(Radio Iowa) – The leader of one of the groups which supports and runs horse racing in Iowa tells state regulators there is a new federal plan in the works that could be “devastating” to the industry. Jon Moss, the executive director of the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, says a new regulation act got tacked onto the massive federal relief package. “This act is probably one of the biggest changes in the horse racing industry since the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978,” Moss says.

He says the 1978 act set up a framework for horse racing and allowed each state to implement its plan within that framework. But Moss says the new act takes away the state power. “They have now effectively said that all the rights the states have been abdicated and you must turn over anything in relation to a new organization that will be formed that will dictate not only medication measures — but also safety issues,” Moss says.

Moss told the state Racing and Gaming Commission at their monthly meeting that the state control is just one of the issues of concern and the potential cost is another. “Because of the fact that this new group that is being formed is unchecked in how much they can charge us as the state of Iowa in order to actually regulate the racing industry within the state,” Moss says. “This new group takes your power, gets to dictate how much money they think it takes to do that, and then charge us to do that. And they are going to charge not only Prairie Meadows and the state — they are going to do whatever they want.”

Moss says Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley were against the measure — but had to vote for the bill to get the needed pandemic relief. He says “There’s going to be a reckoning coming — we’re going to be in a tough position. We may reach out and request something of your assistance to try and help stop this from being implemented,” Moss says.

Racing and Gaming Commission members say they are aware of the situation, and Moss says he has talked with the Racing and Gaming Administrator about the issue.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been charged with attempted murder after police say he severely beat his roommate. Pleasant Hill Police said officers found 30-year-old Dezrien Vance covered in blood when they responded to a reported fight. Inside the apartment, the victim was lying unconscious on the floor in a pool of blood.

Court documents say Vance threw the victim to the group and kicked the victim in the head. He also hit the victim with a vacuum cleaner hard enough to break the vacuum and hit the victim with a frying pan hard enough to dent the pan.

A Red Oak woman was arrested Sunday on a Theft charge. According to Red Oak Police, 44-year old Kari Lynn Wilkinson was taken into custody on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree, for allegedly trying to steal four packages of cookies and a jar of honey, from the Red Oak Hy-Vee store. Wilkinson was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

Due to the winter weather forecast for Monday, January 25 the City of Harlan has declared a Snow Emergency for Monday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 26. There will be NO parking allowed on the City’s north/south streets from 8 AM until Noon. There will be NO parking on the East/West streets from 1PM until 5PM. In addition, Parallel Parking is required on any streets where the snow is windrowed in the center of the street (primarily in the Downtown Area).

Violators of the snow emergency will receive a $25 ticket and possibly have their vehicle towed at the owner’s expense. The City of Harlan appreciates your cooperation.

Moderate to heavy snows are expected to spread north to south into Iowa Monday morning and continue well through the evening hours. The National Weather Service says this will result in widespread moderate to heavy snow accumulations across central and southern Iowa. Accumulations of a foot or more are possible south. There will also be a sharp gradient in snowfall accumulations somewhere near the Highway 30 corridor.

Snow amounts may vary greatly over short distances north to south. Snowfall rates may often be an inch per hour in areas of heavier snowfall. These intense snow rates and northeast winds gusting from 30 to 35 mph will produce near blizzard and whiteout conditions. Travel will be difficult to impossible at times. The snowfall should end Tuesday morning with wind beginning to diminish as well.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports Jamar Maurice Jackson, who was convicted of Burglary 1st Degree and other crimes in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Residential Correctional Facility as required Saturday afternoon.

Jamar Jackson

Jackson is a 35-year-old black male, height 5’9″, and weighs 213 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on December 21, 2020.  Persons with information on Jackson’s whereabouts should contact local police.

With a significant winter storm forecast for Monday, the Clarinda Police Department reminds the citizens of Clarinda about the snow ordinance. The ordinance states that; no person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more.

Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $30.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fee before the vehicle is released.

The parking ban remains in effect until the snow ceases to fall and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A major winter storm could blanket a large section of the Plains with up to a foot of snow at the start of this week. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for an area stretching from north-central Kansas across southeast Nebraska and into southern Iowa. The snow is expected to begin early Monday and continue throughout the day.

Most of the region is expected to receive at least six inches of now, but the heaviest snow is predicted to fall on an area starting around Salina and Concordia, Kansas, and continuing northeast to around Des Moines, Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party chose a state representative from Ames to lead the party as it works to retain its spot as the nation’s first caucus in presidential elections. Rep. Ross Wilburn was elected Saturday. Wilburn said he will work with national party officials to try and keep Iowa’s traditional role as the first caucus in the country.

Some national officials have suggested changing that and moving away from caucuses in favor of primaries after Iowa Democrats had problems that delayed the results of their presidential nominating contest for days during the 2020 election.