DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque officials are working to update the city’s 27-year-old sexual harassment policy. The policy, which was last updated in the early 1990s, is being reviewed following the resignation of former Dubuque Fire Department Capt. Jim Abitz, the Telegraph Herald reported . Abitz had been accused of making inappropriate comments to an intern for the city. Dubuque City Council Member Kate Larson said she learned in May that the city hadn’t updated its sexual harassment policy since the early 1990s. Larson said “I was stunned to learn that our policy hasn’t been updated in so long. Things have changed so much in those years.”

She noted that current policy doesn’t mention electronic forms of sexual harassment, which weren’t prevalent in 1991. “It doesn’t cover digital communications at all,” Larson said. “We need to get it updated for the safety of our employees.” The sexual harassment policy and several other administrative policies are being reviewed this year, said Randy Peck, personnel manager for the city. He said officials have reviewed the policy periodically in the past and had determined that it didn’t need to be updated.

A study by the newspaper of area communities in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois shows Dubuque stands in stark contrast to several of its neighbors. Of the 10 communities surveyed, Dubuque has the oldest policy.
Leaders in most communities said they had updated their policies within the past three years.

Police in Council Bluffs responded early Saturday morning to 1400 Ave A, in reference to a man who was bleeding from his abdomen. When Officers made contact with the subject, he informed them he had been stabbed by an unknown male. The victim said also, the assailant took his backpack. The victim – whose name was not immediately released – was transported to University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment on his non-life threatening injuries.

The incident remains under investigation. If have have information that might be helpful in solving the crime, call the Council Bluffs Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

The Red Oak Police Department reports an arrest just after midnight Saturday morning. At 12:07am Officers arrested 27-year-old John Todd Howard of Red Oak in the 1600 block of North Broadway in Red Oak for Public Intoxication. Howard was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Cass County authorities were dispatched to a report of a Semi rollover accident on I-80 westbound near the 66 mile marker early Saturday. The call came out at approximately 5:40am and dispatch said moments later there were NO Injuries, and the semi was off the traveled portion of the road. (Updated 5:50-a.m.)

A man from Pottawattamie County was arrested on drug charges Friday night, in Fremont County. Fremont Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports the Fremont County K9 unit arrested 58-year old Thomas Rinabarger, of Council Bluffs, after Deputies conducted a narcotics investigation within Sidney city limits.

Thomas Rinabarger

Rinabarger was found to be in possession of approximately 43 grams of  methamphetamine, Butane Hash Oil, and Drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Law Enforcement Center being held on a $200,000 cash bond with the charges of 2 counts of possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Tabor Police Dept.