Plymouth County Board of Supervisors declares January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors met yesterday morning for a regularly-scheduled meeting, and during the meeting, chairman Don Kass proclaimed the month of January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Prior to the proclamation, the Board heard from Kristine Nathaniel, vice chair on the Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Nathaniel discussed the group’s mission and efforts in the Siouxland area to provide education on human trafficking and advocacy for victims. The proclamation read by Kass acknowledges the presence of human trafficking in the area, and encourages citizens “to become more familiar with the problem and to work toward solutions.”
The Board also approved quarterly reports and reviewed budgets from several county departments, including the Sheriff’s Office, the Recorder’s Office, the Treasurer’s Office, and the Conservation Department. The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday at 9:30am.
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Staten sentenced to 50 years in prison
The Sioux City man charged in a fatal vehicle crash in October of 2023 has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.
33-year-old Wesley Staten was sentenced Monday afternoon in Woodbury County District Court. Staten will serve two consecutive 25 year terms for two counts of vehicular homicide, having also pled guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident and operating while intoxicated. Those counts will be served concurrently with the vehicular homicide counts.
Authorities say Staten was driving a Ford Expedition in downtown Sioux City at a high rate of speed and ran a red light on October 13th, 2023, striking a Ford Fusion occupied by the two victims, 51-year-old Terry Frisbie of Sioux City and 50-year-old Judith Jordan of Le Mars. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Staten fled the scene of the crash, with an arrest warrant issued in February of 2024, before being taken into custody in Alabama by the U.S. Marshals Service. According to court documents, Staten admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana prior to the crash.
Staten must serve a minimum of 35 years before being eligible for parole.
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Legislative leaders outline 2026 goals
This year’s Iowa legislative session is underway, with Republicans in control of the House and Senate for the 10th consecutive year. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford opened House action shortly after 10am on Monday.
Grassley says the chief goal will be reducing property taxes.
Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, unveiled their alternative Monday.
House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer of Des Moines says Democrats have three primary goals.
Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, began her remarks with a call for civility. Sinclair says it was shocking and horrifying that two Democrats from the Minnesota legislature were shot in their own homes and prominent conservative Charlie Kirk had been killed on a college campus.
Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weine of Iowa City says recent political violence in Minnesota and in Mississippi, where a Jewish synagogue was attacked, has shaken the country to its core.
Two women who won special elections in December have taken their seats in the state legislature. The 50th member of the Iowa Senate took the oath of office Monday morning. The seat had been vacant since Senator Claire Celsi’s death in October. Democrat Renee Hardman is the first black woman to serve in the state senate. The 100th member of the House was sworn into office, too. Republican Wendy Larson of Odebolt won the seat that had been held by Mike Sexton of Rockwell City, who resigned after President Trump appointed him state director of U-S-D-A Rural Development.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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