(Radio Iowa) – Iowa would join 13 states that have banned ranked choice voting under a bill that’s cleared the Iowa Senate with Republican support. Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, says a ballot where all candidates in a race are to be ranked from first to last choice would be confusing to voters. “In my view ranked choice voting makes it harder to vote,” he said. “It makes the votes harder to count.”

Democrats in the state senate voted against banning ranked choice voting, which tabulated preferences in rounds, with the lowest vote getter in each round eliminated until a winner gets a majority of votes. Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat from Waukee, says ranked choice voting determines the consensus choice. “Politics as usual sets up two choices: one over the other, winner-takes-all,” she said, “which breeds division and only fuels partisanship and breeds political attacks.”

So far this month, Republican governors in Wyoming and Virginia have signed laws that ban ranked choice voting. The bill banning it in Iowa is now under consideration in the Iowa House State Government Committee.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic will vote during their meeting April 2^nd on approving a commitment of $2.5-million dollars in Local Option Sales Tax monies for the issuance of bonds for the proposed Nishna Valley Family YMCA expansion project. The decision was reached after nearly an hour-long teleconference this (Wednesday) evening, with the City’s Financial Legal Counsel, John Danos from Dorsey and Whitney, in Des Moines.

Danos raised several question with regard to the proposed bond issuance, and the Council had questions of their own, directed at Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman. During their previous meeting, Nishna Valley Family YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes said if the City doesn’t agree to contribute toward the fundraising effort, it risks losing a grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation for the project. He reiterated those comments during the meeting March 19^th.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a resolution approving the final plat for the Camblin Hills Development Subdivision. They also passed a resolution approving the job description, FY25 compensation, and posting of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Assistant Superintendent position, which has been “on the books” for quite some time, according to City Administrator John Lund.

Current Wastewater Superintendent Tim Snyder is planning to retire, and wants to train an individual capable of managing the plant. The city’s Personnel and Finance Committee has reviewed the job description of Assistant Superintendent and approved a wage of $33.10/hour for FY 2025. They also recommend the position be posted immediately and for Snyder to set the date of hire at his discretion.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday approved also, “A professional services agreement with (former City Clerk) Barb Barrick, to temporarily provide Consulting Services” to the City, since those services are not currently available from Teresa Rotschafer, who is with the Iowa League of Cities, and who helps with necessary reporting, Treasurer’s Report and bank reconciliation. The agreement is in effect until the end of the current Fiscal Year on June 30^th, and subject to renewal.

Barrick will be paid $125 per labor hour, along with mileage reimbursement and travel time. The City’s Personnel & Finance Committee met March 7th and concluded it would be beneficial to have Barrick provide temporary professional City Clerk services and finish the training that is necessary for the new City Clerk, Laura McLean, to do all the aspects of her job effectively. City Administrator John Lund recommended the Council approve the agreement since timing is critical, in light of the need to publish the Public Hearing for the budget by no later than April 5th.

The City Council passed a resolution setting the Sunnyside Pool membership fees for the 2025 season. The fees are unchanged from last year, and will remain in effect until the Council determines the need to amend them. On another note, a Public Hearing will be held 5-p.m. March 26^th at City Hall, with regard to the proposed Maximum Tax Levy. City Administrator John Lund…

And, in the Council Committee reports, Councilman Mike McDermott reported on a grant the City has received from the U-S Tennis Association.

McDermott is a Council Liaison to the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

(Radio Iowa) – MidAmerican energy spokesman Geoff Greenwood says as of early afternoon more than 23-thousand MidAmerican customers are without power due to the storm. “We’re really getting hit hard by Mother Nature this time around,” he says. It is the second blizzard they’ve had to deal with this month, and he says the snow isn’t the biggest problem.

“Really, the biggest system impact that we’re seeing is due to extremely high sustained winds and wind gusts. Those winds are just pummeling our overhead lines there,” he says. “they’re taking down trees. Tree debris is taking down overhead lines, and then with all the snow that we’re getting, it’s hard, if not impossible, for our crews to get to where they need to go in some instances.”

