DIAZ CONFERENCE
A pretrial conference took place this morning for David Jack Diaz of Sioux City. Diaz is charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, in the death of a Sioux City woman in June of last year. Diaz was to go on trial last Tuesday, but his attorney filed a request for a continuance. Judicial District 3 Judge Jeffery Neary last Thursday set a pretrial conference for today in the case. Diaz is accused of driving at a high rate of speed on US 75 on June the 7th of last year. He crashed into the rear of another car near the intersection of US 75 and Plymouth County road C70. A passenger in the back seat of the car, Joswa Ermiohne of Sioux City, died of injuries suffered in the accident.
IOWA CASINOS FINED
Three casinos and a sports book have been fined five-thousand dollars by state regulators for downloading the updated self-ban gambling list one day late. Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood was involved, and general manager Sharon Hasselhoff explained what happened to the Racing and Gaming Commission.
Hasselhoff says. The late download led to the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, the Riverside Casino, and Elite Hospitality sports book also being fined.
Hasselhoff says they have taken action to be sure all lists are downloaded within seven days as required by state regulations.
The five-thousand dollar penalty is the lowest given for such violations. Racing and Gaming Commissioners said during their meeting last week it was a situation where they had no choice but to fine all the entities. The Racing and Gaming Administrator says there are some things in the works that would help ensure that the self ban information is downloaded on time.
SUNNYBROOK HOPE CENTER OPENS LOCATION IN LEMARS
Sunnybrook Hope Center is opening a new Choice Food Pantry location in Le Mars today. Their new location is at 33 1st Avenue NE, across from the Fareway in Le Mars. Sunnybrook Hope Center first came to Le Mars a little over a year ago. They opened a temporary location in Le Mars last spring. The new location will double their shelf space, and carry more grocery items for people in need. An official opening program will take place at their site at 4-30 this afternoon.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN
The Le Mars Community School Board will welcome new board members, and choose new leaders tomorrow. There will be four board members sworn into office, and a new chair will be elected. In the first part of Tuesday’s meeting, the retiring board members, Jane Arnold and Angela Catton, will be recognized for their service. The Oath of Office will then be administered to four board members: Jill Feuerhelm, Kyle Plathe, Zach Lancaster, and Zach Davis. All were elected on November 7. Feuerhelm and Plathe were re-elected to new terms on the board. The new board will also have a new board president. Angela Catton is the current board president, and will officially retire from the board Tuesday.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN IOWA LAST WEEKEND
Former President Donald Trump is promising to go on offense as his rivals say they’re aiming for a surprise finish in the January 15th Iowa Caucuses. Trump, who spoke at a rally in Fort Dodge on Saturday, said the other candidates need to drop out so he can focus on defeating Democrats. The Family Leader, an Iowa based Christian organization, hosted three other candidates Friday night. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley told the crowd the tone at the top matters. And Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to Trump’s argument that he should have waited to run for president in 2028. DeSantis said he has a right to put his name out there and fight for the country’s future.
SIOUX CITY ELECTION FRAUD CASE TO RESUME TODAY
The defense will begin its case today (Monday) after the prosecution rested its case earlier than expected in the trial of the wife of a Woodbury County supervisor accused of 52 counts of voter fraud. Kim Phuong Taylor, the wife of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor, allegedly filled out or helped fill out absentee ballots for numerous Vietnamese residents in the Sioux City area and either signed them or had them signed by other people who were not authorized to cast the ballot. Prosecutors heard testimony from more local Vietnamese residents about that Thursday and then rested their case against Taylor without calling other county officials to testify as had been expected.
A-C-T SCORES LOWER, FEWER TAKE THE TEST
A-C-T scores among Iowa high schoolers who took the test dropped slightly from a year ago and far fewer students are taking the test. The average A-C-T composite score for seniors who graduated from an Iowa high school last spring was 20-point-eight. That compares to a score of 22 for the 2014 graduating class in Iowa. Nine years ago, 68 percent of high school seniors in Iowa took the A-C-T. Just under half took it this past year. Iowa, Iowa State and U-N-I no longer require students applying for admission to take the A-C-T.
