(Radio Iowa) More than a thousand people gathered at the steps of the Iowa capitol last (Monday) night for a rally organizers labeled as a “call to action,” not a protest. It followed several nights of sometimes-violent demonstrations across the state sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Reverend Ben Bell Junior, of the group Dads with a Purpose, urged those at the rally to push for stronger policies against police violence. “We need to decide if we’re going to create a society where people are afraid to do that to somebody or not,” Bell says. “There should’ve been a fear to handle him like that.”

Other speakers called on protesters to vote and get involved in local politics. After the Polk County curfew took effect at 9 P-M, hundreds of demonstrators from the rally marched through downtown Des Moines and at one point, members of the group got on their knees outside police headquarters. They alternately chanted “I can’t breathe,” and “Hands-up, don’t shoot.”

Authorities used tear gas to chase a group of protesters off the state capitol grounds late last (Monday) night. There were no reports of damage or arrests.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Council Bluffs man was arrested Monday afternoon. 54-year old Michael Scott Holtz was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant charging him with four counts of Violation of Probation. Holtz’ bond was set at $20,000.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet via an electronic session 9-a.m. Wednesday. On their agenda is discussion with regard to Township Clerk wages, and COVID-19. Action items are with regard to $4.495-million in General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2020, including:

• A Resolution appointing a paying agent, bond registrar, and transfer agent, followed by action on an agreement to pay those persons and the execution of the agreement for the same.
• A Resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance and the levying of taxes to pay the bonds; Approval of the Tax Exemption Certificate, and Continuing Disclosure Certificate.

Auditor Mandy Berg will discuss with the Board a Clerk Step Increase, and a Transfer Resolution. Adair County Engineer Nick Kaufmann will discuss with the Board, Secondary Roads personnel policies, and present his report on Maintenance and Activities. Members of the public wishing to join the electronic meeting at 9-a.m. Wednesday, should do so by:

Dial in Number: (605) 313-6157        

Access Code: 526272#

(Radio Iowa) — Some of the 19 state-licensed casinos started re-opening Monday under new guidelines from the governor. Wild Rose President Tom Timmons says customers were waiting at his property in Jefferson, and the two other company casinos in the state. “We had about 140 people waiting in Jefferson to get in at ten o’clock. And then in Clinton, there were probably about 60 to 70 people waiting to get in — and then Emmetsburg at noon there were probably about 60 people waiting in line to get in as well,” Timmons says.

Timmons says it felt like the grand opening all over again and was expected. “You bring something back — especially after we’ve been closed for 75 days — and yeah I don’t necessarily think next Monday or every Monday after this there is going to be people waiting to get in,” Timmons says. “I think the first day and maybe even the second day (after the reopening) there will be some, and then maybe a little more of the normal nature.”

The casinos are allowed to open at 50 percent of capacity. He says capacity is determined by the number of gaming positions normally available. “For instance, Jefferson had at total of 600 gaming positions — and that is figuring out what you had in table games and all the slot machines… and so we are limited to 300 patrons — that’s the capacity in Jefferson right now,” according to Timmons. He says everyone seems to be very understanding of the new rules. Timmons says they are checking customers as they come in the door and it is up to them if they want to wear a mask. Employees are checked every day and are required to wear a mask and gloves. “And when someone gets up from playing a machine, we go over and clean it when they are done.”

Timmons has been in the industry for some 30 years and even with all the planning they’ve done — this is still new. “I’ve got lots of concerns — but I don’t know how to prioritize them — because I’ve never had to do this before,” he says. Timmons says no one expected to have to shut down and re-open again. Timmons isn’t sure how the attendance will be moving ahead as the calendar is upset with everything else. “Normally our busiest month of the year is March when we are coming off the winter. Kind of the same thing you might say when people have been cooped up a little bit more than they would like to be. That happens in Iowa,” Timmons says. “Ironically, June is typically one of our slower months — whether it be people just taking summer vacations, just getting out of school, other activities, other things.”

