Nearly a year after Johnson County became the first in Iowa to raise their minimum wage above the federal standard of $7.25 an hour, more Iowa counties are now planning to do the same. In Wapello County, the three member County Board of Supervisors intends to raise the minimum wage in stages, eventually reaching a minimum wage of $10.10 in January of 2019. The proposal is to raise the minimum wage by 95 cents each January until reaching $10.10. The wage would be adjusted each July thereafter to account for any increases in the Consumer Price Index for the Midwest Region as published by the US Department of Labor.

Community reaction has been mixed, with many speaking out both in favor and opposed to the ordinance. The proposed ordinance has already passed two public hearings. The supervisors will hold one final public hearing in the coming weeks.

The Polk County board of Supervisors is expected to draft a new minimum wage ordinance in October. In Cedar Rapids, the Linn County Supervisors could pass a similar ordinance as soon as September 12.

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Villisca man on Monday for Violation of Probation.  At 1:00pm officers arrested 29-year-old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater in the 100 block of West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 cash only bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s health insurance regulator has approved premium rate increases for four companies ranging from 43 percent to 19 percent. Documents released Monday by Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart say more than 75,200 Iowans will pay more beginning Jan. 1st. The biggest increase of 42.6 percent affects 22,000 customers of Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

PELLA, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he’ll authorize the Iowa State Patrol to deal with protesters who could try to stop construction of a $3.8 billion oil pipeline. The Des Moines Register reports Branstad told reporters at his weekly news conference, held this Monday in Pella, that the state patrol would ensure the safety of those building the pipeline, and that could helping local law enforcement respond to protests. The Iowa Utilities Board has approved construction of the pipeline, which will run 1,172 miles through Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The route will cut through 18 Iowa counties. Pipeline opponents have promised to engage in civil disobedience to stop the construction, but Branstad says they should accept the board’s approval of the project and not break the law.

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa agency has proposed fining Adventureland park after an investigation prompted by the June death of a worker at the theme park. Officials have said Steve Booher was fatally injured June 7 when the Raging River ride started unexpectedly as he was helping people off.

The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined the Altoona park $4,500. The park has 15 days to contest the agency’s findings.  A day after the accident state inspectors reported finding found no safety defects. But after a lengthy investigation, Iowa OSHA determined that Adventureland should install devices to ensure that ride assistants are positioned safely before ride operators let the boats advance.

Officials with the City of Villisca have ordered a Boil Water Advisory for residents of the community until Thursday, or until notified otherwise. The City says the advisory was issued due to a pump failure.  Residents should boil water used for consumption, brushing teeth, making ice or cooking. Or, you may use bottled water for those purposes.

(12-p.m. News)

Two people were injured and the driver of a vehicle cited, following a rollover accident Sunday morning, in Audubon County. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says the driver of a 1981 Chevy, 19-year old William Roland Brubaker, and his passenger, 16-year old Andrea Stevens, both of Audubon, were transported by Audubon Rescue to the Audubon County Hospital.

Officials say their vehicle was traveling westbound on 200th Street at around 11-a.m., Sunday, when it went out of control as it approached the crest of a hill about two-miles west of Audubon. The vehicle slid into a ditch and struck an embankment before rolling over and coming to rest on the passenger side. Damage was estimated at $2,000.

Brubaker was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

(12-p.m. News)

City officials in the Guthrie County community of Jamaica have issued a Boil Order, following electrical issues with water well switches on the City’s water tower. The issue was expected to be resolved soon and the Boil Order lifted by Wednesday. In the meantime, residents in Jamaica should boil water used for for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice or cooking. Or, you may use bottled water for those purposes until the Boil Order is lifted.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Friday of 35-year old Steven Robert Pedersen, of Atlantic. Pedersen was taken into custody on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Assault Causing Injury, and two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. He remains held in the Cass County Jail on $11,000 bond.

And, on Saturday, Cass County deputies arrested 32-year old Erich Sean Johnson, of Massena, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Sunday on his own recognizance.

One person was killed when a semi-truck and car collided head-on late Sunday night in northwest Iowa. The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. on Highway 3 about two miles east of Le Mars. The driver of the car, who was killed in the crash, has been identified as Donna Wynn, of Sioux City. She was traveling westbound on Highway 3 when her 2011 Honda CRV collided with a semi that was eastbound. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the accident.

The driver of the semi, Jason Ducommun of Larrabee, suffered minor injuries. Ducommun is a contracted driver for Hy-Vee. He was hauling an empty trailer to the Hy Vee warehouse in Cherokee at the time of the crash. Wynn was a long-time teacher in the Sioux City Schools system. She retired in 2011 and was honored as Iowa’s History Teacher of the Year in 2009 by the Iowa Department of Education.

(Radio Iowa)