WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo officials have advanced a proposal for a traffic ticket program despite concerns about whether the new process would unfairly penalize the city’s minority populations. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the City Council approved the second reading of the ordinance Monday despite requests from the Waterloo Human Rights Commission and NAACP for additional time to review the program. The ordinance would create new municipal fines that police officers can issue instead of state traffic tickets.

Supporters say local citations would be less costly for motorists and add revenue to the city budget. Others had hoped the commission could review the proposal to ensure it wouldn’t encourage racial profiling.
The final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for next week.

Cass County Master Gardeners (CCMG) offer a $1,000 scholarship annually, available to students who are graduating seniors or graduates of any Iowa school districts in which current members of CCMG reside. The 2018 scholarship was awarded to Cole Madsen of Exira-EHK, who will be attending DMAAC, enrolled in their horticulture program.  Pictured with Madsen is Master Gardener Kathy Johnson, who lives in the Exira-EHK school district, presenting the scholarship at the school’s Award Night in May.

Cole Madsen

The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service.  CCMG members provide many hours of volunteer service in their communities.  Accordingly, this scholarship is intended to provide post-secondary funds to individuals who are studying, or intend to pursue a career in, a horticulture-related field.  The scholarship winner is selected based upon academic success, history of community service, and career goals. Demonstration of interest and experience in horticulture is also encouraged.

For more information on the Master Gardener Program, contact the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu, or visit the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested Tuesday night for being a Fugitive from Justice. 56-year old Kelly Jo Horgdal, of Henderson, was taken into custody at around 9:454-p.m., and held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Strong to severe thunderstorms remain forecast today into tonight for the KJAN listening area. Large hail and damaging thunderstorm wind gusts look to be the main threat later this afternoon into tonight. Heavy rain is also anticipated and may lead to localized flash flooding by tonight. The weather pattern will stay active Thursday into the weekend with periodic chances for thunderstorms. Severe weather potential is forecast Thursday and Friday.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former janitor accused of video recording people in a northern Iowa school staff restroom has changed his plea to guilty. Mason City station KIMT reports that 47-year-old David Bemis, of Mason City, entered the pleas to four counts of invasion of privacy. Court documents say the prosecution will recommend a 60-day jail sentence for him and a year of probation in return for his pleas. He’d originally pleaded not guilty. Bemis’ sentencing is scheduled for July 18.

Investigators say Bemis was working at Clear Creek Elementary in Clear Lake in May 2013 when he hid a camera in the restroom and recorded four school employees in varying degrees of nudity. He no longer works for the district. Clear Lake Superintendent Doug Gee has said no students were recorded.

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

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former caretaker has been given three years of probation for stealing from clients of a Sioux City organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities. Court records say Jessica Rivera, of Sergeant Bluff, pleaded guilty Tuesday to dependent adult abuse-exploitation. She also was given a suspended prison term of five years and was ordered to make restitution of more than $1,100 to her victims. The records say that between January and July 2017, while she worked for Mosaic, Rivera made unauthorized purchases using gift cards or other funds from the clients and kept the items.

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds wasted no time in targeting the man who will be her opponent in the general election this fall. Speaking before supporters at the Iowa G-O-P headquarters in Des Moines last (Tuesday) night, Reynolds blasted Democrat and Des Moines businessman Fred Hubbell for his lifestyle and hefty bank account.

“My opponent grew up very differently from most of us and that’s okay, because we celebrate wealth in this country,” Reynolds says. “The issue isn’t that Fred Hubbell has been rich his entire life, it’s that he has no idea what it’s like not to be.” Reynolds talked about her days of growing up in Saint Charles, waiting tables and checking groceries at Hy-Vee, and contrasted that with Hubbell, the former C-E-O of a life insurance company whose family built a fortune over the decades in finance and real estate.

Reynolds says, “He has no idea what it’s like to balance a family checkbook or to make the tough decisions most of us make each and every day when we’re trying to make ends meet.”  Reynolds, who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary, continued to poke at her November opponent, painting Hubbell as a wealthy elitist.

“Just last week, Fred admitted that he doesn’t think Iowa is the best state in the country to live,” Reynolds says, drawing boos from the crowd. “Well, Fred, if you don’t think Iowa is the best place to live, then you absolutely don’t know the Iowa that I know.”  Hubbell spent a reported seven-million dollars on this primary election, including three-million of his own money.

“If you think eliminating rural jobs to increase profits is the right way to lead, then you don’t know Iowa,” Reynolds says. “If you think the governor’s office is for sale to the highest bidder, guess what? You don’t know Iowans. You don’t know Iowa, but I do.”
Reynolds called Iowa a “wonderful state, filled with opportunities…a place where dreams can come true.”

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors have decided not to file charges in the shooting death of a Des Moines man. Police say 40-year-old Jerry Goff was fatally shot early Sunday morning at a residence west of downtown Des Moines. Polk County Attorney John Sarcone says the shooting was domestic in nature and a “clear case of self-defense.” Authorities have not released the name of the person who shot Goff nor provided details on what led up to it.