(Radio Iowa) — It appears a Senate-passed plan establishing some restrictions if Iowa voters decide to automatically restore felon voting rights is on the fast track in the Iowa House. The bill is ready for debate in a House committee Wednesday after a subcommittee hearing this (Monday) morning. Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity urged quick action on the plan. “We knew from the beginning that we had to define what discharge of sentence looked like and this bill does a good job of carving that out and really dealing with some tough issues,” Klein said.

If Iowa voters eventually pass a constitutional amendment automatically grants felons the right to vote when they’re paroled, this bill would kick in. It would require felons to pay all the restitution they owe victims before they’d get the right to vote. Iowa Catholic Conference executive director Tom Chapman urged House members to reconsider and merely require felons to be current in a restitution repayment plan. “Requiring the payment of restitution is just,” Chapman says. “However, all repayment before the right to vote would be restored could end up keeping low income people from voting.”

Greg Baker of The Family Leader says his group supports providing second chances to paroled felons — and restoring their voting rights. “There has to be a point where we allow the person to move on and become a part of society again,” Baker said. But Baker says he doesn’t envy legislators wrestling with how to define when felons have completed their sentences. Former State Representative Clel Baudler, a Republican from Greenfield who’s a retired state trooper, urged the legislature to abandon the whole effort and keep the process requiring all felons to apply to the governor for their voting rights. “I oppose the whole notion that felons should be automatically be given something once they get out of prison,” Baudler said.

Key House Republicans say the bill is likely to come up for debate in the 100-member House next week — and pass as is.

The Glenwood Police Department reports four arrests. On Monday, 58-year old Darrell Klahn, of Omaha, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree ($1,000 cash/surety bond). Klhan posted the bond and was released. On Sunday, 21-year old Ethan Howell and 26-year old Patrick Giesting, both of Glenwood, were arrested for Disorderly Conduct. (Bonds set at $300 each). Both later posted bond and were released.

And, on Saturday, 52-year old Lloyd Blank, of Emerson, was arrested in Glenwood for OWI/1st offense (Bond $1,000 cash/surety).

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

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (March 10, 2020) – The American Red Cross strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals who are feeling well to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages as concerns about the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, rise in the U.S. Cold and flu season has already impacted the nation’s ability to maintain its blood supply. As the number of coronavirus cases grows in the U.S., the number of people eligible to give blood for patients in need could decrease further.

Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Blood Services, says “We’re asking the American people to help keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. As communities across the country prepare for this public health emergency, it’s critical that plans include a readily available blood supply for hospital patients. As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most.”

Please make an appointment to donate blood now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood donors with type O blood and platelet donors are especially needed right now.

Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood. There are no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including this coronavirus, from a transfusion.

The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation – and who meet other eligibility requirements, available at RedCrossBlood.org. At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols including wearing gloves, routinely wiping down donor-touched areas, using sterile collection sets for every donation, and preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub. These mitigation measures will help ensure blood recipient safety, as well as staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may potentially have this respiratory infection.

The Red Cross has also implemented new blood donation deferrals out of an abundance of caution. Individuals are asked to postpone their donation for 28 days following:

Travel to China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea;
Diagnosis of COVID-19, contact with a person who has or is suspected to have the virus.
As the situation evolves, the Red Cross will continue to evaluate all emerging risks in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and industry partners to determine if additional intervention strategies are needed.

Some upcoming blood donation opportunities, March 10-31:

Cass County: Atlantic, 3/12/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA; 3/18/2020: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School.

Audubon County: Exira, 3/23/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center

Adair County: Orient, 3/30/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School

Carroll County: Manning, 3/27/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., IKM Manning High School

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A Clinton man has been charged with vehicular homicide while driving under the influence for the crash death of his wife in July. Clinton County court records say Brandon Clary also is charged with driving with a suspended license and with other crimes. The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. on July 26 when Clary was driving west on a rural county road. A court document says the vehicle rolled after he over-corrected when it ran off the roadway. Authorities say his wife, 24-year-old Ashley Clary, was ejected and fatally injured.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will meet 5:15-p.m. Wednesday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. First up on their agenda, is a clarification on the objectives of regulating Atlantic Property Conditions. They will also review Property Regulation Policies as an extension of their meeting on Oct. 9, 2019, including:

