A Cedar Rapids priest has stepped down in response to allegations he was behaving inappropriately. According to a statement from the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Father Pierre Joseph is accused of behavior prompting an investigation into abuse allegations. The Archbishop asked for and received the resignation of Father Joseph as Pastor of Immaculate Conception parish and St. Wenceslaus parish, effective immediately. The Archdiocese says no further formal actions were taken, and that the action should not be taken to mean that the allegations were proven to be true, or that the priest admitted guilt. Father Aaron Junge will serve as Administrator of the parishes until the new Pastor is able to assume his duties.
Police say a 15-year-old was taken into custody after a pursuit with a stolen car early Wednesday morning in Waterloo. Officers tried to pull the car over for a headlight that wasn’t working in the 600 block of Sumner Street shortly after midnight. The chase eventually ended when the driver drove into a ditch near Idaho Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Police say the driver and a passenger got out of the car and tried to run away. Police caught and detained the 15-year-old male passenger, who was released to his parents. They have not found the driver. The car was not damaged and was returned to its owner.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than previous COVID aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and may be refined. USDA will reopen sign-up for CFAP2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021
Two inmates were trying to escape from the state penitentiary in Anamosa Tuesday when they attacked and killed two employees with hammers in the break room of the infirmary. 50-year-old nurse Lorrena Schulte and 46-year-old correctional officer Robert McFarland were killed by inmates Thomas Woodard and Michael Dutcher…who now face counts of first degree murder and second degree kidnapping for refusing to let a third staff member leave the room when she came to assist the victims. One inmate who was also trying to protect victims, McKinley Roby, was injured.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors Wednesday approved a $130.7 million budget for fiscal year 2022. The newly approved budget does not raise the countywide or rural services property tax rate. Commercial and industrial property taxes also remain unchanged. Agricultural property taxes will increase approximately 3 percent, however, due to a change in the state agricultural rollback. And even with no change in Linn County’s countywide levy rate, homeowners could still see a 2.3 percent increase in their county property taxes due to the increase in taxable value as a result of a similar change in the state residential rollback.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said at a news conference Wednesday that the state remains on target to open up vaccine eligibility to all Iowans on April 5. After a phone call with the White House, Reynolds learned Iowa will see an increase of roughly 25,000 doses. That will bring the state’s total to more than 128,000 doses of vaccine which will include 18,000 of the Johnson & Johnson ‘one dose’ vaccines, which will be used for employer vaccination clinics next week. Reynolds said the administration anticipates our state will receive an even larger allocation of Johnson & Johnson vaccine the first full week of April.
One of North Iowa’s biggest events will be back this summer. The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce says the annual 4th of July festival will be held June 30 through July 5. After cancelling the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chamber says it has remained in contact with public health officials and as more people get vaccinated and more outdoor events are scheduled, it made the decision to go ahead with the 2021 festival…but will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and could change plans if necessary. The free festival has plans for fireworks on the evening of July 4th and, since Independence Day falls on a Sunday this year, the annual parade is set for Monday, July 5, to avoid any conflicts with church attendance.
