WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S./Iowa 3rd District Representative Zach Nunn, Wednesday, a introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster safety at schools within our communities. The Safe Schools and Communities Act, which is co-led by U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (IL-17), would provide competitive grants to public schools to prevent human trafficking, improve drug abuse awareness, reduce gang activity, and end violence within our communities.

“As a dad of six, nothing is more important than keeping our kids safe,” said Rep. Nunn. “Dangerous drugs, human trafficking, and violence are pouring over our Southern Border into our communities, and there’s no doubt that the solution to this crisis starts with securing our border. At the same time, we can also protect our kids and save lives with commonsense solutions that address rising crime in our communities.”

Gangs are a serious, persistent problem and public concern over violent juvenile behavior has intensified in recent years, especially regarding safety at schools. Gang-involved youth are more likely to engage in substance abuse and experience a wide range of potentially long-term consequences including school dropout, teen parenthood, family problems, and unstable employment. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, it’s common for crimes like human trafficking and drug use to relate to gang activity.

“The Safe Schools and Communities Act gives educators the tools they need to keep our kids safe from drugs and violence,” said Rep. Sorensen. “Too many of our neighbors across Central and Northwestern Illinois have an empty seat at their dinner table because they lost a loved one to fentanyl. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Congressman Nunn to promote fentanyl awareness, prevent drug abuse, and keep our communities safe.”

More than 70,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 were attributed to synthetic opioids other than methadone—primarily fentanyl. Fentanyl poisoning is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18-45.

After drug dealing, human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world, generating $32 billion each year. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 83% of human trafficking victims are U.S. citizens. In Iowa alone, it is estimated that there are 320 trafficking victims at any given time.

The bipartisan Safe Schools and Communities Act would authorize the U.S. Department of Education to award competitive grants to public schools for the development and implementation of training and curriculum to:

• Prevent human trafficking
• Promote fentanyl awareness
• Reduce gang activity and violence.

Text of the bill can be found here.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Meskwaki Nation is getting National Park Service assistance in preserving its artifacts and history. Johnathon Buffalo, the tribe’s Historical Preservation Director, says before the agreement, the State of Iowa had primary responsibility on the Meskwaki settlement for preserving the tribe’s history. That responsibility now rest with the Meskwaki Tribal Council. “We have been trying since, officially, 2014, I think,” Buffalo says. “We failed three times. This time, the tribe succeeded.” An office is being set up to govern how Meskwaki artifacts, culture and history are handled.

“It’s a very important job, you know,” Buffalo says. “And I think we will succeed.” Buffalo says one of his first projects as an official Tribal Historical Officer will be hiring an archaeologist. The Meskwaki Nation is now among the 222 tribes that are part of the Tribal Historic Preservation Program administered by the National Park Service.

Historic Preservation Offices survey tribal lands, nominate properties for the National Register of Historic Places and host educational programs. U-S officials combined in the Sac and Fox tribes after the Black Hawk War in 1832 and they were transferred to land in Kansas, but some remained in Iowa. In 1856, Iowa lawmakers voted to let the tribal members remain in the state. A year later, the Meskwaki bought 80 acres of land in Tama County.

May 9, 2024 (DES MOINES) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced $250,000 in Inspire Iowa grants to projects in Linn, Polk, Scott, Shelby and Woodbury counties. Included among the project awards was the Museum of Danish America, in Elk Horn (Shelby County). Their Danish Ceramics: Beyond Blue and White Exhibition project was awarded $25,000 towards the total project cost of $84,000. The grant funds will support the costs of presenting a major exhibition featuring three centuries of Danish ceramic art and attracting new visitors to Elk Horn before the exhibit travels outside of the Midwest.

Elsewhere in western Iowa, the Sioux City Art Center / Art Center Association of Sioux City (Woodbury County), was awarded $40,000 toward the $140,475 cost of their project: Razzle Dazzle building art wraps for ArtSplash anniversary. This project supports costs and promotion of Razzle Dazzle, a site-specific textile sculpture on the Art Center’s building that coincides with the 30th annual ArtSplash, the Art Center’s signature annual outdoor art festival. See a list of the other projects receiving Inspire Iowa grants, HERE.

The Inspire Iowa program was launched by the Iowa Tourism Office and Iowa Arts Council, both divisions of the IEDA, to elevate the perception of Iowa as a cultural destination and promote out-of-state visits and extended stays, which in turn can generate additional local spending and support economic growth. A total of $250,000 in program funding was available for Fiscal Year 2024.

