The Iowa Court of Appeals says there’s not enough evidence in a Polk County case to show that brass knuckles are a dangerous weapon. Jason Eaton was pulled over in April of 2014 after a deputy noticed the windshield on his pickup was cracked. Eaton told the deputy he had a set of brass knuckles in the glove box because friends of his ex-girlfriend had been bothering him.

Eaton was charged and entered a written plea to carrying weapons. He later asked to have the plea thrown out — saying his lawyer had given him insufficient representation as prosecutors did not prove the brass knuckles were a deadly weapon. The Iowa Court of Appeals says there is a question as to whether all brass knuckles can be considered deadly. It says there was no evidence presented, and Eaton did not admit that his set of brass knuckles were deadly.

The Appeals Court vacated Eaton’s sentence, but sent the case back to district court to allow the state a chance to present more evidence on whether Eaton’s brass knuckles may be a deadly weapon.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a Bellevue, NE., man was arrested Tuesday night on drug charges. 20-year old Chey Matthew Bullis faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug paraphernalia after the Mills County K-9 was used to locate the drugs. Bullis was being held on $1,300 bond in the Mills County Jail.

On Monday, deputies in Mills County arrested 45-year old Tony Dennis Gustin, of Omaha. Gustin was charged with Theft in the 2nd degree and hold on $2,000 bond.

And on Sunday, 19-year old Mariah Clare Storrow, of Plattsmouth, NE., was arrested in Mills County on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Her bond was set at $1,000.

(12-p.m News)

The Atlantic Police Dept. reports the arrest on Tuesday of 26-year old Kasandra Mesa. Officials say the Atlantic woman was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Mesa was booked into the Cass County Jail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s public universities can’t be sued for allegedly refusing to pay their share into a state program that subsidizes insurance for Iowans with health risks. The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal Wednesday of a lawsuit that seeks millions in assessments from the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

The Iowa Individual Health Benefit Reinsurance Association contends that the universities, like other agencies that offer self-funded health insurance plans, are legally required to pay those fees. ISU and UNI had paid them for years but all three universities refused to participate when the University of Iowa became self-insured in 2010. The Board of Regents contends the schools aren’t covered by the law.

The court says the program doesn’t have the authority to sue.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a hit-and-run accident that caused $10,000 damage north of Exira, Tuesday night. Officials say a 1992 Toyota pickup was hit from behind at around 11-p.m. on 280th Street, near Highway 71. The vehicle responsible for the damage backed-off and hit the pickup again before accelerating and shoving the pickup into the north ditch, where the vehicle hit a culvert.

The suspect vehicle, light colored, possibly large passenger car, continued westbound on 280th Street. The driver of the pickup was not hurt. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Audubon County Crimestoppers at 712-563-2234, or the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office at 563-2631. A Crimestopper’s reward is being offered leading to the arrest and conviction of the person involved in the incident.

Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Tuesday evening, acted on approving the hiring of persons to fill two teaching positions, which completes the process for the 2015-16 school year. Contracts were approved for 8th grade Science teacher Kara Martin, and 5th grade Elementary teacher Chelsea Germer.

The Board also reviewed staff reductions for the upcoming school year. The District has made cuts amounting to nearly $340,000 through certified staff reductions and $150,000 in para-educator salaries, for a total of about $490,000.