There was a packed hearing today (Tuesday) at the statehouse for a bill that would withhold state funds from cities and counties that fail to cooperate with federal immigration agents and keep a person in jail for expected deportation. A handful of police chiefs, including Marshalltown’s Michael Tupper, spoke in opposition.

I think we’re trying to solve a problem that does not exist in Iowa,” Tupper said. “I’m not aware of any communities in Iowa that do not cooperate with the federal government or their law enforcement partners.” Tupper says the bill will create fear among immigrants and make it harder to prevent and investigate crimes. Storm Lake Police Chief Mark Prosser opposes the bill, too.

“Just the peripheral conversations, the rumors and so on spread a wave of fear in our communities that greatly impact our ability to create, maintain and grow relationships,” Prosser says. “In my community of 30 to 35 different ethnic groups in a community of about 12,000 to 13,000 people…those relationships are imperative that we are partners in crime prevention, that folks are not afraid to report crimes when they’ve been victimized.”

The subcommittee hearing for public comment on the bill lasted more than an hour. Karl Schilling, an officer with the Des Moines chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, suggested inaction on immigration reform at the federal level was the root cause of the dispute.

“What we really need is a rational immigration policy and we should all work for that instead of something that will intimidate people and keep them from coming to the police when they’re victimized,” Schilling says. Alexa Rodriguez told legislators she was a high school student who opposed the bill.

“Relationships between local police and immigrants who are already terrified and terrorized are going to be broken,” she said, “and that people like me whether we know it’s right or wrong.” A year ago, the city council in Iowa City adopted a resolution stating that unless there’s a public safety threat, no city resources will be used to enforce federal immigration laws. Iowa City Police Chief Jody Matherly told legislators that doesn’t mean federal immigration officials are prevented from picking up suspects who’re under arrest in Iowa City.

“We just had it happen last week,” Matherly says. “A person was lodged in the jail because of us and the next day ICE picked them up. That notification system exists and they deal with that. It’s timely. It’s accurate and the system takes place, but we’re not the ones doing that, nor should we be.” Representative Greg Heartsill, a Republican from Columbia, says that resolution in Iowa City and actions in other cities are what’s prompted this bill.

“You’re right, we have poor immigration policy, but at the same time we’re not going to make this situation any better by local municipalities continuing to thumb their nose at the federal government,” Heartsill says. “It’s not o.k. for when cities and counties tell their local law enforcement to look the other way or to stand down or to show contempt for the rule of law.” The bill cleared the Iowa Senate last year and today (Tuesday) is cleared a House subcommittee. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says he finds “no compelling reason” the bill shouldn’t become law.

“No Iowan should be harmed because someone is in this country illegally, could have been deported through cooperation with immigration authorities, but instead was released back into the community as has happened numerous times across our nation,” Holt said. “…I am saddened that certain communities appear to be putting ideology above the rule of law and political correctness ahead of the safety of its citizens, but they are and that is why this legislation is necessary.” City and county officials told legislators holding someone in jail indefinitely without a warrant could invite lawsuits. Holt — the bill’s manager in the House — is considering adjusting the legislation to ensure federal immigration officials provide a warrant when they expect to pick someone up in an Iowa jail for deportation.

(Radio Iowa)

A bid to EXPAND the state’s bottle deposit law has the support of 41 members of the Iowa House. Representative Andy McKean, a Republican from Anamosa, is leading the bid to have the nickle deposit applied to bottled water, fruit juice, tea and sports drinks. “This is not a Republican bill. It’s not a Democrat bill. It’s an Iowa bill and I’m very proud we have a large contingent from both parties working to make the ‘Bottle Bill’ even better,” McKean says.

Under the state’s 40-year-old “Bottle Bill” consumers pay a five-cent deposit on each container of soft drinks, beer and wine they buy — and they can return the empties and get their deposits back. Grocers complain about having filthy empties in their stores. The bill McKean’s touting needs at least 10 more supporters before it could pass the House. The legislation would increase the handling fee for recyclers, to make it more profitable to operate a redemption center for bottles and cans.

“I’ve been to the grocery stores in my district and they’ve shown me first hand what’s involved in trying to take care of all these cans and bottles and I think it would be a great thing if the redemption centers around our state began to be the depository for these items,” McKean says. Representative Chuck Isenhart, a Democrat from Dubuque, is hoping this approach goes farther than a stalled bid last year that would have repealed the ‘Bottle Bill’ rather than expand it.

“While it’s not necessarily the most monumental issue we face as a legislature, it’s a good model of what you can do in putting together a bipartisan bill if you start working together early,” Isenhart says. It’s unclear what will happen to the “Bottle Bill” in the legislature this year — if anything. Several efforts over the past few decades to alter the bill have failed.

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa are asking for information on a work-release inmate who did not return to a Cedar Rapids facility following his work day.

Conners

The Iowa Department of Corrections says 25-year-old Vincent Connors did not report back Monday night to the Larry A. Nelson Residential Center. Connors has been at the work-release facility since mid-December. He was convicted and sentenced to up to 25 years in March 2011 of first-degree robbery in Linn County.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on Connors’ whereabouts to contact their local police.

The Harlan Police Department reports two separate arrests took place over the past week. Last Thursday, 26-year old Kolten Kenneth Kobold, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue.  Kobold was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated second offense, driving under suspension, violation of financial liability coverage, improper rear lamp, and careless driving.

And, on Sunday, 29-year old Jessica Joan Archer, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop at 8^th St and Chatburn Avenue.   Archer was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with operating while intoxicated second offense, and speed.

The H-PD says also, 32-year old Remington Michael Lee, of Harlan, was cited Jan. 25th, for driving under suspension and speeding, following a traffic stop in the 1300 block of Durant St.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who was struck by a train in central Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that the man was walking along tracks when struck around 2:15 p.m. Monday near an overpass in the Story County city of Nevada. He was taken to a Des Moines hospital and is expected to survive his injuries. Police identified the man as 29-year-old Calvin White, who lives in Nevada.

Last year was a record breaker for Iowa’s housing market. Iowa Association of Realtors President Mark Kamps says home sales increased by three-point-two-percent (3.2%) from 2016. “Going from 42,671 homes sold in 2016 to 44,023 sold in 2017,” Kamps said.  It’s believed to be the first time home sales in Iowa have climbed above 44-thousand for an entire year. The average price of a home sold in Iowa last year also hit a high mark. “The median sale price was up 4.2-percent from 2016 to 2017,” Kamps said.

The median sale price was $153,000 in 2017, compared to $146,900 in 2016. Kamps, who is a Realtor in Iowa City, also notes homes placed for sale in the state are spending fewer days on the market. “When sellers list their home, they’re always eager to get a buyer as quickly as possible and in 2017, days on the market dropped from 80 days (in 2016) to 76,” Kamps said. “While four days isn’t a significant amount, it’s still a good amount as far as the seller would be concerned.”

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two drivers have died in a three-vehicle collision involving a car driving south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids. Police say several people called 911 about the car around 9:10 p.m. Monday. Officers soon found the collision wreckage. The driver headed the wrong way was identified as 69-year-old Robert Norton Jr., who lived in Iowa City. The driver killed in one of the two northbound vehicles was identified as 28-year-old Jennifer Koenighain, who lived in Cedar Rapids.

Two people in the second northbound vehicle were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police didn’t release their names. The collision is being investigated.