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DA stands by prosecutor in Alec Baldwin set-shooting case

Posted on by Sam Parsons

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A district attorney in Santa Fe fought back Monday against efforts to disqualify the special prosecutor pursuing manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.

Baldwin’s legal team in February sought to disqualify special prosecutor and Republican state Rep. Andrea Reeb of Clovis based on constitutional provisions that safeguard the separation of powers between distinct branches of government.

Defense attorneys argued that Reeb’s role as a state lawmaker and prosecutor are incompatible and could distort legislative and judicial actions, including state spending on the prosecution of Baldwin over the 2021 shooting on the set of the Western movie “Rust.”

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies on Monday called the objection a “novel theory that has no support in new Mexico statutes or case law.”

She said the state constitution provides a variety of safeguards against legislators interfering with the outcome of ongoing court cases.

“Any attempt by Ms. Reeb as a legislator to influence the outcome of this trial would be completely ineffective,” Carmack-Altwies said in a court filing.

Since joining the legislature in January, Reeb has steered clear of voting on public spending to prosecute Baldwin and film-set weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. She was excused from a House floor vote in February on a proposed state budget that includes $360,000 for special prosecution expenses in the fatal film-set shooting.

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 18-months in prison and fines.

Hutchins died shortly after being wounded Oct. 21, 2021, during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza. A likely preliminary hearing is still months away to decide whether evidence is sufficient to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has signed an agreement to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon. A judge is scheduled to consider approval of the plea agreement later this month.

Prosecution in the death of Hutchins is currently underwritten by an emergency state grant, approved in September 2022 by the State Board of Finance that is led by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Reeb is listed as a sponsor or cosponsor on several criminal justice initiatives, including enhanced punishments for firearms violations, as legislators explore ways to rein in surging violent crime. She previously served as district attorney for a judicial district on the eastern plains of New Mexico.

Auditor opposes $4.175 million settlement with former Hawkeye players

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A more than $4 million legal settlement has been reached with a dozen former University of Iowa football players and the three member State Appeals Board meets this afternoon to review and approve it. The players alleged the Hawkeye program was a racially hostile environment for black players.

State Auditor Rob Sand, a member of the Appeals Board, will vote against the settlement because Iowa taxpayers would pay $2 million of it. “This is now the fourth discrimination settlement while Gary Barta has been the athletic director at the University of Iowa,” Sand said during a news conference in his statehouse office. “Enough is enough.”

Sand, who is a graduate of the University of Iowa law school, said the only way he’d support the settlement is if Barta is ousted and forfeits any severance pay. “There’s a certain point at which an institution needs to communicate to the public that it isn’t just a group of insiders protecting each other and that’s what I think this settlement feels like unless Barta’s gone.”

Barta has not responded to Sand’s remarks, but issued a written statement this morning about the settlement. He said the University of Iowa Athletic Department “remains committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for every student-athlete and staff member involved in our program.”

The attorney general’s office is recommending approval of the settlement with the former Hawkeye football players. In similar instances, attorneys have argued the State of Iowa could likely spend far more money if the lawsuit is heard by a judge and jury. Sand told reporters that’s not a persuasive argument in this case.

“The easiest way to save taxpayers’ money is to have the person most responsible for these kind of decisions taking care of them and having some accountability themselves,” Sand said.

Sand, who has been state auditor since 2019, has opposed three other legal settlements involving state officials accused of sexual harassment because taxpayers were covering the entire cost of the settlements.

Central College Announces Spring Music Programs

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA, IA — Central College’s music program prepares for a busy March including a Spring Break tour and concerts.

Join the Flying Pans Steel Band in Douwstra Auditorium for their Caribbean-style post-tour concert. The ensemble will be performing at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 19. The concert concludes their Spring Break tour to eight different schools and universities in Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska. The performance will be directed by Stan Dahl, senior lecturer of music and Central Music Academy instructor. Admission is free.

Central’s ALMA ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 24, in Cox-Snow Recital Hall. The variety of genres and their diverse rhythm section will provide for an engaging performance. Gabriel Espinosa, associate professor of music and 1979 Central graduate, will direct the ensemble. The concert is free.

On Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, Central will be hosting the annual Iowa National Association of Teachers of Singing conference. Members include voice teachers from universities and private studios across Iowa. Students are also encouraged to attend and audition for a singing competition. There is no official public performance during the conference. Sean Stephenson, associate professor of music, is looking for volunteers to assist with the event. He can be emailed directly at stephensons@central.edu.

Oskaloosa Community Schools Encourages Families to Utilize Virtual Backpack Resource

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA, IA — In an effort to reduce costs and paper waste, Oskaloosa Community Schools is encouraging families to utilize its Virtual Backpack webpage in lieu of sending flyers home with students.