They’ve adjusted their hours to be open from 10 a-m. to 10 p-m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a-m to midnight on Friday and Saturday. There will be no table games for now and he says they will reevaluate as more guidelines become available.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 32-year old Jeffrey Drake, of Creston, was arrested Monday afternoon, for Violation of a Protection Order. Drake was released from the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Summons to Appear in court. And, a man residing in the 300 block of N. Maple Street, in Creston, reported to Police early this morning, that sometime around 2-a.m. today (Tuesday), the front door at his apartment building was damaged by an unknown person. The damage was estimated at $200.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowans are united in grief and anger over the death of a black man on a Minneapolis street — and she’s promising to seek systemic change, including steps to address racial profiling. “I want all Iowans to know that I hear you,” Reynolds says. “I hear your frustration and I am committed to listening and having a respectful dialogue about what we need to address the injustices that are felt by so many and that might mean having some very uncomfortable and eye-opening discussions.” Iowa-Nebraska N-double-A-C-P president Betty Andrews says this is a perfect time to peacefully protest — but the goal needs to be new policy. “We need to address this legacy that started with America’s greatest sin: racism, slavery and all of its babies that have come since,” Andrews says.

The governor says she’ll be working with Andrews and others to develop a final, anti-racial profiling plan to present to the 2021 legislature. President Trump held a conference call with governors yesterday (Monday) and told them they’re being too weak and need to dominate the protesters, or they’ll look like a bunch of jerks. Governor Reynolds says she was not on the call with Trump and was at the time talking with Iowa mayors, thanking them for facilitating peaceful protests and asking what they need from the state in the days ahead. “I think you all know right now words matter,” Reynolds said. “We have to really be thoughtful about how we move forward and that’s where I’m working. That’s where I’m focusing my energy on.”

Governor Reynolds says peaceful protesters have a right to take a stand against injustice and she will not tolerate the lawless rioters who are trying to hijack that message.

(Radio Iowa) — The majority of votes for today’s (Tuesday’s) Primary Election have already been cast by absentee ballot — and there’s been a huge shift in party affiliation. For the first time in years, independent or “no party” voters are no longer the largest voting block in the state. Independents have dropped to third behind Democrats and Republicans. Secretary of State Paul Pate is the state’s commissioner of elections. “I’m sure a lot of people will be analyzing this one to figure it all out, but it was pretty even,” Pate says. “Republicans increased by about 36,000 and the Democrats increased by about 31,000 of new registered voters.”

In the fourth congressional district, where Congressman Steve King faces a primary challenge, more than 12-thousand residents joined the ranks of Republicans in order to vote in the primary. In the third congressional district, Democrats gained nine-thousand and Republicans 85-hundred.

Pate mailed an absentee ballot request form to every registered voter in the state, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 at Primary Day polling places. Pate advises voters to check with their county auditor or go online to voterready.iowa.gov to confirm their polling place, as many counties have consolidated sites. Pate says many auditors were able to put polling sites in schools. “Partly because they’re closed. You know, there are no classes and they were accessible,” Pate says. “They have more options and flexibility for social distancing, also parking is available and it’s handicapped acceptable, so it’s kind of the gold standard. It’s got everything you would want in a perfect polling location.”

The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. That’s the curfew time in Polk County, Scott County and Council Bluffs. Pate’s office has advised county officials that traveling home after voting is not a violation of curfews. By Monday morning, 77 percent of the absentee ballots requested had been received by county auditors. That’s nearly 376-thousand ballots — and more are expected to be delivered today (Tuesday) as some voters waited until Monday to mail their ballot in. “Definitely a record breaker,” Pate says.

Iowans who got an absentee ballot but failed to fill it out and mail it on time have two options. They can fill it out and drop it off at their county auditor’s office before 9 p.m. OR they can take the unused ballot to their voting precinct, hand it over to a poll worker, and get a new ballot to vote at the precinct.