(Radio Iowa) – Governor Reynolds signed 17 bills into law on Monday. This year’s March 1st deadline has been waived for student open enrollment applications for transfers out the Des Moines, Davenport, Waterloo, West Liberty and Postville School Districts. A new state law that took effect yesterday gets rid of the voluntary diversity plans in those five districts that prevented some transfer requests.

The governor has also signed legislative giving parents authority to certify they’ve taught their child how to drive, meaning the teenager is qualified to take the tests to get a driver’s license. After the pandemic led to cancelled fundraisers and reduced ticket sales for high school events, another bill the governor signed into law will let school boards shift general education money to cover deficits in the budgets for sports, music, drama and other extracurricular programs.

The governor also approved a new law that lets delivery services like Uber Eats and Door Dash deliver beer, wine and liquor from restaurants, grocery stores and other retailers.

(Radio Iowa) – It has been too cool and dry for mosquitoes to get very active so far this year — but you may have noticed another insect flying around. I-S-U entomologist, Donald Stewart, says wasps have been active. “Most of these are paper wasps with an elongated, about an in long, brownish color. It’s the wasp that makes a nest up under the eaves of your house. It looks like a little upside down umbrella hanging there,” Lewis says. He says the wasps right now are looking for a place to live.

“Those nests are started by a single queen,” Lewis explains,”and they are quite active on the warm days of spring as they look for a sheltered location where they can build that nest.” But Lewis says they shouldn’t be very aggressive. “They aren’t interested in stinging, they’re interested in finding a place to make a nest — build a little nest, catch a little food, lay a few eggs,” according to Lewis. “Later in the summer when the population increases, then the wasps will be a little bit more aggressive, but right now they are not quite as threatening as people expect.”

Lewis says they shouldn’t pose much of a concern.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans who serve in the U.S. House are backing a bill to expand and improve mental health services for veterans who live in rural areas. The bill has been named in honor of a veteran from Davenport. “Five years ago, retired Sergeant Brandon Ketchum took his life after he was unable to get the mental health support that he needed.”

Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says Ketchum was a Marine who cleared 92 roadside bombs in seven months in Iraq. He ultimately did two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.  “But like so many of his fellow veterans, Sergeant Ketchum struggled with addiction, depression and PTSD related to his time in uniform and when he sought in-patient hospitalization in 2016 from an Iowa VA, the treatment rooms were all full and he was denied in-patient treatment,” Axne says. “Hours later, Sergeant Ketchum took his life.”

Sgt. Brandon Ketchum

Axne is lead sponsor of a bill that would require a Veterans Administration study of how to improve mental health services for veterans in rural areas. It also calls for spending one-point-two million dollars a year to expand the number of mental health professionals who serve veterans in rural America.  “We don’t have enough adequate mental health services across this country for our veterans,” Axne says. “An HHS study found that 50% of returning veterans who need mental health treatment will receive it. These mental health services are even harder to find in rural parts of our country like Iowa.”

Axne testified about the bill at a recent U.S. House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, a veteran who serves on the panel, says the government needs to do better by its veterans. Former Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack sought similiar changes shortly after Ketchum’s death.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), said that on or about 9-p.m. on May 2nd, the Page County Sheriff’s Office along with the Shenandoah and Coin Volunteer Fire Departments responded to 1734 230th St in rural Coin, after a citizen called in that the residence had burned down. Upon the arrival of first responders, the structure had already been completely destroyed.

Agents from the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation responded and are assisting local agencies with the fire investigation. Remnants have been recovered and submitted to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification purposes.

The Fire investigation is ongoing and no other details are being released at this time. Citizens are encouraged to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office with any information they may have about the fire at 712-542-5193.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Rights is adding a group to its juvenile justice division, a committee made up entirely of young people. The Youth Justice Council will be comprised of youth who have had experience in the juvenile justice system. Kayla Powell, the D-H-R’s youth development coordinator, says young people are known for taking action on issues.

Powell says, “I’m excited that we’ll be able to resource that energy and resource that expertise and really mobilize their ideas to get a better juvenile justice system in Iowa.” Since it’s a new approach to the state’s juvenile justice system, Powell says she’s working on making sure other committees are ready to partner with youth. Jill Padgett, a juvenile justice specialist at the department, says they don’t yet have all the details, but they are working on creating a sort of guidebook for the group.

