DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The newly appointed acting chief of Iowa’s corrections system says the department will keep employing some workers at state mental health institutions in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant that have been ordered to close.

Jerry Bartruff, who recently took over corrections, told a legislative panel Tuesday that about $2 million will be transferred from the state Department of Health and Human Services to corrections to continue administrative staffing and other jobs that had been shared between the agencies at both facilities.

The state Department of Corrections currently has operations at Clarinda and Mount Pleasant, which houses two of the state’s four mental health institutions. Gov. Terry Branstad has proposed phasing out state health services at the two facilities later this year, though corrections will continue to operate.

A traffic stop early this (Wednesday) morning east of Villisca, in Montgomery County, led to a high-speed chase, a crash, and a foot pursuit. Sheriff’s officials say 30-year old Joshua Dean Cooney, of Villisca, was arrested on eluding, OWI/1st offense, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Interference with Officials Acts, charges, following the incident that began at around 12:30-a.m. He was also cited for Speeding, along with multiple Stop sign violations.

When a sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a Dodge Dakota pickup running without a license plate near Vine Avenue and 260th Street, the vehicle driven by Cooney fled south on Vine Avenue in excess of 90-miles per hour, before going out of control and rolling over multiple times near 140th & Willow Avenue, in Page County.

Cooney got out of the vehicle and took off on foot, but was apprehended by the Montgomery County K9 Unit about 150-yards away from the crash site. The k9 team located narcotics near where Cooney was arrested.

Cooney was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond. The sheriff’s office was assisted during the incident, by deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office’ Drug Recognition expert, Clarinda EMS, along with Villisca Fire and Rescue personnel.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate has approved legislation to significantly boost school funding, but the plan will likely face opposition in the Republican-majority House. Lawmakers on Tuesday backed bills to boost funding for the next two school years, voting largely along party lines. Under the proposal, school aid would increase by more than $200 million for the upcoming academic year, according to the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency. That’s more than double the amount approved by the House for the same period.

The House and Senate proposals both include funding specifically dedicated to teacher leadership training. Sen. Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, said the state’s future “depends on high quality schools.” But Republicans in the Senate questioned how the state could afford the plan.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Senate panel has approved a bill that would require Iowa businesses to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees. Members of a labor and business relations subcommittee approved the bill Tuesday. It now heads to a full committee for consideration. The bill would define reasonable accommodations as anything from modifying equipment that a pregnant employee must use to assisting them with their work schedule. The bill states the action cannot impose an undue hardship on the business or employer.

A few business groups oppose the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the bill would affirm a decision by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which enforces the state’s civil rights act. The commission said in 2013 that employers must provide such accommodations to pregnant employees.

A woman from Red Oak was arrested Tuesday night on a Possession of drug paraphernalia, charge. Red Oak Police say 22-year old Joslin Nicole Davies was taken into custody at around 9:45-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where she was being held on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says officials continue to monitor the Mississippi River after a derailed train leaked ethanol into the water. The DNR has begun using air pumps in the water where three train cars went off the tracks Feb. 4 and tumbled into the river. A total of eight cars that derailed appeared to spill ethanol.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A woman has filed a lawsuit against the city of Muscatine and the former police officer accused of sexually assaulting her. Forty-eight-year-old Tomas Tovar is currently facing a third-degree sexual abuse charge in connection to an incident that occurred nearly two years ago. The woman’s civil suit was filed last week. The Associated Press generally does not name victims of sexual assault.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The newly appointed acting chief of Iowa’s corrections system says the department will keep employing some workers at state mental health institutions in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant that have been ordered to close. Jerry Bartruff, who recently took over corrections, says about $2 million will be transferred from the state Department of Health and Human Services to corrections to continue administrative staffing and other jobs that had been shared between the agencies at both facilities.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan to increase the state fuel tax to pay for road improvements is moving forward in the state Legislature. Lawmakers in the state House and Senate said Tuesday that identical legislation had been introduced in both chambers to hike the tax by 10 cents. That would provide $215 million annually for the state’s network of bridges and roads, many of which are in disrepair. The hearing process is expected to start wednesday in both chambers, with full votes coming perhaps later in the month.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Tabatha Louise Hamilton, of Clarinda, was arrested today (Tuesday), for a parole violation. She was already incarcerated in the Page County Jail on other, pending charges. Hamilton was being held in the jail without bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Net income for U.S. farmers is expected to fall by nearly 32 percent this year because of low crop prices and increasing expenses, placing many farmers in an unprofitable situation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released estimates on Tuesday that show 2015 is expected to be the second year in a row that farmers will see their income fall. Income was down 16 percent from 2013 to 2014.

The report estimates net farm income will be $73.6 billion in 2015, down from $108 billion in 2014. It was at a record $129 billion in 2013. The report also anticipates that as income falls, expenses will increase by one-half percent. Government programs that pay farmers when commodity prices are low are expected to increase 15 percent this year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan to increase the state fuel tax to pay for road improvements is moving forward in the state Legislature. Lawmakers in the state House and Senate said Tuesday that identical legislation had been introduced in both chambers to hike the tax by 10 cents. That would provide $215 million annually for the state’s network of bridges and roads, many of which are in disrepair.

The hearing process is expected to start tomorrow in both chambers, with full votes coming perhaps later in the month. Iowa’s fuel tax — now 22 cents per gallon for gasoline, including fees — hasn’t been raised since 1989.

Sen. Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, and Rep. Josh Byrnes, a Republican from Osage, expressed optimism that the legislation could find support in both chambers.