Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee have approved a bill that would make it a crime for Iowa doctors to perform abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Doctors could face up to five years in prison for performing an abortion after the sixth week of a pregnancy if the bill becomes law.

“The goal of this is to protect the lives of all Iowans, especially those most vulnerable who can’t speak up for themselves.” That’s Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton who’s guiding the bill through the legislative process. Sinclair mentioned her son as she delivered a brief speech last (Tuesday) night.

“In this room with me tonight is an 18 year old man whose beating heart I could have chosen to stop,” Sinclair said. “I think it’s a horrific reflection and a barbaric practice that could have been my choice and that young man could not have been here today to be a contributing member of our society.” The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with the support of all eight Republicans. All five Democrats voted against it. Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines was the only opponent to speak during the committee meeting.

“If your goal with this legislation is to jeopardize maternal health care for every woman across this state and especially women in rural Iowa, your bill will go just that,” Petersen said. “This bill is dangerous. This bill is unconstitutional.” If the bill becomes law, there would be no exceptions for abortions in cases of rape or incest. The only way a doctor could perform an abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy in Iowa would be to save the life of the mother.

“It takes away a woman’s ability to get health care that is in her best medical interest,” Petersen said. A new state Iowa law that took effect in May of last year bans nearly all abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. The 72-hour waiting period for all abortions that was included in that law is under judicial review.

(Radio Iowa)

A senate SUB-committee has advanced a bill to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa for people convicted of murdering a peace officer or for those found guilty of the “multiple offenses” of kidnapping, rape and murder. Brad Cranston, pastor of the Heritage Baptist Church in Burlington, is the founder of Iowa Baptists for Biblical Values. He spoke in favor of the bill during a statehouse hearing.

“Life is so sacred, God says that if you take someone else’s then your own is required,” Cranston said. Patti Brown of Iowans Against the Death Penalty warned lawmakers who back an abortion ban of the “hypocrisy” of supporting executions, too.

“As we seek to protect the heartbeats of the unborn, do not mock God by also asking him for the right to kill,” Brown said. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker testified for the death penalty as an option for cop killers. Danker cited a specific case — the shooting of his deputy last May by a man who’d killed before — and who has “no regard for life at all,” according to the sheriff.

“He is going to be incarcerated probably for the rest of his life. I just hate to see him injure or kill somebody else whether it’s one of our correctional officers in the detention facility another prisoner in jail,” Danker says. Reverend Gary Nims, a lobbyist for the United Methodist Church, says the state should not “play God” by putting people to death.”There is no room in a civilized society…in a country that largely prides itself so much on its Christian heritage to have the practice of the death penalty,” Nims says.

Three Republicans on the Senate subcommittee endorsed the bill on “capital murder” and the legislation is now ready for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill MUST pass that committee, though, by the end of this week to remain eligible for consideration by lawmakers in the Senate AND the House this year.

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office late Monday afternoon, released a report on arrests. Officials say two deputies responding Sunday night to a disturbance in the 500 block of W. Lincoln Street, in Avoca, arrested 30-year old Melinda Mallory, of Avoca. Mallory allegedly broke into a residence, causing heavy damage to a door and window before assaulting a 65-year old male who resided in the home. (Correction from earlier report, which stated children were in the victims’ home when the incident occurred. The victim was the only occupant of the residence, (2/14)

Mallory was charged: with Burglary in the 2nd Degree; Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree; Harassment in the 1st Degree; 3 counts of Child Endangerment without injury; Assault with Injury; Public Intoxication; Disorderly Conduct.

Authorities said also, charges are pending against a man who crashed his vehicle just before midnight Friday, at Wabash Avenue and Applewood. The 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by 45-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, was found wrecked, down a steep embankment. Bond was walking away from the vehicle when he was located by law enforcement. Deputies noticed he showed signs of impairment. He also complained of pain and was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital to be treated. Law enforcement invoked implied consent and took a blood sample for testing. A charge of OWI/2nd offense is pending completion of lab results.

And, a traffic stop for speeding on I-80 westbound just before 1-p.m. Friday, resulted in the arrest of 52-year old Christopher A. Moralez, of Las Vegas, NV. Moralez was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. Taken into custody at around 1-p.m. today (Monday), was 55-year old Curtis James Hansen, of Mineola. Hansen was wanted on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. His bond was set at $2,000.

39-year old Jerry Joseph Richardson, of Malvern, was arrested Monday (Today) on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, 61-year old Mary Lea Nissen, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday (Today) morning for Driving While Revoked.

Last Friday, 37-year old Erin Boone Fisher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Bedford man after a traffic stop on Monday. At 12:51pm Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Jacob Jones of Bedford. Jones was then placed under arrest for Driving Under Suspension and he was cited for Unsafe Passing and No Insurance. The vehicle was released to a passenger that had a valid driver’s license.

AMES, IOWA – Iowa’s cattle producers are asking their fellow Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2018. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style.

This is the ninth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicks off February 12. The nomination period will close at 5 p.m. on March 12, 2018. To qualify to and be named Iowa’s Best Burger, the burger must be a 100% beef patty and served on a bun or bread product.

Katie Olthoff, Director of Communications for the ICA says “We are excited to begin the search for this year’s best burger in Iowa. This year, our goal is to get new restaurants involved in the contest. We know we have many restaurants across the state serving a great beef burger.”

