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Iowa Senate Democrats select Jochum as new leader

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Democrats in the Iowa Senate have removed the lawmaker who’s been their leader for two and a half years and selected a veteran legislator to be Senate Minority Leader.

According to a news release, Senate Democrats have unanimously selected Pam Jochum of Dubuque to be Senate Democratic Leader, replacing Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville.

Wahls faced criticism from some his colleagues for his recent decision to restructure the staff who work for Senate Democrats. He dismissed two long time employees last Friday. Senate Democrats met in private tonight at the Iowa Capitol and issued a news release at 9:22 p.m. announcing Jochum’s selection.

Wahls was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and had a national reputation when he arrived due to his statehouse testimony as a teenager against a ban on same-sex marriage. He’s been directly involved in recent efforts to reshape the Iowa Democratic Party and recruit candidates. Jochum, who has been a legislator for 30 years, issued a written statement thanking Wahls for his “vision and leadership” and describing Senate Democrats as a “united team” heading into the 2024 election.

Jochum was first elected to the Iowa House in 1992. She’s been a member of the Iowa Senate since 2009 and previously served as Senate President for four years when Democrats held the majority.

Stewards of the Beautiful Land Program Starts in Two Weeks in Mahaska County

OSKALOOSA — Trees Forever, The Tallgrass Prairie Center, various County Conservation Boards and Roadside Programs are offering Stewards of the Beautiful Land for a sixth year, starting Thursday, June 22nd . Stewards of the Beautiful Land – Mahaska has 4 field days, meeting monthly, geared for the outdoor enthusiast who wants to learn more about prairie plants, trees and forests, and the environments they thrive in, and how to advocate for native landscapes.

“This is going to be a great Stewards season; we will have the in-person field trips so participants can learn together in some fantastic outdoor classrooms and learning labs. Plant identification, establishment, and management as well as tree care and more will be taught,” says Trees Forever Field Coordinator, Peter Lundgren.

The field days are complimented with monthly webinars featuring guest presenters which lay the groundwork and knowledge base for where to find native plants on the landscape, the various landforms of Iowa, invasive species identification and management, pollinator habitat enhancement and protection and more.

Each month will also feature the in-person meeting to learn from one another, walk through the woods or prairie identifying native plants and trees, and hands-on skills like how to properly plant and care for natives. In-person field days are being hosted in Mahaska, Dickinson, Story, and Carroll counties.

For more information contact Peter Lundgren at plundgren@treesforever.org or via phone at 319-640-2883. Registration is live on the Trees Forever events calendar found at this link: https://treesforever.org/stewards/.

Iowa Hwy 23 Road Closure Begins Today

CHARITON – If you are driving on Iowa Highway 23 southeast of Oskaloosa you will need to be aware of a construction project that may slow down your trip.
 
Construction crews will be replacing a bridge with a box culvert at the tributary of Cedar Creek beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 8, until August, weather permitting.
 
During this project, through traffic on Iowa 23 will be detoured using Iowa 92 and Mahaska County Road V-13. Local traffic will have access to Iowa 23 except for the lanes crossing the work zone at the tributary of Cedar Creek (see map).
 
Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.
 
The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas in flux as Nevada Legislature adjourns

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — High-profile proposals to help build a stadium for the Oakland Athletics and lure major film makers to Las Vegas through billions of dollars in tax credits are in flux after Nevada lawmakers adjourned their four-month legislative session early Tuesday.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo called a special legislative session Tuesday evening in the midst of disagreements between him and the Democratic-controlled Legislature over a major budget bill. The agenda did not include Oakland Athletics funding, but that could still technically be heard in another special legislative session.

Lawmakers failed to pass the budget bill that included over $1 billion to fund capital improvement projects that fund state public works and construction. The measure faltered in the Senate as they ran out of time for a second vote after party disagreements lasted Monday night until the midnight deadline.

Now, the prospects are murky for a bill that has revived the national debate over public funding for private sports stadiums. The measure could add professional baseball to Las Vegas’ growing sports scene, but economists have warned that such a project would bring minimal benefits for a hefty public price tag.

The bulk of the public funding for the $1.5 billion retractable roof stadium would have come from $380 million in public assistance, partly through $180 million in transferable tax credits, $120 million in county bonds that would help finance projects and a special tax district around the stadium. Backers have pledged that the district will generate enough money to pay off those bonds and interest.

Chris Blake 9:06 PM Backers have pledged the district will generate enough money to pay off those bonds and interest.

The A’s would not owe property taxes for the publicly owned stadium and Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, also would contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.

The major film tax credit bill would involve up to $190 million annually for at least 20 years to recruit major film studios to Las Vegas. Sony has announced it would commit to a $1 billion expansion in Las Vegas with a competitive deal.

Special sessions are fairly common in Nevada’s Legislature, which lasts for four months every other year. There have been seven since 2013 for a variety of reasons — pandemic protocols,statewide redistricting, budget disputes and approval for $750 million in public funding to help build Allegiant Stadium when the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas.

