Governor Branstad has said he’ll push again in 2015 for legislation that would somehow speed up broadband service and expand its reach in Iowa. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal says last year’s attempt to promote broadband access in Iowa got bogged down on details that won’t be an obstacle in 2015. “It was a fairly complex piece of legislation and about three-quarters of what was in it has been dealt with by the feds,” Gronstal says, “so it’s a paired down set of issues.” However, Gronstal admits the fight between cell phone companies that want to put up new towers and cities that have zoning issues will be a sticking point again this year.

“Cities had legitimate concerns that a cell phone company shouldn’t be able to just be able to pick and choose any place they want to, to put up a cell tower,” Gronstal says, “and the cell phone companies had a legitimate concern that sometimes it is very difficult to get cities to quickly approve locations for these cell towers.”

Another other stumbling block for last year’s bill was a disagreement over what kind of incentive to provide companies that expand broadband service and whether it should be limited to companies agreeing to extend broadband into areas that did not have the service already. A proposal called the “Connect Every Iowan” bill that came up for a vote in the Iowa House failed to pass, partly because of disagreements over whether it would achieve the goal of connecting any Iowan to broadband.

In August, Governor Branstad said the goal should be to “Connect Every Acre” since modern farming techniques now require a connection to the internet, but broadband access is sparse in rural Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hear several more Fiscal Year 2016 funding requests during their meeting Wednesday morning, in Greenfield. The meeting begins at 9-a.m. According to their agenda, the requests will come from: Success 4 Kids (along with a Preparedness Grant); The Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG); The Adair County Auditor; Home Care; and the RC&D.

Afterward, the Board will hold a budget work session. The Board previously heard budget requests from other departments, on Monday.

With Ric Hanson.

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Two people have been arrested in Creston. According to Creston Police, 33-year old Bobbie Sue Conley, of Des Moines, was arrested just after 2:30-a.m. today (Tuesday), at Mills & Division Streets. Conley was wanted on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. She was brought to the Union County Jail and later released on $300 bond.

And at around 2:15-p.m. Monday, Creston Police arrested 63-year old Paul Richard Hayes, of Creston, on charges of Trespass and Theft in the 5th Degree. He was taken into custody at the Creston Wal-Mart and later released on $300 bond.

The 7:07-a.m. Newscast with News Director Ric Hanson.

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Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a Braddyville man was arrested just after 7-p.m., Monday. 44-year old John Douglas Stone was taken into custody for Driving While Barred and Open Container, following a traffic stop. Stone was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

Police in Red Oak report someone attempted to enter the west door of Roby’s Cars at 101 E. Oak Street, causing $150 damage. A north door to the business was also damaged, with the loss estimated at $250. The owner of the business was checking to see if anything was stolen. Anyone with information about the attempted burglary and criminal mischief should contact Red Oak Police.

And, owners of the Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in Red Oak reported to police Monday afternoon, that they had observed damage to the top floor, exterior portion of the business. Upon further examination, it was discovered that a person or persons unknown had fired at the building. The remnants of a firearm projectile were located inside the structure. The damage was estimated at $650.

Authorities say anyone who noticed suspicious activity around the funeral home or the observed discharging of a firearm in the area over this past weekend, is asked to contact Red Oak Police at 623-6500, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

Authorities in Fremont County say an investigation into the delivery of methamphetamine resulted in the arrest on Monday of 54-year old George Leo Fraissinet, Jr., of Hamburg.  He was charged with two counts of Delivery of Meth, Possession with the Intent to Deliver Meth, and other, misdemeanor drug charges. Fraissinet, Jr was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $200,000 cash bond.

As a result of the incident, a search warrant was conducted and authorities arrested 54-year old Lorie Howery, of Thurman, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Howery was being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,300 cash bond.

Not long after Howery was arrested, 63-year old Michael Tiemeyer, of Hamburg, was arrested on Fremont County warrants for two counts of Delivery of Meth. He was being held in the Adams County Jail on $100,000 cash bond.

And, early this (Tuesday) morning, 24-year old Kristin Riley, of Hamburg, was arrested on a Fremont County warrant for one count of Delivery of Methamphetamine. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on $50,000 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — An inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary has died of natural causes. The state Department of Corrections says 76-year-old Leonard Eugene Berg was found unresponsive Sunday during a routine check of his living unit. Medical staff pronounced him dead a short time later. Officials say Berg died of natural causes from coronary artery disease.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a man has escaped from a work release facility in eastern Iowa. The state Department of Corrections says 28-year-old Dylan Scott Frink was placed on escape status Sunday after failing to return to a work release facility in Cedar Rapids. He had been on an authorized temporary furlough. Frink is serving a lifetime supervision sentence following a discharged sex abuse conviction in Linn County. He was placed on work release in September.

OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two men were hospitalized after the snowmobiles they were riding in northwest Iowa fell through ice. Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue say they received a report Sunday afternoon of two snowmobiles that fell through ice on East Okoboji Lake. Responders found two men in the water. One man was clinging to the edge of ice, while the other man was holding on to a piece of floating ice. Both men were taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Waterloo that hurt one person. Battalion Chief Mike Jenn with Waterloo Fire Rescue says the fire was reported early Sunday. A man inside the house escaped with burns, but additional information about his condition is not available. He was taken to a hospital. Officials say the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Iowa Congressman Steve King is among those leading a revolt against House Speaker John Boehner. The newly-expanded Republican majority takes control of the U.S. House of Representatives today (Tuesday) and soon after all the members take the oath of office, a vote on whom should serve as House speaker will be held. “I came to the conclusion that I cannot take an oath to the constitution and turn around and vote for John Boehner and so I will vote for an alternative candidate,” King says.

In the summer of 2013 Boehner chastized King for saying there are more drug runners than valedictorians among the so-called “Dreamers” who were brought into the U.S. illegally by their parents when they were children. King faults Boehner for failing to heed the calls of his fellow Republicans and block funding for implementing “ObamaCare” and accuses Boehner of buckling on the immigration issue.

“I’ve watched now as the president has committed his unconstitutional executive amnesty as of November 20. The House was perfectly positioned to block it and use the power of the purse and constitutional authority and instead we’ve been maneuvered out of that,” King says. “I can’t defend the constitution if I’m going to be outmaneuvered by my own speaker.” It will take 218 votes to win the speaker’s race and vote counters in D.C. suggest Boehner has enough support to win a third term as speaker. King says Boehner can be denied the win if 29 Republicans refuse to vote for Boehner.

“I’ll have to see how many others will stand with me,” King says. “That number has grown over the past three days. I just don’t know how many yet.” Three other House Republicans have stepped forward to offer themselves as an alternative to Boehner, and a chorus of conservatives and Tea Party activists have started lobbying members of congress to vote against Boehner today (Tuesday). “It’s a very intense time and it’s awfully hard to read these situations since there really isn’t a formula for this,” King says. “It’s political science, after all, which is not a science in the end.” Two new congressmen from Iowa will be sworn into office for the first time today (Tuesday).

David Young of Van Meter and Rod Blum, of Dubuque, are both Republicans. Congressman Dave Loebsack, of Iowa City, will be sworn in for his fifth term. New members of the United States Senate will also take the oath of office today and Iowa’s Joni Ernst will be among them.

(Radio Iowa)