DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The son of an Iowa civil rights attorney in the midst of a high profile civil trial against a former governor has been arrested in the courtroom where his mother’s trial is taking place. Polk County Sheriff records say 50-year-old James Barton Conlin, of West Des Moines, was arrested during break in the proceedings Monday and charged with interference with official acts. He was booked into the county jail and released within an hour. The charge is a simple misdemeanor.

Conlin told courthouse officials he was testing the air after his mother complained it was making her ill. Roxanne Conlin blames construction in the courthouse. Court officials refused her earlier request to move the trial. Conlin and her son didn’t respond to a message from The Associated Press but she tells The Des Moines Register she’s furious he was arrested.
She’s representing former Iowa Worker’s Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey in his discrimination lawsuit against former Gov. Terry Branstad and the state.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber reports the Washington Elementary School Parking Lot and drop-off area is closed now and until further notice, while work on the parking lot is being conducted. Persons wanting to attend baseball and softball games should use the Middle School parking lot, or other parking on Maple Street.

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa (AP) — The hundreds of inductee exhibits in the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame have moved to a new space in Arnolds Park. They can be found now in the same building that houses the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum. Both museums are part of the entertainment complex in Arnolds Park.

The Hall of Fame had been in the Roof Garden, an open-air complex next to the amusement park. The Roof Garden was demolished and is being rebuilt as part of the multi million-dollar Restore the Park campaign.

The Sioux City Journal reports that the new Hall of Fame museum has three times more space than the old version for the photos, videos and memorabilia from bands, musicians and radio personalities.

A man from Henderson was arrested Tuesday evening near Carson. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Myles Dustin Longcor was taken into custody following a traffic stop, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective-restraining order. Deputies had been called to a home in Carson, but before they arrived, were informed that Longcor had left the residence and was driving a mini-van. The restraining order was valid for both Longcor and the female protected party.

And, a traffic stop Tuesday evening in Pott. County resulted in the arrest of 31-year old Vitoria Joleigh Hopkinson. She was taken into custody on warrants for OWI/1st offense and Possession of Meth/1st offense, as well as Driving While Revoked.

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

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The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports a Page County man was arrested on a felony drug charge, Tuesday. 26-year old Joseph Azevedo-Williams, of Clarinda, was arrested Tuesday (June 11) for possession of a controlled substance, with the intent to deliver, a class B Felony. He was being held at the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office on $25,000 bond.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year old Kevin Welch, of Shenandoah, was arrested Tuesday on a felony drug charge. Welch was charged with possession of a controlled substance, with the intent to deliver. He was being held at the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office on $25,000 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The last of three defendants has pleaded not guilty in the 2014 robbery-shooting of a Marion man. Court records say 46-year-old Matthew Robbins entered the plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Robbins, 43-year-old William Yancey and 29-year-old Danielle Busch have all been charged with robbery affecting interstate commerce; conspiracy to commit the robbery; and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm resulting in the slaying of 51-year-old James “Jimbob” Booher.

Prosecutors say they intend to seek the death penalty for all three. Booher was last seen on May 31, 2014. Prosecutors have not said whether his body has been found.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The removal of decorations and other commemorative items from graves at Cedar Falls’ three cemeteries has angered some relatives and other loved ones. Several who went to visit the graves recently found that most of the missing items were placed along fence lines at the Fairview, Greenwood and Hillside cemeteries.

Mark Ripplinger is director of Cedar Falls’ municipal operations, and he says the city has had an ordinance for several years that prohibits decorations left on graves more than three days after Memorial Day. He says the items make it difficult to mow the properties. Ripplinger says the city’s been lax about enforcing the ordinance, and staffers over the years would move the items and then put them back after mowing. But he says that practice is taking too much time away from the main job of mowing.

He acknowledged that the city could have done a better job of informing relatives about the ordinance and the city’s intentions.