A bill that would reinstate the death penalty in Iowa has cleared initial review in the Iowa House, but it’s future is in doubt after the legislator assigned to guide the bill through debate says he’s a “no” if it comes up for a vote in committee. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says “conceptually and morally,” he believes the death penalty is appropriate for certain horrific crimes. “Yet practically, I arrived at a different conclusion than I expected,” Holt said. “I have always believed that life in prison costs taxpayers so much money, yet I found out in researching this legislation it costs more to have someone on death row.” Holt says he’s also struck by how many individuals have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row. “As a result of DNA evidence, we’re seeing that more and more today,” Holt said. “And it really strikes me deep, the thought of executing someone who is innocent.”

Holt says administering the death penalty fairly was something he struggled with the most. “Statistics show, without a doubt, that those of lesser means are more likely to receive the death penalty than are those with greater assets and ability to hire the best attorneys, so my conclusion after researching this bill was not exactly what I expected,” Holt says. “I support the death penalty in theory and believe it is absolutely morally o.k. based upon my faith, but I have great issues with its practical and fair application.”

Holt’s announcement came at the conclusion of a statehouse hearing on a bill that would allow capital punishment. The first to testify was John Wolfe of Clinton, the father of State Representative Mary Wolfe. Two of his daughters who lived in Pittsburg were murdered four years ago and the man found guilty of the crime was sentenced to life in prison.”The good thing about that is it ended it. It did not go on,” Wolfe says. “…It probably takes 25 years for someone who is executed to go through everything involved in the process. This is over as far as we’re concerned.”

Many who testified were pastors. Dave Martin of the Faith Assembly of God Church in Marshalltown expressed support for the death penalty in rare circumstance. “We have mixed feelings in this in our denomination. We believe, though, that the scripture shows us capital punishment under premeditated murder would happen in the Old Testament, carried over into the New Testament as well,” Martin says. “…We need to pray for extreme wisdom as you go about doing your business…that God would help us find the right answer.”

Reverend David Sickelka, senior pastor at the United Church of Christ in Urbandale, spoke against the bill on behalf of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. “If the death penalty does not deter crime, is not applied equitably, saps our justice system of resources and cannot be reversed when there are errors, then it is not just. It is simply vengeance,” Sickelka says. “I implore you to stop this legislation.”

The Interfaith Alliance submitted a letter signed by 176 Iowa clergy who oppose the death.

(Radio Iowa)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says no injuries were reported following an accident today (Thursday), in Stanton. Authorities say 18-year old Jonah Lee Kirsch, of Villisca, was driving a 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup northbound on O Avenue at around 7:20-a.m., when he failed to stop at the intersection with Highway 34. The pickup hit a driver’s side of 2014 Freightliner Sprinter van driven by 48-year old Jason Lee Bodwell, of Villisca, and owned by Apria Healthcare.

Damage from the collision amounted to $15,500 ($3,500 to the pickup, $12,000 to the van). Kirsch was arrested and charged with Failure to Stop at a stop sign, Driving While License Suspended, and having No Insurance. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,080 bond.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Red Oak Fire Chief.

MANLY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have decided not to pursue criminal charges in the death of a 7-month-old after an accident at an in-home day care in northern Iowa. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that a Department of Human Services summary says little Haven Rozevink slipped down while sleeping in her car seat Dec. 28, causing straps to tighten around her neck and chin after the seat tipped forward.

The department concluded that the day care owner, Carrie Lohmann, of Manly, was responsible for placing the child at risk but should not be prosecuted.

The Atlantic Police Department has taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hand of Atlantic youth. Known as I-PLEDGE, the program is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 91%. By participating in the program, the Atlantic Police Department has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate even more this year.

I-PLEDGE places emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. “I-PLEDGE’s retailer training is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product sales,” Chief Dave Erickson said. “The training also assists retailers to ensure they maintain a compliant and responsible establishment.”

Officers will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-PLEDGE program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter the establishments and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product. Clerks who make the illegal sale will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to a minor include a $100 fine for a first offense, a $250 fine for a second offense and a $500 fine for a third and subsequent offenses. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the I-PLEDGE program.

“By partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, we hope to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in our community,” Chief Erickson said. “Moreover, we pledge to help keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hand of Iowa’s youth.”

To take the I-PLEDGE training or search certification records got to abd.iowa.gov.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is recruiting individuals interested in issues related to newborn screening for inherited conditions. The project coordinated through the IDPH Center for Congenital and Inherited Disorders will bring together a diverse and representative group of Iowans for a weekend to help determine future policy for the state’s newborn screening program.

