Drifting Snow Causes Problems For Iowa DOT To Keep Roads Open
(Le Mars) — The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting all roads and highways within northwest Iowa are snow and ice covered. Snow plows are on the roadways trying to clear the snow, however, they report with the constant
blowing of the winds and snow, it has been difficult to keep the roadways open as motorist will encounter drifting of snow. Motorists are asked to drive according to the conditions, and allow extra time for your destination.
Interstate 29 north out of Sioux City is closed, and Interstate 90 in South Dakota, west of Mitchell is also closed. Portions of north central Iowa have imposed a tow ban.
Scene from Iowa Dept. of Transportation snow plow on Highway 3 west of Brunsville as of 7:35 a.m. Tuesday.
Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Scheduled To Meet
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet this morning. They will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2018-2019 budget. County engineer Tom Rohe will appear before the county governing board
to announce the bid results of a bridge repair project. The supervisors will also hold a drainage board meeting to review and approve work in the Hinton Drainage district.
City Council To Hold Meeting
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council will hold its meeting at city council chambers beginning at noon today. The council has a short agenda. They will take action on a billboard request, discuss the airport runway extensions and turnaround, and they will discuss and take action on the Le Mars city employee
bargaining unit contract. Annual reports will be given by the Le Mars Ambulance Service, Le Mars Public Library, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city council will hold a closed session in order to review the performance of
city attorney Joe Flannery.
Bill Northey Says Good-Bye To Iowa Agriculture Department
(Des Moines) — Bill Northey says serving as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture for the past 11 years has been “the job of a lifetime,” but he’s ready for his new role in the federal government. Northey will be sworn in this (Tuesday) evening
as an undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Northey resigned his position yesterday at 1:30 p.m. (Monday) and his replacement, Mike Naig was sworn into office at 2:00 p.m. U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is flying to Des Moines today for the sixth annual ag leaders dinner at the state fairgrounds. That’s where a ceremony will be staged for
Northey to take his oath to serve a top administrator in the U-S-D-A. Northey says Perdue has made it clear improving “customer service” within the U-S-D-A is the priority.
Northey’s title will be undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services. He’ll oversee a staff of 20-thousand. Northey held a news conference on Monday morning to discuss the challenges he faced as Iowa’s ag secretary and what may be ahead for him in D.C.
Northey held a news conference in Des Moines this morning, steps away from his office in the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Northey’s deputy, Mike Naig, was sworn in as Northey’s replacement at 2 p.m. on Monday. Northey did not endorse Naig, who is seeking a full-term in the job. Naig will face a handful of other Republicans. Northey hinted to reporters he’ll endorse Naig, though, later. Northey indicated it will happen when he’s not speaking in his official capacity as state ag secretary OR as a federal official.
Iowa Senate Acts On Egg Legislation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate wants to require Iowa grocers in a supplemental food program to offer conventional eggs if they sell eggs from chickens housed in cage-free, free-range or enriched colony cage environments.
The Des Moines Register reports that senators passed the measure Monday and sent it to the governor.
The legislation would apply to grocers that participate as vendors in the federal program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. The measure would allow state officials to seek a federal waiver if necessary.
Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, says the bill amounts to “direct interference in the marketplace,” but Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, praises the legislation for ensuring that a lower-cost choice for protein is available to people in the program. Cage-free chicken eggs typically are more expensive than
conventional eggs from large operations.
—
Caligiuri To Run For Congressional Seat
OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) – An Osceola businesswoman has announced her Republican candidacy for the U.S. House seat representing Iowa’s 2nd District.
Ginny Caligiuri (kal-uh-JUR’-ee) said in her news release Monday that she’ll hold a campaign starting event Thursday in Osceola.
She says she’s a “a pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-Israel, and pro- Constitution conservative.” She says that in Congress she’d also focus on religious liberty, veterans services and increasing opportunities for small- and medium-size businesses.
Caligiuri is a former bank vice president who has a history of activism with political prayer and evangelical advocacy groups.
Coralville surgeon Christopher Peters announced his GOP candidacy last summer. The incumbent is Democrat Dave Loebsack. The 2nd District covers most of southeastern Iowa.
Woman Considered Stepfather A Threat When She Killed Him
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A lawyer for a Des Moines woman charged in the death of her stepfather says she considered him a threat when she shot him in her basement.
The Des Moines Register reports a lawyer for 29-year-old Sera Alexander argued Monday in the opening day of her trial that year of domestic abuse prompted her to consider 49-year-old Anthony Hartmann a threat.
After finding her stepfather in her basement, she warned she’d shoot if he didn’t leave.
Defense lawyer F. Montgomery Brown says he responded “Fine, shoot me,” and she did.
Alexander has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
A judge refused to let Alexander use Iowa’s new “stand your ground” defense against the charge, noting the law took effect nearly two months after Hartmann was shot in May 2017.
The law says people don’t have to retreat before using deadly force if they think their life is being threatened.
—
