Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad and lawmakers say they want to work on roads funding during the 2015 legislative session, but no one is committing to a specific plan. The Republican governor and legislative leaders spoke yesterday during an Associated Press Legislative Forum.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A fired manager at an Iowa-based halal food supplier accused of fraud agreed to cooperate with prosecutors months ago under a plea deal. A plea agreement released Tuesday shows Phillip Payne agreed in May to “fully and completely cooperate” in the investigation of the Midamar Corporation. The document shows that Payne worked as Midamar’s operations manager, but was fired in 2012 after telling the Cedar Rapids-based company he intended to seek employment elsewhere.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A February 23rd sentencing has been scheduled for an Illinois man convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in a Burlington motel parking lot. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports 35-year-old Phillip Evans of Wood River, Illinois pleaded guilty on Monday as the prosecutor told a judge that a vehicular homicide charge would be dropped for lack of evidence.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled later this month for a Mason City man accused of vehicular homicide and other crimes. The Mason City Globe Gazette says 47-year-old Victor Rivera pleaded not guilty on Monday. His trial is set to begin on January 27th.

A local developer’s request for $360,000 in Tax Increment Financing from the City of Atlantic could result in as much as $70,000 in tax revenue once the nearly $4-million dollar housing project is completed and the homes are sold. Don Sonntag appeared before the City Council Wednesday night to ask for the TIF, which the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has recommended the Council approve. The matter was discussed, but no action was taken during the Council’s session. Instead, it’s expected to be placed on their agenda at a later date.

The TIF application is for the Southern Heights View Development Project, which would be located between East 19th and East 22nd Streets. Councilperson Kathy Somers, who is on the P&F Committee, said there was some concern brought up during the Committee’s meeting Monday evening, about congestion along 19th Street near two local residential care facilities that would be created as the project is being brought to fruition. The Committee decided it would recommend to the Council 19th Street be widened to eliminate any potential congestion.

Sonntag said the 28 unit complex has an approximate valuation of $3.5-to 4-million. 16 of the units would be located along 19th Street, with 12 additional units near 22nd. He said it will be a combination of rentals and condominiums, some without basements, some with walk-out basements. In addition, Sonntag said he would be willing to commit to building one or two regular homes on property located along Olive Street in the same area, that’s owned by his son.

Sonntag reiterated the need for more housing in Atlantic, in pitching the project to the Council. He said there are less than one-half dozen lots available in town for someone wanting to build a 250-to 300 thousand dollar home. Sonntag said there are people who are looking for those size lots, and if they aren’t available, will look toward Harlan and Carroll to build their homes.

Sonntag says if the TIF is approved, the $360,000 – payable by the City in three $120,000 installments – will be used to help with infrastructure improvements and other matters associated with the development project, to help make the final costs affordable to potential buyers of the properties.

The Atlantic City Council officially met the man whom it’s assumed will become the new City Attorney. Current City Attorney Dave Wiederstein, who was elected Cass County Attorney in November, introduced Jamie Arnold to the Council. Arnold comes to Atlantic from North Carolina, along with his wife and two children, one that’s nearly two-years old, the other, six. Once he receives his license to practice law in Iowa, he will officially be an Associate with the Law Firm of Otto, Lorence & Wiederstein, PLLC. In addition, Arnold will maintain a private practice and is expected to be appointed Assistant Cass County Attorney, helping to prosecute criminal matters.

Atty. Jamie Arnold

Arnold addressed the Council as well, in his distinct, somewhat southern drawal. He said “You can tell I’m not from around here, but we didn’t just pick a spot on a map and throw darts at it and pick Iowa. My wife is actually from southwest Iowa, so we have some ties here.” He said people have been very good to him and he looks forward to working in Atlantic.

Arnold’s wife is originally from Bedford. Wiederstein said because Arnold had been practicing law in North Carolina, he doesn’t not have to take the Iowa Bar Exam. He says Arnold is simply waiting for some paperwork to be processed by a clearing house in order to receive his license to practice law here.

A Red Oak man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for allegedly taking chopped wood that didn’t belong to him. Officials say 60-year old James Donald Uhlmann, Sr., was taken into custody at around 4:25-p.m. after he allegedly walked onto property owned by Gail Ann Rohner and took chopped wood valued at $200 that had been prepared by Rohner. Uhlmann had been previously warned not to commit the crime but ignored the warning. He was charged with 5th Degree Theft and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $300 bond.

And, at around 2:30-p.m. Wednesday, Matthew Wayne Echternach, of Essex, was arrested for Driving While Suspended, after the vehicle he was operating was pulled over on east Nuckols Street, in Red Oak. Echternach was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and later posted a $300 bond before being released.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to providing alcohol to a teenager before a fatal car crash in August. Twenty-one-year-old Matthias Stork, of Breda, entered his written plea Wednesday in Sac County District Court on two counts of selling, giving or supplying alcohol to a minor resulting in death. The Sioux City Journal reports his trial is scheduled to begin in March.

Stork is accused of supplying beer to a 17-year-old in August who later drove a vehicle. The teen’s car crashed into a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Bailey Jacobsen. She and her passenger, 16-year-old Lindsey Quirk, both of Wall Lake, were killed.

The teen driver has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide. Authorities say his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Thursday (today) of 32-year Matthew West,  of Council Bluffs. West was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was
set at $5000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad and lawmakers say they want to work on roads funding during the 2015 legislative session, but no one is committing to a specific plan. Branstad and legislative leaders spoke Wednesday during an Associated Press Legislative Forum. Branstad said he hopes to find consensus soon on a way to increase funding for state bridges and roads, many of which are considered deteriorating or deficient.

Branstad is not saying how he wants to do this. One option is raising the state fuel tax, currently 22 cents per gallon of gasoline, including fees. Branstad said other state or local taxes and fees are also options. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen expressed interest in finding common ground early in the session, which starts Monday.