Greenwood says the most damage so far has been in northwest Iowa. “They’re seeing is they’re seeing a very large number of lines down, trees on lines. We’re seeing poles down, and I mean a fairly large number throughout the northwestern part of our service area. So this is a sizable impact that we’re experiencing,” Greenwood says. He says the number of people without power has been constantly changing as the storm moves through and they react to the damage.

“In some cases we are able to reroute the circuit to restore customers, but in other cases, it is going to take a broken pole out, replace that pole, and then all the equipment up on top, and that’s going to take some time,” he says. There has been less snow as the storm moved to the east, but Greenwood says ice has been an issue in other areas.

“When ice builds up on an overhead line, it changes the air flow on that line, the line starts to bounce. And once it bounces violently, it can snap, it can break components, and it can take down poles. And we’ve seen some situations where it’s a cascading effect, and it’s pole after pole after pole that’s been taken down. Greenwood says they had enough warning for this storm to get crews in place.

“We were concerned enough to send extra crews into western and northwestern Iowa to stage them. In other words, we put them in a location, and they waited for the storm to come to them, and that’s because we were concerned about the ability for them to travel,” Greenwod says.

Greenwood says those concerns about travel proved to come true as the closed roads have caused problems with crews getting in to fix downed poles and power lines.

(Radio Iowa) – Blizzard conditions have shut down roadways and travel is not recommended in many areas of western and northwestern Iowa this afternoon. D-O-T Winter Operations Director Craig Bargfrede says a large area is impacted. “If you draw a line basically from just north of Council Bluffs, kind of in the Missouri Valley area, and then do a diagonal up through Carroll Fort Dodge Mason City, pretty much that area, along that line and just north of that line. Interstate 29 is closed in both directions between Sergeant Bluff and Missouri Valley.

Bargfrede says they are working on getting some of the vehicles there removed as there are power lines down on the interstate. He says electric crews can’t get in to work on the power lines until they get cars out of the way. Bargfrede says there are a lot of semis and other cars that have blocked roads as the storm blew through. “We didn’t close the roads, the roads closed themselves due to incidents and vehicles and trucks basically getting stuck and stranded in those areas,” he says. Bargfrede says they have NOT pulled any crews off the roadways.

IA DOT traffic cam I-29 near Sloan

“We’re continuing to plow and trying to get in there as best we can and at least free those vehicles,” Bargfrede says. “There are some towing bans in place up in that same area. So, what that means if the vehicle is down in the right of way, not in the traveled portion of the highway, it’s probably going to remain there until conditions have improved.” He says the snow missed much of the rest of the state as it curled up north.

“Get into the Des Moines and on into like, say, Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids area, into the Quad Cities. Conditions are are much better, still seeing wind, still seeing some off and on showers in that area, but not the snow. It’s pretty dramatic drop off from where we’re seeing the significant snow till there’s basically nothing other than wet payment,” Bargfrede says.

Bargfrede says crews will keep working as long as needed to clear the roadways.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that’s passed the Iowa Senate would raise the speed limit to 60 miles per hour on two-lane state highways. Senator Kerry Gruenhagen, of Walcott, is the bill’s sponsor. “Current law determines the default speed limit is 55 miles per hour unless otherwise determined in Code,” he said. “This bill raises the default speed limit to 55 to 60 miles per hour which would primarily affect undivided paved highways.”

Those were the only comments in favor of the bill, which got the support of 36 senators. Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, is one of the 12 no votes. He says most drivers are going above the posted limit now. “If a limit of 55 means they go 65, then a limit of 60 means they’ll go 70,” Quirmbach said. “I know I’m in a hurry to get places just as much as anybody else, but the one place I’m not in a hurry to get to is my own grave and I don’t want to see the lives of anybody else sacrificed on our highways just for a couple of more miles per hour.”

Senator Kerry Gruenhagen (R-Walcott) (official photo)

The State Police Officers Council has registered its opposition to the bill. Five years ago, a bill that would have raised the speed limit by five miles per hour on Iowa’s interstates as well as state highways was tabled in the Iowa House. Lawmakers cited concerns about speeding and safety as well as the more than two-million dollar cost of replacing speed limit signs.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Interim Page County Attorney Jim Varley has released a report on cases handled by his office for the week of March 3rd, 2025. View the report below:

Treasure Nicole Wendy Bengston, age 33, Essex, Iowa, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment and placed on probation for 9 months. The Defendant was specifically ordered to complete a 12-hour drinking drivers’ course, as well as complete a Substance Abuse Evaluation and follow up with any recommendations. A civil penalty of $1,250 was assessed and the Defendant was ordered to pay all court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Devin Michael Betsworth, age 23, Mapleton, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Criminal Mischief in the 4^th Degree. The Defendant was fined $430 and ordered to pay court costs, surcharges, court-appointed attorney fees and victim restitution.

