(Radio Iowa) – A lawsuit has been filed to challenge a new state law that reduces the early voting period in Iowa.  Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law Monday. The lawsuit seeking to block the changes is filed on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Marc Elias, the lead attorney, says the voting restrictions in the new law create an undue border on the right to vote in violation of the Iowa Constitution.

The lawsuit cites the record turnout for the 2020 election and accuses Republican lawmakers of making it a priority to pass a bill that restricts nearly every form of voting that Iowans relied on last year. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says the law strengthens uniformity, provides transparency and gives Iowans even greater confidence to cast their ballot.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police say a wrong-way driver accused of causing a fatal crash in eastern Iowa over the weekend is a defendant in an Illinois murder case who was out on bail at the time of the crash. The Gazette reports that the crash happened around 2 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids. Investigators say 34-year-old Tyler Lee, of Rockton, Illinois, was driving a pickup truck southbound in the northbound lanes when he crashed head-on into a sport utility vehicle carrying four people.

Police say the crash killed a passenger in the SUV, 23-year-old David Phuong Nguyen of Cedar Rapids. At the time, Lee was out on $1 million bail for a May 2017 shooting death in Loves Park, Illinois.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, March 9^th.

• The results of the CAM Special Election were confirmed. The total number of votes were unchanged, at 170 Yes and 2 No.  Auditor Dale Sunderman says district patrons therefor voted to keep extra tax revenue in the district until 2050.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said there are big plans in the works for the Cass County Secondary roads including;

• New culvert pipes for a summer project set to arrive March 26^th. Steel rivets for bridge repairs on 700^th street were also ordered.
• The week of March 22nd Wolken will begin the process of interviewing candidates for three maintenance positions and one engineering tech position.
• And, “Cass County will be closing a bridge southwest of Atlantic on M56 (570^th Street) just south of the intersection with Lansing Road for bridge deck repair on Monday, March 15.  A signed detour using Lansing Road and Highway 6 will be provided.  It is anticipated the bridge will be closed for approximately one month.”

The Supervisors reported on their committee assignments, and mentioned…

• A new road and several signs were put in at the Zion building last week. Plans to build a larger parking lot are in place, and will be carried out after a culvert gets rerouted.
• A hill grade study is being conducted at the landfill. The results may speed up the timeline of the closure. They are also looking at different options for capping off the cells, including a plastic cap or a four foot natural cap.
• The Outdoor Classroom south of Massena will be looking to make some changes this year. This includes the removal of many ash trees planted 30 years ago that are infected by the Emerald Ash Borer. There was a high winter kill rate in the pond. It will need to be dredged and restocked.
• Lake Anita State park is also taking out many Ash trees that have been infected by the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle.
• On March 8th, 12,000 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were distributed. In Cass County the “1C” tier is nearly completed.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, held a lengthy discussion with two rural county residents, with regard to their concerns over solar farms. Curt Beane informed the Board said has had issues dealing with MidAmerican Energy and their wind turbines. Now he and other rural residents have been approached about the acquisition of their properties for the installation of a solar energy project. Beane said he became aware of the project in late January, after he received a letter from a company called National Land Realty.

Beane said while out driving around on March 4th, he came upon survey stakes in the ditches and a survey crew with a pickup equipped with GPS.

Beane, a life-long Adair County resident whose family has farmed and worked the land for many generations, says he’s seen the proliferation of wind turbines over-saturate the area over the past four-years. He said when projects begin to affect to his and his neighbors enjoyment, comfort and safety, while on their own properties. Beane said that’s because the County did not have regulations in-place at the time, to help ensure the turbines would not affect property owners’ health and well being. He said they have the opportunity now, to make sure solar farms don’t cause other issues with the land and property owners.

Adair County resident Joanie Finck expressed similar concerns and issues she has with the potential construction of Solar Farms. Beane requested the Supervisors explore the impact of Solar Farms in the long-term, and how they will be addressed when/if they become obsolete. Supervisors John Twombly said the Iowa Utilities Board has issued guidance with regard to renewable energy, especially for counties that have zoning.

He suggested the county get ahold of a copy of those regulations/guidance package and review them, before making any decisions on a potential ordinance. Twombly warned refusing to allow such projects in a county, could result in property owners having no choice but to accept the inevitable.

The Supervisors decided it was appropriate to check with Madison and Wright Counties, for details on their ordinances with regard to Solar Farms. The Board also certified the results of the March 2nd Special Election for the Nodaway Valley School District, and affirmed patrons passed the Revenue Purpose Statement, 107 to 9.

COUNCIL BLUFFS– The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 36-year old Jonathon Mandel Clausell, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree and other crimes in Union County, failed to report back to the Council Bluffs Residential Correctional Facility as required, Monday night.

Jonathan M. Clausell (IA DOC photo)

Clausell is a black male, height 5’10”, and weighs 195 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on February 23, 2021. Persons with information on Clausell’s whereabouts should contact local police.