(Radio Iowa) – Iowans could not be blocked from adopting or being a foster parent if they intend to raise a child consistent with their sex at birth under a bill that’s passed the House. Republican Representative Jon Dunwell of Newton says the bill protects biological parents, too. “What this bill does is prevent the state from creating a new category of abuse,” Dunwell said, “the crime of believing that boys are boys and girls are girls.” If the bill becomes law, a parent or foster parent who does not consent to gender transitions for their minor child could not be charged with child abuse or child endangerment — and that decision could not be cited as a negative factor in child custody disputes.

“Why is this bill necessary? Because in states across the country we have already seen parents lose custody, lose foster licenses and even face criminal investigations simply simply for refusing to affirm a child’s belief that they are the opposite sex,” Dunwell said. The bill passed on a 65 to 31 vote. Representative Elinor Levin (L-ih-nor luh-VIN), a Democrat from Iowa City, says the bill will protect parents who enroll their children in conversion therapy. “This bill is necessary because acts that are abusive must redefined out of existence so that children can be forced to conform (and)…put into practices and programs that tell them who they are and take away their right to self determination,” Levin said.

Representative Aime Wichtendahl, a Democrat from Hiawatha, says the bill will not prevent child abuse. “It is designed to shield abusers,” Wichtendahl said, “and while trans girls and gender non conforming youth will be the ones to suffer on this bill, so will the men of tomorrow, boys who are told they are not masculine enough.”

The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

(Red Oak) — A man from Red Oak was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, on an Out-of-County warrant for 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse – a Class C felony. 61-year-old Leslie Ray Sankey, Jr., was arrested on the Butler County warrant in the 300 block of East Corning Street, in Red Oak. Sankey, Jr., was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 cash only bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City leaders are considering slashing the budget of the city library by about one million dollars, or 25 percent. City council member Rick Bertrand says the main goal is to modernize the library system. “Anytime you start messing with just public services, people get very nervous,” Bertrand says. “This is what a healthy community does to get healthy and how to utilize the resources we have and maximize out, so that more people are served, and more people can enjoy the library.” Bertrand says he favors more community-based libraries with amenities like coffee shops, but library officials say they still need a central location, and major cuts would have a negative impact.

Library director Helen Rigdon says the Sioux City Library system already has one of the smallest full-time staffs in the state for a city of its size, and the proposed cuts would reduce the number of employees from 31 to 25. “Staff morale is about zero right now,” Rigdon says. “They feel like, and I feel like the city council or some of the council members do not value what the library gives back to the city.” Rigdon says city leaders wanted suggestions on modernizing the library, but her board wanted to wait until a new director is hired. Rigdon is retiring at the end of April. “There has been a good amount of support for the library on social media, which we appreciate,” she says. “We just hope that the city council will realize what we give back to the city and everything that we have, and that we can work this out, and it will not be such a detrimental cut.”

A final budget meeting is planned for March 18th.

(Red Oak, IA) – A traffic stop at around 3:25-a.m. today (Thursday) in Montgomery County, resulted in an arrest. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies conducted a traffic stop near Main and Oak Streets in Elliott, and upon further investigation, arrested 41-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, for driving while barred – an aggravated misdemeanor. Smith was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Jail in Red Oak, where he was being held on a $2,000 bond.

(Osceola, IA) – A collision between a car and a semi tractor-trailer Wednesday afternoon in Clarke County, resulted in two people being transported to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened on Interstate 35 southbound, at the Osceola Exit (mm 33), at around 1:10-p.m.

According to the Patrol, a Chevy Cruz driven by 20-year-old Ryleigh Ann Rawls, of Iowa City, attempted to merge into the right lane to take the exit ramp, when the vehicle came into contact with a Kenworth semi, driven by 40-year-old James Keith Lawrence, of Iowa City. Rawls’ action caused her vehicle to become pinned in between the semi and the guard rail before both vehicles came to rest.

Ryleigh Rawls and her passenger, 71-year-old Patricia Louise Swartzendruber, of Iowa City, were injured in the collision. Both women were transported to area hospitals by Clarke County EMS.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to toughen Iowa’s law on habitual offenders and set a minimum 20-year prison sentence for people convicted of several serious crimes. Representative Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison, says it would be a mandatory sentence of at least two decades, as there would be no possibility for parole under the new system for repeat offenders.

