DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill meant to further relieve the financial stress of disabled veterans in the state has won the unanimous support of the Iowa Senate.  The Senate voted 50-0 Tuesday to expand a homestead tax credit already in place for disabled veterans. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration.

Under current law, eligibility for the credit is limited to disabled veterans who have an income of $35,000 or less and have acquired their home through certain federal programs. The proposal would make the tax credit available to disabled veterans regardless of income and how the home was purchased, and extend the credit to surviving spouses or children.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says the bill is a small way to better help disabled veterans financially.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – More than 100 slot machines have been delivered for the new Hard Rock casino in Sioux City. General manager Todd Moyer told the Sioux City Journal that officials spent more than nine months researching machines and games and visiting other Iowa casinos to check the competition. Moyer says Hard Rock’s selections included “the best of the best” slot machines.

The slots will accept bets ranging from a penny to $25 per play.  Up to 850 machines should be installed for the opening of the $128.5 million project. The opening is expected to occur by late July or early August.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting Wednesday morning in Atlantic. The only item on their agenda other than regular departmental reports, is the appointment of an individual to fill a vacancy term on the Cass County Conservation Board.

In Greenfield, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. On their agenda, is an amendment to Construction Permit Applications, the Consideration of Rescoring of Circle G Pork with an Amended Matrix, and a resignation letter from County Sheriff Brad Newton, along with related discussion of vacancy procedures. Newton’s resignation, if approved by the Board, isn’t expected to be in effect until July.

In other business, the Adair County Board will hear from Custodian Rich Wallace, with regard to ceiling fans, and T-J Oder, with regard to County-owned property.

The Harlan Community School District’s Board of Education has approved a wage increase for non-certified support staff and administrators. In a regular meeting Monday, the board agreed to an 8 percent increase for the support staff and a 16.85 percent for Superintendent Justin Wagner. The administration was increased the same as the HEA at 4.26 percent. Superintendent Justin Wagner says the support staff took it upon themselves to figure out where they were in the Hawkeye 10.

“So they agreed, a group of about seven women, non-certified staff members said let’s walk through a comparative-ability study. We want to see what the people in the Hawkeye 10 that do our job make. Well six months later, they found out they are ten out of ten or nine out of ten in a lot of categories. We took some steps to try and get the increase. Last night we had a recommendation for the 8 percent increase because we have to start bumping up.”

The increase for Superintendent Wagner was also due to being in the bottom tier of the Hawkeye 10. In other business, the Harlan Community School Board approved two separate STEM Sharing Agreements. The first was with Iowa Western Community College for a three year agreement to host STEM classes. In addition, IWCC agreed to pay for ½ the teaching fees, $60,000 towards technology support and training costs. The second STEM agreement was with the A-H-S-T school district for two class periods and costs for the classes. The STEM agreement will need to be approved by the AHST School Board of Education at their next meeting to go in affect.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Atlantic Police Department reports two people were arrested on drug charges, Monday. 32-year old Ryan Paul, and 52-year old Sharadee Witt, both of Atlantic, each face Possession with the Intent to Distribute/Methamphetamine, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Gathering where controlled substances are used and distributed, charges. Both were booked into the Cass County Jail.

An investigation into a fight in progress Sunday in Harlan led to the arrest of  three people. Officers  called to the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue subsequently arrested 23-year old Roger McIntosh, of  Portsmouth, 31-year old Eric Labenz, and 30-year old Jessica Dunn, both of Harlan. The suspects were taken to the Shelby County Jail and charged with intoxication in public, as well as disorderly conduct. Labenz and Dunn were also charged with simple assault, while McIntosh was charged with assault causing bodily injury. Labenz was transported to Myrtue Medical Center by private vehicle where he was treated for lacerations to his face and then released to police custody.

This past Saturday, officers in Harlan arrested 45-year old Mark Boardman, of Portsmouth, on a charge of Trespassing. His arrest took place after officers were called to the 500 block of 23rd Street following a report of an intoxicated person who would not leave the property.

And on Friday, 20-year old Shawn Hansen, of Harlan, was taken into custody after officers conducted a follow up investigation into a burglary in the North Park neighborhood. Hansen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited acts penalties, and possessing contraband.

A couple from Dallas, Texas were arrested Monday afternoon following a pursuit in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News 25-year old Mario Guerrero-Jaquez and 30-year old Elsa Aguirre, were charged with Theft in the 1st degree, after they allegedly stole a white Ford F-350 pickup from the parking lot of the AMC Theater in Council Bluffs.

The incident began at around 3:30-p.m.   Danker says Elsa Aguirre was following her boyfriend in a black Ford pickup after the other vehicle was stolen. A deputy observed the vehicles traveling north on Interstate 29 and engaged in a pursuit. The vehicles exited at the Crescent interchange and proceeded south on another road before the F-350 became stuck in a field, and the other truck went into a ditch.

Both suspects were apprehended and brought to the Pott. County Jail, where they were being held on $10,000 bond, each.