(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is –not– among the 15 states that have joined the lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s new rules putting further restrictions on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says his group supports the litigation. “Many, many, many people here in Iowa and around the Midwest are food insecure and have not experienced the economic recovery that others have,” Lehman says. “By putting this rule in place that’s made a lot of people who are at risk and are vulnerable in a really bad spot.”

The rules call for stricter work requirements for those receiving SNAP benefits. Lehman says they want the court to issue a ruling forcing the U-S-D-A to rewrite the regulation. “We want to see the USDA go back and do the rulemaking the way it ought to be,” Lehman says. “It ought to reflect the values that were put in place in the Farm Bill that governs the program and the program ought to be out there to help people where it’s needed appropriately.”  Lehman says most of those who’ve been getting SNAP assistance are in dire economic circumstances.

“There are many studies that show that the vast majority of people who take advantage of SNAP benefits are people who are caring for a needy adult, caring for a child,” Lehman says. “They are not what we consider available to work because they’re occupied with these other things.” Reports say the rule changes would deny food stamps to nearly 700,000 SNAP recipients.

February 1st:

• Margaret Slepsky of Atlantic (Winner)

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports 45-year old Martin Basaldua, of Lenox, was arrested today (Friday), on an active Taylor County warrant for Identity Theft – Fraudulent Practices in the second degree. Basaldua was being held on a $5,000 bond, pending an initial appearance before the Magistrate.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports six people were arrested on drug and other charges, following the execution of a search warrant Thursday, in Lenox. Authorities say Taylor, Adams and Ringgold County Deputies executed a search warrant at 200 West Grove Street, in Lenox, in connection with an on-going theft investigation in Adams County. Officials report as a result, the following persons were arrested on charges listed:

• 38-year old Abraham Schweers, and 46-year old Lynette Huber, both of Lenox, were charged with gathering where controlled substances are used. Their cash bonds were set at $5,000 each, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.
• 24-year old River Pecha-Nichols, of Lenox, was charged with possession of stolen property, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to deliver – methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of counterfeit money, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Pecha-Nichols is being held without bond until seen by the Magistrate.
• 31-year old Melissa Christie, of Lenox, was charged with possession with intent to deliver – methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of counterfeit money, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, possession of a schedule II-controlled substance. Christie was additionally wanted on an outstanding Page County Warrant for a probation violation on an original charge of operating while intoxicated. She was transported to Page County by Taylor County Deputies to be held. After her release from Page she will be transferred to Taylor and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.
• 31-year old Zackary Haley, of Villisca, was arrested on an outstanding Adams County warrant for multiple probation violations on an original charge of gathering where controlled substances are used. Haley was transferred to Adams County and being held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.
• and, 38-year old Michael Hughes, of Lenox, was charged with possession of a controlled substance – marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hughes was being held on a $1,300 cash bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has posted reports on several arrests and prisoner transfers in/out from the past week. The Incarceration report had been off-line since Dec. 17th, and brought back on-line today (Friday), after some software upgrades. Among those arrested over the past week:

• On Thursday, 27-year old Mary Denine Likely, of Omaha, Nebraska, was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness following a fight that occurred at the jail.
• 32-year old Jason Troy Riddle was arrested Wednesday for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on I-80, in Council Bluffs. Dispatch reported Riddles’ vehicle was traveling east in thew westbound lanes near the one-tenth mile marker. It was stopped near mile marker 12, and the arrest was made. In addition to the OWI charge, Riddle was cited for Reckless Driving and Driving on the Wrong Side of a Roadway.
• On Sunday, 24-year old Anthony Michael McCoy, of Avoca, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McCoy was a passenger in a vehicle pulled-over in Avoca.
• Last Saturday, 60-year old Leslie Alan Royer was arrested following an investigation into an alleged assault at a residence west of Carson. Royer was taken into custody for Assault/without intent, causing bodily injury or mental illness, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – 1st offense.
• The afternoon of Jan. 23rd, 19-year old Brandon Joseph Burghardt, of Carter Lake, was arrested following an investigation into the theft – vehicle related. Burghardt was charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree/1st offense, Theft in the 3rd (Theft from a motor vehicle), and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree (for damage under $300). His bond was set at $4,300 altogether. 26-year old Patrick Allen Eggerling, of Avoca, was also arrested January 23rd. He was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault/ Strangulation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Jan. 31, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program has released its 2019 Annual Report. The report highlights progress made on construction and design projects over the last year. It also features information on public outreach, program status, statistics for work completed in 2019, and a preview of 2020 activities. To view the report online, visit www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov/2019annualreport

Click on the map to enlarge

Iowa DOT District 4 Engineer Scott Schram says “The program was very busy over the last year working toward opening the dual, divided freeway and completing the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over I-29. The program’s annual report provides a high-level overview of all of the work that occurred in 2019 and provides a summary of how the Iowa DOT is delivering this important highway improvement project.”

To find out more about the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement program, go to www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov.

A year ago, many Iowa Democrats were debating how to pronounce Pete Buttigieg’s last name. He’s now projected to be among the top-tier finishers in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

Earlier this week, Radio Iowa listeners heard the closing arguments from Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar. Radio Iowa requested an interview with Bernie Sanders, but a campaign spokesman said the impeachment trial had complicated the senator’s schedule.

(Radio Iowa) — State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says the amount you can take for a 2020 Iowa income tax deduction in the College Savings Iowa plan has increased. “In the year 2020, Iowans can put three-thousand-439 into their college savings account for each child they want to save for and deduct it right from their Iowa income tax,” Fitzgerald says. That is an increase of 52 dollars form the amount you could deduct for the 2019 tax year. “It’s written in to law that if the Consumer Price Index –the cost of living index — goes up, that’s the amount that will be the increase each year for what you can put into College Savings Iowa,”Fitzgerald says.

He encourages all parents to start a savings plan. “It’s never too early to get started saving, and the habit of saving is real, real important, because it surprisingly builds up over time,” according to Fitzgerald. “And I’ve had so many parents and grandparents tell me how happy they were with the growth of the college savings plan. When you get in you get to take advantage of that tax break and also — the federal government won’t charge you income tax on the growth either.” Fitzgerald says the College Savings Iowa money goes toward most college expenses. “Not only can it be used for tuition, but board and room when you go to school. And of course the computers, it can be used for buying books, all those expenses,” Fitzgerald says. “You cannot buy clothes and you cannot pay for transportation.”

Fitzgerald says it’s easy to start a savings plan for your child. “You can just go to College Savings-dot-com and it will take you about five minutes. You need to have your name and your Social Security number. And then you need to know the name of the child you’re saving for that’s under 18, and their Social Security number. And then you fill out the box for the 14 different ways you want to have it invested,” Fitzgerald says. If you already have a College Savings Iowa account, Fitzgerald says you still have time to put money in and get a tax break your 2019 returns. “You can still that for last year until April 30th when you file your Iowa income taxes,” Fitzgerald says.

Fitzgerald says College Savings Iowa has more than 248-thousand active accounts and almost three billion dollars has been used for qualified educational expenses.