Police in Red Oak report the arrest early this (Saturday) morning of 33-year old Ryan Michael McDougall. The Red Oak man was taken into custody at around 12:25-a.m. in the 700 block of East Washington Avenue, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. McDougall was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) — A judge sentenced a Denison man to life in prison without parole for killing an elderly couple last year and then lighting their home on fire. The Sioux City Journal reports Judge John Ackerman on Friday sentenced 20-year-old Jayden Chapman to consecutive life terms without parole. A jury convicted Chapman last month of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 80-year-old Marvin Huelsing and 81-year-old Alice Huisenga at a trailer home. He also was convicted of reckless use of fire.

Trial evidence shows Chapman and another man convicted in the case, 27-year-old Michael Schenk, of Denison, were stealing scrap metal when the elderly couple arrived. Chapman and Schenk shot them and set their trailer on fire.

Chapman still faces charges related to an attempted escape from jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have adjourned the 2015 legislative session, approving a $7.3 billion spending plan that includes modest increases for education, funding to maintain mental health institutions and a tax-break for broadband Internet infrastructure.

The Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-controlled House concluded their work Friday afternoon. Their budget bills move to Gov. Terry Branstad, who must decide whether he will sign off.

Under the compromise spending deal, the state will spend about $7.3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The deal represents only a slight increase over the current spending and includes $7.17 billion in ongoing spending, plus $135 million in one-time payments for items like schools, universities and Medicaid. Those payments will come from the surplus fund dollars left at the end of the current fiscal year.

Around 96-percent of the men and women in Iowa’s prison will eventually be released and corrections officials are hoping a federal grant will help them reduce the number of inmates who return to prison. Beth Skinner is the Recidivism Reduction Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC). She came to Iowa from New York earlier this year, shortly after the DOC was awarded a $3 million Second Chance Act grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“We’re looking at areas we’ve done work in and kind of upgrading them, enhancing them, and building upon that to reduce recidivism,” Skinner said. Last year, Iowa’s prison recidivism rate dropped to 29.7-percent. That’s down from 45-percent 15 years ago. Iowa’s prisons are currently holding 8,267 inmates. That’s more than 13-percent over the design capacity of the facilities. Skinner is certain the recidivism rate can be further reduced, ultimately decreasing the overall prison population.

“We are going to be looking at how we do business. We’re going to be looking at the practices we use and the programs we use with offenders. We’re going to be ensuring that we’re using evidence-based practices, practices that we know reduce recidivism. So, of course we’re going to make an impact on that (the overall prison population),” Skinner said. The $3 million grant from the DOJ is spread out over three years. Skinner delivered an update on the program before an Iowa Board of Corrections meeting today (Friday) in Fort Dodge.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled marriages in the state can’t be ended without all the property involved being divided up. The case involved Susan and Ronald Thatcher, who were married in 1984. Susan was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January 2013 and filed to end the 29-year marriage, saying their relationship had broken down. Ronald resisted the ending the marriage.

The Linn County District Court ruled in favor of Susan one day before her death, and ordered the property to be divided at a later date. The ruling was upheld on appeal. The Iowa Supreme Court says Iowa law does not directly address the issue known as bifurcation. The court says there are some advantages to a bifurcated divorce, but also many disadvantages in separating the property of those involved.

The court says the Iowa legislature is the appropriate body to make the policy judgments on whether to allow bifurcated divorces and under what conditions. The Supreme Court vacated the appeals ruling and reversed the district court ruling and says the probate court will now decide how the property is divided.

(Radio Iowa)