For four months, Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly fought the new Republican governor on policy issues ranging from taxes and budgets to schools and crime, a conflict that came to a climax as Monday turned to Tuesday without a deal.

The budget disagreements stemmed from pay raises for charter school teachers that Republicans wanted and a handful of capital funds that they wanted for charter schools.

“The Senate Republicans fully support Governor Lombardo and await his call for a special session to find common ground solutions for Nevadans,” Republican Senate Minority Leader Heidi Seevers Gansert said.

Democratic Speaker Steve Yeager’s office canceled a scheduled press conference moments after midnight, when the Legislature failed to pass the fifth budget bill. In a statement, he said legislative Republicans “have once again put politics before policy” by not passing the capital improvements project.

The late-night conflicts came after lawmakers shuffled from room to room on Monday, hosting last-minute conference committees where they agreed on amendments to dozens of bills as the midnight deadline approached. Oftentimes committees would meet 10 minutes in advance and would last for as short as two minutes. The Legislature advanced dozens of bills to Lombardo’s desk, who now has 10 days to sign or veto them.

Also on Monday, a widely-supported program that would allow the state to buy back and retire groundwater rights in diminished basins died after not receiving a hearing in the Senate finance committee. It comes after the state overallocated water rights decades ago, in-part leading to a scramble for how to save groundwater water quickly. The program would have been one of the most expansive among Western states, and backers wanted at least $5 million to start the program.

Lombardo also became the first governor in the nation to veto a medical aid in dying bill, which would have allowed patients with a terminal illness, under particular circumstances, to self-administer life-ending medication. It would follow other states recently adopting such a measure, including Oregon, Washington and California. The bill has now gone through the Legislature five times without passing.

Another bill that died in the state Senate was baby bonds legislation that would have established trust funds for children born into Medicaid, and parental leave for state workers. That was a top priority for Democratic treasurer Zach Conine.

New Resource for Iowans to Learn About Emerging Drugs

DES MOINES — The Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) unveiled a new website to educate Iowans about emerging substances for which there may be little or no regulation, such as Xylazine and Kratom. The new online resource also highlights the dangers of evolving illicit substances like fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and highly potent marijuana products.

The Iowa Emerging Drugs in Iowa website provides educational information about newer or changing substances marketed for consumption in Iowa. This may include substances, products, delivery systems, or related developments for which current regulatory action or scientific consensus does not exist, or is not clear or readily available. This site also provides resources for those in need of help.

“The Emerging Drugs website identifies new, evolving and lesser-known products and product delivery systems to help Iowa parents, caregivers and others prevent youth substance use,” said ODCP Director Dale Woolery. “New substances and drug-combinations appear with increasing speed and frequency, and we sometimes have more health and safety questions than answers. The new website shares available factual information to put these products on the Iowa radar, while we learn more about them.”

A recent example of an emerging drug in Iowa is Xylazine. A prescription animal tranquilizer approved for veterinary use only, Xylazine is now being added by some drug traffickers as an adulterant in illicit opioid products that can cause addiction or death. Information about Xylazine can be found on the new Emerging Drugs website, with links to related materials such as an alert from the Iowa Poison Control Center.

Anyone with poison questions or emergencies can contact the Iowa Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 or http://www.iowapoison.org. Iowans can get help for drug using behaviors or mental health at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Service’s YourLifeIowa.org or by calling the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.

Iowa DNR Hosting “Kick Off Summer in Iowa State Parks” June 9-11

DES MOINES ⎯ Several state parks and forests will be hosting family-friendly programming and activities as part of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) new Summer Kick-Off event, June 9-11.

“Summer Kick-Off is our way of showing appreciation for our visitors with activities the entire family can enjoy,” said Sherry Arntzen, chief of Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau for the Iowa DNR.

Planned events include hikes, nature programs, fireside chats, kayaking clinics and more. Among the parks to host activities this time around will be Honey Creek State Park in Moravia and Rock Creek State Park in Kellogg.

A full list of parks and their programs, activity sheets and ideas for ways to explore parks is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/kickoffsummer.

Before your visit, be sure to download the 2023 State Park Passport for a chance to explore hidden gems and earn prizes. Learn more at www.iowadnr.gov/parkspassport

Ottumwa City Council Approves New Collective Bargaining Agreement with Police Union

By Sam Parsons

The Ottumwa City Council met last night and approved a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Ottumwa Police Union. The previous CBA had been set to expire at the end of this month.

The new CBA outlines a new pay structure for officers and communication specialists. Officers will now be paid based on a 9-step salary structure with pay increasing annually, for the first 8 years of employment, by increasing amounts. The highest salaried officers will see an increase of 6% each year. Communication specialists, meanwhile, received a market adjustment of $2 per hour starting next month with pay increases by 6% every year moving forward.

