(Radio Iowa) — Legislators are considering a bill that would prevent Iowa companies and government agencies from forcing employees to be “microchipped” and tracked like some pet owners are now doing with their dogs and cats. Proponents of the practice say it’s about convenience, letting people use the microchip in their hands to enter work spaces, and it’s about security, by keeping workers out of restricted areas. Critics say the chips could be used to track employees when they’re NOT at work. Charlie Wishman of the Iowa Federation of Labor supports a ban on such implants. “Microchipping people is kind of a bizarre requirement,” Wishman said. “I mean if you can’t make joining a union a condition of employment, implanting cybernetics in people seems like a bridge too far.”

Daniel Zeno of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says his group is pleased the bill applies to private businesses as well as cities, school districts, counties and state government. “We really care about that and so we think this is a good way to make sure that the government, in particular, doesn’t require people to have a chip implanted into them.” Representative Joe Mitchell of Wayland says no employee should be forced to get a chip implanted. “I think it’s creepy,” he says. “I think it’s a good bill.”

The bill has cleared its first hurdle in the Iowa House and is eligible for debate in a House committee. Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights supports the concept. “I do like the idea that people have a right to do what they want to do with their own bodies,” Konfrst said. “Body autonomy is really important and hope we extend this concept to other legislation this session.”

Seven states have a ban on inserting microchips in any human. Four states have banned employers from making the implants mandatory for workers. Sixteen years ago the federal government approved using implanted microchips for medical purposes. In 2017, many employees at a Wisconsin company VOLUNTARILY had microchips the size of a grain of rice implanted in their hands. The workers are able to swipe their hands on security pads — and even use the chips to pay for food in the company cafeteria.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman on a simple assault charge late Wednesday night. Authorities say 22-year old Alexis Cheyenne Straw, of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 11:27-p.m. in the 900 block of E. Corning Street. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail this (Thursday) morning, on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — New results from the Iowa Democratic caucuses show Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders nearly tied with almost all the votes counted. But the race remained too early to call early Thursday with 97% of precincts reporting. Party officials were scrambling to verify the remaining results three days after Iowans gathered at caucus sites across the state to begin choosing which Democrat will take on President Donald Trump in November. Buttigieg has a lead over Sanders of three state delegate equivalents out of 2,098 counted. The deadlocked contest gave both a burst of momentum as they seek to pull away from the crowded field.

MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the victim of a deadly shooting in western Iowa as a 16-year-old boy from Mapleton. The Iowa Department of Public Safety on Wednesday said Joseph Hopkins was killed in the shooting Friday night in Mapleton, about 40 miles southeast of Sioux City. Mapleton police and medical crews found Hopkins’ body after responding to a 911 call about a shooting. An autopsy conducted Monday by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Hopkins died of a single gunshot wound. Investigators haven’t made any arrests. Officials said they don’t think there is a danger to the public in connection with the shooting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Another robbery charge has been filed against two men suspected of killing two brothers and a teenage friend at a southeast Des Moines duplex. Emmanuel Totaye Jr. and Daishawn Gills already are charged with murder and robbery connected to last Thursday’s shootings. Police said in news release Wednesday that the two assaulted and robbed a juvenile at his home earlier on the day of the shootings. Totaye and Gills are accused of killing 19-year-old Devonte and 16-year-old Malachi Swanks and a friend, 15-year-old Thayne Wright.

The Atlantic City Council rolled through their agenda items Wednesday evening, during a regularly scheduled session. During Consent Agenda discussion, Councilman Dick Casady asked why a Class-C liquor license was needed for Iowa Western Community College, in Atlantic. Ann Pross, Director of  IWCC’s Cass County Center, said the license is for their annual “Jazz and Wine” scholarship fundraiser on Sunday, March 1st. Pross said last year, they raised $15,000 to award scholarships to Cass County students.

In regular business, Council passed an Order to close select streets on June 13th, from 7-a.m. until 11:30-p.m., for the SHIFT ATL Block party. The affected streets include: Chestnut, from 7th to 6th, and 6th Street from Chestnut to Poplar. The event will include a beer garden, live music and smoke-off competition, with the proceeds benefiting SHIFT ATL by helping to accomplish their Atlantic revitalization initiatives.

The Council hear a report from Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, who recapped some key accomplishments of his department in 2019. Rasmussen also outlined his department goals for 2020. That includes, among other things:

The installation of second shelter around Lake #1 at the Schildberg Rec Area; Increasing the amounting of Nesting Boxes that can be offered within the wildlife refuge areas (In conjunction with the Iowa Bluebird Conservation Organization for some funding); removal of several Willow trees around the banks of the Schildberg Lakes, in order to increase the amount of recreational fishing opportunities; they will also get started on installing the raised box gardens at Mollett Park on East 3rd St. Place.

The Council then acted on passing a Resolution setting Feb. 19th as the date for a Public Hearing on approving “Fiscal Year 2021 Maximum Property Tax Dollars.” An advance look at the Maximum Tax Levy Rate was announced (& posted on the KJAN.Com News Page) earlier this week.

In other business, the Council set Feb. 19th as the date for a public hearing “On a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and to Borrow Money [in a principal amount] not to exceed $90,000. The final action item on the Council’s agenda, was action on passing a Resolution “Establishing the Allocation of Revenues from the City of Marne through Compensation for Specified Activities” (with regard to time and work performed by the Atlantic City Clerk and her Assistant). The Resolution set a schedule for how those funds are dispersed.

The Harlan Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Jan. 30th, 58-year old Danny Carl Thompson, of Irwin, was arrested following an investigation.  Thompson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with harassment.

On January 31st, 25-year old Kayley Jo Cooper, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Cooper was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while barred and no proof of insurance. And, 21-year old Jacob Michael Thill, of Mitchell, SD, was arrested.  Thill was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

On Monday, Feb. 3rd, 58-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Sioux City, was arrested in Harlan, following a call for service.  Mogensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication.

Harlan Police report also, 25-year old Kylie Sierra Kleffman, of Harlan, was cited Jan. 31st, for possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. The citations were the result of a traffic stop.