“I think by creating this intentional space for a youth-driven, youth-directed subcommittee, it’s affirming that belief that your voice is heard, and it matters,” Padgett says. “And it’s really up to us and up to the decision makers to amplify their voices.” Padgett says part of the foundation for the new group is researching how other states have been successful. The official launch date is set for fall of this year.

(reporting by Kassidy Arena, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – The Governor’s office is confirming that the Commandant at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown has been fired. A spokesperson for Governor Kim Reynolds’s office confirmed that Timon Oujiri was removed from his post last Wednesday, May 5th. Division Administrator Penny Cutler-Bermudez is serving as acting commandant.

Oujiri was appointed to IVH in May 2017. There has been no word on what led to Oujiri’s removal and no comment yet from IVH.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests from over the past week:

• Last Saturday, 30-year-old Horacio Morengo-Magana, of Marshalltown, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol on the Cass/Adair County line, following a traffic stop for an expired registration sticker. A records check indicated Morengo-Magana was Driving While Barred. He was arrested for the offense and released the same day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond, with 10% acceptable.
• On May 7th, 36-year-old Adam Timothy Foster, of Dexter, was arrested on outstanding Guthrie County warrants, and taken to meet directly with Guthrie County Deputies.
• On May 6th, 22-year-old Morgan Sebastian Lukenbill, of Brigewater, was arrested on outstanding Dallas County warrants, and taken to meet directly with Dallas County Deputies.
• As we mentioned last week, 38-year-old Jeremy Paul Samstad, of St. James, MN, was arrested following the pursuit of a semi tractor trailer that began on I-80 in Adair County, and ended near Shelby.  He was taken into custody for Eluding, and the following outstanding warrants: for Parole and Probation Violation, out of Missouri; and three counts of Theft by check/dishonored check out of Minnesota.
• 24-year old Way Mu Htoo, of Omaha, NE., was arrested May 4th in Adair County by the Iowa State Patrol. He was wanted on Adair County warrants for Failure to Appear on charges of OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. He was released the same day on a $2,000 cash only bond.
• And, 59-year old Myron Lee Flathers, of Anita, was arrested May 2nd on Cass County Felony warrants. He was taken to meet directly with Cass County Deputies.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office said also, 38-year-old Warren Logan Davis, of Earlham, was cited May 3rd, for Driving While Barred. Davis was released at the scene of his traffic stop.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Sunday, responded to a domestic argument at 106 Main, in Northboro. During an investigation, 39-year-old Kerri Lynn Glanzer, Omaha, NE was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Glanzer was transported to the Page County Jail where she was being held on $300 bond, pending further court appearances.

Kerri Lynn Glanzer

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican who’s leading the Iowa Senate’s tax writing committee suggests House Republicans are tone deaf to demands for property tax relief. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says it’s time to end property tax support of the system and embrace the governor’s tax plan which includes that change. “We all know that there’s a skyrocket real estate market occurring as we speak, Dawson says. “These assessments are coming home to roost at some point in time.”

Dawson hosted a subcommittee hearing on the overall plan this (Monday) morning. “This bill is the pathway forward,” Dawson says. “There is no other train in this capitol right now that’s going to leave the station and address all of these priorities.” Dawson says since Senate Republicans and Republican Governor Reynolds are on the same page, Republicans in the HOUSE are on a “lonely island” with their alternative plan that does not get rid of the property tax levy for mental health services.

Atlantic Rotarian Ruth Sears recently presented a $500 check to Alexsis Fleener, with SHIFT ATL.  The non-profit SHIFT ATL is organizing the first Rotary Farm to Table dinner date night fundraiser, set for July, 2021. As the Rotary plans and hosts the event SHIFT ATL will be working within the vision of the organization to SHIFT the direction of Atlantic’s social and economic development opportunities, by leveraging partnerships – farmers, local vendors, locally sourced and grown food – and strengthening social bonds.

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The latter being accomplished by gathering couples and individuals who wish to enjoy an evening out with friends and loved ones, as we celebrate the vast and vibrant ag community we have, all while supporting the development and growth of Atlantic through SHIFT ATL within the community.