(Radio Iowa) – A bill to make it a crime to administer M-R-N-A vaccines in Iowa — like the Moderna and Pfizer COVID shots — has cleared initial review in the Iowa Senate. However, the bill’s sponsor plans to adjust the legislation and instead give Iowans a route to sue M-R-N-A vaccine manufacturers. Dr. Peter McCullough, a Texas cardiologist who was fired over his views on the COVID-19 vaccines, testified during a Senate subcommittee meeting.

“Probably millions of Americans regret taking a COVID-19 vaccine,” he said, “…so we’re at a point where city by city, state by state, there are deliberations like this one about pulling the COVID-19 vaccines off the market.” Iowa medical groups and the association that represents Iowa pharmacists opposes the bill. Dr. Jonathan Crosbie, who practices family medicine in Des Moines, says COVID vaccines have saved lives.

“Aside from being a practicing physician, I also teach at Des Moines University,” Crosbie said. “Our students want no part of practicing here with bills like this on the table. You are chasing them off.” A woman who told lawmakers her name was Kim testified in favor of the bill. “There’s due diligence that needs to be done to study this gene-based treatment before more of it is unleashed on the public,” she said. “This bill would provide that line of defense to protect Iowans.”

Jessica Highland, executive director of the Iowa Biotechnology Association, says there are Iowa companies doing research on M-R-N-A vaccines for both humans and animals. “We would just urge you not to be the first state in the country to pass legislation like this,” she said. “We think this still needs to be an option for patients and for the future.”

Researchers leading clinical trials say a M-R-N-A gene-based vaccine shows promise in treating pancreatic cancer and a gene-based vaccine is under development for bird flu. The bill that would essentially ban M-R-N-A vaccines in Iowa is eligible for a vote in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections, today (Monday) said Dana Michele Allen was pronounced dead at 12:52 p.m. on Sunday, March 2 at MercyOne Hospital. Allen was 51 years old at the time of her death.

Allen had been serving a seven-year term for crimes from Polk County. Her sentence began on Dec. 5, 2023.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A House Education subcommittee unanimously advanced a bill Monday to require school districts provide free feminine hygiene products, like tampons and menstrual pads, in school restrooms. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the bill, House File 543, would provide state funding beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028 for the mandate that these sanitary products be available in at least half of restrooms for students in grades 6 through 12.

Maanya Pandey, a student at the University of Iowa, said she founded the nonprofit Love for Red focused on this subject four years ago because of the struggles she saw caused by the lack of easy access for menstrual products for the people around her. Many students, especially those who do not have the money to purchase period products themselves, leave school in these situations, she said. When this happens multiple days every month, Pandey said “you’re looking at chronic absenteeism, which is linked to higher suspension rates and lower graduation rates.”

Paula Blake, a retired teacher from Johnston, said she strongly supported the bill because it would help students stay in class and would take the burden off of teachers supplying these products using their personal funds. Advocates were almost unanimously in support of the measure. Margaret Buckton, representing the Rural School Advocates of Iowa and Urban Education Network of Iowa said the organizations she represented were registered as “undecided” on the legislation because of concerns about future funding past the June 2028 cutoff.

Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, said “I don’t know that I’ve been happier to be on a subcommittee this year.” She said she strongly supported the bill’s advancement and noted that House Democrats have also introduced legislation on this subject. Matson highlighted the efforts of Love for Red and students Brianna Taylor and Erika Rosenberg of Sibley-Ocheyedan High School, who alongside school counselor Thresa Ruggles advocated at the Statehouse for free feminine hygiene products in women’s restrooms at schools.

A pilot program headed by Ruggles found a significant reduction in female student absences — counting 100 fewer female student absences over a time period after the school began providing free products to students. Rep. Dan Gehlbach, R-Urbandale, said though he is “not directly affected by this, obviously,” he has two teenage daughters and supported the bill moving forward. He thanked Pandey and other young advocates for their efforts to highlight the issue.

The legislation advanced with all three lawmakers supporting the measure, and will go before the House Education Committee for further consideration.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The third trial in the case of a former Massena daycare provider will be held back where it all started – in Cass County. According to court records, Alison Dorsey, who was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death after an eleven-week-old baby in her care died in 2019, has agreed to waive her right to a speedy trial. Her next trial is scheduled to begin on October 28th at 9:30 a.m. in Cass County District Court.

Dorsey was found guilty of second-degree murder by a jury in Pottawattamie County District Court in June 2023. Her first trial in Cass County in 2021, resulted in a hung jury. Dorsey appealed the verdict in her second trial and the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the evidence was sufficient for conviction but determined that the venue was improperly changed to Pottawattamie County.

The justices said due to improper change of venue, they granted her request for a new trial.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – A crash Saturday night in Page County resulted in serious injuries to both drivers and two passengers in one of the vehicles. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened at around 9:05-p.m., on Highway 2 and B Avenue, when a vehicle driven the in the wrong lane by Robert Eugene Stevens, of Clarinda, collided a vehicle driven by Melanie Marie McGinnis, of Shenandoah. McGinnis was flown to the UNMC in Omaha. Stevens was taken by Shenandoah EMS to the hospital in Shenandoah.

Two passengers in his vehicle, Shannon Marie Haley, and Cristin Linette Otte, were both flown to the UNMC. All suffered serious injuries.  The crash remains under investigation. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Shenandoah EMS, Shenandoah Fire and Rescue, Coin Fire and EMS, Essex Fire and EMS, the Iowa State Patrol, and Shenandoah Police.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, today (Monday), released a report on arrests that occurred between Feb. 26th and March 3rd. On Monday (March 3rd), 45-year-old Suzanne Kay Labastida, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on an Out-of-County/State warrant. Early Sunday morning, 39-year-old Matthew John Koppold, of Council Bluffs,was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 29 in Mills County. Koppold was charged with Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and OWI/2nd offense. Bond was set at $2,000.

