BILL SETS PENALTY FOR OPEN CONTAINERS OF THC BEVERAGES IN VEHICLES
The Iowa House and Senate have unanimously voted to establish penalties for drivers and passengers if an officer finds an open container of a drink that contains T-H-C in the vehicle. Representative Zach Dieken of Granville is a state trooper and he says officers run into this situation quite frequently. The penalty for anyone over the age of 21 caught with an open T-H-C infused beverage in a vehicle would be a simple misdemeanor. That’s identical to the charge for having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. For anyone under the age of 21, there’d be a 200 dollar fine for a first offense and, if there’s a second offense, they’d have to undergo a substance abuse evaluation or lose their license for up to a year.
SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION HOSTING 2020 PROM THAT NEVER WAS
The Sioux City Public Schools Foundation is inviting the Class of 2020 to finally celebrate an event they never got to experience because of the COVID pandemic. Foundation Development Director Karen Harrison says they plan to hold a prom for the class with the theme of “Rewrite the Night.”
The students who were teens in 2020 are now over 21 and allows the prom to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with a cash bar.
Foundation president John Soos says he hopes the alumni of East, North and West High Schools Classes of 2020 will turn out for the event.
He says alumni can attend solo, or bring a date to the event on June 28th.
BILL WOULD REQUIRE 80% OF UI MEDICAL, DENTAL STUDENTS BE IOWA RESIDENTS
A bill passed by the Iowa House would require at least 80 percent of students accepted by the University of Iowa’s medical and dental schools be residents of Iowa. Iowans made up 70 percent of recent graduating classes. If the bill becomes law, the schools would also have to prioritize Iowa natives as well as those who’ve graduated from Iowa universities for medical residency and fellowship spots in University of Iowa Health Care. Republican Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says the new requirement to emphasize Iowa enrollment in the state funded medical and dental schools will increase the number of doctors who decide to practice in Iowa. Representative Adam Zabner (ZAB-ner), a Democrat from Iowa City, says the legislature wouldn’t require 80 percent of the players on the Hawkeye, Cyclone or Panther football teams to be Iowa residents and it shouldn’t be the standard for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics either. The bill passed the House on a 67 to 28 vote and now goes to the Iowa Senate for review.
FATAL ACCIDENT VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
Authorities have released the identities of two people who died in two recent motor vehicle accidents in Plymouth County.
Sioux City Police say a Kansas man was the driver of a pickup truck who died in an accident Tuesday at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 north and Plymouth County road C-80.
64-year-old Bryan James Brauer of Holton, Kansas suffered fatal injuries when his truck was hit broadside by a westbound Jeep Commander that failed to yield and on C-80. Brauer’s truck overturned and the trailer he was pulling hit a third vehicle on the opposite side of C-80.
The driver of the Jeep suffered minor injuries and has been cited for failure to yield.
The Iowa State Patrol says a Sioux City man died in a single vehicle accident on May 8 in southwest Plymouth County. Jonathan Lawrence Wingert, 34, was driving north on K-18 south, when the vehicle left the roadway on a curve, and struck several trees. Wingert was ejected from the vehicle, and died at the scene of the crash.
THE IOWA DOT TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WILL MEET IN SIOUX CENTER
The Iowa Transportation Commission will hold their April meeting in Sioux Center. The meeting will be April 8 at Terrace View Events Center. An agenda will be posted online at www.news.iowadot.gov prior to the meeting. A brief business meeting will begin at 8 a.m. immediately followed by a public input meeting.
On Monday, April 7, the commissioners will meet informally and tour transportation projects in northwest Iowa. No action will be taken on transportation-related matters during the tour.
SOYBEAN FARMERS MEET AT SIOUX CITY ROUNDTABLE
Soybean farmers from western Iowa met with ag officials and others to discuss crops and issues at the Iowa Soybean Association’s annual Farmer Roundtable in Sioux City Thursday.
Brent Swart of Spencer is the president of the association as well as a soybean farmer. He says with tariffs, a lack of a new federal farm bill and other concerns changing on a daily basis, farmers are looking for a variety of answers this year:
China is the major trading partner for U.S. soybeans, so there is some anxiety about what a long tariff battle will mean to soybean producers:
He also says there were concerns about a trade war with Canada and Mexico as well and hopes new international markets may be found for soybeans.
Swart says bird flu is also a concern to soybean producers:
There are also doubts about getting a new farm bill passed by the new Congress.
Matt Herman is the Soybean Association’s chief officer of demand and advocacy:
Herman says farmers at the conference had other economic concerns too:
Herman says there’s a belief that it will be a safer bet for farmers to increase their corn acres instead of soybeans this year.
The event took place at Sioux City’s Stoney Creek Inn.
STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING IOWA MAY BE STRONGER THAN LAST WEEK’S BLIZZARD
A large and complex storm system will affect the area later today through Saturday. Today, Plymouth County will see a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m., with winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour. Tonight, rain and thunderstorms are forecast. Some of the storms could be severe. Winds will shift to the northwest late tonight and gust up to 40 miles per hour. Rains and snow is likely before 1 p.m. Saturday, rain and snow in the morning will give way to a slight chance of snow in the afternoon. Winds will gust to 45 miles per hour. Skies will clear Sunday with highs in the 50s. A Winter Storm Watch Saturday will affect Lyon County in northwest Iowa, and parts of southwest Minnesota and eastern South Dakota.
BILL LETS LAWMAKERS, ATTORNEY GENERAL APPLY FOR PROFESSIONAL WEAPONS PERMITS
The Iowa House has voted to let state legislators, Iowa’s attorney general and judges apply for a professional permit to carry a weapon while at work. State law says professional weapons permits may be issued to people whose employment reasonably justifies being armed. Under the bill, members of the Iowa House and Senate, Iowa’s attorney general and the deputy and assistant state attorneys general would be allowed to apply for a professional weapon permit. They could carry a concealed weapon not only while at work but while traveling to or from the work. Judges would only be allowed to carry a concealed weapon while in a courtroom and the Iowa Supreme Court could require additional training.
