(Iowa News Service) – Groups working to protect Iowa’s air and water rally at the State Capitol this (Monday) afternoon, against a bill they say would protect pesticide companies from lawsuits if their products make people sick.  Iowa Senate Study Bill 1051, the so-called Cancer Gag Act, “provides defense from civil liability tied to the use of pesticides,” as long as their labeling meets Environmental Protection Agency standards – which can be 15 years old.

Iowa Food and Water Watch Central Iowa Organizer Michaelyn Mankel said the measure would essentially change the law to protect pesticide companies from accountability, in a state that’s already seeing a “public health crisis.”

“We have rising cancer rates,” said Mankel. “We’re the only state in the nation where incidents of cancer are increasing, and we rank second in the nation for rates of cancer.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer has said that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans,” but the EPA says there’s no evidence to supports that.  Pesticide makers – including Bayer, which has four lobbyists in Iowa alone – have said they’re following current law and need protection from what they deem frivolous lawsuits, and this bill would provide that.

But Mankel said the measure would further erode Iowans’ ability to take legal action if they think these products caused health problems.  “This is not a matter of stopping frivolous lawsuits,” said Mankel. “It’s a matter of not robbing Iowans of the only avenue we have to hold the pesticide industry accountable at a time where we’re really suffering.”

The rally at the Capitol will begin with an altar ceremony to memorialize Iowans who have died from cancer, many of whom advocates say were deaths related to pesticides.

(Hull, Iowa) – Three people from northwest Iowa were injured in a crash late this (Sunday) morning, in Sioux County. The Iowa State Patrol says the collision happened northwest of Hull at the intersection of U-S Highways 75 and 18, at around 11:47-a.m.

According to the Patrol’s report, a Buick SUV driven by 73-year-old James Kooima, of Rock Valley, was traveling north on U-S 75 in the turning lane, turning left onto U-S 18 west. A Ford SUV driven by 63-year-old Gaylene Hultman, of Cherokee, was traveling south on Highway 75 when it struck the Buick SUV. Following the impact, the Buick rolled over. Both vehicles came to rest in the southwest corner of the intersection.

James Kooima and his passenger, 73-year-old Marge Kooima, of Rock Valley,  along with Gaylene Hultman, were injured in the crash. Margene Kooima was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. James Kooima was transport by ambulance to the hospital in Rock Valley, and Gaylene Hultman was transported to a hospital in Sioux Center. All of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Red Oak was arrested at around 10-a.m. Sunday (today), for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree (Vandalism w/damage more than $750) – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. According to Red Oak Police, 26-year-old Deric Lee Redd was taken into custody in the 300 block of W. Coolbaugh Street and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,000.

DES MOINES – The State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa has unanimously re-elected Chairman Jeff Kaufmann and Co-Chair Linda Upmeyer. The party made the announcement late Saturday morning. Chairman Kaufmann released the following statement regarding his re-election to a sixth term as Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa:

“After a flawless 2024 Caucus where Iowa showed why we are First in the Nation and sweeping Republican wins in November, I am deeply humbled and honored to serve another term as chairman. We are doing our part here in Iowa to reverse the damage by the Biden Administration and enact President Trump’s America First policies that serve, not abandon, states like Iowa.”

Rep. Kauffman (Official photo)

Rep. Upmeyer (Official photo)

Co-Chair Upmeyer released the following statement regarding her re-election as Co-Chair of the Republican Party of Iowa:
“Our wins in November were just the beginning. I am excited to build off our massive victories and carry this momentum into the midterms. Iowa is a prime example of what a streamlined, bottom-up grassroots movement looks like and I am honored to serve as co-chair.”

Governor Reynolds released the following statement regarding the re-election of Chairman Kaufmann and Co-Chair Upmeyer: “It is wonderful to have allies like Chairman Kaufmann and Co-Chair Upmeyer leading the charge at the state party. They work tirelessly to elect Republicans all across the state and I appreciate their hard work in keeping Iowa red to ensure we are able to implement strong, commonsense policies that lift Iowans up.”

