(Radio Iowa) – Cities and counties could not have ordinances banning certain breeds of dogs, like pit bulls, under legislation being considered in the Iowa Senate. Colin Grace of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa says aggressive dogs that bite are typically owned by someone who improperly trained or restrained the dog. “Where you want to focus your energy is not on breeds of dogs, but on irresponsible owners,” he says.

“You can go through all the rigmarole of removing a dangerous animal from an irresponsible owner and by 5 p.m. that day they can go on Craig’s List and find a new dog and start the process all over again. You know when you focus on breed as well, you also punish responsible owners of that breed.” The Iowa Veterinary Medical Association supports the bill, too. Randy Wheeler, the association’s executive director, says breed-specific bans give the public a false sense of security.

“I’m a veterinarian of 44 years. I’ve dealt with many different breeds as well as many different dogs,” he says. “…It’s a behavior of that specific dog and not the specific breed.” Christopher Collins is a police officer who lobbied to get rid of a pit bull ban in Anamosa. He says breed-specific bans are often based on prejudice against the poor and racial minorities. “When I was going through overturning the ban in Anamosa, frequently they kept referring to ‘those people,'” he says.

Lobbyist Emily Piper represents a non-profit called Stray Dog Policy, Incorporated. “This bill, at its heart, has nothing to do with dogs,” Piper says. “What it does have to do with is whether or not local government can deny its citizens the right to own something that is otherwise perfectly legal.” The bill does have opposition. Daniel Stalder is a lobbyist for the Iowa League of Cities. “Any piece of legislation which forces a city councilor or a mayor or a city clerk…to tell their constituents that, ‘I can’t help you because the state won’t let me,’ is of great concern to the League,” he says.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh voted against his city’s ban on pit bulls, but now supports it.  “Unfortunately ‘bully dogs’ attract the wrong type of owner…that want a dog that will send a statement that they are a tough guy with a tough dog,” Walsh says. “…I think our community’s safer by having the ban.”

An initial public hearing on the bill was held Monday, but senators working on the bill say they want more input. Illinois, South Dakota and 20 other states have passed laws banning local ordinances that restrict citizens from owning certain breeds of dogs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A fifth person working at the Iowa Capitol has tested positive for coronavirus. Iowa House Chief Clerk Meghan Nelson says in a notification sent Tuesday that the individual was last in the building on Thursday. She says the person worked on the House side of the building and had worn a face covering at all times.

Two cases were reported Saturday and Rep. Amy Nielsen of North Liberty confirmed she was one of them. That marks the first known case of an Iowa lawmaker contracting the virus during the session. She says she believes she was infected at the Capitol where Republican leaders do not require masks.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 40-year-old David Daniel Wells of Red Oak for Failing to Appear on a previous charge of OWI. Wells was arrested at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon at 2400 N 8th Street. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A suburban Des Moines insurance agent has been charged with multiple felony counts after state officials say he collected thousands of dollars in premiums for nonexistent insurance policies after his license was revoked. The Iowa Insurance Division says 35-year-old Adam Hocking, who owns Adam Hocking & Associates in Windsor Heights, has been charged with insurance fraud, theft, fraudulent sales practices and forgery.

Adam Hocking

The division’s fraud bureau said Tuesday in a news release that Hocking actively engaged in the business of insurance after his license had been revoked for a period of five years in October. Officials say he also created fictitious insurance policies and collected insurance premiums, leading victims to believe they had valid insurance coverage.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines group has launched a $3 million campaign to bring back and revamp the iconic Varsity Theatre near the Drake University campus in Des Moines. The movie theater was a go-to venue known as an “art house” cinema that showed mostly independent and foreign films from the 1960s until its closure in 2018. The Des Moines Film Society’s campaign seeks to transform the one-screen theater into a modern cinema and film center dedicated full-time to screening first-run, foreign and independent films, among other screening events.

The effort comes as Drake, developers and business owners are investing millions to improve and expand the University Avenue business district sometimes known as Dogtown.

The Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, issued a report on arrests from nearly the past couple of weeks. Authorities say on January 22nd, 18-year old Trent James Ring, of Minden, was arrested following a traffic stop, on a possession of a controlled substance charge. Four days later, 45-year old Rick Allen Erwin, of Woodbine, was arrested in Harlan, following a traffic stop. Erwin was charged with driving while barred and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Jan. 29th, 60-year old Brenda Lee Mercil, of Denison, was arrested in Harlan on an active Pottawattamie County warrant following a traffic stop. The next day, 29-year old Lora Elizabeth Noll, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. She was charged with prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.

And, last Saturday, 23-year old Rhiannon Shae Grant-Fohl, of Madison, WI, was arrested during a traffic stop. Grant-Fohl was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating while intoxicated, eluding, interference with official acts, reckless driving, fail to maintain control, and fail to obey stop sign.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa bars and restaurants have begun to apply for another round of state grants to cover pandemic-related losses. Governor Kim Reynolds says the grants are available to bars and restaurants that saw sales slump in the second and third quarters of 2020 compared to the year before. “The one-time grants are intended to assist with short-term cash flow and award amounts, up to $25,000 will be tiered based on lost sales,” Reynolds says, “…to help them recover, bring their employees back to work and to keep their doors open.” The state began accepting applications at noon yesterday (Monday).

The deadline for making an application is Monday, February 15th at 5 p.m. According to the Iowa Restaurant Association, total sales at the bars, taverns and restaurants in Iowa dropped by 33 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. Forty-one percent of those business owners expected to close before this summer if they can’t get additional relief from the state and federal government.