(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is offering a narrow interpretation of the bill she signed into law last month about Covid vaccination requirements for private sector workers. According to Reynolds, only those workers who claim a religious or medical exemption — and have that claim rejected by their employer — are eligible for unemployment benefits.

“They just don’t decide to not get one and then get on unemployment,” Reynolds says. “They actually have to submit a waiver and if the waiver is rejected, then they qualify for unemployment.” Reynolds made her comments during an interview with Radio Iowa. In late October, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry told legislators the law didn’t solve the problem they were trying to solve and there’s a risk businesses will have to pay higher state taxes to cover this new group of employees who’ve refused Covid shots and now qualify for unemployment benefits.

Reynolds suggests it won’t be a large group of unvaccinated Iowans qualifying for employment. “We’re not going to let that get out of hand,” Reynolds says. “We’re going to continue to manage it, but you know we’re protecting Iowans and their rights and their freedom and liberty to make the choice for their health care and that’s where we’re going to stay.”

Reynolds says she heard from Iowa employers, particularly in the health care industry, who have been worried about staffing shortages if they’re required to dismiss workers who don’t get a Covid shot. Reynolds has joined three, multi-state lawsuits challenging federal vaccination requirements that would impact tens of millions of workers.

(Radio Iowa) – As the strike at a dozen Midwest John Deere plants enters its second month, union workers are scheduled to vote Wednesday on a modified contract offer from the company. The U-A-W issued a statement late Friday, saying the company had made some modest modifications in its second contract offer and the union described the tentative agreement as Deere’s last, best and final offer. Neither side has disclosed details about the changes.

On November 2nd, the second tentative agreement between Deere and the U-A-W was rejected on a 55 to 45 percent vote by union members. More than 10-thousand John Deere employees have been on strike since October 14th.

The second tentative agreement would have provided an immediate 10 percent pay increase, with five percent pay hikes in the third and fifth years of the six-year-long contract. Deere executives had indicated that was the maximum the company would offer in terms of new costs.

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) report that at around 3:15-p.m. Sunday, November 14th, West Burlington Police were dispatched to Pat Klein Park, 631 Swan Street, West Burlington, Iowa, for a report of shots fired.  Upon arrival, police discovered an eighteen year old victim that was shot.  The eighteen year old victim was transported to the South East Iowa Regional Medical center where he was declared deceased.  Law Enforcement took into custody a juvenile related to the investigation.  Law Enforcement does not believe there is any risk to the public at this time.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was requested to respond to the scene and conduct an investigation.  The investigation is ongoing and DCI is being assisted by the West Burlington Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

The investigation is ongoing.  Those with information related to the shooting are asked to contact the West Burlington Police Department.

(Hamburg, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Sunday in connection with a residential burglary that occurred Friday, in Hamburg. Deputies were able to determine the identity of a suspect and on Sunday observed the suspects and the suspect vehicle at a gas station parking lot in Hamburg.

Teri Clark

Gerald Landers, Jr. (Photo’s courtesy the Fremont County S/O)

Taken into custody were 52-year-old’s Gerald Elmer Landers, Jr., and Teri Clark, both of Nebraska City. A search warrant was conducted and evidence was recovered from the vehicle. Clark was arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Burglary. Landers was arrested for Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, possession of drug paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamine (less than 5 grams) with Intent to Distribute.

Both are being held at the Fremont County Jail.

(Montrose, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa DNR Sunday afternoon, said that at approximately 11:50 PM Saturday, a train collided with a barge that had been parked along the shore of the Mississippi River near Montrose, in Lee County. The southbound train operated by BNSF hit the stationary barge, derailing two locomotives and overturning several coal cars between the main line and side track.

Several hundred gallons of diesel was released on the ballast material, and was seeping into the Mississippi River from the locomotive fuel tank.  A number of coal cars spilled an unknown quantity of coal into the river. No injuries were reported.

Iowa DNR is working with local emergency responders, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Coast Guard.

(Creston, Iowa) – A car struck a building in Creston Sunday morning, causing $10,000 damage to the building, and minor injuries to a store employee. According to Creston Police, the accident happened a little before 10-a.m.  Officials say a 2007 Ford Taurus was parked in a handicap parking spot facing north, in front of the Dollar Tree at 801 Laurel Street, when the vehicle ran up on the curb and struck the southwest corner of the building. The vehicle, driven by 68-year-old Mary Teresa Latus, of Creston, sustained an estimated $1,500 damage.

An employee of the store was in the office when the accident occurred. The impact of the car into the building caused 46-year-old Holly Meikle, of Creston, to fall and injure her right knee. Medical personnel arrived on the scene to check her out, but Meikle was not transported to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.

No citations were issued.

(Pleasant Hill, Iowa) ) – Police in the Des Moines suburb of Pleasant Hill are investigating a shooting that took place early Sunday morning. Authorities say that at around 4:35-a.m., the Pleasant Hill Police Department responded to the rear parking area of 720 Sherrylynn Blvd. for a person shot. Upon the arrival of responding Officers, a male in his 40’s was located who was suffering from a gunshot wound. The was transported by EMS to Methodist Hospital.

A person of interest was removed to the Pleasant Hill Police Station for questioning. As of the latest report, no arrests had been made. The investigation continues with the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Pleasant Hill Police Department at 515-265-1444.

Des Moines, Iowa/KCCI — Police in Des Moines say an 18-year-old man was shot and killed near East 14th Street and Fremont Street early Sunday morning. Des Moines police were called to the scene around 4 a.m. Police say they arrived on scene to find one person shot in a car. First responders performed CPR on the victim. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The man was identified Monday, as Dean Titus Deng.

A second person was shot in the incident. The second victim is a 23-year-old Des Moines man. He underwent treatment at a local hospital and is in “good condition.” Des Moines police believe both victims were shot in the same incident. The road near East 14th Street and Fremont Street between Fremont Street and East University Avenue was temporarily closed. As of 9 a.m. it is back open.

The incident marked the 12th homicide of 2021 in Des Moines. Des Moines Police Department detectives are investigating this latest shooting.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa/KCCI) —An early morning shooting in Fort Dodge resulted in two being being injured. Police responded to a shots fired call at the Brass Monkey bar at around 1-a.m. Sunday. When they arrived, Officers located a man outside of the bar that witnesses say fired the shots. Inside the Brass Monkey bar officers found two victims with gunshot wounds.

A 30-year-old man was shot in the shoulder. A 26-year-old woman was shot in the neck. Police say both are now in “stable condition.” Fort Dodge Police Department’s preliminary investigation indicates a fight took place inside of the bar between multiple people.

As the fight continued, one individual showed a firearm and began shooting. No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made at this time. Fort Dodge Police continue to investigate the shooting.

(Dickinson County, Iowa) – Two people died (including a one-year old male) and four others were injured, during a crash late Saturday morning, south of the Iowa/Minnesota border. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Hyundai Accent driven by 29-year-old Mariah Nelson, of Jackson, MN, was eastbound on Dickinson County Road A-15/120th Street, and coming to the intersection with Highway 71. At the same time, a 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 63-year-old Allen Weinzetl, of Jackson, MN, was traveling south on Highway 71.

When Nelson failed to stop at the posted intersection, her car was struck by the pickup on the driver’s side of the car. Both vehicles then entered the ditch southeast of the intersection. Nelson and the one-year-old male suffered fatal injuries. A five-year-old female and a six-year-old female, Allen Weinzetl, and 58-year-old Teresa Chonko, all from Jackson, MN, were injured and transported by Lakes Regional EMS to the hospital.

All of the crash victims except Teresa Chonko were wearing their seat belts.