DES MOINES – The State Objection Panel, comprised of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, State Auditor Mary Mosiman and Attorney General Tom Miller, will convene Tuesday, March 27th, to review challenges to several candidates’ nomination petitions. The meeting is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Conference Room, G19, on the lower level of the Iowa State Capitol.

Challenges to the following candidates have been filed:

Dale Bolsinger, Republican candidate for Iowa House, District 56

Ginny Caligiuri, Republican candidate for U.S. House, District 2

Ron Corbett, Republican candidate for Governor

Theresa Greenfield, Democratic candidate for U.S. House, District 3

Steve King, Republican candidate for U.S. House, District 4

Kim Reynolds, Republican candidate for Governor

David Young, Republican candidate for U.S. House, District 3

Shawn Zierke, Republican candidate for Iowa House, District 76* (candidate has withdrawn)

A Candidate’s Guide to the Primary Election, that includes detailed instructions and best practices for acquiring petition signatures, is available on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website (https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/2018primcandguide.pdf ). Signature requirements for federal, statewide, and legislative offices are available at this link: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/primary/index.html

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former teacher accused of groping and kissing one of his anatomy students in a Des Moines suburb is scheduled for sentencing next month. Station KCCI reports that Dustin Mead entered an Alford plea Monday to a misdemeanor charge of harassment. In an Alford plea, a suspect acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict. In April last year Mead pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee.

The 34-year-old Mead’s sentencing is set for April 9. A Polk County court document says that during the 2015-2016 school year, Mead gave one girl grades she didn’t earn, made sexual comments and groped her. He’s since resigned his position with the Johnston Community School District.

In the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s report issued this (Monday) morning, authorities report a charge of OWI/2nd offense is pending against a Malvern man, 45-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, who was involved in an accident at around 11:55-p.m., Feb. 10th. Officials say Bond was driving a 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup when the vehicle crashed and entered a steep embankment at Wabash Avenue and Applewood. Bond was injured in the crash and found walking away from the vehicle. Deputies said he displayed signs of impairment. He was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs for treatment of possible internal injuries. Law enforcement evoked implied consent and had a blood sample drawn. The sample was sent to the Iowa DCI lab to be tested for drugs.

On March 23rd, a warrant was served on an inmate at the Pott. County Jail. 37-year old Antonia Anaya, of Omaha, was presented with a warrant out of Nebraska, for being a Fugitive from Justice. She was then returned to the custody of jail staff. At around 11:34-a.m. that same day, a Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a 2018 Nissan SUV on eastbound I-80 in Council Bluffs, for excessive speed and not displaying license plate information. While speaking with the driver, Daisy Elvira Ozaeta, and her passenger, 30-year old Fernando Alberto Riveroll, Jr. of Gardena, CA., the deputy detected the odor of marijuana. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, during which 14.7-pounds of marijuana was discovered in several hidden compartments. Riveroll admitted the pot was his. He was taken into custody for Possession with the Intent to Deliver marijuana.

Also on March 23rd, a deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a 2002 Chevy Impala, driven by 70-year old James Bernard Zimmerman, of Carson. He refused to yield, but was eventually taken into custody for Eluding, Driving While Barred, and Reckless Driving. At around 2-p.m. Saturday (March 24th), 35-year old Melissa Jean Miller-Davidson, of Emerson, was arrested in Pottawattamie County, after a complaint was received about a speeding 2011 Ford truck on Highway 92. A Deputy located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. During an investigation, 1.5-grams of methamphetamine and 5.9-grams of marijuana was discovered, along with a glass pipe and black plastic container.  Miller-Davidson was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Sunday, a call to authorities about a vehicle on fire at Arrowhead Park was received. While enroute, Deputies learned the 2017 Chevy Malibu had swerved to miss a deer and left the road before catching fire. Dispatch advised the driver was uninjured and possibly intoxicated. 27-year old Austin Korey Long, of Council Bluffs, admitted to a deputy that he was impaired, driving too fast, and wrecked. He was subsequently arrested for OWI/1st offense, and cited for careless driving as well as failure to maintain control.

34-year old Ryan Michael Bothwell, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on misdemeanor warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault and Violation of Probation, after a Pott. County Deputy went to investigate an apparent vehicle burglary. Upon arrival, the deputy pulled in front of a black Chevy Silverado that was attempting to leave the parking lot. When questioned, Bothwell said the pickup belonged to his father, and that he was using a slim jim to try and leave his wife something nice in her car. And, at around 2-a.m. today (Monday), 35-year old Marrickio Dyshon Harris, of Lincoln, NE., was driving a 2004 Mercedes S 43 near North 16th and O Avenue in Council Bluffs, when he was stopped for running the stop sign. Authorities say Harris was in possession of 53.3 grams of marijuana at the time of the incident. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Implied consent was also invoked and Harris was asked to submit to chemical testing for alcohol and drugs. Harris refused to submit to chemical testing. Harris was then arrested for OWI 1st offense. He was also cited for running a stop sign and operating without a driver’s license.

