(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City is starting a campaign to ask drivers to not donate to the homeless people who ask for money at some of the busiest intersections in the city. Neighborhood Services Coordinator, Clara Mcfarlane-Coly, says they are encouraging drivers to give the money to agencies that help the homeless. “We encourage Sioux Citians to donate to local agencies instead of donating to panhandlers. We are not saying not to do that necessarily — but if folks are interested in donating to agencies that work with those individuals one-on-one for providing housing and that sort of thing — this is a great place to start.

Neighborhood Services Manager, Jill Wandersheid says signs asking people to say no to panhandlers are being placed in the locations where they see this happening the most. “The areas that we see the highest traffic that causes concerns of people stopping in the middle of traffic and things like that. To try and encourage them that there are other ways to give,” she says. It is not illegal to ask for a handout. Councilman Pete Groetken says he saw someone asking for money at a very busy intersection while standing on a median that was only about two feet wide. He says somewhere between 17 and 20-thousand vehicles pass through the intersection on a daily basis. “It’s so easy for something to go wrong,” Groetken says.

The Sioux City Neighborhood Services Division began a homeless street outreach and rehousing program in 2019. They say they’ve served some 200 people in the last year. Residents can make donations to the effort online at www.siouxcityassist.org.

An attempted traffic stop on a vehicle with an equipment violation this (Wednesday) morning in Fremont County, resulted in a pursuit and arrest. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Deputy tried to stop a 2002 Buick at around 1:37-a.m., in the 3300 block of Highway 2. The vehicle failed to yield law enforcement and fled at speeds of over 90 mph westbound on Highway 2.

David Overbeck

The driver – subsequently identified as 24-year-old David Overbeck, of Queen City, Missouri – stopped his car after attempting to evade spike strips at the intersection of Highway 275 and Filmore Street, in Sidney. Overbeck was placed under arrest for Eluding and as a Fugitive from Justice out of Nebraska. He was being held without bond, pending extradition to Nebraska.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man on an assault charge, following an altercation that took place early Tuesday evening. Authorities report 44-year-old Jason Richard Berendes was arrested for domestic abuse assault – 1st offense, and willful injury causing body injury, a Class-D Felony. Berendes was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending a court appearance.

At around 8:55-p.m., Tuesday, 59-year-old Edward Michael Liford, of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.And, at around 4:45-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 25-year-old Paige Marie Clark, of Red Oak, for Interference with Official Acts, and Accessory After the Fact. Her bond was set at $300.

An Amber Alert issued at around 8:30-p.m. Tuesday for an eastern Iowa boy was cancelled a little more than two-hours later, with the suspects in custody and the child found safe in Anamosa. Authorities said 5-year-old Abel Lee Keil was believed to have been taken from Baldwin, in Jackson County, at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, by 46-year-old Jeremy John Keil and 35-year-old Amy Lynn Burick.

It was believed Keil and Burick intended to take Abel to Clinton or Davenport. The case is under investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrat Ras Smith kicked off his campaign for governor with an online video Tuesday morning and an in-person rally in his hometown of Waterloo last (Tuesday) night.  “I believe that together we can accomplish so much more…and that means starting by being bold about the basics,” Smith said. “You see Iowa can once again have the best schools in the nation.” Smith’s mother, the pastor at the Faith Temple American Baptist Church in Waterloo, started the rally with an invocation.

“Bless this marvelous city of Waterloo, Iowa, that we might be a beacon of hope for this nation that needs to see that you are working in us to make this a more perfect union,” she prayed. A CeeLo Green song with gospel undertones played as Smith walked on stage. And Smith began his speech with a story about an Easter Sunday experience. “And so today, I’m inviting you to be a part of this campaign, to be a part of this movement and to come as you are,” Smith said, to cheers.

Smith, who is 33, has served in the Iowa House since 2017, and is seeking to be the first black Iowan to be elected to statewide office. Smith says the state’s civil rights heritage can be its path forward.  “Iowa desegregated schools before the federal government,” he said, to cheers. “We developed agriculture that feeds the globe, recognized the love is love before any other Midwestern state.” Smith is the first Democrat to officially enter his party’s race to challenge Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ bid for reelection in 2022. Smith criticized her signature on a bill that bans teaching that the United States is systemically racist or sexist.

“We all know that something’s not right. Our government and political systems are sick,” Smith said. “…Our leaders are using their words and policy to tell you that you don’t belong here, that your black life doesn’t matter.” A statement from the Republican Governors Association accused Smith of being a tax and spend liberal and described Reynolds as a battle tested leader.

(Radio Iowa) – A fire has destroyed the Dobson Pipe Organ Builders workshop in Lake City. A company statement on Facebook says an employee who discovered the fire and tried to put it out was burned, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Dobson, founded in 1974, has grown to have an international customer base and was building a pipe organ for a historic church in Sydney, Australia.

According to the company’s website its workshop in Lake City was originally built in 1898 and had been damaged by fire in the 1970s. The Dobson company currently maintains about 120 organs in the Midwest. Dobson pipe organs were just installed at the University of Dubuque and a church in Massachusetts.

(Radio Iowa) – Police say a 20-year-old has been charged with shooting his parents and sister to death in the family’s Cedar Rapids home. Police were called to the home on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids shortly before 8:30 Tuesday morning. They found 61-year-old Jan Perry Jackson, his 68-year-old wife Melissa and their 19-year-old daughter Sabrina had been shot to death.

Twenty-year-old Alexander Ken Jackson had a gunshot wound to his foot, according to a news release from Cedar Rapids Police, and was arrested last night after he was discharged from the hospital.