COUNCIL BLUFFS – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources report the trout stocking and family trout fishing event scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 19, at Big Lake in Council Bluffs, has been postponed due to unsafe ice conditions. The stocking will be rescheduled as soon as there is safe ice or open water this spring.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is proposing the Legislature pass a constitutional amendment that would no longer allow the state to strip convicted felons of their right to vote. Iowa is one of two states with significant barriers to felons regaining voting rights. Reynolds says Iowans believe in the power of redemption and should have the option to vote on this change. The proposal was made Tuesday as part of Reynolds’ Condition of the State address to lawmakers.

Reynolds also called for a constitutional amendment that would enshrine victims rights in the Iowa Constitution. It could include guaranteeing victims would be notified of the release or escape of the accused.
Reynolds’ budget request includes $93 million more in funding for education, $20 million for her Future Ready Iowa jobs training program, additional money for children’s mental health, state universities and funding for rural broadband and housing programs.

(Radio Iowa/A-P) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s no surprise fellow Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King is being punished for his comments about white supremacy. Grassley notes Republican House leaders have stripped King of his committee assignments and some Democrats are calling for King’s censure.  “That’s entirely within the view of the House of Representatives,” Grassley says. “When I was a member of the House of Representatives, I’ve seen that sort of punishment done by the House, both censure as well as being deprived of committees.”  On Monday, King was removed from three panels, the Agriculture and Small Business committees as well as the powerful Judiciary Committee. Grassley says he understands the actions of House G-O-P leaders who say King’s remarks won’t be tolerated. “I’ll have to accept their judgment on it. I don’t disagree with the judgment,” Grassley says. “I’m not surprised House Republicans took this step. It’s happened in the past when I was a member of the House because a particular member dishonors the chamber.”

King says his comments were “completely mischaracterized” and that booting him from the committees is “a political decision that ignores the truth,” yet Grassley and other Republicans are distancing themselves from King. “Under our constitution, I have to respect their decision,” Grassley says. “I strongly disagree with any comments supporting white supremacy. It’s offensive and it’s not a view that I hold.”  Grassley says while King won’t be able to represent the people of Iowa’s Fourth District in committee action, he’ll still be able to voice opinions on any issues that comes from those committees when they go before the full House for a vote.

On Tuesday (Today), The No. 3 House Republican suggested that Rep. Steve King leave Congress over his remarks about white supremacy. Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney on Tuesday said of King, “I think he should find another line of work.” Republican leaders noted that King has for years made racially insensitive remarks. Cheney said the most recent ones are “absolutely abhorrent. It’s racist. We do not support it or agree with it.”

King, a nine-term Iowa congressman says he’s advocating for Western civilization, not racism.

The Harlan Police Department has released a report on arrests dating back to January 1st. This past Sunday, Joshua Lynn Mauseth, Omaha, was arrested on an active out of state warrant. Mauseth was transported to the Shelby County Jail. Last Friday, 45-year old Lyle James Kline, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service in the 1200 block of Baldwin Steet. Kline was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

On Jan. 10th, Harlan Police arrested 36-year old Christopher Daniel Ivey, of Harlan, on charges that include prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver and domestic abuse assault. Jan. 9th, 52-year old Darla Gay Christensen, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Christensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. On Jan. 7th, 39-year old Justin Dean Bywater, of Portsmouth, was arrested on an active warrant. Bywater was transported to the Shelby County Jail. And on Jan. 6th, 63-year old Terrianne Rushton, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop. Rushton was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while suspended, violation of financial liability, operating a non-registered vehicle, possessing contraband, prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance and operating while intoxicated.

On Jan. 2nd, Harlan Police arrested 32-year old Phillip Michael Houston, of Walnut. Huston was arrested on an active warrant out of Carroll County and was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. That same day, 33-year old Tiffanie Ann Newcomb, of Logan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Newcomb was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while barred, prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a non-registered vehicle, open container, violation of financial liability and theft 4th.

And, on January 1st, 28-year old John Todd Howard, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for a fight in progress in the 800 block of Willow St. Howard was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) accepted the resignation of County Attorney Michael Hooper, effective January 31^st. (Read his official letter of resignation here: Letter of resignation).   Last Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she had appointed Michael Hooper as a District Judge for the Fourth Judicial District, which covers Cass and eight other Counties in southwest Iowa. Hooper said while he will still be in his office, he is not allowed to preside over any local court proceedings. That’s because he took the oath and was sworn-in on Monday. Hooper has employed the services of Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings to cover any court hearings that arise between now and the 31^st. He said there shouldn’t be too many cases for her to preside over.

Michael Hooper was appointed as Cass County Attorney last year. He was appointed to succeed David Wiederstein last January, and was unopposed during the Primary and General Elections. He just began his elected term this month.

The Supervisors then acted to move forward with the process of appointing a County Attorney. The Schedule is as follows:

• Open applications effective today (Jan. 15^th) – they may be submitted by mail or e-mail.
• Applications close Jan. 25^th at 4:30-p.m.
• The Board will review the applications on Jan. 28^th and conduct interviews in an open meeting beginning at 9-a.m., on Jan. 29^th. If necessary, the interview process could continue Jan. 30^th.
• All applications are public record.
• The County Attorney would be appointed Feb. 1^st.

County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained how interested attorneys who have passed the Iowa Bar, may apply. The applicant must be licensed to practice law in Iowa, and must be a Cass County resident at the time of the appointment. Iowa Code says a special election may be requested within 14 days of official notice of the intent to appoint being published, or within 14 days of the appointment. The petition must have no less than 582 signatures.

In other business, the Board approved the appointment of Gary Ohms, of Anita, as Lincoln Township Trustee, in keeping with a gender balance. They also approved a permit for the Dollar General Store in rural Griswold, to sell cigarettes, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A man has been imprisoned for stabbing his 70-year-old father at the central Iowa home they shared. Marshall County District Court records say Brian Wengert was sentenced Monday to 14 years. A jury had found Wengert guilty of willful injury, assault with intent to inflict serious injury and two other crimes. Authorities say Wengert stabbed his father several times during an Oct. 21, 2017, altercation at their State Center home. Wengert’s mother lives there as well, but authorities say she was not injured.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A LinkedIn account that impersonated University of Iowa’s president and privately asked people for money and financial information has been shut down. University spokeswoman Jeneane Beck says the account purporting to belong to UI President Bruce Harreld was a scam. She says the school was alerted to it Sunday and worked to have it removed. By then, the fake account had more than two dozen connections, including John Batchelor, who recently earned an Iowa State University graduate degree.

The Harreld impersonator sent Batchelor greetings through private message, then said he was very busy and asked Batchelor to do him a favor and send him $500 in iTunes gift cards for his nephew’s birthday.
The scammer asked Batchelor to send his bank account information so that he could pay him back Monday. Beck says the university isn’t aware of anyone actually falling for the scam.

Members of the Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a joint meeting 6:30-p.m. Wednesday, with the Lewis City Council. The purpose of the meeting in the Griswold Middle School/High School Library, is to hear proposals from individuals who have expressed interest in purchasing the Lewis Elementary Facility, and to select a proposal to move forward in the sale process. A period of public input on the proposals will follow both presentations prior to discussion and a possible selection of a proposal.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters battling a house fire in northeast Iowa have pulled an unconscious man to safety. Evansdale firetrucks were sent to the home around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday after a neighbor called 911 to report smelling smoke. Evansdale Fire Chief Ryan Phillips says the man was found in the living room of the one-story structure and was taken to a hospital. His name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated. It appears to have started in the kitchen.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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