(Radio Iowa) — Republicans at the statehouse are drawing up plans to change the make-up of the commission that nominates people to the governor for judgeships, in response to what they say is “judicial activism.” Iowa’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 and recently overturned a G-O-P plan to require a three-day waiting period for abortions. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, says there are “a lot of people” who are frustrated. “Over the last 20 years, there has been more and more judicial activism, where the Supreme Court justices are trying to legislate from the bench,” Whitver says. “If they want to be legislators, run for the legislature. Otherwise, they should be interpreting the laws and the constitution as we give them, and so it’s just a matter of accumulation of dozens and dozens and dozens of activist ruling from the court, that you’re trying to curb some of that.”

Governor Kim Reynolds last year appointed her father to the panel that recommends DISTRICT COURT nominees. It’s clear she and Republican lawmakers plan to target the attorneys appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission by the Iowa State Bar Association. “It’s about making sure it’s a fair process,” Reynolds said during a Radio Iowa interview. “When I interview judges, I don’t care what party they are, I want an individual who is going to uphold the law and not create it and so right now eight members of the commission are selected by the Bar.”

An amendment to the Iowa Constitutional set up a “merit based” system for judges on the district courts, court of appeals and Iowa Supreme Court. The Judicial Nominating Commission interviews candidates and submits three nominees to the governor, who must choose a judge from that list. Senator Whitver, who is an attorney, says the commission will be retained, but the way commission members are appointed is likely to change. “Right now, there’s 16 members of that commission that select our supreme court justices. Eight are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Eight are voted on by attorneys and you must be an attorney and there’s no governor oversight or legislature oversight on that,” Whitver said. “And so, if you’re an attorney in the state of Iowa, that’s great. You have a much better chance of being on the Judicial Nominating Commission. If you’re not an attorney, your chances are very slim.”

Whitver says the “general populace” should have “more say” than attorneys in deciding who gets to be an Iowa judge. “It’s kind of a parochial system when you only have lawyers serving in those roles,” Whitver says. Supporters of the present system say attorneys on the commission have valuable insight into how a prospective judge has operated in the legal system. House Minority Leader Todd Prichard, a Democrat from Charles City, says “The worst thing that we can do is politicize our judiciary. What problem are we trying to fix? I think accusing a merit-based judiciary of activism is unfounded.”

Prichard, who is also an attorney, says Iowa’s judicial nominating system is a model for the rest of the country. “I have friends who are lawyers in other states where they elect judges and I get very leery of these kind of ideas, because is that the kind of path we’re on, is to make these political appointments, political races,” Prichard says. Prichard and his fellow legislators made their comments during a forum at the statehouse organized by The Associated Press.

(Update 4-p.m.) — Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County report that at around 4:14-a.m. today (Friday), a Shelby County Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2006 Ford Mustang for speeding. The driver failed to stop for the deputy and a pursuit was initiated south of Portsmouth. The pursuit continued south through Harrison County and then west on interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County.

Pottawattamie County deputies attempted to utilize tire deflation devices near Neola but the driver was able to avoid them. They attempted a second time near Underwood and were successful. The vehicle continued through Council Bluffs and into Nebraska with a flat tire. Authorities from Nebraska picked up the pursuit and eventually apprehended the suspect near 25th St and Cornhusker Rd.

Larry Phillips, Sr. (Sarpy Co. NE Jail booking photo)

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 37 year old Larry Phillips from Collierville, TN. He was taken into custody by Nebraska authorities on charges that include: (Felony) Operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest (Eluding); Operating a vehicle without air in the tires No operator’s license, and Willful reckless driving/1st offense. Warrants for his arrest are also being requested for Eluding charges in Iowa. Phillips remains held without bond in the Sarpy County, NE. Jail.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, Phillips Sr. had an a non-extraditable warrant out of Tennessee. When asked why he tried to flee, troopers said he told them it was because he was scared.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during the incident by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and numerous agencies in Nebraska.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Another of the four people charged in the slaying of a man at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter has been imprisoned. Pottawattamie County District Court records say 33-year-old Brandon Hollis was sentenced Thursday to 20 years. He’d pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and willful injury after prosecutors dropped a murder charge. Hollis, 47-year-old Vance Good, 20-year-old James McCauley and 21-year-old Cody Varnes were charged after the March 21, 2018, killing of 44-year-old Lee Johnson in a bathroom at Joshua House.

Good’s been convicted of first-degree murder, and Tuesday he was sentenced to life in prison McCauley has pleaded not guilty to robbery and first-degree murder, but another plea hearing is scheduled next week for him. Varnes has pleaded not guilty to robbery, but a plea and sentencing hearing is set Jan. 24 for him. The records don’t say what charges either man will be pleading to at his hearing.

