DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Charles Grassley said in an interview with KXEL Monday that there’s no record of Des Moines Public Schools using E-Verify in the employment of former Superintendent Ian Roberts. Roberts is currently in ICE custody following his arrest on September 26. Sen. Grassley sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) September 30 asking if Des Moines schools are listed in E-Verify’s records. E-Verify is a tool from the DHS that cross-references federal records for work authorization. DHS shared that E-Verify “cannot find any record that Des Moines Public Schools have ever been enrolled in E-Verify,” but they could potentially be listed under another name. Grassley also asked if using E-Verify could have prevented Roberts’ employment. DHS shared that “Roberts should have not possessed any valid documentation evidencing employment authorization.” It also said if Roberts had used an expired Employment Authorization Document, that would not have authorized his employment. E-Verify is not a mandatory service in Iowa. Des Moines Public Schools said in a statement October 3 that it is suing JG Consulting, the firm that helped hire Roberts.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Google is looking to build a data center in Linn County. Details came to light Monday morning during the Linn County Board of Supervisors Work Session meeting. On the agenda was an item for a “Water Resources and Water Balance Study.” Board member Kirsten Running-Marquardt started that portion of the meeting, saying she wanted to have a transparent conversation with the community. Running-Marquardt said Google had approached Linn County to learn more about the unincorporated areas as well as ordinances within the county. “They have a plan in place to build a large, six building data center complex next to the Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant,” said Running-Marquardt. Running-Marquardt went on to say water is a critical part of the community, and they wanted to do a study in light of two other data centers currently being built on the southwest side of town. She also said Google had also approached Duane Arnold about getting the plant back online as well.
LINN COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Court documents are revealing new details in a road rage incident that left a man charged with attempted murder. A criminal complaint says a Mount Vernon officer responded to 1641 Highway 1 in Mount Vernon about 12:45 p.m. on Sunday and tried to make contact with Brent Wallenmeyer. The officer says Wallenmeyer refused to get out of his vehicle at first but then ran at him with a machete. Linn County Deputies arrived at the scene and started interviewing witnesses who said Wallenmeyer pulled his vehicle out in front of another vehicle. They say, then, he got out of the vehicle and waved a machete over his head before walking into the middle of road and swinging the machete at other vehicles. Another driver says Wallenmeyer waved her over to the side of the road. The driver believes he was trying to carjack her. She says she tried to drive away and he struck her with the dull side of the machete, cutting her. Deputies also learned that prior to the machete incidents, Wallenmeyer had caused damage at another scene. The owner of a property, also on Highway 1, said Wallenmeyer had driven into his outbuildings and and rammed his vehicle into two of the property owner’s vehicles. Court documents say the damage to the outbuilding is estimated to be more than $10,000, and the damage to each vehicle is more than $1,500. Deputies say Wallenmeyer was, in their opinion, demonstrating signs of being under the influence of methamphetamine. Deputies say he admitted to using meth. He failed an initial sobriety test and refused others. Wallenmeyer faces charges of attempted murder, first degree robbery, first and second degree criminal mischief, willful injury – causing bodily injury, going armed with intent, interference with official acts – dangerous weapon, assault displaying a dangerous weapon, and operating while under the influence 1st offense.
FAYETTE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Fayette County man died Sunday while mowing a ditch. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded at 3:17 p.m. to the area of Juniper Road and 290th Street, which is about halfway between West Union and Ossian. Deputies say Jacob Bricker, 84 of West Union, was mowing a ditch and lost control of his riding mower and went off an embankment. The accident killed him. The incident is under investigation.
