A spokeswoman for Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a clarification of the governor’s views on same-sex marriage after Reynolds seemed to call for a statewide vote on the issue. “People have traditional views on what they believe marriage consists of and they have every right to have that, but it was decided by the courts,” Reynolds says. “And I have said from the very beginning my position has been that it probably should go to a vote of the people and they should weigh in and then we would stop this back and forth.”

A few hours after Reynolds made those remarks, her communications director indicated those were the governor’s views in the past, not the present.The Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in 2009 that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2015 made it legal throughout the country. The governor’s spokeswoman says Reynolds believes the courts “weren’t necessarily the place” where the issue should have been decided, but Reynolds considers the issue “settled.

The Iowa Republican Party’s platform that will be ratified Saturday at the G-O-P’s state convention calls for repealing “any laws allowing any mar­riage that is not be­tween one natural man and one natu­ral woman.” Reynolds says the platform provides the “guidelines” grassroots Republicans hope elected officials will advance. “But it’s not something that every single candidate has to abide by,” Reynolds says. “It is kind of an over-arching goal of what the party is working on.”

Reynolds told a reporter who asked if she supported the party platform’s call for a ban on same-sex marriage that she’s focused on economic issues instead. “We’re going to talk about reducing taxes and continuing to create an environment where our job creators and businesses…will feel confident in investing and continuing to grow in the state of Iowa,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds made her comments Tuesday during a news conference in Pella.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating separate, fatal crashes that took place Tuesday. In southern Iowa’s Clarke County, 25-year old Jesse John Ray, of Osceola died, when for reasons unknown, the westbound 2010 Toyota Camry he was driving on Highway 34, crossed the centerline of the road, and collided head-on with an eastbound 2017 Freightliner semi, driven by 33-year old Jesse Lee Bain, of Ottumwa.The accident happened a little after 4-p.m., Tuesday.

The semi came to rest in the south ditch, while car came to a halt on the road. Ray, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Bain was wearing his seat belt. He was transported by Clarke County Ambulance to the Clarke County Hospital.

The Patrol says the other fatal accident happened in eastern Iowa’s Cedar County, when the driver of a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup attempted to make a U-turn from the right turn lane on northbound Highway 38. The pickup was struck broadside by a northbound by a 2003 Peterbilt semi registered to a trucking company out of Springfield, MO. The accident happened at around 9:45-a.m., Tuesday. No names had been released as of early this (Wednesday) morning.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:30a.m. CDT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A former housing programs manager for the city of Davenport has pleaded guilty to charges accusing him of concealing a camera in an apartment employee bathroom. The Quad-City Times reports that 46-year-old Roy DeWitt pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight counts of invasion of privacy. Each count carries up to two years in prison, but in exchange for DeWitt’s plea, prosecutors agreed to a cap of six years in prison and to not file additional charges from video on the camera DeWitt hid.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Cathy Glasson, who lost her bid for Iowa governor in last week’s primary election, has made an unusual request to Iowa Democrats that she be allowed to address the party at its upcoming state convention. Glasson’s campaign manager Misty Rebik tells The Associated Press the former candidate asked the Iowa Democratic Party on Tuesday afternoon whether she can speak at the June 16 convention. Democratic Party spokeswoman Tess Seger says party leaders are reviewing the request.

SABULA, Iowa (AP) — A car ferry from Iowa to Illinois is up and running as residents wait for the opening of a bridge connecting the two states. The Telegraph Herald reports that the ferry between Sabula and Savanna, Illinois, began running Tuesday, providing direct access between the two communities for the first time in months. The ferry can hold 15 vehicles per trip, can be used for free and will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until the new bridge is completed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa woman has been charged with insurance fraud after state regulators say she submitted an application for insurance coverage containing false information. Joy Marie Heldt of Madrid, who was an insurance agent, was initially charged last month after an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s fraud bureau.

A man from Shenandoah was injured during a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday afternoon, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded at around 12:42-p.m. to the 2400 block of Highway 59, for a vehicle that had struck a tree head-on.

Deputies determined that Daniel Douglas, of Shenandoah, was southbound on Highway 59 in a 2015 Ford Focus, when the vehicle left the road and struck a guardrail on the west side of the road.  The vehicle continued south on Highway 59 before hitting a tree head on, and coming to rest.

Douglas suffered unknown injuries and was transported to the Shenandoah Hospital by Shenandoah Rescue. Deputies cited him for Failure to Maintain Control. Shenandoah Police and Shenandoah Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources said Tuesday, that at around 7:40-p.m. Saturday, the Iowa DNR was dispatched to the west side of Lake Manawa near the entrance to the West Lake Village for a man that had been brought to shore by an individual on a personal watercraft after he was found in the lake.

