(Le Mars) — Saying “what’s good for Iowa is good for the nation.” State Senator
Rick Bertrand brought his message to Le Mars Thursday afternoon. Bertrand, a Sioux
City developer, is running against incumbent 4th District Congressman Steve King for
the Republican nomination to represent northwest Iowa in our nation’s capital.
Bertrand spoke before about a dozen people. Bertrand says he is asked why he is
challenging the seven-term congressman? He responds by saying western Iowa is primed
for additional economic development, and someone needs to lead that movement.
Bertrand says this region should be doing more to push our agricultural products.
The Sioux City republican says there are several similarities between himself and
Congressman Steve King, but he says King needs to answer three questions.
Bertrand will face Steve King in the June 7th primary race.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that is
expected to reduce prison time for inmates convicted of certain drug offenses.
Branstad signed the bill Thursday. It was passed in the House and Senate this
legislative session.
The legislation will allow certain non-violent drug offenders in Iowa to be
eligible for parole after they serve at least half of their mandatory minimum
sentence. It will also give judges more discretion in sentencing for crimes like
robbery.
The law also adds a mandatory minimum sentence for a person convicted of child
endangerment resulting in death. Previously, such a person was automatically
eligible for parole.
The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says the law is expected to reduce
the disproportionate number of minorities in Iowa’s criminal justice system.
(Washington) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa says he intends to support
presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump for president. Grassley, who spoke to
news reporters on Thursday, says he will support Trump mainly because he believes
this nation needs to go in a different direction.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The lawsuit filed by the Des Moines Water Works in federal
court against several upstream agriculture drainage districts has been delayed by
nearly a year.
Originally scheduled for trial in August, a judge rescheduled the three-week
trial for June 26, 2017.
Water Works Board Chairman Graham Gillette says that will give the Iowa Supreme
Court time to resolve constitutional questions the federal judge posed to it prior
to trying the case.
Gillette says a delay also gives state leaders time to reconsider providing
money for agriculture practices that would reduce water pollutants.
The water utility for about 500,000 central Iowa customers blames farmland
runoff for high levels of nitrate that cost millions of dollars to remove.
Water Works officials want farm drainage districts regulated under the federal
Clean Water Act.
ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – Federal officials say they are revoking a central Iowa
casino’s nonprofit status.
The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/1Wt8G1h ) reports the Internal Revenue
Service announced Thursday that Prairie Meadows, in Altoona, should lose its tax-
exempt status, following an 18-month audit.
The casino has faced questions about its nonprofit status partly due to the
amount of money it spends on salaries for top executives compared to the amount
spent on charitable activities. Records show the company spent nearly $58 million on
employee salaries and benefits in 2013, while spending roughly $21 million on
grants.
The casino plans to appeal the decision.
Nearby Des Moines could lose roughly $6 million a year for street and bridge
repairs if an appeal fails. Polk County receives nearly $16 million annually in rent
from the casino.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – West Des Moines police say they have charged a bus
driver with having a gun on school grounds.
The incident began about noon Wednesday when police say Des Moines police Capt.
Mike Hoffman was driving an unmarked car and a private bus started tailgating him on
Interstate 235.
Police say the bus driver honked his horn and flashed his lights before passing
the officer.
Hoffman followed the bus to Valley High School and approached the driver, 64-
year-old Paul Smiley-Oyen, of Ames, who was holding a handgun.
He was charged with possessing a firearm on school grounds. Online court
records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment.
No students were on the bus. The driver was scheduled to pick students up for a
trip.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A 22-year-old Council Bluffs man has been given 10
years in prison for trying to kidnap a girl near her elementary school.
Nathan Busse pleaded guilty Thursday to child stealing after prosecutors
dropped a kidnapping charge.
Council Bluffs police say Busse grabbed the girl in January 2013 near Edison
Elementary School and forced her to walk with him. She struggled with Busse and
broke away.
After mental testing in 2014, Busse was found incompetent for trial. This past
March he was found competent for trial. At sentencing he was given credit for the
time served while being treated in a state institution.
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