Officials say the Iowa Tourism Office works closely with community partners, attractions and events, to promote the state’s beautifully vast scenery and unique history. Tourism in Iowa generated $6.9 billion in expenditures in 2022, with more than $1.1 billion supporting state and local governments, while employing a total of 68,607 people statewide. Iowa nonprofit arts and cultural organizations generate more than $750 million of economic impact annually, while supporting the broader hospitality industry and attracting new visitors to our state.

For more information on tourism or arts and culture in Iowa, visit traveliowa.com or culture.iowaeda.com

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken provided an update, Tuesday on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities. His report came as part of a regular meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors.

And, Cass County Zoning Administrator Mike Kennon reported to the Board on future zoning issues they should consider, especially with regard to setbacks for pipelines, data centers and such.

The last Comprehensive Plan in Cass County was produced in 2003, Kennon says.

He says the current plan doesn’t cover wind turbines, data centers, carbon capture pipelines, etc. EMS and local meat processor services are also not mentioned in the plan.

He said if the Board wants to have some sort of say in those matters, it better be in the Comprehensive Plan before an Ordinance is considered and drawn-up.He said the plan should be updated at least every 5-years. The Board suggested Kennon follow-up with SWIPCO on overhauling the County’s Comprehensive Zoning plan.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors agreed to accept the resignation of Max Potter as Cass Township Clerk, and Duane Ortgies as Victoria Township Trustee, both were effective as of May 7th. Both have provided many years of service to the County.

DES MOINES, Iowa — [WHO-TV] The Central Iowa Heart Walk takes place in downtown Des Moines in just a couple of weeks. The American Heart Association hosts the walk to get people to improve their heart health and mental health. Brad Feldman and his daughter Avery, of West Des Moines, are the ambassadors for this year’s walk. Brad is a survivor of cardiac arrest and Avery saved his life with CPR.

Brad was asleep when he suffered cardiac arrest in June of 2023. The family dog Jax woke up Brad’s wife Alicia in the middle of the night – alerting her to the medical emergency. Alicia called 911 and Avery, who had just recently learned CPR to get certified to be a lifeguard, performed CPR on her father until a police officer arrived to take over. Brad Feldman says anyone can go into cardiac arrest, and someone trained and certified in CPR can save a life.

The Saturday, May 18th walk starts at the Iowa State Capitol and spans three miles. You can find out more information about the route and how to register here.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — While the Iowa State Patrol says UTV deaths are on the uptick, some cities are considering letting them on public roadways. The Iowa State Patrol points to a trend they’ve noticed over the last two years as deadly UTV crashes started to increase during the same year a law was passed giving municipalities the power to allow the vehicles on public roads. Twelve people were killed in 2022 and 12 in 2023.

This year, troopers are fearful they’re on pace to surpass previous marks — they’ve already recorded seven, and the busy season is just beginning. At the same time, the Johnston City Council discussed the possibility of allowing UTVs on city roads at a work session Monday.

The state patrol warns that UTV crashes happen on paved roads just as often as gravel ones — one of the most common factors they see in deadly UTV crashes is victims not wearing seatbelts.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Des Moines Police Department Vice and Narcotics Control Section has rescued three victims, and made an arrest in a months long human trafficking investigation. According to Des Moines P-D Public Information Officer, Sgt. Paul Parizek, responding to neighborhood complaints regarding suspicious activity at a massage parlor in the
800 block of Hull Avenue, investigators began an investigation in January 2024. On Wednesday, May 8,  2024, investigators executed a search warrant at the business. Three adult female victims were found within the business at the time of the search warrant. Polk County Victims Services is assisting with safe housing, and connecting the victims with support and recovery services.

Huirong Zhou

Evidence indicating forced labor and commercial sexual activity was recovered, and more than $80,000 has been seized. Following consultation with the Polk County Attorney’s Office, 42-year-old Des Moines resident Huirong Zhou has been charged with three Class-B Felony counts of Human Trafficking. Zhou is currently being held at the Polk County Jail.

The Des Moines Police Department Vice and Narcotics Control Section are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged trafficking activity. For more information on human trafficking awareness, and how you can help fight the crime, go to DHS.gov/Blue-Campaign.