“House File 2584 will close the revolving door, make our communities safer and in six years or so if we have to spend more money to increase the number of prison beds it will be money well spent for the cost in saved lives and reduced violence and disruption in our communities will be incalculable,” Holt said. Multiple convictions for theft, harassment or possession of a controlled substance would not be considered when a court decides whether someone should be sentenced to 20 years as a habitual offender.

The clock for counting felony and aggravated misdemeanor convictions that would lead to getting a 20 year sentence wouldn’t start until the bill becomes law. Representative Eric Gjerde, a Democrat who’s a Cedar Rapids policeman, voted against the bill.  “As someone who works in the system, I can tell you the majority of repeat offenders are not deterred by sentence length calculations,” Gjerde said. “Many are driven by addiction, mental illness, trauma or economic desperation.”

Gjerde says states that passed similar laws in the 1990s saw dramatic increases in prison costs without a long-term drop in crime. Representative Ross Wilburn, a Democrat from Ames, says the worst of the worst should get long sentences, but he says a young person convicted of a series of non-violent crimes could wind up in prison for 20 years if the bill becomes law. “We have a justice system, a Department of Corrections — not a Department of Locking People Up,” Wilburn said.

Holt says the new system will prioritize victims and public safety. “It will establish real and effective deterrence which is non-existent in our current system,” Holt said. The bill passed on a 68-to-23 vote.

Two other crime-related bills passed by a far larger margin. One would provide the public with more information about the performance of judges. The other sets new statewide standards for bail.

(Radio Iowa) – Five of Iowa’s community colleges would be able to offer a limited number of four-year degrees if a bill that cleared the Iowa House last (Wednesday) night becomes law. Representative Taylor Collins, a Republican from Mediapolis, says it’s a pilot project that would address workforce gaps.

“Many of these high-demand careers lack adequate, affordable bachelor’s level pathways in every part of the state, especially in rural Iowa,” Collins said. “…This bill moves the needle for household income and helps Iowans reaching for new opportunities.”

Southeastern Community College in Burlington, Southwestern in Creston, Iowa Western in Council Bluffs, Iowa Central in Fort Dodge and Iowa Lakes in Estherville are the five institutions that would be part of the experiment. Each would offer no more than three bachelor’s level programs — and those programs would have to be offered at the community college’s main campus. The bill passed on a 56-to-36 vote — but that tally was not along party lines.

Sixteen of those who voted no were Republicans. Eight Democrats who voted for it. The leaders of Iowa’s private colleges and universities warn increased competition for a dwindling number of high school graduates could force some private institutions to close.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to establish state guidelines for a relatively new way of renting vehicles is on its way to the governor after winning nearly unanimous support from the House and Senate. Privately owned vehicles are being offered for rent through smart phone apps like Turo, Zipcar and Car2Go. Representative Jacob Bossman of Sioux City says the bill sets up the liability framework for peer-to-peer car sharing.

“This is essentially Airbnb for vehicles,” Bossman said. “This system exists in the state currently, but it’s kind of the wild west. There’s not any rules around it, so this bill sets up those rules.” For example, Bossman says the bill creates clarity about when a rental period begins and ends. “It has insurance provisions, like requiring a platform to ensure that the vehicle is constantly covered by insurance and there are some safety measures, disclosures that are required,” Bosssman said. “A driver’s license is required. You have to disclose any active recalls.”

Under the bill, the car sharing platform must confirm that the vehicle owner and the person renting the vehicle have liability insurance. Supporters of car sharing say is a way for vehicle owners to earn extra money. Others note it may be an option for young adults, as some rental car companies charge extra to drivers under the age of 25.

(Radio Iowa) – The Pentagon has announced a second Iowan is among the six American soldiers killed Sunday in a drone strike on a facility in Kuwait. Major Jeffrey O’Brien of Indianola was commissioned in the Army Reserve in 2012 and deployed to Kuwait in 2019. O’Brien, who was 45, died in the same attack that killed Sergeant Declan Coady, a 20-year-old Drake University student, and three other soldiers who served in a unit based in Des Moines.

O’Brien was a decorated officer who received the Army Achievement Medal and an Army Superior Unit Award as well as medals for his service in the Army Reserve. Congressman Zach Nunn says the leaders of O’Brien’s unit have told him nine other soldiers from the unit were injured in the same attack and those soldiers have been taken to a U-S military base in Germany for medical evaluation.

Nunn says the soldiers’ families are receiving updates as more information becomes available and Nunn is asking Iowans to join him in praying for these families and in thanking the military medics and doctors providing life-saving care to the wounded.