Veterans rallied at the statehouse Wednesday, seeking legislative action on a variety of fronts, including an increase in the property tax exemption for combat veterans. Dan Gannon, a Marine veteran who served in combat in Vietnam, says it takes more than just saying, “Thank you,” to honor Iowa’s veterans.

“Vietnam Veterans of America’s motto is (this): ‘Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” Gannon said. “I can promise you this — all of you here today in attendance or those of you who are listening, under my watch as chairman of the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs and as a fellow veteran: ‘You will not be forgotten.'”

The Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs has an 11-point agenda for the 2018 legislative session. In addition to the recommendation that the military property tax exemption increase to five-thousand dollars, there’s a call for some sort of state law requiring “Americanism and Patriotism” be taught in public K-through-12 schools. The commission is also asking for an expansion of Veterans Treatment Courts that help vets resolve substance abuse and mental health issues and gets criminal charges dismissed if they make progress.

Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison who served two decades in the Marines, is chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Iowa House. “I’m working for meaningful accomplishments that changes the lives of veterans,” Holt told the crowd.

There are more than 230,000 veterans in the state of Iowa. That’s nearly seven-and-a-half percent of the state’s population.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An investigator fired after complaining about speeding by the governor’s state vehicle claims he faced harsher discipline than other employees because he embarrassed then-Gov. Terry Branstad. Former state agent Larry Hedlund was removed from duty in 2013 after he reported that an SUV in which Branstad and current Gov. Kim Reynolds were riding was speeding and complained that it was a hazard. His wrongful termination lawsuit is scheduled for trial in April.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City police have arrested two boys in connection with vandalism at a honey business that resulted in the destruction of roughly half a million bees. The Sioux City Journal reports Wednesday that police arrested the boys, ages 12 and 13, on felony and misdemeanor charges. Their arrest followed the December vandalism at Wild Hill Honey, where owners found all of their 50 hives had been knocked over, killing at least 500,000 bees. Damage was estimated at $60,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Human Services is still trying to fix errors in its database of health care providers enrolled in a new state-funded family planning program. DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven said Wednesday the agency continues to have problems with a list that’s supposed to help the public find services. Foxhoven added preliminary data indicates a drop in the number of people using family planning services under the state program. He cautioned some health care claims are still pending.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a man who broke into a home in Spencer. The Clay County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that 26-year-old Andres Ramos was justified on Sept. 1 when he shot 30-year-old Nicolas Bandomo, who had broken into a home. Authorities say Bandomo, of Albert City, was prohibited from making contact with residents of the home by protection orders. Ramos, of Sibley, fired a single shot, hitting Bandomo. He died at a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday night, received a presentation from Courtney Long, ISU Extension Community Design Lab, in Ames, and Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to information gathered by the local Public Gardens Group.

Long gave a brief overview of the program. She said they started with a goal of creating opportunities for people to accept healthy food options and increase recreation. There were various public input sessions, and in the end, the group chose Mollet Park on the east end of 3rd Street Place, and Cedar Park, near 2nd and Cedar Streets, just west of the downtown area.

Seth Staashelm (left); Courtney Long (foreground)

The least developed area is Mollet Park, which Staashelm described to the Council. He said the design group came up with some ideas for upgrades. That includes making updates to the end of the drive, which is now a cul-de-sac, implementing community gardens with raised beds that could be rented by citizens or community groups for donation of vegetables to the Food Pantry or Farmers Market.

The Council however, seemed more interested in improvements to Cedar Park, which has the benefit of being close to the Schildberg Recreation Area, and downtown. Staashelm said it does have more to offer, and is a viable option.  A cost analysis for either or both parks has not officially been conducted, but Staashelm estimated Mollet Park would cost $25-to 35-thousand dollars to upgrade. Councilman Dana Halder said “We need to go back to our priorities, and talk about restrooms,” which are needed at the Schildberg Rec Area.

He said, “As far as the two parks, my opinion is, do one. Mollet is easy to mow. You put more up..and there’s more maintenance to do. If you want to go to Cedar Park, fine. My recommendation would be [to] buy the junk that’s to the south of it, and expand it that way. As far as [a proposed splash pad], why not put it at the pool?”

Courtney Long the reason they decided against having it at the Sunnyside Pool, is because some of the groups they spoke with, didn’t have access to paying to get in, so they’re looking at this as a public opportunity to have similar amenities. Staashelm said they’re budgeting for 2020 to update the new basketball court at Cedar Park and updating in general, both parks. The Public Gardens planning is just a long-term part of those improvements, which are still many years down the road. No action was taken on any of the concepts at Wednesday night’s meeting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Human Services is still trying to fix errors in its database of health care providers enrolled in a new state-funded family planning program.

DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven told reporters Wednesday the agency continues to have problems with a list that’s supposed to help the public find services. Among the issues are duplicate names.

