Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — Texas Senator Ted Cruz says he’s always been clear about his opposition to gay marriage — and a recent fundraiser hosted by two gay businessmen was no exception. The 2016 Republican presidential contender told reporters at this weekend’s Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event in suburban Des Moines that the private fundraiser, first reported by the New York Times, was focused on foreign policy.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A West Des Moines Catholic high school has approved a request by students to form a school-based gay-straight alliance called “One Human Family.” The Register reports that Dowling Catholic High School gave the approval for the club on Friday. The approval came just weeks after school officials drew criticism for opting to not hire a substitute teacher full time after learning he was gay.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Crews are preparing the old Riverfront YMCA building for demolition. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that asbestos removal crews plan to take out more than 40,000-square-feet of asbestos-laden ceiling tile and flooring before the 60-year-old structure is demolished. The building has been vacant since the Y moved to its new location on Grand Avenue.

BERNARD, Iowa (AP) — Two people, including a 2-year-old boy, have been killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash near Bernard in eastern Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that that 20-year-old Ellen Edwards and 2-year-old Joseph Edwards, both of Bernard, died in the Friday evening crash.

A non-injury two vehicle accident occurred Saturday morning in Red Oak.  Red Oak Police report the accident happened at the intersection of Oak and 1st Street at 10:22am Saturday.

A 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 86-year-old Herbert Henry Behrhorst of Clarinda was travelling east on Oak Street and had just passed the intersection with North 1st Street when he decided that he wanted to go north on 1st Street.  Behrhorst then backed up on Oak Street to make the turn while a 2011 Ford Taurus driven by Jay Alan Klyn of Red Oak was negotiating a left hand turn onto E Oak Street.  Klyn then saw Behrhorst was backing up but couldn’t avoid a collision.

Behrhorst’s vehicle sustained $150 damage to the right rear, while the Klyn vehicle suffered approximately $2,000 damage to the left front corner.  Behrhorst was issued a citation for unsafe backing.

w/ Chris Parks

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A public hearing is set to take place Monday evening in Atlantic, with regard to the Proposed 2015-16 Atlantic School District’s calendar. The hearing begins at 7:30-p.m. in the Atlantic High School Media Center, as part of a School Board work session. During the hearing, patrons of the district may speak for or against the proposed Aug. 24th start date and related matters. Later in the work session, the Atlantic School Board will vote on approving the 2015-16 calendar and testing calendar.

In other business, the Board will act on approving the purchase of a heat pump for the high school, and hear from Gary Sinclair with PMA Financial Network, with regard to a Financial Planning Program for FY 2016 and beyond. They’ll also hear from the Building Leadership Team (BLT) from the Washington and Schuler Schools, and discuss the graduation/dropout rates.

A Red Oak man was arrested on Friday by Red Oak Police for Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana.  21-year-old Blake Mitchell Wilkinson was arrested at 9:00pm Friday and is being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $1,000 cash bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Villisca teen after responding to a call for a male subject that had been stabbed.  Officers were called to 422 W 4th Street in Villisca at approximately 2:46am this morning (Saturday). After investigation officers arrested 16-year-old Ashley Nicole Fitzwater of Villisca on a charge of Aggravated Domestic Assault.  Fitzwater is being held on no bond at the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A year after the children of radio personality Casey Kasem had to seek court action to see their ailing father, a new Iowa law aims to ensure that adult children can see their sick parents — granting them visitation rights unless the person’s guardian goes to court to stop them.

Gov. Terry Branstad signed the bill Friday. The law gives an adult with a legal guardian — someone who cannot manage their own affairs — the right to receive visits from family members and others they have previously expressed interest in seeing.

Sen. Rob Hogg said he started working on the issue after hearing from a constituent having difficulty visiting her brother. The legislation was backed by Kasem’s daughter, Kerri Kasem, who appeared on Iowa radio to advocate for it.

Protesters will have to keep a greater distance from grieving families at funerals under a bill signed Friday by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. The Omaha World-Herald reports the measure, House File 558, unanimously passed both houses of the Iowa Legislature. The bill came out of a court ruling that stemmed from protests Westboro Baptist Church staged in western Iowa, including one at the funeral of a fallen soldier in Red Oak.

The change from winter to springtime temperatures and recent rains have combined to create some dangerous conditions on many of Iowa’s rural gravel roads. Dusty Rolando, the engineer for Chickasaw and Floyd Counties, says road crews all over the state are dealing with the annual problem known as frost boils. They’re essentially defective spots in the roadway that develop from the swelling of frost.

“Those spots tend to show up in the springtime with the frost coming up,” Rolando says. “We’re trying to hit those with spot rock…but it’s not a crazy bad year.” Rolando says, at this time of year, it’s a good idea for motorists traveling on gravel roads to slow down.

“If you’re coming up on an area with a frost boil or something that’s pushing up in the middle of the road, you’ll want to make sure you bridge off to the side…typically there will be a lane that’s passable,” Rolando says. “I know a lot of people, at times, might come up on it fast and maybe can’t slow down enough or move over, but I would just be careful when you’re driving and look for those areas.”

Rolando also suggests drivers user alternate routes if possible to save wear and tear on both their vehicles and the gravel roads.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Drake Bulldogs will soon be represented by a real bulldog. The school announced on Friday that it will begin searching for an English bulldog to represent Drake at live sporting events, much like Georgia and Butler do.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested an Iowa teen accused of setting the same vacant house on fire three separate times last year. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 19-year-old Coty Cates of Missouri Valley is charged with three counts of second-degree arson in connection with the October fires. The Omaha World-Herald reports the house is a complete loss.

SLEEPY EYE, Minn. (AP) — A 14-year-old girl from Iowa has died and three others have been injured in a two-vehicle crash in southern Minnesota. The State Patrol says Daisy Rodriguez died in the crash at a rural intersection near the Brown County community of Sleepy Eye Thursday about 5 p.m. The 22-year-old woman driving the car and a 17-year-old passenger were injured. KTOE radio reports the State Patrol says the three are related and from New Hampton, Iowa. The driver of the other vehicle was also injured.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kirani James shattered Michael Johnson’s 400-meter Drake Relays record Friday, finishing in 44.22 seconds. Johnson ran 44.41 in the 1996, the season in which he broke the Olympic record at the Atlanta Games. Aleec Harris stunned the 110-hurdle field, winning in 13.16.