Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — West Des Moines police arrested a man suspected in a bank robbery after a witness photographed the man’s vehicle. Police say in a news release that they were called to a robbery at First Bank in West Des Moines just before 2 p.m. The suspect had fled, but a witness photographed a minivan he climbed into and then followed the vehicle for several miles and directed police. Officers finally stopped the minivan at a motel parking lot and arrested a man.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — An environmental commission has rejected an Iowa pet cemetery owner’s request to throw out a $10,000 fine over controversial horse burials. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission recently rejected Steve Johnson’s appeal. Johnson’s attorney, Jeff Bittner, says he will appeal the decision in district court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has received big campaign contributions from Iowa business leaders, special interest political committees and from celebrity businessman Donald Trump. Branstad filed his campaign finance report for 2013 yesterday. It shows that he has about $4.1 million in cash on hand for his re-election campaign.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A consultant for Jack Hatch’s gubernatorial campaign has been reinstated to practice law after a brief suspension for failing to respond to an inquiry from regulators. Chief Justice Mark Cady signed an order yesterday reinstating Des Moines attorney John Hedgecoth, whose license was temporarily suspended Jan. 16.

Two public hearings will be held Wednesday evening during a meeting of the Atlantic City Council. The first hearing is with regard to an Ordinance pertaining to the Sunnyside Park Tobacco Free Policy. The second pertains to the rezoning of a property at the southwest corner of 7th and Olive Streets from Residential to Commercial.

With regard to the Tobacco Free Ordinance, the Atlantic Park and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors approved the policy at their meeting on Nov. 18th. The ordinance was drafted by the City Attorney and modeled after a similar ordinance in Adel. If approved, the ordinance would prohibit the use of tobacco  “In designated areas of Sunnyside Park: the trails, the outdoor recreational facilities, and all public building and grounds restrooms, athletic fields, spectator areas of athletic facilities during a sporting event, tennis courts, basketball courts, skate park, pavilions, and within 25’ of the playground equipment areas and picnic shelters.”

Violations would be punishable as follows: For a first violation, a monetary penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars. For a second violation within one year, a monetary penalty not to exceed two hundred dollars. For each violation in excess of a second violation within one year, a monetary penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars for each additional violation.

Afterward the public hearing on the tobacco free policy, the Council will hold a hearing on an amendment to the Zoning Map to reclassify a section of land at the southwest corning of 7th and Olive Streets, from R-3 (High Density Single Family) to C-1 (Highway Commercial). The Planning and Zoning Board approved the rezoning request from Plummer Investments during their meeting on Jan. 14th, even though the City Comprehensive plan shows that the area in question should be zoned medium density residential. The Board said “The rezoning proposal conforms to the Comprehensive Plan.”

It’s still not clear what Plummer Investments plans to do with the lot once a 133-year old home sitting on the property they own, is demolished. There are concerns about whether the house would be removed in a timely manner, and whether or not new construction would “improve the general condition of the neighborhood. Safety at the heavily traveled intersection, is also a concern that will need to be addressed.

The Atlantic City Council meeting will be held in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, beginning at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday.

The Iowa State Patrol reports Trooper Wayne Brosam, of Atlantic, received honorable mention for the “Looking Beyond the License Plate Award” that 3M Corporation sponsored at the 2013 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference.

Commissioner Noble, 3M Corporation Government Services Manager Tom Pugh, Trooper Brosam (Center) and Colonel Garrison are shown in the photo provided by the ISP.

Trooper Brosam was nominated for a traffic stop that he initiated for speed and registration violations that resulted in the recovery of an abducted 14 year old female. The award is to recognize law enforcement officers whose observations of a license plate resulted in the apprehension of a suspect or the solution of a crime.

The state of North Dakota was preparing to issue an AMBER Alert for the juvenile, but stopped when they were notified that the Iowa State Patrol already had recovered her unharmed. Trooper Brosam said that while talking to the driver he felt that the man’s story did not add up. He continued to question the occupants of the vehicle until he had sufficient grounds to take the driver into custody.

In a letter from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, they wrote, “This award is indicative of both Trooper Brosam’s individual excellence and dedication to highway and public safety as well as the excellence of the Iowa State Patrol which has supported him in providing outstanding service to the citizens of your state.”

Colonel Robert Garrison said that this is what the citizens of Iowa have come to expect from the Iowa State Patrol and Trooper Brosam is a great example to all law enforcement that there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop.