DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state worker’s union has filed a complaint against Gov. Terry Branstad over asking workers to pay part of their health care premiums.
 
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a complaint with the Iowa Public Employee Relations Board on Tuesday
The complaint says health insurance is covered under collective bargaining laws and the governor is prohibited from approaching workers about making changes.
 
Branstad signed an executive order last week allowing state workers to voluntarily pay 20 percent of their premiums. He says he and the lieutenant governor will do so beginning Aug. 1.
 
Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says it’s outrageous that Iowans, who pay their own health care costs, are forced to foot the bill for state workers.

Authorities in two states are looking for a Missouri woman who they say is armed and dangerous that is wanted on drug charges after she was seen early Wednesday morning near the Clarinda Casey’s Store.

At about 2:00 Wednesday morning, Clarinda Police received a report that 23-year-old Lynne Elizabeth Chandler was standing outside an Oldsmobile Bravada at the Clarinda Casey’s Store parking lot and was possibly armed with a handgun. 

When police encountered the Chandler, she ran, and a foot pursuit ensued.  Police believe she went into a wooded area just west of the Casey’s store, but they were unable to locate her after a search of the area was conducted.  Area businesses were advised of the situation and went into lockdown.  The search was suspended at about 4:00 Wednesday morning. 

Chandler is wanted in Nodaway County Missouri for failure to appear at a probation violation hearing for drug possession.  She is a white female with brown hair, height 5’3”, weighing 125 pounds.  She is considered armed and dangerous.  If you have any information about her whereabouts, please contact the Nodaway County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department at 660-582-7451.

The Clarinda Police Department was assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy K-9 Unit and deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Department and Nodaway County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department.

HANLONTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two children died in a collision between a semitrailer and a van near Hanlontown in northern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 9-year-old Cassidy Stehn, of Northwood, and 12-year-old Hana Riedinger, of Kensett, died in the crash Tuesday. The Globe Gazette in Mason City (http://bit.ly/Mh14fd ) says four other youngsters and the driver of the van in which the girls were riding in were injured. 
 
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – Fire officials say a bottle under pressure exploded in a lab and may have exposed a worker to vapors at a Monsanto Co. facility in Ankeny. The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/LG7cO ) says the bottle was under high pressure during a chemical process when the incident happened Tuesday afternoon. Ankeny Fire Chief Rex Mundt couldn’t immediately say what chemicals it contained.
 
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state worker’s union has filed a complaint against Gov. Terry Branstad over asking workers to pay part of their health care premiums. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a complaint with the Iowa Public Employee Relations Board on Tuesday. The complaint says health insurance is covered under collective bargaining laws and the governor is prohibited from approaching workers about making changes.
 
WASHINGTON (AP) – Authorities say the chief of an Iowa-based brokerage firm where millions of dollars have vanished left a suicide note that prompted them to notify the FBI. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said the founder and chairman of Peregrine Financial Group was found Monday in his car outside company headquarters. A day after Russell Wasendorf Sr.’s apparent suicide attempt, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed civil fraud charges against the firm, accusing it and Wasendorf of misusing customer funds and failing to keep them separate from company money.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday, that T-shirts for the 2012 Coca-Cola Days in Atlantic, are now available for purchase at the Chamber.

Pictured are Coca-Cola Committee members of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce sporting their 2012 Coca-Cola Days t-shirts. The 2012 event held September 21-22 is the 20th anniversary of Coca-Cola Days in Atlantic with the theme of “Mixing up happiness for 20 years.” Shirts are on sale now at the Depot for $16 short sleeved and $22 long sleeved. Pictured are Jann Warnke, Brian Church, Jolene Sisler, Becky Mosier, Margaret Slepsky, Dolly Bergmann and Ellen Rutherford. (Chamber photo)

The shirts feature the theme, “Mixing up happiness for 20 years.” Short sleeve shirts will be $16 and long sleeve shirts will be $22.           

Coca-Cola Days will be held September 21-22 this year. Events will again include a tailgate barbeque dinner, Show-Swap-and-Sell, and a parade. There will be more details and information in the upcoming months. 

Please call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions, at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

Two men face drug charges following their arrests over the weekend in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say 22-year-old James Dean Wilson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday evening, and, 22-year-old Eric Christopher Beal, of Omaha, was arrested early Sunday morning.  Both men were charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Beal was being held in the Mills County Jail on $1,300 bond, while Wilson’s bond was set at $2,300.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say a Malvern man was arrested Monday on numerous sexual abuse charges. The Mills County Attorney’s Office filed the charges, which include 3 counts of 2nd-degree sexual abuse and 3-counts of 3rd-degree sexual abuse, against 34-year old Robert Gerald Hoose, of Malvern. Hoose was transported to the Mills County Jail and held on $150,000 bond.