(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra went to Van Horn, Texas, this weekend to tour what’s called the “Big Horn” sector of the U.S./Mexico border. Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says illegal border crossings are at crisis levels and the Biden Administration needs to secure the border. Feenstra, who met with law enforcement officers in Texas, says fentanyl seizures have dramatically increased.

Republican Congresswomen Ashley Hinson of Marion and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa also have been to the southern border. All three Republicans from Iowa who are members of the U.S. House have called on Vice President Kamala Harris to visit the border.

President Biden has asked Harris to address the root causes of migration out of Honduras, Guatamala and El Salvador and he’s assigned the secretary of Homeland Security to address issues along the U-S/Mexico border.

(Radio Iowa) – A Fort Dodge woman has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing an elderly relative’s life savings. 40-year-old Janice Jurgensen of Fort Dodge pleaded guilty to wire fraud. At her sentencing hearing, Jurgensen admitted stealing more than 120-thousand dollars from her relative, an elderly veteran who had suffered a severe stroke.

After getting power of attorney for the man, prosecutors say Jurgensen used his debit card to buy food, gas and even pay the fees for a dating website. Jurgensen drained the victim’s life savings and he was unable to pay for his nursing home care.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting, beginning at 6-p.m. on Wed., May 26th, in the High School Media Center. During the meeting, they will discuss:

1. An Instructional Framework Plan
2. Health and Safety Modifications
3. A Phone System Upgrade

The Board will also act on resignations, including:

• Susan Wedemeyer, High School Art Teacher
• Jeff Ebling, MS Soc. Studies Teacher & Head HS Boys Basketball Coach. (Ebling submitted his resignation after accepting the Head Coaching job at Indianola.  His hiring is contingent upon approval by both the Atlantic and Indianola Boards of Education.)
• Erin Ebling, MS English Language Arts Teacher & Student Council Sponsor.

They are also expected to act on approving the following contract recommendations:

• Vanessa Perkins and Sara Rose, MS Summer Teachers.
• Minden Jones, Washington Elem. School Secretary.

(12-p.m. news) The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests dating back to May 19th. Most recently, at around 2:23-a.m. Sunday, 46-year old Michael Leo Pickens, of Shenandoah, and 40-year-old Haley Ann Haynes, of Clarinda, were arrested following a traffic stop on 195th Street, in Mills County. Pickens was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), and Interference with Official Acts. His bond was set at $10,300. Haynes faces a PCS charge. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Saturday evening, 44-year-old Shane Michael Searl, of Clarinda, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 in Mills County. He was charged with PCS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While License Denied or Revoked. Bond was set at $2,300. At around 11-a.m. Saturday, 33-year-old Tyler Ehren Simmons, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at a location on Ingragam Avenue, for Domestic Abuse Assault and on for two counts of Child Endangerment. Simmons was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, at around 1:30-a.m. Saturday, 19-year-old Ian Eric Kermoade, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29, and charged with OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

Thursday evening, 47-year-old Jerry Lee Dawson, of Silver City, was arrested for Driving While Barred, with bond set at $2,000. Wednesday morning, Mills County Deputies arrested 38-year-old Dustin Lee Harriman, of Council Bluffs. He was taken into custody at the Pott. County Jail, on a warrant for two counts Violation of probation. Bond was set at $20,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported following an accident that took place at around 8:45-a.m. Friday, at 288th Street and Highway 34. Authorities say 37-year-old Sarah Johnson, from Omaha, was driving a 2017 Chrysler eastbound on Highway 34, and following a dump truck, when a large rock kicked up from under the dump truck and shot through the Chrysler’s windshield. The rock traveled through the windshield, narrowly missing Johnson. It landed in the back seat of her vehicle. The impact caused the entire windshield to shatter, leaving Johnson covered with shards of glass.

(Radio Iowa) – The defense attorney for the man accused of murdering 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Brooklyn, Iowa, in 2018 has focused his questioning today (Monday) asking about other suspects. Chad Frese, the defense attorney for Cristhian Bahena Rivera, questioned Special Agent Trent Vileta, of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. “Would you agree with me given your experience that this was a violent death for Mollie Tibbetts?” Frese asked. Vileta replied: “Yes, it was.” Frese continued: “Somebody stabbed her multiple times…Would you agree with me that she was stabbed with a significant amount of force?” Vileta said: “That would be a better question for the pathologist.”

Prosecutors are planning to call the State Medical Examiner to testify. The defense attorney has asked questions about Tibbetts’ boyfriend and brought up tips to law enforcement about the man who lived near the field where Tibbetts body was found.”You didn’t find it a bit ironic that this man you’d received at least two tips on, her body was found a quarter mile from his house?” Frese asked. Vileta replied: “No, not at all.”

Agent Vileta testified that Rivera’s confession had cleared the neighbor to the field where Tibbetts had been buried under corn stalks.