Other highlights of the new CBA include expanded holiday time (from 88 hours per year to 132), the addition of a section for K9 officers, and some language adjustments.

The Ottumwa City Council will hold its next regular meeting on June 20.

Oskaloosa City Council Making Change to City Zoning Code

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met last night and they recognized the awarding of a 2023 Brownfields EPA Grant to the city of Oskaloosa in the amount of $300,000. This grant brings the total amount of assessment grants received by the city to over $1,000,000 since 2014. The assessment grants do not require a local match and are 100% federally funded by the EPA.

The council also passed the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s zoning code, changing the “Downtown Residential” land use type to “Mixed Use Residential,” and allowing the type to be used in all business districts. The new arrangement allows for developments that have mixed use, such as a proposed 3-story building with commercial/office/retail on the ground floor, indoor parking on the lower level, and residential apartments on the upper floors. The ordinance was passed by the council unanimously.

Mother fatally shot by neighbor after dispute over playing children, sheriff says

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida mother was fatally shot through the front door of her neighbor’s home while her 9-year-old son stood next to her, a violent culmination of what police said was a 2½-year feud.

Ajike Owens, 35, was fatally shot after going to the Ocala apartment of her neighbor, who earlier had yelled at Owens’ children as they played nearby and threw a pair of skates that hit one of them, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a news conference Monday.

Deputies responding to a trespassing call at the apartment Friday night found Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. The mother of four was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died. Ocala is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Orlando.

“I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands,” Woods said. “I wish Ms. Owens would have called us in the hopes we could have never gotten to the point at which we are here today.”

Since January 2021, Woods said, deputies responded at least a half-dozen times in connection with the feuding between Owens and the woman who shot her. The sheriff’s office hasn’t arrested or identified the shooter.

Woods said detectives are working with the State Attorney’s Office and must investigate possible self-defense claims before they can move forward with any possible criminal charges.

The sheriff pointed out that because of Florida’s “stand your ground” law, he can’t legally make an arrest unless he can prove the shooter did not act in self-defense.

Before the shooting, Owens’ children had been playing in a field near the shooter’s apartment. When Owens later confronted the woman at her apartment, an argument ensued, and the woman shot Owens through the front door, according to police.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Owens’ family, said in a statement that the shooter had been yelling racial slurs at the children before the confrontation with their mother. Owens and her children are Black.

The sheriff’s office hasn’t confirmed there were slurs uttered or said whether race was a factor in the shooting.

Woods also said they haven’t interviewed Owens’ children, who witnessed the shooting, because investigators first want child therapists to work with them. Most of the information the deputies have is coming from the shooter, Woods said.

“There was a lot of aggressiveness from both of them, back and forth,” Wood said the shooter told investigators. “Whether it be banging on the doors, banging on the walls and threats being made. And then at that moment is when Ms. Owens was shot through the door.”

Woods was joined at his news conference by community leaders and a local attorney retained by the family, Anthony Thomas. Their singular message was a call for patience while the sheriff’s office conducted its investigation.

During a vigil with the family later Monday, Thomas said the sheriff had promised him the most professional service that he and his deputies could provide, and Thomas plans to hold the agency to that.

During the same gathering, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, said that she was seeking justice for her daughter and her grandchildren.

“My daughter, my grandchildren’s mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her,” Dias said. “She had no weapon. She posed no imminent threat to anyone.”

Number of calls to Iowa Concern Hotline increasing

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Concern Hotline has seen a nearly 25% increase in calls over the past 12 months.

Anyone in Iowa may call the hotline, but the round-the-clock service is primarily meant to answer questions about farm and agribusiness finances. Tammy Jacobs oversees the hotline for Iowa State University Extension.

“We see a lot of issues between husband and wife, if it’s a partnership within the family, there’s issues with the partnership in the family,” Jacobs said. “so we hear a lot about the relationship issues but after we’re talking to the people, it really stems from those financial concerns.”

The conversations are kept confidential. Trained people answer the calls and make referrals to services that might help. An attorney is available to provide free legal education. The conversations are kept confidential. Jacobs said it appears commodity prices are creating stress, especially among family farming operations.

“We really hear a lot about the succession,” she said, “and how…they’re weary and fearful about losing that farm that’s been around in the family for so long which can really be a huge stress on an individual to try to make sure that they’re doing everything they can do in order to make sure farming enterprise and continue that legacy.”

Last year’s launch of the nationwide 988 suicide hotline hasn’t really impacted the number of calls to the Iowa Concern Hotline according to Jacobs. “We tout ourselves as being more stress counseling,” she said.

The Iowa Concern Hotline was launched in 1985, during the Farm Crisis. It was originally called the Rural Concern Hotline, but the name was changed to Iowa Concern Hotline after the floods of 1993 to indicate it’s not just for farmers. In the past 12 months, the Iowa Concern Hotline fielded 6483 calls, compared to the 4912 calls it received from May 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

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