LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have decided not to prosecute a man whose vehicle fatally struck an Iowa woman in southeast Nebraska. Nineteen-year-old Merzedes Hart, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was killed late Jan. 13 as she crossed U.S. Highway 6 northeast of Lincoln. The vehicle that hit her continued on. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says Hart and two friends had been at a nearby strip club.

A news release from Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that investigators concluded the vehicle driver did nothing to cause the accident and left the scene only because he thought his vehicle had struck a deer. The 51-year-old man, Ricky Phillips, of Lincoln, was cited for driving with a suspended license.

Hart was a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and was on the track team.

Republicans at the statehouse have advanced a bill that would “defund” Planned Parenthood, as a large crowd of Planned Parenthood backers chanted and protested the move. The bill that cleared a senate SUBcommittee early this (Tuesday) afternoon would no longer allow Medicaid patients to get contraception, cancer screenings or reproductive health tests at Planned Parenthood. Medicaid patients would be required to go to OTHER clinics for those services. Republicans at the state and national level have made “defunding” Planned Parenthood a priority. Joan Thompson of the Iowa Catholic Conference urged legislators in Iowa to make that move.

“The conference supports this bill because it redirects government health care funds away from abortion providers,” Thompson said. “We believe that life is sacred and a fundamental right and abortion is a direct assault on the lives and dignity of women and children, and a rejection of our obligations to one another, particularly to the poor and vulnerable.” Suzanna de Baca of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland says if the bill becomes law, teen pregnancy rates will rise.

“Without a trusted provider they can rely on for care, teens will face the dilemma of trying to find birth control in their hometowns,” she says. “They may be afraid to go to clinics which they feel will share information with their parents or who may not respect their decision to be sexually active and may intimidate them from using birth control.” The hearing room for the discussion of this bill was jammed and dozens of people jammed hallways and staircases behind the senate to protest.

Some of today’s (Tuesday’s) protesters — like Ali Babcock of Ames — were wearing pink hats — the same hats they wore at the capitol this past Saturday for the massive women’s march.  “It’s very positive and it’s very important to everyone that’s here,” Babcock said. Jennifer Bowen of Iowa Right to Life praised the legislators who back the bill.

“We recognize that this opportunity provides more women more choices and so we’re very thankful for you,” Bowen says. Governor Branstad has said he’d sign the legislation and Senate Republicans have said this bill is one of their top four priorities. The next stop for debate on this proposal is a senate committee.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Monday, of 39-year old Julie Luetje, of Walnut. Luetje was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked, and brought to the Cass County Jail.

The state’s unemployment rate dropped in December. Officials with Iowa Workforce Development said today (Tuesday) the unemployment rate dropped to three-point-six percent in December from three-point-eight percent in November. A statement from Workforce Development says Iowa’s economy has grown at a slower rate than in the past — but growth in construction, finance and healthcare offset losses in other areas.

The report says the number of unemployed Iowans dropped by nearly four-thousand from November to December. December was the third straight month the state saw a drop in unemployment, after holding steady at four-point-two percent in September. The U-S unemployment rate increased to four-point-seven percent in December.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers are considering a bill that would require a trained health care professional to evaluate concussions at some Iowa high school sporting events, but it’s still unclear how school districts would pay for it. A GOP-led House education subcommittee debated the proposed legislation Tuesday without taking action.

Iowa currently allows coaches or other officials to evaluate concussions during high school varsity sporting events. Some have argued over the years that the setup may create a conflict of interest that results in an athlete being placed back in a sporting event despite possible injury.

The bill doesn’t estimate a cost of the action but lawmakers and lobbyists acknowledged there would be an expense. Lawmakers say they’ll review those details before meeting again.

Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Community Foundation, and Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, remind non-profit organizations in their respective counties,  that the deadline for submitting applications for the spring grant program is February 1, 2017.  Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa.  Applications will only be accepted through the online system.  Contact any board member for additional information.

Please contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 (or dennis@omahafoundation.org or Denise Cardos at denise@omahafoundation.org) with grant application-specific questions.  All completed applications will be considered at the March board meeting with notification of results in early April.

Only organizations providing charitable services in Cass County or Audubon County are eligible in their respective counties.  They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter.  Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.

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Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic, 243-5485; Vice Chair, Gary Maas of Anita, 762-3434; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic, 243-4154; Royal Bierbaum of Griswold, 778-2586; Beulah Follmann of Massena, 779-3457; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic, 243-1800.

Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon, 712-563-4288; Vice Chair, Jonnie Meislahn of Audubon, 712-563-2009 Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon, 712-773-5732; Shelley Burr of Audubon, 712-563-2644; Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton, 712-249-3692; Daryl Olsen, DVM of Audubon, 712-563-2080; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira, 712-268-6357.

Some Iowans are worried about the impact on the state’s billions of dollars in exports after President Trump signed an order Monday to pull out of talks on the Trans Pacific Partnership. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says trade is vital to several Iowa industries, chiefly agriculture, manufacturing and services. “You’re playing with fire when you talk against trade agreements that maybe could be better for the United States,” Grassley says. “I wouldn’t make any judgments that Trump’s wrong for trying to get a better deal for America. If he can do that, I’ll support that.”

