Governor Branstad is urging lawmakers to pass a package of tougher traffic laws, including a crack down on texting while driving. “I’m asking you to take a hard look at these recommendations and evaluate which can be put into law to make our roads safer,” Branstad says.

Branstad says his worry is “distracted” driving and he has proposed boosting penalties for drivers who hit motorcyclists, bicyclists or pedestrians.  Motorists caught texting while driving. Senator Tim Kapucian, a Republican from Keystone, says the ultimate goal should be “hands-free” cell phone use within a vehicle. “Most of the newer vehicles have that capability,” Kapucian says. “I’ve always said our professional drivers are required to do that, the truck drivers, and as far as I’m concerned, we’re the amateurs on the road.”

Kapucian is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He expects the panel to review these and other proposals related to distracted driving but he’s not predicting what may pass. At least 402 people died in crashes on Iowa roadways in 2016 and state troopers say excessive speed was a factor in many crashes. Neither the governor nor Kapucian are proposing changes in posted speed limits or suggested increased fines for speeding at this point, but Senator Kapucian is concerned that too many motorists are weaving through traffic and driving too close to other vehicles.

“When I was in drivers’ ed, I specifically remember we were taught to respect the other driver,” Kapucian says, “and it just appears we’re in a ‘me first’ world today.”Governor Branstad discussed traffic safety near the end of his “Condition of the State” message yesterday. The governor read part of a letter from the parents of a bicyclist who was killed by a motorist who was texting while driving.

(Radio Iowa)

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A driver from western Iowa was cited for a Dallas County collision during which a West Des Moines police officer died. Online court records say 38-year-old Jeanette Keifer, of Stuart, was cited for failing to yield. Authorities say Keifer turned her car left into the path of 47-year-old Shawn Miller on Aug. 3 on U.S. Highway 169 near Interstate 80. Online court records don’t list an attorney who could comment for Keifer.

Authorities say Miller was driving back to West Des Moines on his personal motorcycle after testifying as an investigating officer at a court hearing in Adel. He’d been with the West Des Moines Police Department for 26 years.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, reported the arrest Monday afternoon, of 27-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction. McDaniel was taken into custody on a Warrant for Willful Injury, Willful Injury and Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond, in the Mills County Jail.

Christopher Lee McDaniel

Afton Police Chief John Coulter reports a woman was arrested last week for Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. 50-year old Mary Ellen Tucker, of Afton, was taken into custody at around 6:30-p.m. on Jan. 3rd, and later released after posting bond.

Police in Red Oak, early this (Wednesday) morning, arrested 29-year old Nicole Marie Adkins, of Shenandoah. Adkins was taken into custody following a traffic stop at around 1:15-a.m., and charged with Driving While Revoked, as well as failure to have SR-22 Insurance. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A prominent lottery official who was stripped of power after a subordinate allegedly carried out a years’long jackpot-rigging scheme received a $284,000 severance payment. A recent tax filing shows the Multi-State Lottery Association made the payment to its longtime executive director Chuck Strutt as part of a “voluntary termination agreement” signed March 31. Strutt says he agreed to leave the association to help it move on after the alleged fraud by employee Eddie Tipton.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says his priorities for the new Iowa Legislature will include removing state funding for Planned Parenthood and prohibiting public workers from bargaining for their health insurance. Branstad highlighted his plans Tuesday during his annual Condition of the State address. Branstad says he supports redirecting funding toward organizations that don’t perform abortions, though no state taxpayer money is currently used on abortions.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An aide to Gov. Terry Branstad says he generally supports legislation by Senate Republicans that would create a state program for distributing family planning money and excludes funding for Planned Parenthood. Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Branstad, confirmed Tuesday that Branstad supports a state-run program that directs family planning money to organizations that do not perform abortions. Such a program is referenced in a bill filed Monday by Senate Republicans.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An unexpected $2 million generated by the sale of tax credits will enable Scott Community College to add features to a planned downtown Davenport campus, including a community room, more science lab space and space for a virtual reality program. The Quad-City Times reports interest from U.S. Bank increased the amount of money expected to be raised through tax credits from $4 million to nearly $6.4 million. The total cost of the project is now $30 million.

(DES MOINES)— Rep. Tom Moore (R-Griswold) is seen here taking the oath of office in the Iowa House chamber as the 87^th General Assembly kicked off Monday at the Capitol.  Durring the session, Moore can be reached at tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov or through the House switchboard at (515) 281-3221.

The swearing in ceremony of all 100 state representatives begins a week full of ceremonies, including the Condition of the State address by the Governor, and the Condition of the Judiciary address by the Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice.  A full slate of committee work begins as well, as bills begin the process it takes to get them to the House floor for full debate.

The Harlan Police Department says four arrests were made since the beginning of the new year. Most recently, last Friday, 25-year old Michael Tremayne  was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  Tremayne was taken to the Shelby County Jail on the warrant charging him with 2 counts of delivery/manufacturing of a controlled substance.

On Thursday, Harlan Police investigated an incident where a car was driving carelessly in and around the square in downtown Harlan.  As a result of the investigation, 28-year old Kurtis Kobold, of Kirkman, was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with careless driving, interference with official acts, and cited for three counts of failure to obey stop or yield sign.

On January 4th, 20-year old Gage Johnston, of Harlan, was taken into custody following a traffic stop.  Johnston was transported to the Shelby County Jail on the warrant for failure to appear.  Johnston was also charged with driving while suspended and was cited for failure to prove security against liability.

And, on Jan. 1st, 20-year old Elijah Williams was taken into custody following a minor traffic accident.  Williams was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.  Williams was also cited for failure to maintain control and failure to prove security against liability – accident.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent drug related arrests. Last Saturday, 55-year old Raymond Eugene Quaites, of Omaha, and 31-year old Michael Jordan Byrd, of Ralston, NE, were taken into custody on two counts each of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Both were taken to the Cass County Jail where they were released the following day on their own recognizances.

On January 5th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 44-year old Robert Joseph Dambra, of Atlantic, on two charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Dambra was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $7,000 bond.

And, no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident last Thursday, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to the scene near the Lewis Road and 570th Street, at around 7:20-a.m. A 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by 18-year old Porsche Leann Carlton, of Griswold, was westbound on Lewis Road when she lost control of the vehicle, which came to rest in the north ditch in a corn field. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $4,000.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies Monday night, served an arrest warrant on 20-year old Jared Douglas Comstock, of Coin. The warrant was for Violation of probation from an original charge, of Assault with bodily injury or mental illness.  Comstock was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on a $2000 cash only bond.

Jared Comstock