SITZMANN WITNESSES SIGNING OF HANDS-FREE BILL
State Representative Travis Sitzmann of Kingsley was close by when Governor Kim Reynolds signed one of her priority bills into law last week. This bill would require that drivers may not use electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Sitzmann says gathered around her at the bill signing were families whose members were killed by distracted drivers.
Iowa is now the 30th state to ban cell phone use while driving. The bill takes effect July 1. For the first six months, drivers will be warned of an infraction. On January 1, violatiors will be fined 100 dollars.
COUNTY BUDGET AMENDMENT
A public hearing is planned before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning, to consider a fiscal year 2024-25 budget amendment. The amendment covers 408-thousand dollars in additional revenues, and 622-thousand dollars in additional expenditures. The hearing is at 10-30 a.m.
Also tomorrow, the Supervisors will let bids on a local bridge project east of Akron, and let contracts for 5 local culvert projects in the county. They will also consider approval of right of way purchases for all six of these projects.
‘HANDS OFF’ RALLIES HELD IN 15 IOWA CITIES
Rallies were held in over a dozen cities in Iowa this weekend, part of a nationwide day of protest against President Trump’s actions and the budget cuts a team led by Elon Musk are making. Protests were also held in places like Sioux City, Red Oak, Decorah and Cedar Rapids. The largest gathering was at the state Capitol. Protesters and speakers at the rallies criticized Trump Administration actions and criticized congress for failing to be a check on agency closings, layoffs and other budget decisions being made by Musk’s DOGE team.
NARANJO TO COMMAND LE MARS NATIONAL GUARD UNIT
The Unit Commander of the Le Mars National Guard troop headed to the middle east next month is ready for the task. Captain Ivan Naranjo came to the 113th Cavalry Regiment a year ago.
This will be Captain Naranjo’s second deployment overseas
Naranjo says he came into a positive culture within the Le Mars unit. He says the soldiers take their work seriously, and volunteer for extra training.
The 113th will be part of a force of 18-hundred from Iowa to serve in the middle east over the next year. There will be a sendoff for the 113th on May 28 at Le Mars High School. From there, the unit will travel to Fort Johnson, Louisiana to prepare for deployment.
U.S. NAVY COMMISSIONS USS IOWA SUBMARINE
Another U-S-S Iowa has joined the U.S. Navy’s fleet. The nuclear-powered submarine is the fourth Navy vessel to bear the U-S-S Iowa name and it was commissioned this weekend at a ceremony in Connecticut, where it was built. Admiral Daryl Caudle (KAH-dull) — the commander of the U-S Navy Fleet — says it feels natural to have a warship named Iowa back on the Navy register. He says during World War II, the sight of the U.S.S. Iowa battleship intimidated our enemies when they spotted it on the horizon — and he says our adversaries will now fear the ghost. The U-S-S Iowa submarine is equipped with stealth technology to obscure it from radar and sonar.
ORANGE CITY MAN ARRESTED AFTER DISTURBANCE
An Orange City man was arrested early Saturday morning after a disturbance at Sioux Center Health. The Sioux County Sheriffs Office says an investigation revealed that 23 year old Shayne Jacobson had been involved in a motor vehicle accident that occurred on 410th Street, three miles northeast of Orange City. Jacobson lost control of his vehicle, and crashed into a ditch. Two passengers were transported to Sioux Center Health for treatment of injuries. Jacobson was charged with OWI, failure to maintain control, and no proof of insurance.
LAWMAKERS DEBATING POWER GRID ELEMENT IN GOVERNOR’S ENERGY BILL
The U-S Department of Justice is suggesting one element of the governor’s energy bill could restrict competition and increase costs for consumers. The proposal would give the state’s major power providers the “right of first refusal” on upgrades to the power grid. Companies like MidAmerican and Alliant would get priority to build new transmission lines that are part of their systems before other companies could bid for the work. House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans are actively discussing the pros and cons.
STATE GRANTS GOING TO SIBLEY AND CALHOUN COUNTY
The Iowa Economic Development Authority is giving ten-thousand dollar grants to two towns and two counties. Sibley will use the grant to pay for a site plan proposal and public awareness campaign for a possible new residential development. Calhoun County Economic Development will use the grant to develop a marketing strategy to attract businesses, manufacturers or service providers to the county business park. Other grants were awarded to the Jackson County Economic Alliance and the community of Imogene.
