Governor Kim Reynolds has visited several Iowa schools this week to mark the start of the academic year for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. During a stop in Forest City on Wednesday morning, Reynolds stressed that nearly half the state budget is spent on education.

“It’s the biggest piece of the pie in our budget,” Reynolds says. “I recognize the fact that we can always use more, but we are putting a significant amount of funding behind and into our greatest asset and that’s our children.” Reynolds met with students and staff in Forest City’s Science Technology Engineering and Math programs.

Reynolds also visited schools in Emmetsburg, Manly and Garner as well as the Iowa Lakes Community College campus in Estherville.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County said Wednesday, that a woman from Nebraska was arrested Tuesday after a social media post identified her as a suspect in a fraud investigation. 28-year old Chantell Rose Cashett, of Nebraska City, was taken into custody after she appeared at the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office for an interview.

Her arrest stemmed from an investigation into a wallet reported stolen in May from the Casey’s General Store, in Sidney. Cashett was identified after her picture was posted on the Fremont County Deputies Facebook Page. Cashett allegedly used and tried to use credit and debit cards from the stolen wallet.

Her cash bond was set at $2,300.

Chantell Cashett

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A third judge has ruled that Iowa Department of Transportation officers issued speeding tickets for years without the legal authority to do so. District associate judge Christine Dalton on Wednesday dismissed a ticket issued to Indianola attorney George Dunbar, who was cited for driving five miles over the speed limit along Interstate 80 near Davenport.

Dalton says that until lawmakers changed Iowa code earlier this year, DOT officers were “specifically restricted” for decades from stopping any noncommercial vehicles for traffic violations. Two other judges have made similar rulings in the last year. Attorneys are considering seeking class-action relief for an estimated 20,000 drivers who have been nabbed for speeding by DOT officers.

Iowa lawmakers in May passed a law giving the DOT authority to issue traffic tickets for one year.

Today (Wednesday) at approximately 1:23 PM, the Page County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old Brent Lee Wagaman of Clarinda on a Page County Warrant for Violation of the Sex Offender Registry – False information.  Wagaman was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

Wagaman was unable to post the $2,000 bond and is currently being held in the Page County Jail pending further court proceedings.

A third candidate who has run for congress before has announced he’ll seek the Democratic nomination in Iowa’s fourth district. Fifty-three-year-old Paul Dahl, of Webster City, is a former United Methodist minister and librarian who’s working now as a bus driver. Dahl says the current political system is unfairly being “ruled by the rich.”

“More middle class members of congress are definitely needed,” Dahl says. Dahl says the “top one percent” in the country “take more than their share of the wealth.” “The sad fact that more millionaires are in congress than ever before shows us that the system is skewed and in need of recalibration,” Dahl says. Dahl supports dramatic reform of the campaign finance system.

Dahl also declared himself a candidate for governor in 2013, but withdrew before the 2014 primary. If he remains in the congressional race through June of 2018, Dahl would likely face two other Democrats seeking the chance to challenge Republican Congressman Steve King. “I abhor politicians that want publicity, no matter if positive or negative in nature, to bring attention to themselves,” Dahl says. “It is high time that the Iowans of the fourth district retire Mr. King from office and replace him with a representative that serves Democrats, independents and Republicans in equal measure.”

In 1994, Dahl ran for congress in Iowa’s old fifth district when then Congressman Fred Grandy did not seek reelection, but Dahl lost in that Democratic Primary to Sheila McGuire.

(Radio Iowa)

It appears technology giant Apple will join the list of companies with data centers in Iowa. The Iowa Economic Development Authority board has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday morning to review an application for Apple, Inc. It’s believed Apple officials plan to build a data center in the Des Moines suburb of Waukee.

The IEDA board will consider incentives for the project. Details about the incentives and potential jobs are not being released prior to meeting. Other tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft already have data centers in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office released details on an accident that occurred on Monday, August 14th.  At 11:51am that day an accident was reported at the intersection of 314th Street and Teak Avenue about 1 mile east of Braddyville.

The investigation indicated that 29-year-old Mathew G. Herzberg of Clarinda was the driver and only occupant of a 1997 Ford F-150 pickup traveling north on Teak Avenue south of the intersection. 73-year-old Edward H. Burch of rural Braddyville was traveling west on 314th Street in a 2005 Chevy K2500 pickup. Burch was following the long 90 degree curve to the south while Herzberg was crossing the curve and failed to yield when crossing the center line of the curve. Burch’s Chevy struck Herzberg’s Ford in the passenger side. Herzberg then ended up in the west ditch and flipped onto the driver’s side of the truck. Burch’s Chevy remained in the traveled portion of the curve.

Burch refused treatment at the scene of the accident but Herzberg was transported to a hospital in St. Joseph, MO by LifeNet Helicopter Ambulance Service with unknown injuries.

Herzberg’s vehicle sustained an estimated $7000.00 in damage. Burch’s vehicle sustained an estimated $10,000.00 in damage. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. At this time no citations have been issued.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Braddyville Fire and Rescue, Clarinda Fire Department, Clarinda Ambulance Service, Page County Secondary Roads Department, & LifeNet Helicopter Ambulance service.