line,” Dawson says, “but if we work together…the legislature with the corporate entities here in Iowa, we really can reform this and make it a better system.” But Dawson says he’s prepared to abandon the idea of reducing CORPORATE income taxes if there’s major pushback to changes in tax credits.

Representative Lee Hein, a Republican from Monticello, is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He says Republicans in the HOUSE are focused on reducing taxes for individuals. “There’s a multitude of ways to do that, whether it’s cutting rates, property tax relief,” Hein says. “It could be as eash as cutting a check.” Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, says he wouldn’t be shocked if Republicans decide to mail Iowans a tax refund check in an election year. Jacoby says when it comes to business taxes, tax CREDITS must be reduced or eliminated before the corporate income tax rate is lowered.

“I’m for lowering the rates,” Jacoby says. “I’m also for everyone paying them.” Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says the projection is that Iowa will provide more than half a billion dollars in tax credits this next year. Is this just one more big giveaway to some very large, profitable corporations? And I say that ’cause we have some really large corporations — we love them dearly here — they pay zero corporate income tax in this state,” Jochum says. “In fact, we are writing them out checks.”

That’s because the state’s research and development tax credit for some businesses sometimes larger than what they owe in corporate income taxes, so the state sends those businesses a tax refund.

(Radio Iowa) – School bus drivers in Sioux City have been seeing an increase in motorists ignoring the extended stop sign and flashing lights when a bus is dropping off or picking up students. School district transportation supervisor, Chris Wellenstein, says drivers who break the law will be identified. “The majority of our buses have stop arm cameras on them. So even if our drivers are unable to physically view the stop arm violation happening — they will come into my office and let me know that one has occurred — at which time I can pull video from the bus,” Wellenstein says.

The video allows the district to get the license plate number, make and model of the car, and sometimes a view of the driver. That information is turned over to police. “Ninety-nine percent of the time we are able to catch folks with correct info. And then at that point in time, the police department goes and sends out a citation to the owner of the vehicle for a first offense violation of the stop arm. It is 465 dollars,” he says. “I think there’s quite a few people who don’t know the money involved in a stop arm violation.” Wallenstein says the number of violations is way up.

“Right now I am having to pull video for stop arm violations at least a couple of times a week,” according to Wellenstein. “Previous years — it has been hit and miss — you might have one every other week. Sometimes one every three weeks. But this year it seems like it has just been reoccurring, over and over.” Wellenstein says drivers are placing students in danger when they ignore the stop sign and pass a stopped school bus.

A driver who gets a second citation for the offense will have their license suspended and have to take classes to get it back.

(Fort Madison, Iowa) – A correctional officer at the Iowa State Penitentiary suffered non-life threatening injuries during an assault by an inmate Sunday evening (December 5).  The Iowa Dept. of Corrections says a response team was assisting with an inmate that was uncooperative and had attempted to assault another officer. The officer involved was assisting with the removal of the uncooperative inmate from a cell when assaulted with a sharp object.

The officer involved was taken to the hospital by department vehicle for an injury to the arm. He has since been released and has returned to duty. The inmate has been evaluated by medical staff and this incident remains under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A stabbing incident late Sunday night in Atlantic resulted in an arrest. Atlantic Police late Monday afternoon reported A-PD was notified by staff at CCMH at around 11:51-p.m., Sunday, that a man who had wounds from a stabbing arrived at the E-R. The incident occurred at the Walnut Hill Terrace Apartments at 1300 E. 10th Street, Apartment 26-B. The victim suffered serious injuries and was flown to the UNMC in Omaha.

Early Monday morning, 34-year-old Richard J. Doss, Jr., of Atlantic, was taken into custody without incident. He faces felony charges of Attempted Murder and Willful Injury – Causing Serious Injury. His cash-only bond was set at $500,000. Doss Jr.’s preliminary hearing is set for 2-p.m., Dec. 16th.

Photo of Richard DOSS Jr. (Iowa DPS photo)

Atlantic Police were assisted in their investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). No other details are currently available.

(Radio Iowa) – A few Republicans from the Iowa House are questioning why record private fundraising at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University hasn’t translated into a tuition freeze. Representative Gary Mohr, a Republican from Bettendorf, led an online forum today that focused on a variety of issues at the universities. “Many of our members and some constituents say: ‘If fundraising’s going so well, why do they need to keep raising tuition every year?’” Mohr asked.

Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen said tuition would be higher without that record fundraising, since the majority of what’s donated is spent on student scholarships and degree programs as well as research. “It makes all the difference at Iowa State because it fills in the gaps,” Wintersteen said. “It keeps us from having to raise tuition more.”

University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson indicated 98% of donations are restricted, meaning the donor has directed exactly how the money can be spent. “We can’t turn around and use that to pay faculty and staff and do the kind of deferred maintenance work we need to do and other things here at the University of Iowa,” Wilson said.

Wilson started at the University of Iowa in mid-July after serving as executive vice president for the University of Illinois system. “I’ve been here five months. I can tell you that Iowa universities, the Regent universities, have kept tuition low,” Wilson said, “…but we can’t keep doing that forever.”

David Barker, a member of the board that governs the three state universities, said the Board of Regents has kept tuition as flat as possible. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that inflation is a real thing,” Barker said, “and that our costs are increasing every year, even before this latest increase in the rate of inflation.”

University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook said the toughest fundraising pitch to potential donors is for campus building projects.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the time of year when some Iowans like to pack the family into the van at dusk, switch the radio to Christmas music, and drive around town taking in the colorful holiday light displays. Triple-A-Iowa spokeswoman Meredith Mitts says if you’ll be making the rounds, remember to follow the rules of the road — and don’t stop dead on the street to take selfies.

“As you’re looking at the lights, whether they’re in a residential area or a little bit more high traffic, there are still pedestrians and other drivers around,” Mitts says. “You need to remain focused about driving on the road and if you want to enjoy the lights, make sure you find a place where you can safely pull over.” Some spectacular holiday displays may rival Clark Griswold’s house, but while the lights are beautiful to look at, they can also be a dangerous distraction.

“Make sure everybody in the car is buckled up — you are still out on the road and things happen,” Mitts says. “Make sure the driver is staying focused on the road and that you are constantly scanning the area for bicyclists, pedestrians, any young children who might be playing in the snow. And then, make sure someone other than the driver is taking photos.” Many Iowa communities have professionally-lit light displays in parks, golf courses, arboretums and other locations. Some are walk-through shows, but those that are the drive-through style demand drivers stay vigilant so the jolly mood isn’t wrecked by a fender bender.

Baird family Christmas display (Dec. 2018)

“A lot of these places have lots of vehicles so make sure you’re keeping an eye on the vehicle ahead of you and going whatever the posted speed limit is,” Mitts says. “Also, remember to turn your lights back on when you are leaving the park because generally, they have you turn them off as you’re going through the park so you can enjoy the lights better.” She suggests you make sure to have the appropriate winter gear in the car in the event of a roadside emergency. The kit should include things like: blankets, water and snacks, a flashlight with fresh batteries, tools, a shovel, an ice scraper, jumper cables, sand and a first aid kit.