Through the investigation, it has been determined that 54-year old Lawrence Wieneke, of Omaha, had somehow fallen into the lake from a personal watercraft operated by his wife, 59-year old Geralyn Wieneke, of Omaha, prior to a good Samaritan spotting Lawrence and bringing him to shore.

Lawrence Wieneke was transported to a Council Bluffs hospital in critical condition, but is expected to survive. Investigators believe alcohol may have been involved with this incident and toxicology results are pending. An investigation by the Iowa DNR Law Enforcement Bureau and the DNR State Parks Bureau continues, with assistance from the Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue and Council Bluffs Police Department.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Health officials say Iowa has been added to the list of states included in a salmonella outbreak linked to pre-cut melon that has sickened 60 people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says consumers should not eat and retailers should not sell recalled melon products distributed by a Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis.

Recalled products were sold in clear, plastic clamshell containers at Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon. Illnesses have been discovered in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.

Some of the products, which include pre-cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and fruit medleys, also were sent to Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina.
The CDC says 31 of the people sickened have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (June 13th) in the High School Media Center. On their agenda, is a special presentation with regard to the Teacher Leadership Program, and action on a handful of resignations/contract recommendations and/or letters of assignment.

Among the resignations, is: Dean Petty, Co-Archery Sponsor; Jedd Sherman, HS Science; Pota Cook, WA Para; Rachelle Lipp, HS English Teacher; Julie Gross, 4th Grade Teacher/Assistant Boys/Girls XC Coach; and Jarrod O’Donnell, Asst. Musical Director. Contract Recommendation/Letters of Assignment include: Clint Roland, Full Contract Archery Sponsor; Eric Miller, BA+15, Step 13 to MA, Step 13; Elizabeth Reid, TLC Support Instructional Coach AMS/Schuler; Valerie Jaehrling, HS Chemistry/Physics, and Sarah Dorsey, 4th Grade Teacher.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will take action on approving a recommended $14,000 stipend for Board Secretary/Business Manager Sarah Sheeder, for her job duties as shared Business Manager between the Atlantic & CAM School District. They will also act on approving a recommended contract for concurrent enrollment agreements with IWCC for courses taught to district students. Last year there were a total of 109 students taking advantage of the courses through IWCC, for a total cost to the District of $129,705. The total cost for the 2018-19 school year $135,000. Textbook fees will amount to $30, which is an increase of $15 over the 2017-18 school year.

The Board will also act on approving Board President Ali Bruckner’s recommendation on the 2018-19 Superintendent Contract for Steve Barber, which includes: No increase to his annual salary of $160,000; A continuing two-year contract (ending 6/30/2020); and a $450/month allotment towards a 403B, which is consistent with other District Administrators, and amounts to $4,800 paid from the General Fund.

Later on during their meeting, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving a 2018-19 propane contract with Pelgas (@ $1.27 per gallon), and a diesel/ethanol contract with Olsen Fuel Supply, the combined costs of which will amount to $66,530.

The Board will also act on approving 2018-19 returning TLC positions, and 2018-19 Student Fees (no changes will take place over the 2017-18 school year), as the electronic instruction fee replaced textbook fees when the District went 1:1 four-years ago.

Superintendent Steve Barber will also recommend no changes to the 2018-19 School Breakfast and Lunch prices, as the food service program remains financially strong. On a side note, the district is looking at incorporating salad bars in each building to enhance the variety and continue to support healthy eating.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous recent arrests. Today (Tuesday), Cass County Deputies arrested 59-year old John Michael Smith,  of Audubon, on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple). And, 51-year old Christopher Todd Morehouse, of Audubon, was arrested on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense; OWI 1st Offense; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail and released later on their own recognizances.

On Sunday, 24-year old Rani Dawn Worley-Rasool, of Orange, TX, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of Disorderly Conduct. Worley-Rasool was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance. Last Friday, 58-year old Jeffrey Harold Jensen, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

On June 6th, Allen Lyn VanAernam, Jr., was arrested on a charge of Possession of Alcohol Under Legal Age. VanAernam was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. And, 24-year old Alex Lee Pleis, of Audubon, was arrested on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Felony Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft 3rd Degree. Pleis was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $5,000 bond.

On June 5th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 48-year old Kevin Boyd Canter, of Atlantic, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear and an additional charge of Driving While Revoked. Canter was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.