Recently, three new disorders MPS-1 (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I), X-ALD (X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy) and Pompe Disease, were recommended as additions to the screening. Officials say “Our staff wants to hear Iowans’ opinions about how the program decides what disorders it screens for. There are many ethical, economic and social issues involved with some of the new disorders.” Selected participants will receive $250, free travel, meals and hotel stay during the April 7 and 8, 2018, public discussion event. Transportation, childcare assistance and interpretation will be available as needed. There will be presentations and discussions about health, ethics and genetics, with experts and others with experience in newborn screening and genetics presenting information.

The project is for the Iowa Department of Public Health and is funded by a grant from the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the Colorado College of Public Health NewSTEPs program.  The Center for Congenital and Inherited Disorders collaborates with the University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, and the Stead Family Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics to administer the Iowa Newborn Screening Program.

For more information and to apply for the event, visit http://bit.ly/2ru10n5.

Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer reports the Board of Supervisors in Adair County, will hold a Special Session that begins at 9-a.m., Friday. During their meeting, the Board will hold a Budget Work Session, set the date for a Public Hearing on the FY 2019 Budget, and discuss future public meetings for the Elevator Board. On Wednesday, Schaefer sent the board a levy increase of 36-cents per $1,000 of valuation. A portion of the increase is for a new deputy, and the Counties’ takeover of Emergency Management funds, which are coming from the County now, instead of the cities in Adair County.

Schaefer has said the Board understands the levy is increasing, but they are committed to making the increase as small as possible, and yet still fund the expenditures.

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested Wednesday on separate charges. At around 6:40-p.m., Molly Ueligger, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Simple Domestic Assault. She was being held for Union County in the Ringgold County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing. And, Just after 7-p.m., Wednesday, Tommy Watters, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

A Creston resident reported to the Police Dept., Wednesday morning, that someone had opened a store credit card in her name, and made a purchase without her authorization. The loss was estimated at nearly $51.

(7-a.m. Newscast)

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

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Iowa’s weather during the first month of 2018 featured a lot of extremes. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the statewide average temperature of 18.9 degrees was just slightly (1/2-degree) colder than normal for a January in Iowa, but it was bitterly cold over the first half of the month and unseasonably warm over the second half. “Temperatures were as high as 60 degrees at Ottumwa and Keosauqua on January 26 and down as low as 28-below zero back on January 2 at several places across northern Iowa – among them Sioux City, Webster City and Sheldon,” Hillaker said.

Here in Atlantic, the average high for the month of January was 29. The average low was 9. The coldest day here in Atlantic, -27 on January 1^st. On New Year’s Day morning, a wind chill reading of 50-BELOW zero was recorded in Storm Lake. Conversely, there eight days during the month where the temperature climbed to at least 50 ABOVE zero somewhere in the state. It was a slightly wetter than normal January with a statewide average precipitation total of 1.03 inches. “A great majority of that precipitation came in the form of rain and most of that came out of one storm system between the 21st and 23rd of the month,” Hillaker said.

The warmest day during the month of January, in Atlantic, was on the 26^th, when we reached 54.

The statewide average for snowfall over the month was 4.4 inches – 3.3 inches less than usual for a January in Iowa. Most of the state’s snow fell in a blizzard that blasted northwest Iowa “Places like Spirit Lake, Sibley and Estherville had roughly 18 inches of snow for the month…about two-thirds of that coming in one storm centered on January 22nd,” Hillaker said. In Atlantic, we received a scattered total of 4-inches of snow, along with periods of mixed precipitation in the form of hail, sleet and freezing drizzle. Melted down, all the precipitation equated to three-quarters of an inch of rain.

Much of the southeast half of the state received just one or two inches of snow in January. “In some areas, there was not much precipitation at all, especially in the far southeast corner where a number of places were under a-half-inch of total amount of moisture for the month,” Hillaker said. “Places like Ottumwa, Fairfield and Mount Pleasant were very dry during the month of January.”

(Radio Iowa)

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A southern Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge stemming from the death of his mother. Court records say 45-year-old Jason Carter entered a written plea Wednesday in Marion County District Court. A trial date has not been set.

In December a jury found Carter civilly liable for the June 2015 shooting death of 68-year-old Shirley Carter at her home in Knoxville. Carter and his father, Carter, blamed each other for the woman’s death. Bill Carter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his son, and the Marion County jury found in the older man’s favor, ordering Jason Carter to pay $10 million to her estate.