The broadcast News from 8:05-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested Wednesday for Violation of a Protective Order. 33-year-old Samantha Diane Meek, and 35-year-old Skylar Allen Rufenacht, Sr., both of Creston, were arrested at their respective residence’, on outside agency warrants, and Violation of a Protective Order. Both were transported to the Union County Jail, before Meek was transferred to the jail in Adams County. They were being held without bond, until seen by a judge.

And, Wednesday night, 38-year-old Nicki Renee Jones, of Creston, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. She was transferred to the Adams County Jail. Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 700 block of W. Mills Street reported that two of his vehicles had been broken into. The loss was estimated at $15.

The 7:07-a.m. broadcast News, from News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Des Moines) – A federal judge has ordered a Dallas County man arrested in connection to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots, to remain behind bars. KCCI-TV reports the order came during a detention hearing, Wednesday. 37-year old Kyle James Young, of Redfield, is accused of being part of a group that assaulted D.C. Metropolitan police Officer Michael Fanone and attempting to take a weapon from an officer.

In ordering Young to remain in custody, the judge cited, among other reasons, Young’s past drug abuse and five prior felony convictions, which include burglary and felon in possession of a firearm. Young now faces a litany of federal charges. Young’s next hearing is set for Friday morning. Authorities will determine when and how he’ll appear in D.C. district court.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa bars and restaurants that are still struggling to stay open will soon be able to apply for grants through a new program being offered by the U-S Small Business Administration. Jayne Armstrong, director of the S-B-A’s Iowa District Office, says just because thousands of Iowans are getting vaccinated doesn’t mean the pandemic is over and many restaurants in the state remain desperate for patrons. “A lot are still just hanging on, just barely, barely hanging on. We’re not through this yet,” Armstrong says. “We always talk about ‘be loyal, buy local,’ and we’ve got to make sure those local businesses all across Iowa still have their lights on as we come out of this pandemic, so, absolutely, it’s critical.”

The S-B-A’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund will make 28-point-6 billion dollars available nationwide to the hardest-hit small restaurants. “There’s so many different industries that are eligible for this,” Armstrong says, “everything from restaurants and bars, and wineries, distilleries, brew pubs and tap rooms, coffee shops, ice cream shops and food trucks.” There is not yet a launch date announced for the program but Armstrong says it’ll be within a few weeks. Restaurant owners can get on the S-B-A website now to learn more about the program and see if they’ll qualify. “There’s grants up to $5-million per location,” Armstrong says, “and it can be for anything from payroll costs to utility payments, any type of business expense with protective equipment and cleaning, and construction of outdoor seating related to the pandemic.”

For the first 21 days the program is open, she says the agency will prioritize reviewing applications from small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. After that, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications.

Learn more at www.sba.gov/restaurants

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is signing up those interested in getting a license for the second year of industrial hemp growing. Robin Pruisner oversees the program and says this year they have an online system that potential growers can use.  “We are able to license and send them their license right to their email. No mailing things back and forth. We are continuing to build out that software program where people will do their planting reports online, those pre-harvest notifications,” Pruisner says, “and we are just trying to make this very sleek and very efficient, instead of a lot of emails that might get lost.”

Pruisner says they now have the final federal rules and that will bring some changes.She says last year once the crop was tested, growers had just 15 days to harvest everything. Now under the U-S-D-A, they have 30 days. The hemp has to have a T-H-C level of point-three or lower to be acceptable. Pruisner says there are some more options available beyond just destroying the hemp if the crop fails to pass the test. She wasn’t sure what to expect in the first year. “In 2020 we issued 86 temp licenses in total over the course of the year. I would estimate that somewhere between 70 and 75 actually grew hemp,” Pruisner says.

Pruisner says there are a lot of reasons why someone may get a license and then not grow a crop. “I think some of it has to do with getting their hands on the seed or the transplants. I also know that there is an enormous amount of manual labor involved in hemp production,” according to Pruisner. “I think some realize earlier than others the amount of labor and maybe they weren’t prepared for that and maybe they don’t get it all done in time to get their crop in the ground.” Pruisner says finding a way to process and sell the hemp is an issue too. “I know of at least one hemp processor who has gone through the licensing process through the Department of Inspections and Appeals. But finding those buyers and processors is very difficult for people raising hemp,” she says.

