Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, has introduced a bill with a Democrat Senator from New York to mandate in-person sexual assault prevention training for new members of the military. Ernst says this training would add to what’s already in place. “Those who are currently serving, they do undergo mandatory training when it comes to sexual assault prevention. And we do have many layers within our leadership — whether its our enlisted soldiers or whether its in our officer ranks — that are out there ever day encouraging respectful actions within our military,” Ernst says.

She says they want to have the new recruits get in-person training to so they don’t create an ineffective computer-based teaching program. “You will always find bad actors,” Ernst says, “and what we’re trying to do is really stop that from every happening. Especially by bringing it up right away as young men and women are entering the military.”

Ernst says the training would include proper use of social media for newly enlisted service members in all branches of the U-S military before they depart for basic training. “They need to be thoroughly briefed on social media, what’s acceptable, what’s not acceptable. What would be considered a sexual assault in and out of the military — they need to understand those things,” Ernst explains. “We are taking what society gives us and we are trying to mold them into productive service members.”

Ernst says the 2016 annual report from the Department of Defense estimates that 14-thousand-900 service members experienced a sexual assault, compared to 20-thousand-300 when the last comprehensive survey was done in 2014. She says even with the drop in those numbers, more needs to be done.

(Radio Iowa)

The Memorial Day weekend is recognized as the start of the summer vacation season and Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz is pleading with motorists to put their phones away and focus on the road. “It goes without saying that distracted driving is a serious problem on our roads,” Kurtz says.

Distracted driving is blamed in large part for the more than 400 traffic fatalities in Iowa last year – up from 320 the previous year. A new state law takes effect on July 1 making text and app use a primary offense, meaning police can pull over and ticket a driver who is spotted sending a text or email or recording video with their phone. The fine for a texting-while-driving ticket will be $30. Iowa law enforcement officers, through the holiday weekend, will be watching for motorists who aren’t buckled-up. Kurtz says seat belts are proven to save lives.

“National statistics now show that 80 percent of passengers ejected from their vehicles in a crash are killed,” Kurtz said. Around half of all fatal crashes involve drivers who are speeding, according to Kurtz. “Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases your stopping distance,” Kurtz said.

AAA (Triple-A) Iowa has predicted this will be the busiest Memorial Day weekend for travel in the state in more than a decade.

(Radio Iowa)

All state court employees have an unpaid day off today (Friday) in a cost-cutting measure implemented by the state judicial system to make up for cuts in the system budget. Judges will be working today, but their offices won’t be open to the public. Budget cuts are hitting all areas of state government, including the state park system as the unofficial kickoff to the summer camping season arrives. Julie Sparks with the D-N-R’s State Parks Bureau, says campers shouldn’t notice many issues.

“We’re keeping up our campsites pretty well. There may be a little delayed maintenance in some of our parks because of some of the staffing challenges that we have,” Sparks says.

Campers were allowed to start reserving sites for this weekend three months in advance, and the sites fill up quickly. Sparks says they are ready to get the season underway. “For the most part we’re really excited and anxious to have people come to our parks — of course that generates revenue for us too — so we love to have our campers come there and visit.”

It has been a cool wet spring, but Sparks says it looks like there may be some good weather for the weekend. “We’re all hopeful,” Sparks says. “It’s beautiful, our Iowa springs, it’s a good time to be camping and out in our parks, that’s for sure.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested recently on separate drug charges. A little after 2-a.m. today (Friday), 32-year old Joshua David Mott, of Henderson, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mott was driving a 2002 Ford pickup in the vicinity of Bunge and Wabash Avenues south of Council Bluffs, when he was pulled over for “Swerving all over the roadway.” Upon further investigation, a deputy determined Mott showed clues of impairment. He was also allegedly in possession of 2.6-grams of marijuana, and a pot pipe.

And, at around 8:40-p.m. Thursday in Walnut, a Pott. County Deputy arrested 44-year old Richard Jessie Duran, of Council Bluffs, after a routine check of his license plate showed a possible warrant for Duran, who is the vehicles’ registered owner. When the Deputy approached Duran’s car near the Walnut Kum-and-Go Store, the man was looking down at his center console. That’s where the Deputy observed a white crystal substance. Further investigation resulted in Duran taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 24-year old Caen Alexander Krahn, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Thursday afternoon on a warrant for Parole Violation. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met this (Friday) morning and took action on three of the five matters on their agenda. The Board took under advisement plans for a hearing on the vacating of a portion of roadway in the 7300 block of 660^th Street (Between Yankton and Youngstown Road) until County Engineer Charles Bechtold could speak with a couple of property owners in that area, and, they agreed to wait until their meeting May 31^st before taking action on a fireworks sales/discharge ordinance so that County Attorney Dave Wiederstein can gather more information.

The Board passed a Resolution authorizing a request for bids with regard to the Glacier, Buck Creek and Echo Roads paving project. Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm explained the process is moving forward now that the DOT has finally provided comments with regard to the plans and specifications for the project.

A request for bids is being sent out today (Friday), with the bids to be received no later than 3-p.m. June 15^th. Action will be taken on the bids at 8:30-a.m. on June 21^st. The Resolution also sets the Public Hearing on the project for June 21^st. The Board also approved a Federal Aid Agreement for a bridge replacement project on North Olive Street (County Road N-16). County Engineer Charles Bechtold said the bridge (#433) is located about a mile south of Interstate 80.

The bridge is being torn down and replaced to be wider, stronger and to better, accommodate ethanol plant traffic. The project will cost $600,000.  In their final order of business, the Cass County Supervisors approved plans for two bridge replacement projects, #25 – which is located on Tucson Road, south of Cumberland, and #342 – located north of Lewis on Lansing Road. Requests for bids will be sent out, with the return dates August 15^th and Sept. 19^th for the respective projects.

Bechtold said the Feds will pay 80 percent of the cost of both projects, with 20 percent coming from the Farm-to-Market road funds, so the County is not paying for anything “out of pocket.”

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

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Two people were arrested on separate charges Thursday afternoon, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 20-year old Adrian Scott Routh, of Creston, was arrested for Trespassing. He was later released on a promise to appear in court. And, 22-year old Bryan Adam Garcia, of Lenox, was arrested Thursday for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Sioux City Construction Office reports ramp shoulder construction work, in conjunction with the Interstate 29 interchange reconstruction project, will require closing northbound I-29 on- and off-ramps at Salix (exit 134) beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, until Tuesday, June 13, weather permitting.

Motorists will be directed around the northbound I-29 ramp work zone onto a signed detour route using Woodbury County roads D-51 and K-45. Upon completion of the northbound I-29 ramp construction work, southbound I-29 on- and off-ramps will be closed for approximately two weeks for shoulder construction work. Traffic will be detoured around the work zone using Woodbury County roads D-51 and K-25.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Red Oak, late Thursday morning arrested a woman for Driving While Revoked. 26-year old Erin Nicole Griger, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11:22-a.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $300. Griger was also issued a warning for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.