Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AUDUBON, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a power outage in western Iowa’s Audubon County caused about 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater to spill into a nearby creek, in Audubon. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Audubon lost power around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and a backup generator at the wastewater treatment plant failed to start as a result. Power was restored about 10 p.m. Sunday, but wastewater continued to discharge to Bluegrass Creek south of Audubon until Monday morning, when an electrician repaired the generator. The DNR says it’s monitoring the situation and investigating to determine why the backup generator didn’t work. The agency has advised that those in the area stay away from the creek for the next two days.

GARNER, Iowa (AP) — Jurors went home for the day late Monday, in the trial of a former Iowa lawmaker accused of sexually abusing his wife suffering from dementia. They will continue deliberating at 9 a.m. today (Tuesday). Prosecutors say 78-year-old Henry Rayhons had sex with his wife at a nursing home May 23 after being told she was no longer mentally capable of consenting. Rayhons faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of third-degree sexual abuse. His wife, Donna Lou Rayhons, died in August.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Jeb Bush is planning a policy trip to Europe in June, to speak on the global economy and meet with business, economic and defense leaders. Aides to the former Florida governor say the likely presidential candidate is planning to visit Germany, Poland and Estonia. He plans to speak at an economic conference in Germany and, in Estonia and Poland, meet with government and business leaders, civic groups and non-governmental organizations.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — A former Des Moines police officer and a woman found at an apartment Sunday died from strangulation and police believe it’s a case of homicide and suicide. The former officer was Mersed Dautovic, who was scheduled to be re-sentenced Monday for beating a man during a traffic stop. The dead woman was Dautovic’s girlfriend.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s transportation department plans to spend a record $700 million this year on highway construction projects. A gasoline tax increase will provide about $200 million to cities and counties across the state. There are plans to fill potholes, repair aging bridges and install new concrete and asphalt pavement.

A recent move by the Iowa Department of Transportation to close the rest areas along Interstate 80 near Waukee has been a boon for the City of Atlantic. The rest areas officially closed April 1st. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring said Councilman Dana Halder stopped by the rest area around the time they were set to close, and inquired about what the plans were for the heavy duty park benches. He learned from the DOT’s Rest Area Administrator, that the plan was to put those items up for auction for sale to municipalities. Halder and Herring worked with the Administrator to purchase several of the benches and trash receptacles before they went to auction.

A Power Point image of the cement picnic tables and receptacles being loaded onto a flatbed trailer heading for Atlantic.

The tables and receptacles are made entirely out of cement. The tables weigh 500-pounds each, while the trash containers are about 900-pounds. All were made in Denison when they were new, at Petersen Manufacturing and concrete products. The purchase price was $80 a piece for 14 concrete tables, while nine trash receptacles cost $40 each. The trash containers would normally cost $300-to $400 new. The picnic tables would have cost close to $700 new.

Herring and Mayor Dave Jones spoke with Cass County Engineer Charles Marker about using the County’s flatbed truck and trailer to haul each piece, with the City reimbursing the County for labor and fuel to help load and haul the pieces to Atlantic. The Atlantic Street Department brought in a dump truck to haul away seven large boulders from the rest area as well for placement near the entrance to the Schildberg Recreation Area. The boulders were made available at no cost to the City.

Most of the tables will be dispersed at the Schildberg Rec Area, while others will be located near the Sunnyside Pool in the play area between the softball field and the baby pool area. The Parks Board was pleasantly surprised by the news during their meeting Monday night.

An incident in Pottawattamie County late Monday morning resulted in the arrest of an Underwood man on a trio of charges and local schools being placed on lockdown. Sheriff Jeff Danker reports at around 11:23-a.m., deputies were dispatched to the Jack Link’s plant in Underwood, in reference to an employee making threats toward another employee. The reporting party indicated that 52-year old David A. Roth had allegedly threatened to return to the Jack Link’s facility and shoot another employee.
At approximately 12:15-p.m. Roth was located at an apartment in Underwood, and taken into custody without incident. He was brought to the Pottawattamie County Jail and charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree; Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana; and, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
During the incident, Underwood Schools were placed in “lock-in” status, which allows for classes and interior movement to continue as normal. There are no outside activities and main doors are monitored by administration.

