Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will hold a hearing tomorrow (Wednesday) on several bills focused on preventing gun violence that are moving forward in the U-S Senate. Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he also wants to review factors that led to incidents like last month’s deadly shooting rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida. “On two recent occasions, in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and in Parkland, we know that our government agencies and law enforcement missed real big red flags that could have prevented these fatalities,” Grassley says. “So at the hearing, we’re going to take a close look at those fatal mistakes.”

Grassley, a Republican, says he wants an in-depth review of pending legislation that could help to prevent future tragedies. “Number one, the Stop School Violence Act would provide the Justice Department grants to schools to improve safety programs,” Grassley says, “and we have the School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act that would fund early intervention and mental health programs in schools.”  One complaint that’s often heard after school shootings is that people who shouldn’t have access to guns are those who carry out such acts of violence. “We have a bill that’s called Fix NICS,” Grassley says. “That’s the acronym for the database that the FBI maintains to see that people that have felonies and other things wrong with them can’t legally buy guns.”

President Trump initially voiced support for raising the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21 but he’s now moved away from the proposal. Grassley says he’d back such legislation but wants to focus instead on measures that could pass more quickly. Tomorrow’s hearing (at 8:30 AM/Central) is called, “See Something, Say Something: Oversight of the Parkland Shooting and Legislative Proposals to Improve School Safety.”

(Radio Iowa)

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2018 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today (Tuesday), that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $276 million in rural electric infrastructure to improve system efficiency and reliability. The announcement comes the day before Secretary Perdue is set to testify along with others, at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing focused on rebuilding American infrastructure. USDA’s $276 million investment will build nearly 1,000 miles of line and improve 733 miles of line to meet current and future needs of rural businesses and residents. It will also support $65 million in smart grid technologies to help rural electric utilities reduce outages and integrate new systems. Locally, the Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative is set to receive a $6.1-million dollar loan to build 69 miles of line, improve 96 miles. and make other system improvements.

The loan amount includes $775,000 for Smart Grid projects. Smart grid includes technological enhancements such as metering, substation automation, computer applications, two-way communications and geospatial information systems. The Southwest Iowa REC serves 5,574 residents and nearly 300 commercial consumers. Of the 11 counties served in southwest Iowa, six are designated as outmigration counties.

Secretary Perdue said “Investing in our nation’s electric infrastructure is fundamental for rural economic growth. USDA’s longstanding partnerships with rural electric cooperatives help ensure that rural areas have affordable, reliable electric service. These investments also increase efficiency and productivity for businesses and residents, and support the quality of life in rural America.”

Investments are being made in Iowa and 11 other states. The loan guarantees are being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Electric Program, which is the successor to the Rural Electrification Administration.

A Public Hearing will be held 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, in Atlantic, with regard to the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Cass County Budget. The meeting takes place as part of a regular meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors in their Boardroom, at the Courthouse. The Board will also review the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for elected officers’ salaries, and act on those recommendations. Afterward, the Supervisors will act on Adopting the FY2019 Secondary Roads Budget, along with the FY2019 Cass County Budget.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was shot by a Davenport police officer after the man drew a handgun. The shooting occurred around 4 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the 43-year-old man was walking toward a home so he could confront a woman there who’d sought a restraining order on him. The officer found him and tried to approach. Police say that’s when the man produced his gun and the officer drew his and fired. It’s unclear whether the man also fired.

The man was taken to a Davenport hospital for treatment. Police say the officer wasn’t injured. Their names haven’t been released. Scott County sheriff’s deputies are investigating.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors met Monday evening, at City Hall. Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm said he updated the Board on various projects, including the playground at the Schildberg Recreation Area. He said the construction dates are Friday May 18^th and Saturday May 19^th, with volunteers coming out on the 19^th. The plan is to have the project finished later that same evening, and will include hot dogs as a “Thank You” to the volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to set up the playground equipment on that Saturday, call Staashelm at 712-243-3542. You’re welcome bring your own tools, but Seth said they plan to have most tools on-hand. You may wish to bring gloves and safety goggles, if you have them.

He said they also discussed the City of Atlantic Fireworks display on Wednesday, July 4^th, at the Schildberg Rec Area. The discussion included safety concerns, such as how far away the discharged shells must be from buildings. The shells must be at least 270-feet away from any structures. Fire Chief Mark McNees will have the final say on whether or not the winds and other factors might affect the level of safety and the ability to fire off the shells.

A test run will be conducted to try and determine the best viewing places, including the Little League Park, from downtown, or elsewhere, where there is more parking available.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City man has been sentenced to 100 days in jail and fined $315 for putting the Nora Springs police chief in a chokehold at a Mason City hospital. Court records say 37-year-old David Tyree pleaded guilty March 6 to assault on a peace officer and was sentenced Friday in Cerro Gordo County Court in Mason City.

Authorities say Nora Springs Police Chief David Jesse Dugan had taken Tyree to Mercy Medical Center in January but didn’t say why. The criminal complaint says Tyree put his forearms around Dugan’s throat from behind while at the hospital. Someone intervened to free Dugan, who did not suffer serious injuries.

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

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OXFORD, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man has been imprisoned for stabbing a man and trying to run him over with a pickup truck at a central Iowa wildlife management area. Court records say 67-year-old Ronald Gonterman was sentenced Monday in Johnson County District Court in Iowa City to 19 years in prison. He’d pleaded guilty to willful injury, assault and other crimes after prosecutors lowered the charges.

Authorities say the victim was stabbed four times in the back and had been shot at by Gonterman in the June 29, 2017, attack in the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in rural Johnson County.

Two people were arrested Monday night on separate charges, in Creston. Officials say 39-year old Brady Richert, of Creston, was arrested at around 9:10-p.m. at his home, for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Discharge of a Weapon within City Limits. Richert was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,300 bond. And, 20-year old Tyler Ray, of Creston, was arrested at his home at around 7:10-p.m., for Driving While Suspended and Interference with Official Acts. He was released on a $600 bond.

Creston Police report also, a man who resides in the 900 block of Glenview Drive, in Creston, notified authorities Monday afternoon, that his storage unit was broken into about three weeks ago. MAC Tools were stolen from inside the unit. The loss was estimated at $2,700.

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

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