Minnesota Man Arrested In Sioux County
(Orange City)–An Adrian, Minnesota man was arrested yesterday after the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office recived a report of a dangerous driver on highway 60, 5 miles southwest of Orange City. Andrew Sheldrick, 26, was arrested after sheriffs deputies found him in his vehicle that apparently had left the roadway and entered the median on highway 60. Sheldrick was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Orange City Police Department and Iowa State Patrol assisted in the investigation.
Special Election Set For January 6
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Orange City Democrat will run for a heavily Republican northwest Iowa House seat in January.
John Buntsma, a former newspaper manager and editor at the Le Mars Daily, the Sioux County Capital-Democrat and the Dayton Review will be the Democrat on the ballot in House District 4, the most heavily populated Republican district in the state.
Republicans have chosen John Kooiker, a retired postal service worker and a Sioux County farmer.
Gov. Terry Branstad has set a Jan. 6 special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Republican Rep. Dwayne Alons. He died earlier this month.
The district includes the cities of Sioux Center, Orange City, Rock Valley, Hull, Hawarden, Alton, Maurice, Granville, Ireton and Chatsworth.
Gas Prices Are At 5 Year Low
(Des Moines)–Iowa motorists are finding it’s a lot cheaper to fuel up for holiday travels this year compared to last. The Triple-A (AAA) Fuel Gauge Report shows regular unleaded gas, on average, is selling for $2.20 a gallon across the state. Triple-A Iowa spokesperson Gail Weinholzer (WINE-holz-ur) says that compares to $3.10 one year ago.
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At some gas stations right now, Iowans can fill their tank for under $2 a gallon. While gas prices continue to fall, Weinholzer doubts we’ll reach the point where the statewide average dips below $2 a gallon.
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The low gas prices, combined with a longer holiday travel season, has prompted Triple-A to forecast a record number of Americans will be hitting the road. Both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays this year, meaning many people will have some extra time away from work.
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Iowa has the lowest average gas prices of any of the Upper Midwest states, according to Weinholzer. Nationally, the average price of gas stands at $2.37 per gallon, 88 cents less than a year ago.
Abortion Waiting Period Bill Renewed
(DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Republican lawmaker will renew an effort to require waiting periods for abortions in Iowa, but it is not clear that he’ll find support to pass a bill in the politically divided state Legislature.
Sen. David Johnson, a Republican from Ocheyedan, has submitted a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would set counseling requirements followed by a 72-hour waiting period before a woman could receive an abortion.
The Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights think-tank, says a total of 35 states currently require counseling before an abortion, with 26 of those states imposing a waiting period between counseling and the procedure.
It is not clear Johnson will find support for the bill, since Democrats control the Senate and have opposed new abortion restrictions in the past.
Blood Donations Dropping Off
(Des Moines)–An organization that distributes blood supplies to more than 100 hospitals in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota is reporting that blood donations are dropping off rapidly as the holidays draw near. Beth Phillips is the public relations and marketing manager for the LifeServe Blood Center.
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Phillips believes many people who routinely donate blood are struggling to find time to do so as they prepare for the holidays. Despite the “urgent need” for donors, Phillips notes things could be worse.
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About 70-percent of the LifeServe Blood Center’s collections come from those mobile donation drives. The remaining 30-percent of collections are made at the organization’s offices or donor centers in Des Moines, Urbandale, Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Sioux City, Waterloo, and Mason City. Those centers will only be closed a couple of days through the holiday.
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Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 120 pounds.
14 Year Old Charged With Attempted Murder
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 14-year-old accused of shooting another teenager outside a Des Moines school has been charged with attempted murder.
The Des Moines Register says the shooting occurred outside North High School on Friday night. Police say the boy drove up to a group of teens waiting for a bus and opened fire. One boy was hit in his neck and taken to Mercy Medical Center. Doctors say a bullet was found near the boy’s spinal cord.
Sgt. Jason Halifax says the boy was arrested and later charged with attempted murder and willful injury. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.
