DES MOINES, Iowa – Those who served our country will be honored at Veterans Day events across Iowa on Tuesday, but a look behind the scenes shows many returning vets struggle with a myriad of issues. Attorney Todd Schmidt is an advocate for veterans at Iowa Legal Aid, which provides free legal advice and assistance for residents who can’t afford an attorney.

“We’ve had clients that have had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of their experience in Iraq or Afghanistan and that can create a lot of other issues,” says Schmidt. He says the civil legal help they offer can involve veterans benefits, consumer issues, family matters and more.

One common problem is affordable housing. Schmidt says Iowa Legal Aid is among the partners in the state now working with those who are homeless and unstably-housed through the Supportive Services for Veterans and Families program. “We do a legal assessment with each veteran to see if they have any civil legal issues,” says Schmidt. “If they do, we’re able to help them more readily than we would normally be able to as a result of this program.”

In all, Iowa is home to more than 230,000 veterans.

(Iowa News Service)

The Creston Police Department reports two incidents of theft and once incident of vandalism were investigated over the weekend, and one person was taken into custody. 34-year old Brian Lee Rhodes, of Creston, was arrested Friday at the Union County Jail on a charge of Simple Assault. Rhodes was later released on a promised to appear in court.

An elderly Creston resident reported to police on Sunday, that her cell phone had been taken sometime between 2-pm and 7-pm that day. The loss was estimated at $50. On Saturday, a resident on north Birch Street in Creston reported her basement was broken into sometime between Nov. 5th and 8th. Someone stole a toolbox with six drawers, 5 gallons of paint, a bicycle, a space heater, weed eater, an air conditioner, and a chain saw. The loss was estimated at $600.

And a resident on south Division Street in Creston reported Saturday, that someone shot out the windows of a home at 210 south Maple Street. A b-b gun is believed to be the weapon used. Damage was estimated at $125.

A hearing will be held this (Monday) morning, on requests for a change of venue and a continuance (postponement), along with the waiving of a speedy trial, for an Atlantic woman accused of faking her daughter’s cancer by administering drugs that could have potentially harmed the girl. The hearing for 30-year old Leatha Slauson is scheduled to begin at 9-a.m., in Cass County District Court. If Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner’s motion, and one made last month by Slauson’s attorney to have her trial moved out of Cass County are denied, the woman’s trial will begin Wednesday.

In last month’s motion for a Change of Venue, Slauson Attorney Jaz Mez said the woman’s trial should be moved due to extensive media coverage, gossip, rumors and speculation by residents in Cass County that would make selecting a fair and impartial jury impossible. Earlier, Mez had said Slauson was competent to stand trial, but unable to tell right from wrong. Mez is expected to use a defense of “Diminished Responsibility” when her case comes before a jury.

Authorities say Slauson lied about her daughter having cancer, inserted a feeding tube into the 5-year-old girl and gave her drugs and cannabis oils. Slauson has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including assault, child endangerment and theft by deception.