The Virtual Backpack advertises community-wide events open to all Osky students and families. The webpage is updated regularly with flyers that are screened and approved for distribution by district administration. Additionally, the webpage is available as a widget in the free Osky Schools app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App stores.

“Across the country, many schools have shifted away from having organizations print hundreds of flyers to place in children’s backpacks,” said Mike Fisher, Osky Schools Superintendent. “Our Virtual Backpack is a simple approach to communicate the events in our community, and we are hopeful it will keep parents and guardians more informed in our increasingly digital world.”

Local organizations can submit their flyer and event information for the Virtual Backpack at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/24mztee9

The Osky Schools Virtual Backpack can be accessed at https://www.oskycsd.org/parent-resources/virtual-backpack or in the free Osky Schools app.

Blommers, Foster, Van Veldhuizen Honored By Little Hawkeye Conference

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Little Hawkeye Conference unveiled its 2022-23 all-conference girls basketball teams with honorable mentions today, and 3 members of the Oskaloosa Indians were honored: senior Presley Blommers (1st team), sophomore Dasia Foster (2nd team), and junior Lydia Van Veldhuizen (honorable mention).

Also representing the area were a total of 5 players from Pella (Kylie Tauke, Mia Warner, Kennedy Van Vark, Hailey Van Vark, Tristan Gordon), 3 players from Pella Christian (Joslyn Terpstra, Faith Kacmarynski, Anna Eveland), 5 players from Grinnell (Bailey Strovers, Leah Harris, Haidyn Hull, Katelyn Van Compernolle, Kelsey Van Compernolle) and 3 players from Newton (Sophia Reynolds, Alex Garvis, Cadie Horn).

Blommers started 20 games at point guard and led the team in points per game (18.4), assists per game (2.9), steals per game (3.1), and free throw percentage (76.4%). Her 18.4 points per game ranked 7th in the state in class 4A and 1st in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

Foster played all 22 games for the Indians and was the #2 scorer at 12.5 points per game, but led the team in rebounds (13.2) and blocks (2.1) per game. Her 13.2 rebounds per game ranked 1st across all 4A players in the state, and her 46 blocks tied for 5th in the state among 4A girls.

Van Veldhuizen played 21 games, all starts, for Osky, and was 3rd on the team in points per game (6.0), rebounds per game (4.5), and assists per game (1.7). She was 2nd on the team in 3-pointers made (21).

The full list of honorees from the Little Hawkeye Conference can be found below:

University of Massachusetts warns of TikTok drinking trend

Posted on by Sam Parsons

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — The University of Massachusetts is warning about a TikTok drinking trend after 28 ambulances were summoned to off-campus parties.

Students were observed Saturday carrying jugs with a mixture of alcohol, electrolytes, flavoring and water, dubbed “blackout rage gallons,” or “BORGs,” in a binge-drinking trend gaining traction on TikTok, officials said.

There were so many calls for ambulances for student alcohol intoxication that neighboring agencies stepped in to help, officials said. The Amherst Fire Department said none of the cases were life-threatening. UMass Police reported two arrests for underage drinking.

UMass officials said this is the first time the university has observed widespread use of BORGs at off-campus parties.

In a statement, the university said the weekend’s events will be assessed and steps taken to improve alcohol education. Incoming students already learn about physiological and medical risks of binge drinking.

The weekend’s festivities are known among UMass students as the “Blarney Blowout,” an annual unsanctioned event related to upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, local media reported.

Iowa’s high school graduation rate holds steady

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES – Iowa’s high school graduation rate remains high for the graduating class of 2022, the second full year following the pandemic, according to figures released today by the Iowa Department of Education.

State data show 89.9 percent of students in Iowa’s Class of 2022 graduated within four years, which is only a slight decrease from 90.2 percent for the Class of 2021. Following several years of steady progress prior to the onset of the pandemic, Iowa’s four-year graduation rate for the graduating class of 2022 is still 0.6 percentage points above where it was 10 years ago.

Despite this small drop, Iowa’s graduation rate is higher than its neighboring states. Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota all recently reported graduation rates below Iowa’s, ranging from 82.2 to 89.7 percent. 2022 graduation rates for Minnesota and Wisconsin are not yet available.

“Students in the graduating class of 2022 were in 10th grade when the pandemic forced us to close schools in the spring of 2020,” said Ann Lebo, director of the Iowa Department of Education. “Students transitioned between learning models while facing a multitude of challenges during their junior year. But I have learned that students are resilient. As we move forward, we must continue to work with our school partners to ensure all students have the support and resources needed to succeed.”

