DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Sen. Jack Hatch has chosen a Cedar Rapids city councilwoman as his running mate as he seeks to unseat Gov. Terry Branstad in November. Hatch is announcing in Cedar Rapids that Monica Vernon is his choice to run alongside him for lieutenant governor.  A biography posted Tuesday on his campaign website says she is serving her second four-year term on the city council.

She is founder of Vernon Research Group, a market research firm. She has also worked as a community relations director for Mount Mercy University and was previously a reporter for the Gazette.  Vernon, who is 56, ran for Iowa’s U.S. House 1st District seat coming in second behind Iowa Rep. Pat Murphy.

She is married to an attorney, Bill Vernon, and has three adult daughters.

The Iowa Board of Social Work, last week, acted to suspend the license of a Creston man. The Board ruled on June 10th that Master Social Work practitioner Kenneth Hayes had repeatedly violated the terms of his “Impaired Practitioner Recovery Contract,” as established by the seven-member Impaired Practitioner Review Committee.

Hayes is said to have repeatedly consumed alcohol which was proven through the results of three separate tests. He also ceased participating in a chemical screening program, and was discharged from a treatment aftercare Program facilitated by Zion Recovery Services, for lack of compliance and lack of progress in rehabilitation.

Hayes’ is required to stop practicing social work and pay a total of $130 in fees associated with the proceedings in his case. Hayes has 30 days to appeal his suspension to a district court, with the cost of the appeal his sole responsibility.

Monday’s night’s meeting of the CAM School Board was the last such meeting for Superintendent Steve Pelzer.  Pelzer told KJAN News he officially retired and handed in his letter of resignation, so the district can move forward with its Superintendent sharing agreement with Nodaway Valley. His last day will be June 30th. When asked what he would do in his retirement, Pelzer joked “I think going to be a radio announcer.”

In addition to approving Pelzer’s retirement and resignation, the CAM School Board took action on a few other contracts. He says they had a resignation from Kyle Williams – Head of Maintenance, resignations from various coaching positions because of a moves to different positions, 1st grade teacher Alisha Lindquist resigned to accept a position with the Atlantic School District, and, a contract was issued to new Athletic Director, Joe Wollum.

Pelzer said also, the Board signed a sharing agreement with Nodaway Valley for a part-time counselor. He said that individual will serve the CAM District in the south Elementary and Middle School for about 40% of the contract, two days per week

And, the CAM School Board finalized an agreement with Nodaway Valley for the sharing of their Superintendent, Casey Berlau, effective July 1st.

(9-a.m. News)

Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities report a large power outage caused by last night’s storms is effecting several AMU customers. The utility says crews are working on restoring service at this time.  As of 7:40-a.m., AMU officials said with the exception of about 20 customers, most have had their power restored. Those who remain should see the lights come back on within the hour.

The affected AMU customers weren’t the only ones who started off their day without “juice.” Tens of thousands of other Iowa residents were without power early this morning after severe storms packing high winds and heavy rain crossed the state. The Des Moines Register reports MidAmerican Energy had more than 27,000 customers without power early Tuesday morning due to the severe weather. Alliant Energy reported nearly 12,000 Iowa customers without power, including about 6,000 in the Cedar Rapids area.

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives showed nearly 800 customers without power, with the most in Franklin County.The storms were part of a large system that walloped parts of other Midwest states, including Nebraska.