Foxhoven added preliminary data indicates a drop in the number of people using family planning services under the state program, which went into effect last July. He cautioned some health care claims are still pending. He says DHS must better advertise the program.

The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature passed legislation last spring giving up millions in federal dollars to create a state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providers. No state or federal dollars pay for abortions in Iowa.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a man who broke into a home in Spencer. The Clay County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that 26-year-old Andres Ramos was justified on Sept. 1 when he shot 30-year-old Nicolas Bandomo, who had broken into a home. Authorities say Bandomo, of Albert City, was prohibited from making contact with residents of the home by protection orders.

Ramos, of Sibley, fired a single shot, hitting Bandomo, who then fled to a nearby home. Bandomo was taken to a hospital in Spencer, and then transferred to a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital, where he died.

The attorney’s office says Ramos was justified under Iowa law in using deadly force.

Sioux City police say tips from the public have led to the arrest of two boys in the destruction of honeybee hives last month. The unidentified boys — ages 12 and 13 — are suspected of the burglary and vandalism at the Wild Hill Honey operation on December 27th. All of the company’s hives were destroyed and half million bees perished in the cold. The boys are charged with felony criminal mischief, third-degree burglary, agricultural animal facility offenses and possession of burglary tools. Damage to the business was estimated at more than 60-thousand dollars. No further arrests are anticipated.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — County officials in western Iowa have asked a judge to allow guns in some areas of the courthouse amid security questions and the likelihood of increased costs. The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors formally requested on Tuesday that Judge Duane Hoffmeyer permit weapons on the floors of the Woodbury County Courthouse without court functions. The Sioux City Journal reports that counties can seek to authorize guns in public areas of a courthouse that aren’t occupied by the court system under a supervisory order issued by the Iowa Supreme Court in December. Judges approve the requests.

The board’s request letter would change how security is handled in the courthouse. Some question whether it’ll be costly to keep the building secure, due to individuals with guns potentially moving on various floors.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to threatening Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. Court records say Robert Simet, of Omaha, entered the plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. The charge: violent threats to a federal official. His sentencing is scheduled for May 23.

An arrest affidavit says employees of a motorcycle shop in Pacific Junction, Iowa, told an FBI agent that Simet had been there July 5. During that visit, Simet made several statements about Ernst, including that he believes she is a member of the Islamic State group and that he “could kill” her during a July 10 event at the motorcycle shop.

The Montgomery County Extension Council and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have announced the hiring of Celine Beggs as Montgomery County’s Youth Coordinator.  Beggs began work on December 19th. As the County Youth Coordinator, her primary duties are to strengthen youth development through research-based education and interactive learning opportunities. Beggs will coordinate the planning and implementation of 4-H development and youth outreach programs, such as summer day camps, babysitting clinics, afterschool programs, Family Fun Night and more. As an integral part of the 4-H program, she will focus on positive youth development by establishing community partnerships, supporting volunteers, county youth council, 4-H youth and committee and other project committees.

Celine Beggs is originally from Taylor County, Iowa where she was a member of the Bedford Downtowners 4-H Club and the Taylor County Senior Council. She is a Fall 2017 graduate of Kansas State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in both Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Agricultural Economics, with an emphasis in leadership development. Beggs is enthusiastic about the 4-H program and brings in various experiences which will help her create sustainable programs for the county.

Celine Beggs

Beggs will work closely with Montgomery County’s 4-H program and coworkers, Rachel Bergren, Program Coordinator and office assistant Angela Silva, as well as other Field Specialists serving Montgomery County. Please stop by the Montgomery County Extension Office and welcome Celine to her new position! Feel free to contact her at cmbeggs@iastate.edu or 712-623-2592 regarding any questions you may have about Montgomery County’s 4-H program and other resources available through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County. Extension resources are always available at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.  Be sure to “Like” Montgomery County-IA Extension on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says three people were injured during two separate accidents Tuesday afternoon. The first accident happened at around 1:25-p.m. on 160th Street near the “12 mile parking lot,” when a 1996 Ford Taurus driven by 18-year old Evan James Skelton, of Corning, left the road at the bottom of a hill, and struck a tree. Authorities say he was driving too fast to make the turn in the road. Skelton was not injured, but two passengers in the car, 18-year old Nicole Bent, of Creston, and 23-year old James Cox, of Corning, were hurt. Bendt complained of pain, and was transported to her residence by a friend. Cox was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston for treatment of suspected minor injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. Both passengers were wearing their seat belts.

And, at around 3:15-p.m. Tuesday, a 2015 Buick LaCrosse driven by 57-year old Michael Carroll White, of Rhodes, was traveling south on 130th Street in Union County, when his vehicle slid off the road on a curve and struck a tree. Authorities said he was driving too fast for road conditions. White, and his passenger, 66-year old Karen Cross, of Colfax, were transported to the hospital in Creston for observation and treatment of any injuries. Damage to the SUV was estimated at $6,000.