DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lawmaker in the Iowa House has been booted from a key committee leadership role after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Rep. Francis “Chip” Baltimore, a Boone Republican, has been removed as chairman of the House judiciary committee. He will be replaced with Rep. Zach Nunn, a Bondurant Republican. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer announced the decision Monday. She says in a statement that Baltimore’s actions were “clearly irresponsible and he is being held accountable.”

Baltimore, an attorney, was arrested Friday morning in Ames near Interstate 35. His blood alcohol tested out at nearly twice the legal limit to drive, and a pistol was found under the driver’s seat. Baltimore says in a statement he’s taken full responsibility for the arrest, and he supports Upmeyer’s decision.

Iowa National Guard spokesman, Col. Greg Hapgood reports, that “As a result of the federal government shutdown due to the expiration of the Continuing Resolution at midnight on January 19, the following actions have been directed by the Department of Defense and immediately executed by the Iowa National Guard:

-More than 900 full-time employees of the Iowa National Guard were furloughed starting Jan. 20 and will remain furloughed until the shutdown is resolved. Furloughed employees will not receive pay for the duration of the furlough, may not be in a paid leave status, but will retain and accrue benefits. Approximately 1,000 full-time employees remain on duty, including Active Guard and Reserve military personnel, who will continue to work in an unpaid status until a Continuing Resolution is passed, and State of Iowa civilian employees, who will be compensated per their regular pay schedule.

-Drill was cancelled for approximately 400 Iowa National Guard personnel scheduled for training Jan. 20-21. An additional 700 personnel were allowed to complete training Jan. 20-21 due to interpretation of federal law. Rescheduling of all cancelled training assemblies will be announced at a later date after the shutdown has ended.

-At this time, the Iowa National Guard is authorized to expend funds only for “excepted” activities, like deployment or re-deployment of Soldiers and/or Airmen, recruiting, safety, or protection of life or government property. All other activities are classified by the Department of Defense as “non-excepted” and will not be funded until the shutdown ends.

-By direction of the Department of Defense, all military community outreach efforts must be immediately curtailed until the conclusion of the government shutdown, which includes all tours of Iowa National Guard facilities, performances by the 34th Army Band, demonstrations, color guards, static displays of military equipment, speaking engagements, etc…Funeral honors will continue for eligible veterans.

-Iowa National Guard military retirees and annuitants will continue to be paid without interruption as those benefits are resourced from annually appropriated funds.”

Hapgood says “The Iowa National Guard will provide periodic updates as this situation unfolds.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s new “stand your ground” law will be tested this week in a trial of a man charged in a pedestrian mall shooting in Iowa City that resulted in the death of one person. The Des Moines Register reports that 24-year-old Lamar Wilson is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. The Aug. 27 shooting resulted in the death of 22-year-old Kaleek Jones of Iowa City and injured two other men.

Iowa’s “stand your ground” law took effect in July. The law says law-abiding residents don’t have to retreat before using deadly force to defend themselves if they reasonably believe their life is in danger. Wilson’s attorneys say the shooting was justified because Wilson was defending himself from gunfire. Jury selection begins today (Monday).

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a Wisconsin man was arrested for Aggravated Assault/Domestic Abuse Assault by impeding air and or blood flow, following an incident Friday night, in Macedonia. 23-year old SeanCody Lee Anderson, of South Wayne, WI., was taken into custody at around 10:25-p.m., after a deputy was called to the area of Main and Potter Streets, in Macedonia for a disturbance. Pott. County Communications advised the deputy the caller’s son had allegedly tried to choke the caller’s husband outside of the Back Forty Bar. Dispatch advised also, the son had behavioral issues, that he was “freaking out,” and that the caller’s husband had left the area. They also advised that the son (SeanCody Anderson) was still in a vehicle and it was uncertain if he had calmed down. They noted the man had possibly changed his medication, recently, as well. Anderson was in a vehicle and two others, when he alleged started choking the driver. The victim, 35-year old Dustin Ray Bozwell, of Emerson, had apparent minor injuries, according to the sheriff’s report. Anderson also has apparent, minor injuries.

