(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on the Iowa House Health and Human Services Committee have voted to limit what Iowans using government SNAP benefits may buy. The bill originally had a permitted list of groceries like “real” eggs, meat and milk as well as bread and pasta and peanut butter and nuts. Republican Representative Carter Nordman of Adel has proposed adjusting the bill, to limit SNAP purchases to “healthy foods.”

“One in six children in Iowa are considered obese…Obesity-related diseases often affect low income individuals at a much higher rate. This bill incentivizes better eating habits.” The bill would provide an additional one MILLION dollars to the state’s “Double Up Food Bucks” program that helps reduce the price of fresh fruit and vegetable purchases made with SNAP benefits. Democrats on the committee voted against the bill.

Representative Tracy Ehlert of Cedar Rapids says as a single mom, she relied on SNAP benefits to feed her children while she was getting a college degree. “I can’t imagine having to try to work around the parameters that are in this bill,” Ehlert said, “the potential embarrassment at the check out counter…There’s not really a workaround yet on how this is going to work and how those who are ringing up those purchases are going to know what is and is not approved.”

If the bill becomes law, state officials would have to get a federal waiver to implement changes in what SNAP benefits may purchase.

(Des Moines, Iowa/Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Four Iowa community colleges will use a combined almost $4 million in state funding to develop or expand career academies for student and workforce needs.

The Iowa Department of Education and Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in a recent news release that Northwest Iowa Community College, Southwestern Community College and Western Iowa Tech Community College will each receive $1 million grants and Iowa Central Community College will receive more than $944,000 to create new programs and increase access to critical job training.

“Iowa is investing in its future through the Career Academy Incentive Fund. High school students across the state gain valuable experience, skills and credentials that will not only help shape their futures, but will also build the next generation of workers in our communities, ” Reynolds said in the release.

Four Iowa community colleges will expand career education opportunities for students with state grant funding. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

According to the release, Southwestern, Western Iowa Tech and Iowa Central community colleges will use their grants to add new programming to existing regional centers. Regional centers are described in the release as “designated facilities for the delivery of CTE programming that must provide access to at least four career academy programs and serve a minimum of four school districts or a combined minimum of 120 students from at least two school districts.”

Southwestern Community College will build a new skilled trades facility, renovate current spaces and develop a welding technology career center at its Creston regional center with its grant funding, according to the release. The center serves five school districts, which previously have been unable to offer welding courses.

Western Iowa Tech Community College’s regional center in Denison is still under construction with plans to open this fall, the release stated, and grant funding will go toward welding technologies, health sciences and HVAC career academies.

Iowa Central Community College will focus its grant funding on its culinary arts career academy, one of seven offered at the college’s Fort Dodge regional center. The college will renovate its facility to add a state-of-the-art kitchen and front-of-house spaces, according to the release, bring in its teaching restaurant and construct bakery and coffee shop spaces in the space.

Northwest Iowa Community College President John Hartog said in a news release the college will work with partnering high schools to develop a new regional center and career academy at MMCRU High School in Marcus, as well as renovate existing labs at the high school. The new, 7,000-square-foot facility will offer career academy programs in education, health care, welding and design technology, according to the release. It will house a health care lab, computer lab and three classrooms for instruction.

(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.