Pruisner says many of the license applications she’s getting this year are from new growers who didn’t apply in the first year. She says that is not unusual based on what she has heard from other states. The application process is open through May 1st.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says the jury’s decision finding former Minneapolis police officer Dereck Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd shows the justice system worked. “A jury of his peers found him guilty on all three charges,” Reynolds says. “…It’s time that we all come together as a country, heal and continue to move forward.” Last June, Reynolds signed a police reform law that, among other things, forbids Iowa police from using choke holds in most situations.

In January, Reynolds called for a statewide ban on racial profiling in policing, but the Republican-led legislature has not advanced the idea. “We’ll continue to work on it,” Reynolds says. “We’re still in session. We’re still working through the process and we’ll see where it goes.”

The House and Senate are pursuing other ideas, like broader liability protection for police and increased penalties for rioting, but a final plan has not emerged.

(Radio Iowa) – The man accused of shooting and killing a state trooper is out of the hospital and in jail. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 41-year-old Michael Lang of Grundy Center, was released today (Wednesday) by the University of Iowa Hospitals. Lang was taken to the Black Hawk County Jail where he is being held on a three-million-dollar cash bond.

Michael Lang

Lang is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith in Grundy Center on April 9th. He is also charged with an attempt to commit murder for allegedly trying to kill state troopers in an armored personnel carrier, and assault on a peace officer, for assaulting a Grundy Center officer the same night.

(Radio Iowa) – Legislators have settled on providing 100 million dollars worth of state grants to companies that expand broadband service in Iowa. Democrats, led by Representative Chris Hall of Sioux City, suggested using federal pandemic relief money rather than state tax dollars for those grants. “We know that the use of those funds toward broadband expansion is accepted,” Hall says, “and that it is one of the best ways we can keep our General Fund dollars also flexible.”

But Representative John Landon of Ankeny says the Republican majorities in the House and Senate have decided state money will be used.  “With that federal money comes a lot of federal regulations and those regulations have not been issued yet, ” Landon says. “…It’s just not smart budgeting at this time.”

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds asked lawmakers to appropriate 150 million dollars in each of the next three years to expand access to high speed internet across the state. The House has taken an initial vote on 100 million, in the next state budgeting year only. The legislature approved a separate bill with the rules for the grant program. It would ensure most of the money goes toward establishing internet service with download and upload speeds of at least 100 megabits per second.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening with Councilmen Behrens and Casady absent, and Councilperson Grace Garrett joining in over the phone. During their session, Mayor Dave Jones signed an Arbor Day Proclamation (see the full text below), in honor of the City being designated as a Tree City USA. Local Tree City Volunteer Dolly Bergmann said this is the 25th year for the notable designation. Every year, with the exception of 2020, she has presented the City with the award.

Atlantic is one of more than 3,500 communities from across the country to have been awarded a “Tree City USA” designation. There are four requirements to receiving the title, each of which the City has passed for more than two decades. In other business, the Atlantic City Council held public hearings on several matters, and approved all of the related Resolutions or Ordinances, including:

• Adopting the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Budget.
• A Resolution agreeing to apply for financial assistance from USDA Rural Development, to finance the purchase of equipment and improvements necessary for the Atlantic Animal Shelter.
• The 2nd reading of an Ordinance ordering snow removal from sidewalks. The reading passed by a vote of 4-to 1, with Councilman Pat McCurdy voting no. McCurdy has several rental properties, and doesn’t feel a 24-time frame for the removal of snow is reasonable. He would prefer 48-hours. As it stands now, the City allows 72-hours from the time the snow ceases to fall, before sidewalks must be cleared.
• A vote on the 2nd reading of an Ordinance requiring vehicles to be moved from the streets within 24-hours of a snowfall, passed by a vote of 4-to-1, with McCurdy again in opposition for the reason given above.
• And, the Council passed by a vote of 5-0 a Resolution setting the Council’s meeting on May 5th at 5:30-p.m., as the date for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate in the City of Atlantic. The City has agreed to sell the lot at 211 W. 6th Street for One-dollar, to Jeff Pross, who intends to build a home on the site. As part of the agreement the City offers prospective property buyers an incentive plan. Part of that plan includes:

1. If a home worth at least $100,000, the lot can be acquired for $1;
2. If a house is built on the lot, the homeowner will receive a $5,000 grant to purchase a variety of locally acquired items for the house (such as an HVAC system, kitchen appliances, etc.)
3. A veteran can receive $10,000 down payment assistance.
4. There is also a three-year tax abatement,  if the house is located north of 14th Street, is 100%. The stipulation is that the property buyer must live in Atlantic, and not sub-lease or rent the house.