An Oakland man was arrested at around 2:20-a.m. Saturday, following an incident of assault, in Oakland. Authorities say 30-year old Myles Dustin Longcor was taken into custody after a deputy was dispatched to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Hill Street. Longcor was arrested on charges that include Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, and Consumption of Alcohol in a public place/1st offense. He’s alleged to have caused damage to a vehicle and the residence. The total amount of damage was estimated at $1,200. The victim, Longcor’s 35-year old girlfriend, was not injured. Authorities say Longcor suffered apparent, minor injuries during the incident.

An Illinois man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop for speeding Saturday afternoon, on Interstate 80, in Pott. County. The Sheriff’s Office reports the traffic stop occurred at around 1:35-p.m.. Deputy Brian Miller stopped a 2007 Dodge Ram pickup near Council Bluffs. At the completion of the traffic stop, Miller conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle, and found 75 pounds of marijuana. The driver of the vehicle, 28-year old Jake A. Winchester, of Mt. Olive, IL., was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance by concealing and transportation.

Deputies responding to an incident in Treynor, Saturday night, arrested 54-year old Troy William Meis, of Crescent. Meis was charged with Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Interference with Official Acts. His bond was set at $300. The charges stem from an incident involving Meis’ girlfriend who lives in Carson.  A traffic stop at around 1-a.m. Saturday, on a vehicle with an expired registration, resulted in the arrest of 26-year old Kolten Dennis Lange, of Council Bluffs. Lange faces a charge of OWI/1st offense.

And, a woman from Macedonia was arrested at around 2:10-a.m. Saturday, for OWI/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. 32-year old Megan Marie Wendte was taken into custody after her vehicle passed a deputy on patrol. The Deputy noticed the 2000 Toyota Tundra was speeding on Highway 92, and had a loud exhaust. He followed the vehicle for about a mile, noticing it was swerving all over the road. Not long thereafter, he noticed the driver had pulled over near the intersection of Highway 92 and Hope Lane.

Road conditions are deteriorating in northwest Iowa as a Blizzard Warning is posted for 19 counties across the region, with another 16 Iowa counties under winter storm warnings and advisories. Forecasters say the region may get between six inches and a foot of snow by tonight (Monday), though some areas may see up to 16 inches. Trooper John Farley, with the Iowa State Patrol, is watching over parts of Interstate 29 and says if you don’t have to go out, don’t. “We’re receiving heavy snowfall, snow and sleet, and it is 100% covered on the interstate consistently between Sioux City and I’m just north of Onawa right now,” Farley says. “We are definitely in that ‘travel not advised’ arena.”

There have been some fender benders and cars sliding into ditches along that stretch of road, he says, but not many. “People have taken the heedings, the warnings that were issued even last night about travel,” Farley says. “There has not been a lot of traffic on the interstate, not that they’re completely empty, but the traffic that is moving is light but it’s very slow. Top speeds are around 35 to 40 miles an hour, tops.”

Snow plows and spreader trucks are out in force, scraping the roadways and sprinkling salt, sand and brine solution. “Oh, yes, our partners with DOT roads, you bet,” Farley says. “They are out and they’re doing a great job. They’re keeping up with it. With the amount of snow that’s coming down, I think it’ll be hard to stay ahead of it, but they are definitely keeping up with it.” Many schools and businesses in the region are closed. The snow likely won’t last too long as forecasters say high temperatures in the state may be climbing as high as the mid-50s later this week. Today’s normal high for Des Moines is 31 degrees.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors letting residents of the County know that the Board intends to establish ‘AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE OPERATION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES & OFF-ROAD UTILITY VEHICLES IN CASS CO., IOWA’. The purpose of the ordinance is to set the regulations regarding the operation of all-terrain vehicles and/or off-road utility vehicles on county roadways designated by the Cass County Board of Supervisors.’