In order to recognize these great burgers, IBIC and ICA are asking Iowans to nominate their favorite burger for the award, and those nominations can be made online or by text. Details about the contest, rules, and the voting form are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council’s website, www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the online nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page; or by texting BEEF to 313131. Photos of your favorite burger can be shared socially using #IABestBurger.

Brooke German, Director of Marketing for the IBIC, says “Restaurants can download a digital toolkit including promotional materials for the contest from IBIC’s website at iabeef.org to promote the contest to their customers. The promotional materials can be used in their restaurants or online such as their social media platforms.”

The nomination period ends March 12, 2018. German noted that the top 10 restaurants with the most votes are eligible for the title of Iowa’s Best Burger. The top ten finalists will be announced on March 19. Finalists will receive a certificate and will be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The 2018 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 1 with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa.

In 2017, nearly 9,200 nominations for 500 restaurants were received in the contest. The final winners in previous years are: 2017 – The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ, Storm Lake; 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant, Adair; 2015 – The Cider House, Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill, Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille, Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III, Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck, Dexter; 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company, Sac City.

Governor Kim Reynolds says a one percent boost in general state support of Iowa’s public schools is “just one piece” of what lawmakers ultimately will provide schools for the next academic year. “Nothing is more important than investing in our children,” Reynolds says. “And that has been a priority since I’ve been a lieutenant governor and now as the governor.” Ron Corbett, her Republican primary opponent, says Iowans should “expect more” rather than “settle for less” when it comes to the bulk of state aid for public schools.

“Have we lowered our standards that much in the state of Iowa that we think one percent is o.k.?” Corbett asked. Corbett says as a conservative, he believes there’s room for improvement in public schools, but Corbett says improvement will be challenging when state funding doesn’t even keep up with inflation.

“Get out of this rut that we’re in,” Corbett says. Reynolds counters that in addition to a one percent boost in general state support, legislators are “looking at” giving schools state help in paying to transport students in geographically large districts. Reynolds also has asked legislators to extend 35 million dollars that public schools have gotten before, but without legislative action that money won’t be available next year.

(Radio Iowa)

A chain of hospitals in Iowa and Nebraska is now offering what it calls “wag therapy” at several of its facilities. Dogs are being used in patients’ rooms and in hospital lobbies to help patients and visitors feel better. Kris Wiley, a mental health practitioner at C-H-I Health in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says just the act of petting a pooch can have near-miraculous effects.

“Research has shown that it can reduce anxiety, it reduces people’s blood pressure,” Wiley says. “Some research has even shown that petting a dog will cause our body to start to release oxytocin, which is a feel-good hormone.” While the saying is that a dog is a man’s best friend, Wiley says it’s sounding more like dogs are great for both our mental and physical health.

“They’re doing studies now and finding that people who own dogs tend to be more active,” Wiley says. “It could be because they feel guilty that their dog has been home all day and hasn’t had any outside activity, but whatever reason we’re taking that dog for a walk is good for us as well.” Wiley says more hospitals are turning to dog therapy to help with a variety of illness and just to bring a smile to a patient’s face.

Wiley says, “Because I’m in the mental health practice, I certainly have patients who will immediately tell me their dog has been a benefit in their recovery from depression and anxiety, to give them a sense of calm.” She says there are countless benefits to owning or having regular interaction with dogs.

“Dogs actually have the ability, once they get to know a person, read facial expressions to kind of anticipate what their human companion is going to do,” she says. “They have your non-verbal cues figured out.” Several four-legged volunteers are now offering regular wag therapy sessions at five C-H-I Health hospitals.

(Radio Iowa)

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a small plane made an emergency landing on ice-covered Clear Lake and took off again before authorities reached the lake. The plane landed on the northern Iowa lake Saturday afternoon and taxied closer to the shoreline.

No injuries were reported, and the plane did not appear significantly damaged. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Bryant says the plane was gone by the time he reached the lake from Mason City. He believes the pilot made repairs.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane is a Tylorcraft fixed wing single-engine manufactured in 1943. The army green plane has a U.S. military symbol on the side.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater has released a report on arrests.

On Saturday, 22-year old Warren Matthew Preston, of Waukegan, IL, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 25. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and Open Container. Preston was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Last Friday, 26-year old Cody Leon Zimmerline, of Adair, was served with at the Adair County Jail, with a warrant for Violation of Probation. Zimmerline was being held in the jail based on his arrest on Feb. 4th for: Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility (baggies containing marijuana and meth); Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense/methamphetamine; and Possession of drug paraphernalia (baggies used to transport drugs). His cash or surety bond amounted to $6,000 altogether. Zimmerline remains in the Adair County Jail.

On Feb. 7th, Adair County Deputies arrested 50-year old Todd Richard Eble, of Bridgewater, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving Under Suspension. He was cited for the offenses and released from custody on the scene.

On Feb. 6th, 49-year old Connie Jae Emrgarten, of Casey, was arrested for Driving While Barred. She was released the same day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

Feb. 5th, Adair County deputies arrested 36-year old Joshua Ernst Knuth, of Creston, for OWI/2nd offense. He was released later that same day after posting 10% of a $2,000 cash or surety bond.