Authorities Identify Man Killed By Train
DENISON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have identified a man who was killed when he was struck by a train in western Iowa. Police say an eastbound Union Pacific train struck the man on the tracks early Saturday morning at a crossing in Denison. He’s been identified as Kevin Russman, who lived in Dow City.
Iowa Sex Offender Captured In Mississippi
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) – The U.S. Marshals Service says a sex offender who left Iowa without notifying authorities has been apprehended in Mississippi.
A criminal complaint this month says Antonio Earl Satcher was required to register as a sex offender after his conviction in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of lascivious acts with a child – solicitation. During a months-long search for Satcher, authorities received tips that he was staying with relatives in Jasper County, Mississippi. He was eventually apprehended in Clarke County,
Mississippi, last week. Court records list no lawyer for Satcher who could be reached for comment.
Sanders and Buttigieg Ask For “Re-canvassing Of Caucus Election Results
WASHINGTON (AP) – Bernie Sanders’ and Pete Buttigieg’s presidential
campaigns have filed requests for a partial recanvass of the results of Iowa’s Democratic caucuses. In its Monday filing, the Sanders campaign cited “mathematical errors and inconsistencies” in more than two dozen caucus locations that it says would change the results if amended. The Iowa Democratic Party says the Buttigieg campaign requested a check on results in 66 precincts. Current results show Buttigieg with a razor-thin lead over Sanders in state delegate equivalents, and the party has awarded Buttigieg 14 delegates to Sanders’ 12. But the Sanders campaign believes correcting faulty math could swing the delegate allocation in Sanders’ favor.
Waterloo City Council Approves Closing Airport Runway
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The Waterloo City Council has voted to close the shortest of the local airport’s three runways – a proposal that had drawn opposition from some pilots. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported that the council voted Monday for the airport director to work with federal authorities on the decommissioning. The director had recommended closing the runway because of safety and liability concerns. Several pilots told the council at an earlier meeting that the runway is a safe alternative when high winds and other issues make it harder to access the two primary runways.
Des Moines Airport Board Turns Down Proposed Casino And Hotel
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A proposal to build a $225 million casino and hotel at the Des Moines airport got nowhere at the airport board’s meeting Tuesday. Highview Development Group had presented the plan to the Des Moines Airport Authority board last month. The complex would include a 350-room hotel connected to the airport by a skywalk. There also would be a fountain, rock garden, restaurant and wedding and banquet facilities. Station KCCI reported that no board member made a motion at the meeting to vote on the plan, so no vote was held.
Grassley Wants To Visit With Pelosi On Prescription Drug Bill
(Washington) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says having President Trump tout his prescription drug bill during the State of the Union speech last Tuesday has been a boost. Now, Grassley’s hoping to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and this is his message:
Grassley, a Republican, along with the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee have been working on legislation that would limit prescription drug price hikes to the rate of inflation. The bill would lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare, too.
Bills need just 51 votes to pass the senate, but at least 60 senators must agree to allow debate. Grassley says he’s telling his Republican colleagues in the Senate the polls show voters consider prescription drug costs a top
concern.
A dozen Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors of Grassley’s bill.
……………..
Iowans Cleared Of Having Coronavirus
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who were tested for the coronavirus following recent travel to China have been cleared.
The two unidentified individuals had agreed to voluntary home confinement while the state waited for the test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The department also says there are 26 other individuals who are not showing any symptoms — but have recently traveled to China and are being monitored for the coronavirus. The Health Department’s medical director says everyone should continue to use proper hygiene techniques to avoid any kind of illness.
State Senate Places Restrictions On Felons Trying To Re-gain Their Voting Rights
(Des Moines) — Senate Republican have unveiled their proposed limitations if Iowa voters approve a constitutional amendment to automatically restore felon voting rights. The plan would still force those convicted of murder manslaughter or certain sex crimes to apply to the governor to get their voting rights restored and it would force paroled felons to pay ALL their restitution before they’d get the right to vote. Senator Dan Dawson is a Republican from Council Bluffs.
Opponents say linking voting rights to income is wrong. Currently, felons applying to the governor just have to show they’re keeping up with a payment plan to get their voting rights back. Heather Strachan with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Iowa says she’s survived abuse and disagrees with the approach Senate Republicans are proposing. Strachan says she feels safer if her abuser is participating in society and getting the treatment he needs.
Iowa is now the only state in the country that does not automatically give felons the right to vote once they’ve completed their sentences. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has been pushing the Senate since last year to pass her proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore felon voting rights.