Public hearings on the intent to establish the ordinance will be held in the Boardroom of the Courthouse, Atlantic, with the first consideration to be held at 8:35 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2018; a second consideration to be held at 8:35 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2018; and a third consideration and final vote for or against passage to be held at 8:35 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2018.

A copy of the proposed ordinance to be established is available for inspection in the office of the Cass County Auditor and on the Cass County website, or here:Cass Co-Proposed-ATV Ord-Form1-withwatermark[5996]

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

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DES MOINES, IA (Jan. 22, 2018) — Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative (HSI) announced today (Monday) the 18 finalists for the inaugural HSI awards. Individuals, communities, schools and workplaces will be recognized for advancing efforts to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of Iowans. In the “Community” category, the City of Harlan is an award finalist. Jami Haberl, Healthiest State Initiative executive director, says “The Healthiest State Initiative is proud to recognize the work these finalists have been doing to improve the overall health and well-being of Iowans. They have set a great example for other individuals, communities, schools and workplaces to emulate. We look forward to sharing their stories at the awards event.”

The winners will be announced at HSI’s inaugural award event on Feb. 15 from 5-7 pm at the Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines. Each winner will be granted a monetary gift to continue their work focused on improving the health and well-being of their employees, students or citizens. In addition to the awards, Jamie Pollard, director of athletics at Iowa State University, will deliver the keynote address at the event. Based upon his own experiences — a son who has battled cancer four times and his own health crisis in 2015 — Pollard will share an inspirational message on why health matters.

Purchase tickets today

Tickets for the Feb. 15 event are $25 for an individual or $190 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event visit IowaHealthiestState.com.

It’s week three of the 2018 Iowa legislative session and middle-of-the-year state budget cuts loom large. However, lawmakers say they’re still searching for answers to key details. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed about 20 million dollars worth of cuts — and she’s suggested 10-million dollars won’t be spent in the Medicaid program which provides health care coverage for poor, disabled and elderly Iowa. Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says that much savings in Medicaid seems “counter-intuitive.” “We really want to understand how that would be possible because we’re actually inclined to think that doesn’t make sense,” Upmeyer says.

There are 22 weeks left in the 12-month-long state spending plan. Voting on mid-year budget cuts as soon as possible is the goal, according to Upmeyer, who says state agencies have already begun to hold off on spending. “Frankly, everybody’s on notice based on the governor’s recommendations,” Upmeyer says, “so I think they’re responding to that as they spend their dollars internally.”

Reynolds has recommended cutting the state prison budget by three-point-four million. She’s also recommending a more than five-million dollar cut to the three state universities and a nearly two-million dollar reduction for the 15 area community colleges. In addition to the 10-million dollar projected savings in the state’s Medicaid budget, Reynolds recommends more than three-million dollars worth of cuts elsewhere in the Department of Human Services. The current year’s state budget runs through June 30th.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says a deadline is approaching for anyone who may have been a victim of fraud involving a Western Union money transfer. “Two federal agencies found massive fraud being implemented through Western Union,” Miller says. He says the company “sort of looked the other way” as the fraud happened. The Federal Trade Commission and U-S Department of Justice reached a 586 million dollar settlement where the company will pay back those who were victims of fraud. “The federal government has contracted with a and outside agency — a third party– to implement the settlement, ” Miller says. “They have or are in the process of sending letters to various people who have complained about these types of problems kinds of problems.”

You have until February 12th to make a claim. Miller says his office got information from Western Union on money transfers by Iowans of 500 dollars or more to what are called “suspect countries,” and mailed letters to them. Miller says some 18-thousand Iowans were on the list. “The majority of the transfers were legitimate for one reason or another. But there’s a significant number that weren’t legitimate and we are working through the process of people making their claims,” Miller says.

He says Western Union is asking people for a wire transfer number, but says some people may not have that number. Miller says they are asking federal officials and the company to change their procedure so if a person gives their name, amount and date of transfer and it matches their records that they get a refund.

The refunds cover the time period between January 1st, 2004 and January 19, 2017.

(Radio Iowa)