(Radio Iowa) — Due to “high demand,” there will be more than one inaugural ball to mark the start of Kim Reynolds’ first full term as governor. Tickets to an inaugural ball on Friday, January 18th sold out, so a second inaugural ball will be staged at the same time, in a building nearby in downtown Des Moines. Governor Reynolds says she and her husband, Kevin, will dash from one to the other. “So we make both of them a special and fun evening,” Reynolds says.

Crowds at both balls will see the governor in the same attire. “By trying to finish up a campaign, go into the Election, go into Christmas, try to be a good grandma for 10 grandchildren, to host Christmas and spent time with family and to babysit — because I haven’t had time to do that — we’re lucky I got a dress, let’s just say that,” Reynolds joked yesterday. The Iowa G-O-P staged an “Inaugural Fundraiser” for Reynolds in June of 2017 — a week after she took over in the middle of Terry Branstad’s sixth term as governor.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A chase that began Thursday night in Omaha ended near the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, with several suspects taken into custody. According to Omaha TV station KETV, Omaha Police initiated the pursuit of a Honda Accord, after someone in the vehicle opened fire near a funeral in the vicinity of 24th and I streets. Omaha police were already patrolling in the area and located the suspect vehicle. The resulting chase continued onto northbound Interstate 29 and into Iowa on the east side of Eppley Airfield near the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.

Police told the tv station three suspects attempted to run near the Honey Creek exit. They are in custody in the Pottawattamie County Jail. No names have been released at this time.

New Year resolutions are common this time of year. Some are easily broken; others are sincerely made, but hard to keep. The decision to eliminate tobacco from your life is a commitment that takes self-control and support. Iowans who have made the healthy choice to quit smoking are reminded help and support is available through Quitline Iowa. In Iowa, 16.7 percent of adults smoke. One in four Iowa adults uses tobacco in some form; cigarettes are the most used. Tobacco is the leading cause of death for Iowans, taking the lives of more than 5,100 adults each year.

Brandy Powers, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for Southwest Iowa, says “The benefits of stopping the use of tobacco and nicotine are almost immediate,” said . “According to the American Cancer Society, within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. Within two to three months, your circulation improves and your lung function increases. After one year of living tobacco free, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s.” Even so, nicotine is an addiction and breaking that addiction can be challenging. Quitline Iowa can provide help.

Quitline Iowa pairs tobacco and nicotine users with a Quit Coach® to help them develop an individualized quitting plan and determine the best way to help them stay tobacco-free. A Quit Coach® also helps by:

• Preparing participants for their quit date
• Providing tips and support to live in a smoke-free environment
• Offering advice and information on medications that may help with withdrawal symptoms

Iowa residents can take advantage of Quitline Iowa by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), or visiting www.quitlineiowa.org to enroll. Registration specialists and Quit Coaches® are available 24 hours a day. Those looking to quit tobacco and nicotine use are recommended to speak with their doctor concerning best ways to quit in conjunction with speaking to a Quit Coaches® through Quitline Iowa. Brandy Powers serves six counties in Southwest Iowa (Adams, Fremont, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, & Taylor counties), housed at Page County Public Health.

Creston Police arrested two persons on separate charges, Thursday. At around 1:40-p.m., 33-year old Anthony Charles Wasson, of Creston,  was arrested at residence on the charge of Domestic Assault. He was released on promise to appear in court. And, a little after 7-p.m., 57-year old Timothy Allan Sly, of Creston, was arrested for driving while suspended. He was being held at Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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(Radio Iowa) — Republican Senator Joni Ernst says now that there’s divided government in Washington, it’s up to President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders to find a border security solution that ends the partial government shutdown. “I would tend to agree that not all areas of our border needs a physical barrier if those are adequately patrolled by Border Patrol agents, if we have the technology to monitor those areas without having a physical barrier and can adequately respond in a timely manner to illegal border crossings,” Ernst says.

But Ernst says some areas of the border can only be secured with “a barrier of some form.” She says capturing terrorists, drug smugglers, gun runners and human traffickers along the border is a national security priority. “And by having a physical barrier in some of those places, we can shape the way the traffic is flowing, the foot traffic,” Ernst said. Ernst says she learned in the military that barriers on a battlefield funnel people into areas where they can be apprehended. Ernst told Iowa reporters on a conference call yesterday (Thursday) that she would not support a deal that ONLY funds more agents and more surveillance along the border, because a wall or fencing is necessary in some areas. The “smartest way to move,” according to Ernst, is to have Border Patrol agents and the Department of Homeland Security map things out. “I do think it needs to be a comprehensive plan that allows us to make smart choices on how we spend our dollars on the border,” Ernst says.

About 25 percent of the federal government has been shut down since December 22nd. President Trump has repeatedly said he will not agree to reopen the government until congress approves five-point-seven BILLION dollars for a border wall.