The names of two people from Minnesota who died in a fiery helicopter crash Tuesday afternoon in Audubon County have not yet been released – pending notification of family – but the FAA has issued some other, preliminary crash data. Authorities say with the FAA said Wednesday the copter was a light, four-seat Robinson R44 II, registered to MN Helicopters, Inc., in Sioux Falls, SD.

Robinson R44 light utility helicopter (similar to what crashed in Aud. County) – pixabay.com public domain photo

Witnesses said the chopper collided with power lines in rural eastern Audubon County at around 4:27-p.m., Tuesday, before flipping over and crashing into a field. The helicopter burst into flames upon impact. The pilot and a passenger died in the crash.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

HAMLIN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were killed when a helicopter crashed and burned in west-central Iowa. The crash was reported Tuesday afternoon in Audubon County, a few miles east of Hamlin. Authorities say the aircraft hit a power line before it went down. The names of those aboard have not been released. Authorities say the two were from Minnesota. The crash is being investigated.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds and an aide are pushing back against a research model that forecasts that Iowa will see a late peak in coronavirus cases, nearly 1,400 deaths by August and a huge shortage of intensive care unit beds. Reynolds and Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter said Wednesday that the model from University of Washington researchers doesn’t consider some of Iowa’s efforts to stop the spread, including school and business closures. They say they still expect Iowa’s cases to peak in mid to late April, which would be earlier than the April 30 date that the model projects.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds say her order halting elective medical procedures as part of the state’s coronavirus response does not halt all abortions in Iowa. The state and abortion providers have reached an agreement that some abortions may go forward in cases where women may have been forced by the delay to carry the pregnancy to term. The agreement prompted abortion providers including Planned Parenthood to drop the request for a court injunction halting enforcement of Reynolds’ order last week. Reynolds said the order was part of her coronavirus response aimed at preserving medical equipment and supplies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — For Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a drunken driving conviction nearly 20 years ago marked a turning point. After becoming the state’s first female governor, the Republican is using her experience as motivation for a campaign to restore the vote to felons that’s divided her from many in her own party. After recent changes in Kentucky, Virginia and Florida, Iowa is the only state with broad constitutional language that revokes voting for all felons. Some Republican lawmakers argue victims should be paid restitution before felons get voting rights back. The Legislature has suspended its session because of the coronavirus. It’s unclear whether lawmakers will return to the issue.

The Atlantic City Council held its first-ever electronic meeting this (Wednesday) evening, with some members joining the session by the remote video conferencing service, Zoom, and others in the Council’s Chambers.

(Left) Atlantic City Councilman Dick Casady & Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones (Center) are shown in this still frame ZOOM meeting image from 4-1-20. (Ric Hanson photo)

The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes.

During their brief session, the Council:

• Held Public Hearing on the Adoption of the Final Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget for the City of Atlantic. (The Council passed the preliminary FY21 Budget March 4th), and passed a Resolution “Adopting the [FY21] Budget” (which calls for lower property taxes, but increased costs in labor & health insurance) [Total tax levy rate per $1,000 valuation on regular property= $16.56/$1,000; on Agricultural land= $3.00/$1,000]
• They also held a Public Hearing on the Adoption of the 10-year CIP (Capital Improvement Plan), and passed a Resolution “Adopting the Proposed [FY21] CIP.”
• The Atlantic City Council also passed a Resolution “Setting Salaries for Appointed Officers and Employees of the City of Atlantic.” (Basically, wage adjustments for the Police Chief, Library Director, Parks & Rec Director, Street Superintendent and City Administrator, plus a 2.4% increase for all employees, keeping in-line with other cities of similar size, as well as Union agreements)
• And, they passed a Resolution “Setting the Seasonal Wages for Atlantic Parks & Recreation Department for 2020.”

By a vote of 6-to 1, the Council passed a Resolution for the  “Temporary [suspension] of Certain Personnel Policy Requirements in Order to Address the COVID-19 Emergency.” Councilperson Kathy Somers was the lone “No” vote. City Administrator John Lund says “Passage means that elected officials make policies and those policies are not subject to the dismissal by unelected officials or government employees, simply because they are proving an obstacle to the needs and desires of…anyone. If policies are an issue, they should be changed, not ignored.” In short, the City Council has final say over issues such as: Hours of Work; Work Rules; and Foreited vacation paid time-off. It also states the City is willing to sustain paychecks for those employees who are forced to take a reduction in hours because their Supervisor is concerned about the risk of spreading infection from a department. The final say is “At the discretion of the Finance and Administration Department and Department Heads, to identify need, and eliminate opportunities for abuse.”

By a vote of 6-to 1, the Council passed a Resolution for the  “Temporary [suspension] of Certain Personnel Policy Requirements in Order to Address the COVID-19 Emergency.” Councilperson Kathy Somers was the lone “No” vote. In other business, a Resolution passed, “Setting April 15th as the date for a public hearing on designation of the expanded North Urban Renewal Area and on [an] Urban Renewal Plan Amendment,” as it pertains to the City’s 2017 development agreement with the Whitney Group.

And, a public hearing was held on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Refunding Loan Agreement and to borrow money thereunder, with regard to recent changes in the bond market. No action was taken following the hearing. Mayor Dave Jones then reminded the public to “Wash your hands” as a mean to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds will soon make clear how the school year may end for Iowa’s K-through-12 students. Reynolds was asked about the issue during a news conference this (Wednesday) afternoon.

“This is Wednesday,” Reynolds said. “By tomorrow, I think we’ll be issuing an additional health emergency declaration that will address the very question that you’re talking about.” In mid-March, Reynolds recommended that schools suspend classes until Monday, April 13th. President Trump has extended federal social distancing guidelines until April 30th and urging Americans not to gather in groups.

Reynolds says her day started with a meeting to examine how students may be able to take classes online for the remainder of the school year. “To really identify what this looks like,” Reynolds said, “and how we can continue to provide learning for students all across the state.” Last week, the Iowa Department of Education changed rules so schools now may issue grades and credits for classes completed online.

(What’s going on in NEIGHBORING STATES:
Wisconsin’s governor ordered his state’s schools to close, with no date set for reopening. School buildings in Kansas are closed for the rest of the school year. Schools in South Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois are currently closed at least through the end of April. All schools in Missouri and Nebraska are closed and the governors of those two neighboring states are allowing local districts to decide when to reopen.)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — For Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a drunken driving conviction nearly 20 years ago marked a turning point. After becoming the state’s first female governor, the Republican is using her experience as motivation for a campaign to restore the vote to felons that’s divided her from many in her own party.

After recent changes in Kentucky, Virginia and Florida, Iowa is the only state with broad constitutional language that revokes voting for all felons. Some Republican lawmakers argue victims should be paid restitution before felons get voting rights back.

The Legislature has suspended its session because of the coronavirus. It’s unclear whether lawmakers will return to the issue.