(Overton, NE) – A traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on Interstate 80 in central Nebraska, late Thursday morning, resulted in the arrest on drug and other charges, of a man from Pottawattamie County (IA). The Nebraska State Patrol reports that at around 11:30-a.m., a trooper performed a traffic stop on a Volkswagen Jetta as it was traveling eastbound on I-80 near Overton. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

Troopers searched the vehicle and located 85 pounds of suspected marijuana concealed in trash bags in the trunk. They also located a handgun. The driver, 31-year-old Matthew Maly, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm during a drug violation, no driver’s license, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Dawson County, NE, Jail.

Meth and marijuana seized during separate traffic stops on I-80 in Nebraska this past week (Photo by the NE State Patrol)

The Nebraska State Patrol said Maly was one of three people arrested this past week. His, and another traffic stop on I-80 netted a total  of 110 pounds of suspected methamphetamine plus the 85-pounds of marijuana. During a separate traffic stop late Wednesday evening, resulted in the arrest of two men from Toronto, Canada.

(Henry County, Iowa) – [Updated w/victim’s name]  A single-vehicle accident early this (Saturday) morning in southeast Iowa’s Henry County has claimed the life of a person in a pickup truck. The crash happened near Winfield at around 12:40-a.m. The Iowa State Patrol reports, for reasons unknown, a 2015 RAM pickup truck driven by 50-year-old Michelle Moore, of Winfield, drove off of eastbound Iowa Highway 78 near the 41-mile marker, and came to rest before it caught on fire. Moore – the sole occupant of the vehicle –  died at the scene. The patrol was assisted at the scene by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Winfield Fire Department.

(Boone County, IN) – A woman from eastern Iowa and two of her children died while another was injured, during a crash Friday morning northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. According to the Boone County, IN Sheriff’s Office, the crash on a rural stretch of Interstate 74 happened at around 6:37-a.m., Friday, and involved a car, a pickup truck and a semitractor-trailer.

According to authorities, a Kia Soul from Iowa was traveling eastbound on I-74 when it rear-ended a semi truck, crossed the median and ran head-on into a pickup truck before coming to a stop in a ditch. The driver of the KIA, 27-year-old Ashley Morgan, from Waterloo (IA) along with two of her children, ages 2 and 6, died at the scene. A third child in the vehicle was transported to a local hospital and was last reported to be in stable condition.

The driver of the pickup and his passenger were also injured and transported to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the semi was transported to the hospital to be checked-out. Autopsies on the victims s expected to take place on Monday (Feb. 10th). The crash remained under investigation by the Boone County (IN) Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (or, FACT).

(Spencer, Iowa) – A collision early Friday afternoon in northwest Iowa’s Clay County has claimed two lives. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened north of Spencer at around 12:47-p.m. Authorities say a pickup truck was traveling north on Highway 71, while an SUV was traveling south. The vehicles collided in the northbound lane. Both drivers died at the scene. They were identified as 70-year-old Randall Scott Dykstra, of Everly (IA) and 45-year-old Bridgett Lee Baird, of Milford (IA).

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Spencer Fire Department and ambulance.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has introduced legislation to incentivize continuum of care partnerships between child care centers and preschool providers to the Iowa House and Senate.  Iowa currently ranks fifth in the nation (67%) for access to four-year-old preschool—nearly double the national average (35%). While preschool is widely available, some working families cannot participate if care only covers a portion of the day or requires midday transportation to child care.

The bill – introduced today (Friday) – would launch a $16 million grant program for preschool providers and child care centers to partner together to create an all-day continuum of care for Iowa children, permanently offer child care assistance to child care workers, and improve preschool quality standards.

The Governor said “Parents need a solution that meets the demands of their busy lives—one that allows their children to benefit from our successful preschool program and have access to childcare. It’s about more than convenience; it’s about offering our children the educational foundation they need while giving parents peace of mind that their children are cared for throughout the work day.”