A Carroll farmer is taking his case to the Iowa Supreme Court after losing a district level appeal in February.  Loren and Pan Danner filed their appeal last Friday in a case over a grain leg that is projecting into Carroll County Airport protected airspace. The Carroll County Airport Commission and the Danners have been battling over the 127-foot grain leg for years. Danner sought and received a building permit from the county zoning administrator in 2013, but after it was constructed, the commission deemed it a nuisance under Iowa code and sought removal of the leg at the Danner’s expense.

The farmers sought a variance from the courts on the premise that the federal legislation and administrative rule preempted the city zoning regulations and that the Danners had entered into an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for the retention of the grain leg after the addition of warning lights. On Feb. 23, the Iowa District Court for Carroll County stated in its ruling against the Danners that those standards were not applicable in this case. The court also stated the removal of the grain leg will enhance the safety of planes landing and taking off at the airport.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office reports road construction work for the expansion of U.S. 20 in Ida and Sac counties, will require closing the roadway to traffic between Ida County Road M-25 (near Galva) and U.S. 71 (near Early) from 6 a.m. Monday, April 2, until Friday, Sept. 28, weather permitting. Motorists will be directed around the work zone on a signed detour using Ida County Road M-25, Ida/Sac County Road D-15, and U.S. 71.

C.J. Moyna and Sons Inc. was awarded the $45,778.318 road construction project. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

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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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new state report says charging tolls is an option to rebuild and widen Interstate 80 across Iowa. Imposing tolls would require approval from the Iowa Legislature and federal authorities.
The Iowa Department of Transportation report says federal and state highway funds can’t meet all of the state’s highway needs. It says the study “has determined that tolling is a financially feasible implementation option.”

The report says there would be 11 tolling stations across the state and the toll would be 8 cents a mile for autos and 24 cents a mile for trucks. The money would be used to widen and rebuild a nearly 250-mile stretch across rural Iowa from 2022 through 2026.

This is Severe Weather Awareness Week as Iowans are reminded how to prepare for and respond to storms, tornadoes, flooding and more. Meteorologist Ken Podrazek, with the National Weather Service in metro Des Moines, says severe storms typically hit during two times of day, but they can strike at any time. “There’s two different peaks, sometime in the late afternoon between 4 and 6 P-M, and then a secondary peak during the overnight hours around midnight,” Podrazek says. “That’s when we get into the low level jet and get the overnight thunderstorms that race across the state.”

Severe storms are more frequent during the spring and early summer months, but they can strike during any time of the year. There were 55 tornadoes in Iowa last year, seven more than the average of 48. Podrazek says tornado warnings should be taken very seriously.  “Any time there’s a tornado warning issued, you definitely need to take cover,” he says. “Even if you think it might go north or south of you, it’s good practice to always get to safety.” A statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday morning. A test tornado watch will be issued at 10 A-M, followed by a test tornado warning. Podrazek says it’s an opportunity to develop plans on where you’d go in the event a real tornado warning is issued.  “This is a great time for local businesses and schools to practice their severe weather preparedness plan and to actually get to safety,” he says.

Another major concern in Iowa is flooding, which is one of the leading weather-related killers. “It’s resulted in 84 deaths per year throughout the United States,” he says. “That’s higher than tornadoes, higher than lightning, higher than winter storms. The only one that’s ahead of it is heat-related fatalities. As far as thunderstorm-related, flooding and flashing flooding, that’s the biggest one that kills people.” More than half those flooding deaths happen in motor vehicles when people try to drive across a water-covered roadway.  “We always say ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ and we absolutely mean it,” Podrazek says. “A lot of times you see water over the road, you don’t know how deep that is, how fast it’s going, if the road is intact. It doesn’t take a whole lot of water to sweep an adult off their feet and it doesn’t take a whole lot of water to move a vehicle either.”

Podrazek says flooded roads are worse at night when your vision is more limited. He notes, just six inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry off an adult, while 12 inches of water can float a smaller car, and if the water is moving, it can carry the car away. Some 18 to 24 inches of flowing water can carry away most vehicles, including large SUVs. Learn more about Severe Weather Awareness Week at weather-dot-gov.

(Radio Iowa)

The 2018 Iowa legislative session is entering its 12th week — but Republican lawmakers who control the debate agenda in the House and Senate have not yet revealed a final tax-cutting plan. There have been no public hints about the size of their state spending plan for next year either. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says there are other priority issues, but those are the two biggest “It’s all intertwined,” he says. “We have to come to an agreement on what that tax plan will look like at the same time, probably, that we’re setting our budget targets.”

Whitver says Senate Republicans will also meet in private this week to decide whether to advance legislation that would use public money to cover private school tuition. Trish Wilger is executive director of Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education. She says putting state tax money in an “educational savings account” would let parents choose the school that best fits their child. “This doesn’t have to be an us-versus-them issue,” Wilger said last week. “It’s about offering parents access to a variety of the high quality options that are out there.”

Opponents say the four-thousand dollar “vouchers” would divert taxpayer money to religious schools and would hurt public schools. Melissa Peterson is with the Iowa State Education Association. “If we are able to find such resources, I would strongly advocate that those resources be designated to benefit the nearly half million public school students,” she said. In February, Republicans in the Iowa HOUSE tabled a plan that would have given the parents of a NEW private school student five-thousand dollars in state tax money to cover tuition and other expenses

(Radio Iowa)