(Radio Iowa) – The Democratic leader in the Iowa House is stepping down and a new House Minority Leader will be chosen on June 14th. House Democrats elected State Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City as their leader after the 2018 election and then again after the 2020 election. In a written statement, Prichard said it has been a great honor to serve in the role for the last three years, but after conversations with his family, he’s decided to step aside and let his Democratic colleagues select a new leader.

Republicans hold a 59-seat majority in the Iowa House. Democrats occupy the remain 41 seats. Prichard, who was elected to a fifth term in the House in 2020, said he would serve out his current term, but Prichard did not indicate whether he will seek reelection in 2022. Prichard is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves and an attorney. He briefly ran for governor four years ago.

The Iowa Department on Aging is pleased to announce Angela Van Pelt as the new State Long Term Care Ombudsman.

As the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Van Pelt will lead a team of Local Long-Term Care Ombudsmen, Managed Care Ombudsmen, professional and support staff who advocate for the residents/tenants of Iowa’s nursing facilities, assisted living programs, long-term care facilities and elder group homes.

“Van Pelt’s experience within Iowa’s aging network, her collaborative leadership style and her passion for ensuring that all Iowans, especially our most vulnerable, deserve to live their lives in a safe and thriving environment will serve the office and Iowan’s well” said Linda Miller, Director of the Iowa Department on Aging. 

Van Pelt has a master’s degree Public Administration from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Upper Iowa University. Before joining the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Van Pelt was the Iowa Department on Aging’s Public Information Officer and Legislative Liaison. Van Pelt has an extensive background in program administration and policy including advocacy, legal and national policy research, public affairs and strategic communications experience within both public and private sectors.

Van Pelt will begin her position on June 11th, 2021.

ANAMOSA – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a correctional officer was assaulted by an inmate at approximately 9:09 a.m. today (Wednesday) at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Authorities say an inmate that was secured in restraints and being supervised by an officer became upset during a virtual disciplinary hearing with an administrative law judge. The inmate began acting out in a violent manner.

When the officer that was supervising the inmate tried to restrain him, the inmate became violent towards the officer. An additional officer arrived and assisted in restraining the inmate. In the process of subduing the inmate, the officer that was assisting in the restraint suffered an injury to his arm.

The officer that was injured in the incident was taken by department vehicle to the local hospital for evaluation, and was found to have suffered a soft tissue injury to his arm. The other officer involved was examined by facility medical staff and found to have not suffered injury. The inmate was evaluated and found to have not suffered injury.

The incident, the second to occur in a little over the past two months, remains under investigation. In March, registered nurse Lorena Schulte and correctional officer Robert McFarland died at the Anamosa State Penn, after they were beaten with a hammer by two inmates who were trying to escape.

The Harlan Police Department reports four arrests. On Tuesday, 32-year-old Michael Ryan Schoemann, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Pottawatomie County warrant. Schoemann was transported to the Shelby County Jail. On Monday, 43-year-old James Robert McIntyre, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. McIntyre was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

This past Sunday, 31-year-old Robert Erin Stephens IV, of Dunlap, was arrested following a traffic stop. Stephens was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

And, on May 28th, 22-year old Hannah Jean Hennick, of Williams, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Hennick was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while suspended.

A collision in eastern Iowa early this (Wednesday) morning, claimed the life of a man from Marshalltown. The Iowa State Patrol reports 23-year-old Lino Rivera-Reyes died after the 2017 Dodge SUV he was driving cross the center line of Highway 14 across the Mile Long Bridge, in Marion County, and collided with a Volvo semi-tractor. The driver of the semi, 62-year-old James David McElvain, of Corydon, tried, but was unable to avoid the crash. McElvain was not injured in the collision that took place at around 5:40-a.m.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday), reports numerous arrests occurred from May 25th through June 1st:

• On Tuesday (June 1), 48-year-old Andrew Robert Skokan, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear (FTA), on a charge of Railroad Vandalism. Bond was set at $300.
• On Monday (May 31) 52-year-old Alfredo Rosalez Moreno, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a warrant for FTA, re: Driving While Denied or Revoked – Bond: $50,000.00
• Last Saturday, 23-year-old William James Kallhoff, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested for Trespassing. – Bond $1,000.
• On May 28th, Jaymie Ilene Rowe, age 25, of Hastings, was arrested at the Page County Jail, on a warrant for Trespassing and Criminal Mischief 4th – Bond: $2,000.
• 51-year-old Michael Alexander Capps, of Council Bluffs, was arrested May 27th, for Driving Under Suspension. – Bond $1,000.
• 32-year-old Audrey Elise Martin, of Council Bluffs, was arrested May 27th at the Pott. County Jail, on a warrant for Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft in the 1st, Conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd. – Bond $45,000.
• That same day, 43-year-old Andy Charles Andrew, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. – Bond $5,000.
• On May26th, 33-year-old Samantha Renee Martin, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail, on a warrant for Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft in the 1st, Conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd. – Bond $45,000.
• And, on May 25th, 47-year-old Jerry Lee Dawson, of Silver City, was arrested in Mills County, for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd and 3rd Degrees. – Bond $7,000.

There were also two, non-injury accidents reported. Both took place May 29th, and involved vehicles driven by 19-year-old Cory Julich, and 21-year-old Makayla Huffman, both of Glenwood. The collision took place at the intersection of 250th & Gaston Avenue. The second collision happened on Highway 34, about a mile east of I-29. Officials say vehicles driven by 43-year-old Brian Dvorak, of Papillion, NE., and Jesse Beno, of Carson, were traveling eastbound on the highway, when the hood of a vehicle being transported on a trailer pulled by Dvoark’s 2014 Chevy, suddenly flew off and struck Beno’s 2018 RAM.

The impact caused the pickup’s windshield to shatter and glass to fly into the cab. Beno suffered possible/unknown injuries from the flying glass, but was not transported to a hospital.