Just before midnight, Friday, 36-year-old Emmanuel Hernandez-Palos, of Pacific Junction, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 in Pacific Junction. He was charged with OWI/1st offense. Bond: $1,000. Thursday afternoon, 39-year-old Martina Renee Smith, of St. Joseph, MO., was arrested in Bartlett, for Unlawful Poss. of a Prescription Drug, and No Valid Driver’s License. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Last Wednesday afternoon, 30-year-old Destiny Nicole Smith, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood on three-counts of Abandonment/Neglect of a Dependent Person, and three-counts of Child Endangerment. Bond was set at $10,000. And, 45-year-old Robert Lee Bopp, of Shenandoah, was arrested in Glenwood at around 1:30-a.m. on Feb. 26th. He was charged with Domestic Adult/Bodily Injury-1st offense, and Operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Bond was set at $3,000.

Atlantic, IA – The Cass County Emergency Management Agency will host a Storm Spotter Training Program Tuesday, March 11th at 6:30pm in the courtroom of the Cass County Courthouse. A meteorologist from the National Weather Service – Des Moines (NWS-DM) will provide participants with information for safely observing and reporting severe weather. This training is open to the general public, requires no registration and is FREE.

Each year, NWS-DM meteorologists travel to counties they serve to provide a comprehensive multi-media spotter training presentation. The course contains information about severe weather climatology, severe thunderstorm types, different severe weather threats and how to identify them, how to report severe weather, spotter safety and severe weather communications. Spotter training classes last between one and two hours, are open to the public and are free of charge.

Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator, says that Trained Spotters provide an invaluable service. Real-time observations of severe weather assist the NWS in their warning decisions to help protect life and property. Kennon adds that he expects a large turnout for this training after the devastating tornadoes in Minden and Greenfield last spring.

This Spotter Training class is sponsored by the Cass County Emergency Management Agency and questions concerning this training should be directed to the Cass County EMA Coordinator, Mike Kennon at 712-254-1500.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s reports four recent arrests. On Feb. 28th, 26-year-old Janaska Christian Bowles, of Stuart, was arrested at around 1:54-a.m. by Stuart Police, following a traffic stop. Bowles was taken int custody for Driving While License is Revoked. He did also not have a required ignition interlock device installed. Bowles was released later that day on a $1,000 bond.

The Iowa State Patrol arrested 27-year-old Jean Manuel Henriquez-Perez, of Chicago, IL, Feb. 26th on I-80 westbound near mile marker 76. Henriquez-Perez was pulled-over at around 10:50-p.m.,  for speeding 95 mph in a 70 mph zone. His vehicle was also observed driving erratically. A subsequent investigation resulted in the man being arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was also cited for speeding, Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance, no valid driver’s license, and Fraudulent registration. He was booked into the Adair County Jail on the OWI charge, and released to the custody of ICE (Immigrant and Customs Enforcement) on Feb. 28th, and held on a detainer.

On Feb. 24th, 37-year-old James Earl Wilson, of Orient, was arrested in Greenfield, on an Adair County warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury/Mental Illness. He was released soon afterward, on a $1,000 bond.

And, 28-year-old Brianna Lynn Pace, of Adair, was arrested in Adair Feb. 24th, on an Adams County warrant for Failure To Appear. Pace was turned over to Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies.

WATERLOO, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 23-year-old Elijah Anthony Lewis, who was convicted in Black Hawk County of Robbery 1st Degree and Voluntary Absence, failed to report back to the Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility as required on Feb. 28th.

Elijah Lewis (Iowa Dept. of Corrections photo)

Lewis is a 6’1″, 228-pound Black male. He was admitted to the work release facility on Feb. 5, 2025. Persons with information on Lewis’ whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – The leaders of the residence and dinning programs at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University say they have seen a trend where new students want to have a roommate. U-N-I’s Nick Rafanello says the isolation of COVID change the attitude for some about single rooms. “Since the pandemic, I think we’re seeing more students who want more engagement. That’s what we saw in some of our surveys that we have, that we’ve provided to our students have given us feedback,” he says. Rafanello says they’ve also seen that in programming for students. “Programming is up. Our satisfaction levels are up, and they just want to do more. They want to be around more people. So while students still want privacy with single rooms and things like that, they do want to get out and build community,” Rafanello.

I-S-U’s Residence Department director Amelia Cepeda says she’s seen some of that trend too. “I’ve been at Iowa State Since 2022 and during that time, we see students wanting roommates, particularly our first year students, and then those singles become more popular as they return for a second or third year,” Cepeda says. Cedpeda says the expect an increase in students and they plan to return Hamilton Hall to its previous double room setup. “Currently, those are all single rooms, and we plan to return most of them, almost all of them, to double occupancy rooms, and that would give us an additional 250 spaces,” she says.

The University of Iowa Residence Department director says they haven’t seen a big trend toward double rooms. The issue came up during the first reading of new room and board rates during the Board of Regents meeting last week. The University of Iowa is requesting a three-point-eight percent increase, I-S-U is requesting a three point-seven-seven percent increase, and U-N-I is requesting a three percent increase to room and board rates. The Regents will take a vote on the proposed rate increases at their April meeting.