Gerald William Christianson, age 20, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance, Marijuana 1^st Offense. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and a $430 fine.

Michelle L. Fichter, age 53, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Simple Assault. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $105, plus court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Ashley Nicole Fitzwater, age 26, Villisca, Iowa, appeared by counsel and admitted to violating probation. The Court found the Defendant to be in willful contempt of court and ordered to extend probation for an additional six months. All other terms of probation will remain as previously ordered.

Darrion Michael Dale Foster, age 22, Council Bluffs, Iowa, appeared with counsel and was found to be in violation of the terms of probation. The Defendant’s probation was revoked and the original sentence of two years in prison was imposed. The Defendant was ordered to pay all costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

Larry Lee Hart, age 43, Omaha, Nebraska, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating Without Owner’s Consent. The Defendant was sentenced to 45 days of incarceration in the Page County Jail and fined $855. The fine was suspended, and the Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Mark Daniel Hutson, age 55, Shambaugh, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment and placed on probation for 9 months. As a condition of probation, the Defendant must obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and follow through with any recommendations, plus attend and successfully complete the Drinking Driver’s School. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, expenses, court-appointed attorney fees and a civil penalty of $1,250.

Tamora Deion McGee, age 21, Shenandoah, Iowa appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury. The Defendant was sentenced to five years of incarceration, which was suspended, and placed on probation for two years. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,025, plus court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Elizabeth Marie Merriett, age 37, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and previously entered a guilty plea to Child Endangerment and received a deferred judgment. That deferred judgment was revoked, and the Defendant was sentenced to two years of incarceration. The term of incarceration was suspended, and Defendant was placed on probation for two years. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $855 (suspended), court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Jeremy Jack Scarpello, age 40, Council Bluffs, Iowa, appeared with counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation in three cases. The Defendant was found to be in willful contempt of court and sentenced to 60 days in the Page County Jail for each case. The contempt sentences will run concurrently with each other and the Defendant was ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

Joshua Grady Washburn, age 36, Braddyville, Iowa, appeared by his attorney and pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance, Marijuana, Third Offense. The defendant was sentenced to 90 days in the Page County Jail, with all but two days suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for two years and as a condition, must obtain a substance abuse evaluation and mental health evaluation. The Defendant was fined $900 and ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Joshua Grady Washburn, age 36, Braddyville, Iowa, appeared by his attorney and pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Assault. The Defendant was sentenced to 90 days in the Page County Jail, with all but two days suspended. This sentence will run concurrently with the case above. The Defendant was fined $430 and placed on probation for two years. As a condition of probation, the Defendant must obtain a substance abuse evaluation, mental health evaluation and complete the Iowa Domestic Abuse Program. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

(Radio Iowa) – A death and fire in Fort Dodge are under investigation. First responders were called to a residence just after midnight this morning where someone had been reported shot. When they arrived, they discovered an unresponsive male on the sidewalk in front of the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A short time later, Fort Dodge police officers noticed a fire had broken out on the third floor. Firefighters were summoned and contained the fire.

Officials say the individual who died had injuries consistent with a fall. Investigators believe he fell from the window of the apartment that had an active fire. The victim’s name was not released.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says the number of at home births in the state has gone up from around 450 to almost 850 in the last ten years. Licensed midwife Caitlin Hainley, with the Des Moines Midwife Collective has some thoughts on why women want a home birth. “I think the number one thing is because they want to feel like they have autonomy and control during their prenatal care and births,” she says. Hainley says the women want more one-on-one care.

Image via MedicalXpress.com

“They don’t want to feel coerced or forced into something, and they want to know who their provider is,” she says.

Iowa Health and Human Services says home births are still just a fraction of the roughly 40-thousand babies born annually in Iowa.