Iowa exported more than 13-billion dollars in products during 2015 and Grassley fears Trump’s action could hurt the Hawkeye State’s options for overseas trade. “Particularly with Japan, I think it will,” Grassley says, “but if he follows it up quickly with some sort of bilateral negotiation with just Japan, particularly to help agriculture, it would fill that vacuum.”

Iowa sent one-point-one billion dollars in exports to Japan in 2015. The T-P-P involves the U-S and 11 other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. As promised during the campaign, Trump signed an executive order which pulls the U-S out of future negotiations on the proposed partnership. “It may sound like I’d just be blaming Trump maybe hurting Iowa,” Grassley says, “but let me tell you, TPP would’ve had a very difficult time in the Congress getting a majority vote even if Obama was president.”

Grassley says people will appreciate that the new president is trying to get a better deal for American products. “Who can argue with that, but we don’t know yet, but he’s going down that road,” Grassley says. “We’ll just have to wait and see. I hope he’s successful. In the meantime, I hope he doesn’t hurt American agriculture in the process.”

Many agriculture commodity groups, including the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, supported the T-P-P as a way to stimulate trade.

Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst said she was “Disappointed in [Monday’s] executive action to withdraw the United States from TPP. With one in five jobs in Iowa dependent on trade, access to new markets is critical to our state’s economy. However, we must not let this stop our country from pursuing increased trade opportunities for our exporters. With the growing demand for our agricultural products across the world, it is imperative that we ensure a level playing field for American farmers and manufacturers to have a fair opportunity to compete in these markets. Under this new administration, I will continue to advocate for ways to work together toward a stronger trade agenda on behalf of Iowans.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports three, recent arrests. Last Friday, 27-year old Zachary Ryan McNeeley, of Greenfield, and 45-year old Kevin Jay Giles, of Orient, were both arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on Union County warrants for probation violation.  Giles is being held in the Union County Jail on $11,000 bond, while McNeeley’s bond was set at $2,000.

And, 54-year old Roger Allen Tinkle, of Des Moines, was arrested last Thursday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of driving while barred.  Tinkle was released from the Union County Jail for time served.

Sheriff’s officials said also, a Creston man was injured during an accident Monday night. 32-year old Cole Michael Miller, who was wearing his seat belt,  was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected serious/incapacitating injuries. Authorities say Miller was driving a 2008 Chevy pickup northbound on 2 Lakes Drive at around 8:50-p.m., and was being inattentive. His pickup went through a T-intersection with 160th Street, entered the ditch and hit an embankment head-on. The force of the collision caused the truck to spin and come to rest facing west. The vehicle sustained $20,000, and was declared a total loss.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Tuesday) announced that Kirk, Kent and Kevin Swanson from Montgomery County have been named the winners of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.  Northey will present the award to the family on Thursday, January 26th.  The ceremony will be held at the Coalition to Support Iowa Farmer’s booth (1923) at the Iowa Pork Congress, which is held at Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Northey said “The Swanson family does things right in how they care for their animals, protect the environment and serve their neighbors and community.  It is great to be able to recognize a deserving family like this in front of their peers during Iowa Pork Congress.  Iowa is fortunate to have outstanding livestock farmers like the Swanson family all across the state and I encourage anyone to consider nominating a livestock farmer in your community for this distinguished award.”

Kirk, Kent and Kevin own 4 K Farms, which is a farrow-to-finish hog business with 20 boar studs and also sell semen to other hog farmers. The family was nominated for the award by their neighbor Dennis Carlson.  In his nomination Carlson highlighted the family’s care for the environment and also their active involvement in the community.  The Swanson family has planted a wind break and also uses cover crops, buffer strips and terraces to prevent erosion and protect water quality.

They are also active in the community including regularly hosting tours of their farm.  The family has helped many young 4-H students get started showing pigs by providing starter pigs and hosting a workshop to help them care for their animals.  Kirk is also the Montgomery County Fair Swine Superintendent and also regularly judge’s swine shows.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

Anyone interested in nominating their neighbor for the award should write a letter or e-mail explaining why their neighbor should receive this designation.  Applications may be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Attn: Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, Henry A. Wallace Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or emailed to Communications@iowaAgriculture.gov.

Two people were arrested on drug charges Monday night, following a traffic stop on Highway 92 near State Orchard, in Pottawattamie County. Authorities say 58-year old Mary Helen Adams, of Red Oak, was subsequently arrested at around 10:40-p.m. for OWI/2nd offense and possession of drug paraphernalia (a glass pipe and black scale). Adams was also cited for failure to have a valid Driver’s License. She also received a warning for Failure to Maintain a registration plate (which was covered in dirt). A passenger in the vehicle, 44-year old Dystyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 37-year old Roger Anthony Otts, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday afternoon, for 1st Degree Theft/Possession of Stolen Property. He was taken into custody after property identified as stolen from Midlands Carrier Transicold, in Council Bluffs, was discovered in a driveway. The property, vehicle parts and accessories, were valued at $12,000.