• The Dangerous Building Code (See the current Code here: file:///C:/Users/KJAN/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/46260/Attachments/Chapter%20145%20-%20Dangerous%20Buildings[69139].pdf)
• The Minumum Maintenance Code (Current Ordinance: file:///C:/Users/KJAN/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/46260/Attachments/Chapter%20148%20Property%20Maintenance%20Codes[69140].pdf)
• and, International Property Maintenance Code (Current Code: file:///C:/Users/KJAN/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/46260/Attachments/2018%20International%20Property%20Maintenance%20Codes[69141].pdf)

The Committee will also discuss and make a recommendation for the full City Council, with regard to which laws should be utilized. Included in the discussion is an Assessment of Resources Required, and a Review of Implementation of Enforcement.

(Corrects time of meeting to 6-p.m., not 5:30)Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a regular session 6-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. Action items on their agenda include approval of resignations for: Abby Becker, Girls Varsity Assistant Track Coach, and Kami Bruck, Washington Elem. Paraeducator. The Board will also act on contract recommendations for the following:

• Noah Widrowicz, Industrial Tech. Teacher
• Derek Hall, Asst. HS Girls Track Coach
• Brooke Newell & Marty Hobson, Volunteer HS Golf coaches.
• Josh Rasmussen, Brad Rasmussen and Bruce Henderson, Volunteer HS Track Coaches.
• Cole Renken and James Northwick, Volunteer Tennis Coaches.
• Derek Handel, Volunteer Softball Coach.

The Board will also act on approving:

• The 2020-21 School Calendar
• An out-of-State trip to Maryville, MO., for the Indoor Track meet March 21st at NW MO State University.
• Schuler Roof replacement (Accept a bid from McDermott & Son Roofing for $98,937.96 altogether, including replacement of 16 skylights)
• High School HVAC project ($104, 985 accept a bid from Camblin Mechanical).
• and Resolutions for: The 2020 Budget Guarantee; 2019-20 Fund Transfer ($7,914 from the General fund to Activity Fund for Protective Equipment (helmet reconditioning & purchase of new helmets/pads); and, the .33-cent per thousand Board Approved PPEL (Physical Plant & Equipment Levy).

The Atlantic School Board will adjourn and then enter into an Exempt Session for the purpose of Strategy Negotiations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines City Council plans to work on defining racial profiling and collecting data before enacting an ordinance banning it. On Monday the council backed a proposed ordinance that would make racial profiling an “illegal discriminatory municipal practice.” A violation could lead to a city employee being fired. Some of the dozens of people who filled the council chamber held signs that read “Skin color is not a crime” and “Stop the stops.”

The latter referred to pretextual stops in which officers stop someone for one reason but use it as cause to investigate something unrelated.

(Radio Iowa) — Two eastern Iowa legislators — both Democrats — have urged leaders to take more precautions in the state capitol to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Senator Bill Dotzler of Waterloo suggests the legislature complete its work as quickly as possible and adjourn for the year.

“Our capitol is certainly a place where different viruses and colds are spread easily because people come from all over the state of Iowa, meet with us…and it’s very easy quite often stuff is transmitted through this capitol,” Dotzler says. Dotzler has suggested hand sanitizer dispensers be placed throughout the statehouse.

“It might help remind some of the individuals that are out there to shake our hands that, I guess, we should probably work more toward fist bumps or elbow bumps,” Dotzler says. Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City says getting the 2020 legislative session concluded quickly makes some sense.

“I know across the state businesses are preparing,” Bolkcom says. “I know our universities are preparing for classes not to continue and figuring out how to finish the semester online.” Bolkcom made his comments late last week, BEFORE state officials revealed there are SEVEN presumptive positive cases of Covid-19 in Johnson County.

“The capitol is a place where people from all over the state visit on a daily basis. It’s kind of an incumbator for colds and flus and potentially the spread of Covid-19,” Bolkcom says. “I hope we don’t have to deal with it.” The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says legislative leaders are talking with the governor on a regular basis and prepared to follow her recommendations.