Iowa received nearly $775 million in 2021 through a third round of federal relief funding for Pre-K-12 schools to address a variety of pandemic-related expenses and strategies. At least 20 percent of the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funds available to school districts must be used to address disruptions to learning caused by the pandemic. Districts have until September 2024 to expend the funds.

Iowa graduation rates are calculated with a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education. Unique student identification numbers allow school districts to account for all ninth-grade students as they move through high school. At the state level, the method helps determine when a student graduates, even if the student has switched districts during high school.

Iowa’s five-year graduation rate — which reflects students who were part of a graduating class but took an extra year to finish high school — was 92.5 percent for the Class of 2021, down slightly from 93.5 percent for the Class of 2020.

Iowa’s annual dropout rate reflects the percent of students in grades 9-12 who dropped out of school during a single year. The annual dropout rate was 3.04 percent for the 2021-22 school year. The state’s 2021-22 dropout rate represents 4,698 students in grades 9 through 12.

More information on Iowa’s graduation rates and dropout rates, including rates by school district and student group, are available on the Department of Education’s Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage.

Ottumwa/Wapello County Recycling Center to Increase Tire Disposal Fee April 1st, 2023

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OTTUMWA, IA — Inflated tire disposal costs have driven the Ottumwa/Wapello County Recycling Center to raise the fee for disposing of tires.

Residents of Wapello and Davis Counties have previously been allowed to dispose of up to five tires per year for free, while commercial customers could dispose of bulk tires for $130 per ton. However, it costs the Recycling Center an average $300 per ton to dispose of tires. To reverse this loss, the Ottumwa/Wapello County Solid Waste Commission approved a fee increase effective April 1. Fees will be set at $3.00 per tire for all customers and $300 per ton for bulk tires. Customers will still drop off tires at the Ottumwa/Wapello County Recycling Center.

The Recycling Center is located at 2415 Emma Street. The Recycling Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday. For additional information about the tire policy or any other recycling issues call 683-0685.

North Mahaska’s Lane Harmon Awarded Prestigious National Honor Society Scholarship

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW SHARON – The National Honor Society announced that Lane Harmon, a high school senior at North Mahaska and member of NHS, has been selected as an NHS Scholarship semifinalist. 

Since 1946, more than $21 million in scholarships have been awarded to outstanding NHS senior members to support college access and student success. The scholarship program is supported by the parent organization of NHS, the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

“I am so proud of Lane for receiving this scholarship.” said National Honor Society co-sponsor, Rachel Martin. “Lane is a hard-working student and is always willing to step in when we need him. Lane is a leader and exemplifies the pillars that NHS represents.”

At North Mahaska, Harmon is currently serving as the student body president and has been a student mentor. He has also been a part of the cross-country and basketball teams. He has participated in Teenserve missions and helped with the PROS Youth Group. This fall, he will attend the University of Northern Iowa to study marketing with a possible minor in communications or journalism.

In the 100+ years since NHS was founded in 1921, members have been making a difference in their schools and communities, and the NHS Scholarship is NASSP’s way of recognizing the most exceptional of these student leaders. Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated work to support the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

For more information about the NHS, visit  www.nhs.us.

US to send more ammo, folding armored bridges to Ukraine

Posted on by Sam Parsons

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is expected to announce a new package of military aid for Ukraine Friday, including —for the first time — eight armored vehicles that can launch bridges and allow troops to cross rivers or other gaps, U.S. officials said Thursday.

The officials said the total cost of the package will be about $400 million and will also include large amounts of ammunition, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. It comes just a week after the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and as Ukrainian forces are preparing for a spring offensive.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been publicly announced.

The so-called Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge is a portable, 60-foot folding metal bridge that is carried on top of a tank body. Providing that system now could help Ukrainian troops as they launch the expected offensive, and make it easier for troops to cross rivers to get to Russian forces.

Including this latest package, the U.S. has now provided more than $32 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The vehicle bridges and ammunition in the package will be taken from Pentagon stocks through the presidential drawdown authority, so they will be able to be delivered quickly to the warfront.

The aid will also include an undisclosed amount of rounds for howitzers, other ammunition, demolition munitions and other equipment to clear obstacles, spare parts and equipment for vehicle maintenance and repair.

The announcement comes on the heels of a brief meeting Thursday between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations in New Delhi. It was the highest-level in-person talk between the two countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between the two nations.

Blinken said he told Lavrov the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Lavrov, who did not mention speaking with Blinken when he held a news conference after the meeting, told reporters Moscow would continue to press its action in Ukraine.

The war had largely slowed to a grinding stalemate during the winter months, but both sides are expected to be preparing to launch offensives in the spring.

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