(Radio Iowa) — The Republican-led Iowa House has voted to establish a 24-hour waiting period for abortions performed in the state. Two years ago, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled a 72-hour waiting period was unconstitutional. During debate late Saturday night, Representative Shannon Lundgren of Peosta made it clear Republicans aim for this new proposal to reverse that.

“Maybe this will provide an opportunity for the courts to rectify the terrible situation that they’ve created here in our state,” Lundgren said. The chief justice who wrote in the 2018 opinion that Iowa women had a right to an abortion under the Iowa Constitution died in November. And Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has now appointed a majority of the justices in the Iowa Supreme Court. That raises the possibility the court might overturn the previous ruling that has essentially blocked all legislative attempts to restrict access to abortion.

Representative Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says 17 other states have 24 hour waiting periods for an abortion. “Waiting periods help ensure that decisions are made not under duress and under undue influences,” Salmon said. The proposal requires a doctor to get written certification from a woman that she is eligible to obtain an abortion. It passed with the support of 52 House Republicans and one Democrat. Other Democrats in the House opposed the move.

Representative Vicki Lensing, a Democrat from Iowa City, says legislators shouldn’t second guess the medical decisions women make. “It is presumptuous, disrespectful and in my opinion insulting,” Lensing said. Representative Heather Matson, a Democrat from Ankeny, says requiring two medical appointments within 24 hours creates hardships for poor women and for women from rural areas who have to travel a greater distance.

“The intent of a 24 hour ban is the same as a 72 hour ban…Make it harder for a woman to get the care she needs and she just won’t get it,” Matson said. The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote. Lawmakers started this Saturday with plans to conclude the 2020 legislative session this weekend.

Around midnight, the House adjourned with plans to reconvene at 10 am. Sunday morning. Senators were still debating and voting on bills past midnight.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman Saturday, who allegedly placed items from the Dollar General Store into her purse, without intending to pay for them. When confronted with the crime, 64-year old Sheryl Lynne Franzen, of Red Oak, tried to put the items back onto the shelves. She was taken into custody at around 1:50-p.m., for Theft in the 5th Degree (for items valued at under $200), and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man acquitted of killing his mother is suing the state, its public safety department and a criminal investigator. The Des Moines Register reports that 47-year-old Jason Carter claims in the petition filed Thursday in Marion County that a state investigator spread false information about him while handling the June 2015 death of 68-year-old Shirley Carter to turn his family against him. He also alleges that the investigator ignored evidence clearing his name. A spokeswoman with the public safety department declined to comment Friday, citing ongoing litigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Drake University student who was accidentally shot in the head by a basketball player alleges in a lawsuit that a coach instructed the player to lie to police. The Des Moines Register reports that Nathaniel Miller Jr. filed the lawsuit this week against the university, Bulldogs forward Tremell Murphy and the managers of the property near Drake University’s campus where the shooting happened in August during a party.

It alleges that an unidentified coach showed up before officers arrived and told Murphy to deny any involvement.The university disputed the claims in a statement Friday.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest late Thursday night, of 19-year old Tanner Eric Abraham, of Villisca. He was arrested at around 11:18-p.m. in Nodaway, for Domestic Abuse Assault, False Imprisonment, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Abraham was being held without bond in the Adams County Jail.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a package of police reforms only hours after lawmakers unanimously approved the legislation. Before signing the bill Friday, Reynolds praised lawmakers who quickly approved the bill Thursday night after debating it simultaneously in the House and Senate. She also thanked protesters who took to the streets to make clear the need for the legislation after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Provisions include restrictions on the use of choke holds and additional options to prosecute officers. Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement stood with a bipartisan group of legislators as Reynolds signed the bill.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has purchased 1 million face masks through a Republican campaign vendor that will be used by some health care workers despite labels that warn they aren’t intended for medical purposes or hospitals. Iowa’s executive branch last month agreed to buy the reusable cotton masks from Competitive Edge, Inc. for $1.07 apiece. The $1.32 million contract was awarded to bolster the state’s personal protective equipment supplies to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It was Iowa’s fourth emergency purchase order with the Des Moines company owned by David Greenspon, a GOP donor whose firm has long sold promotional items to Republican campaigns.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has decided to stick with its original fall academic calendar, even as other regents schools move up their start dates amid the coronavirus. The Gazette reports that UI officials announced their decision to stay the course in a campus-wide message Friday. Student will return Aug. 24 and finish finals Dec. 18. The announcement came days after Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa unveiled plans to start their fall semesters Aug. 17 and complete them the day before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 25.

The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports an Essex man, 29-year old Bradley Aeron Haley, was arrested Thursday, on charges of Violation of Sex Offender Registry – 2^nd Offense.

Bradley A. Haley

His arrest stems from an investigation conducted by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

Haley was transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $5,000 bond pending further court proceedings.