Two people were arrested recently, in Mills County, and one accident was reported. Sheriff’s officials say 32-year old Tristan Aaron Bonilla, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday night for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And last Thursday, 54-year old Kathy Ann Johnson-Hart, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. Her bond was set at $2,000.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon near 195th and Hilman Road, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say a 2007 Nissan driven by Gale Clark, of Red Oak, was traveling west when the vehicle began to hydroplane on the road at around 2:25-p.m. As the vehicle spun 180-degrees and traveled in reverse, the driver’s side hit a steel guard fence on the north side of the road. The vehicle then went across the roadway and came to a rest in the median, facing west.

An Atlantic woman was arrested Sunday on a Cass County warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent. 18-year old Selena Hansen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Two people from Pottawattamie County were arrested today (Monday), in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old’s Russell Logan Barker and Emily Shelby Green, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Green also faces a charge of Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense. Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail. Barker later released on his own recognizance, while Green remains held on a Pottawattamie County warrant.

The Iowa Dept. of Natural resources reports a citywide power outage in Audubon caused an estimated 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater to discharge to Bluegrass Creek south of Audubon, Sunday night. The city lost power about 5:30-p.m. Sunday and a backup generator at the wastewater treatment plant failed to start. Although city crews restored power about 10-p.m., the discharge continued until an electrician made repairs at the treatment plant Monday morning.

Officials say residents should keep children and pets away from Bluegrass Creek for the next 48 hours. The DNR is working with the plant operator to determine why the backup generator failed and will continue to monitor the situation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Transportation says it plans to spend a record $700 million on construction on state and interstate highway projects this year. The Des Moines Register reports the department spent $656 million on road projects in 2014. A 10-cent-per-gallon tax gasoline tax increase, which took effect March 1, will provide about $200 million annually to cities and counties across the state. There are statewide plans to fill potholes, repair aging bridges and install new concrete and asphalt pavement.

Des Moines Public Works Director Jonathan Gano estimates the city’s budget will receive an additional $3.7 million annually because of the tax increase. Officials say that up to 500 work zones will be set up statewide from now until the end of the road construction season in November.

The Iowa District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named the City of Manning as the recipient of its 2015 Iowa SBA Small Business Community of the Year. This is the inaugural year for the award, which highlights community efforts to support small business. Communities (defined as a city, town, county, regional economic development or planning district) were invited to submit nominations to the SBA’s Iowa District Office showcasing their efforts to support small businesses. Submissions were judged on the following criteria:

• Key programs and incentives implemented to attract and retain small businesses.

• Leveraging of community resources with other federal, state, county and local programs to benefit the small business community.

• Examples of how the community directly contributed to the success of a local small business.

Manning, a community with a population of about 1,500 in Carroll County, was selected for demonstrating an ideal collaborative environment for small business success, utilizing revolving loan funds, TIF financing, Main Street program, Iowa Challenge Grants, tax abatement policies, funding from local utilities, Community Block Grant Programs and local community foundations.

Manning’s leveraging of federal, state and local government, higher education and community resources was also recognized for helping the community create an ideal small business culture. The city also identified cultural, health care and education initiatives as critical resources for small business success.

Jayne Armstrong, district director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office, says “The SBA is honored to recognize Manning as the inaugural winner of the SBA Iowa Small Business Community of the Year. The city has leveraged a large number of programs and partners to create an ideal environment for small business.”

The award will be presented to Manning at the Iowa Smart Conference in Des Moines on May 7th. The SBA also plans to re-present the award at a special ceremony in Manning at a later date this spring. Manning was selected among 11 nominations from small towns, larger cities and regional economic corridors from throughout the state.

The Atlantic Ambassadors recently celebrated the 95th Anniversary of the Atlantic Rotary Club and the 110th Anniversary of the International Club. This year’s Rotary Auction will be held on November 21, 2015. The Rotary Auction has provided funds back to the community for many organizations since the first auction in 1983.

Pictured: Dave Chase, Ted Robinson, Dolly Bergmann, Kellie Jimerson, Brian Harris, Sue Muri, Nedra Perry, JoAnn Runyan, Sara Nelson, Megan Roberts, Jolene Roecker, Carole Schuler, Arlene Drennan, Lana Westphalan, Debbie Leistad, Kathie Hockenberry, Janet Cappel, Dianne Gipple, Pat McCurdy, Russ Joyce, Steve Tjepkes, Melissa Inhan, Todd Hudspeth, Chrystal Christensen, Lucas Moiser, Melanie Petty, Dr. Keith Leonard, Dr. Jim Kickland, Rich Perry, Dr. Mitch Peerbolte, Dan Rossell, Dr. Haley Kickland and Donnie Drennan.