SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man who ran a stop sign and caused a fatal crash last summer has been given 10 years in prison. Court records say Julian Espinoza was sentenced Monday in Sioux City. He’d pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide by driving recklessly, causing the July 26 crash that fatally injured Ronald Hacker, of Sioux City. A charge of vehicular driving while intoxicated was changed and a charge of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Espinoza’s juvenile son was in his pickup truck at the time of the crash. Hacker died three days later.

Adair-Guthrie County EMA Director Robert Kempf, Monday, said as of 8-a.m. today (Tuesday), Adair and Guthrie County will be launching a new joint website,  www.adairguthriecountycovid.org , as a resource for all of your COVID-19 questions. The site will be updated daily with the most recent press releases, recommendations, screening questions if you are sick, as well as links to other reliable resources to help answer your questions.

Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber says “In a time of uncertainty, social media becomes a platform for rumors and misinformation. We are aware of misinformation about COVID-19 both locally, across Iowa and nationally. It’s important for Adair & Guthrie County residents to rely on trusted sources of information like the CDC, IDPH and our public health agency.”

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says there were four arrests between March 8th and the 14th. On the 14th, 54-year old Kim Lei Planthaber, of Moline, IL., was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 80. She was taken into custody for Operating a Vehicle (a 2019 Nissan Versa) without the Owner’s Consent, and driving without a valid driver’s license. The vehicle in question was a Hertz rental that had been reported stolen out of Moline. Dispatch was advised a female was walking eastbound on I-80 near mile marker 81. She was subsequently identified as Kim Planthaber. The woman was carrying a pillow and a purse, and was only wearing one shoe.

Authorities say when she was approached, Planthaber seemed very confused as to how she got to where she was. She was cold and showed signs of “severe drug use.” EMS received the number of her son, who said she had taken off the day before in a car her husband had rented, and did not tell anyone where she was going. Her son acknowledge the woman had a severe problem with cocaine and methamphetamine, and refused treatment. Her husband reported the vehicle as stolen. Lei remains in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On March 11th, 34-year old Jordan Eugene Kralik, of Creston, was arrested in Creston, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, for an incident that took place the previous evening, and involved his wife. Kralik was released later in the day on a $300 cash or surety bond. On March 10th, 37-year old Matthew John Harter, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a pipe) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana). Harter was released later in the day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on March 8th, 21-year old Kaylee Starr Carleton, of Greenfield, was arrested on a Dallas County warrant. Her cash/surety bond was set at $300.

(Radio Iowa) — Fifty dollars for a 12-pack of toilet paper? Iowans are being warned to use common sense and to not give in to ridiculous prices for products that are in high demand because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lynn Hicks, communications director for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, says they’re investigating multiple reports of price gouging at Iowa stores and online retailers. “Whether it’s hand sanitizer or protective masks, they’re seeing high prices,” Hicks says. “We encourage people to send us the information, file a complaint with us and we’ll look into it.”

Iowans are warned to be on-guard when they see offers for a coronavirus cure or treatment — as there are none. Iowans are also getting calls from people claiming to be with a public health organization, when they’re just crooks phishing for your personal information. During an emergency like this, Hicks says it’s natural for prices on some hard-to-find items to rise, but not to the point of gouging. “Prices may be higher because sellers could incur increased costs,” Hicks says, “but when there are situations where the prices have gone up so much and there’s no other reason than somebody’s trying to take advantage of a disaster, that’s when we have the ability to step in.”

The state attorney general’s office has appealed to one of the world’s largest online retailers over reports from Iowans about items with unreasonable prices. “We’ve already been in contact with Amazon,” Hicks says. “They’ve removed several products and offers and a lot of the stuff that’s on there is third-party sellers who are engaged in price gouging so they’ve taken those down.”

Iowans are urged to do research on any organizations or charities claiming to be raising money for victims of the coronavirus by checking with groups like the Better Business Bureau at https://www.give.org. To reach the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, visit www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov or call 888-777-4590.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On March 16, 2020, at 3:28 pm, the Webster City Police Department responded to a 911 call at 109 Apple Street in Webster City, Iowa, on the report a barricaded subject and hostage situation involving a man and woman. The female reported the male had fired shots at her inside the residence. The Webster City Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol all responded.

The Iowa State Patrol Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiators responded and negotiated with the male subject for more than hours. The male subject threatened to shoot the female in a specified time period, at which time the Tactical Team made entry into the residence. The male was shot and killed. The names of the parties involved will be released pending the notification of relatives.

The names of the officers involved will be released at a later time. Three Iowa State Patrol Troopers on the ISP Tactical Team have been placed on administrative leave according to DPS policy.

This incident is under investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Upon completion, the case will be forwarded to the Hamilton County Attorney for review. There is no further threat to the public.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Monday night, said two students had absconded from the Clarinda Academy campus, and were traveling in an unknown direction of travel. A search was underway. They were reported missing at around 8:30-p.m.

One of the students is a 15-year old white male, 5’-feet 9-inches tall”, 140-pounds, with blonde hair. He also wears eyeglasses. The second is a 17-year old Native American male. 5’10” 145 lbs. Black hair. No clothing descriptions available.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Legislature has suspended its 2020 session for at least 30 days and given Governor Kim Reynolds new authority to use nearly 20 million dollars from the state’s Economic Emergency Fund to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, says suspending the legislature follows the advice of public health officials about avoiding large gatherings. “We also think it’s prudent at this time to pause our normal legislative business so that the governor, legislators and government employees can focus exclusively on the coronavirus outbreak,” Whitver says.

In addition, lawmakers voted to lift all limits and let the governor shift money around within the current state budget, if needed.  “We’ll give the governor the authority to do what she needs to do while we’re not in session to make sure that there’s confidence that government will function appropriately at this time,” Whitver says.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says as an added precaution, the plan sets aside enough money to keep state government operating until September 1st.
“Hopefully, we can be back as soon as possible,” Grassley says. “If not, we need to be prepared and making responsible decisions so that the government will continue to operate.”

Republicans AND Democrats voted for these moves. Todd Prichard of Charles City is the House Democratic Leader. “We all can agree that we need to give the governor the powers to take decisive action,” Prichard says.

If the governor decides more than 20 MILLION is needed from the Economic Emergency Fund, GRASSLEY says the 20-member Legislative COUNCIL made up of leaders will convene to approve that withdrawal. “We made sure that the legislature was still involved as much as we could be without bringing everyone back into the building,” Grassley says.

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines says the COUNCIL could also decide to reconvene the FULL legislature earlier, but she’s hoping lawmakers stay out of the Capitol for at least 30 days. “Setting a good example for Iowans by not gathering in a germ-infested building like this one,” Petersen says, “and making sure that we’re abiding by a quarantine as well.”

Part of the plan ensures schools do NOT have to make up missed days that occur between now and April 12th — but some districts may accumulate more than that. Petersen has a son who’s scheduled to graduate this spring, but that timing could be in doubt in his district and in others, depending on how many days are missed. “The state wants to do what’s in the best interest of families,” Petersen says. “…Safety first and health first.”

Pay for teachers and other school staff is determined by local district officials, but advocates say it’s unlikely districts will withhold pay over the next month since school budgets aren’t being cut. The legislature convened early Monday afternoon. Following hours of private negotiations and meetings, senators began voting on the plan at about 10 p.m. The House ended the legislature’s marathon day at 12:13 a.m today (Tuesday).