DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law legislation that will allow people to buy a cheaper form of health insurance that skirts Affordable Care Act rules.

The Republican governor said at a bill signing Monday that the law will provide relief for Iowans experiencing increases to their health insurance premiums. The law will allow Iowa’s farm bureau organization to partner with a designated insurance company to offer so-called health plans that technically aren’t defined as insurance.

The plans, which won’t be regulated by the state, aren’t required to cover benefits like maternity care and mental health or offer protections to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Specific details about what’s covered in the plans aren’t available yet. Health policy experts say the plans may be attractive to younger and healthier people, but could further destabilize Iowa’s individual insurance market.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state court judge has set a hearing to consider whether former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett was legally tossed off the primary ballot to challenge Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Corbett filed a lawsuit in Polk County court challenging a state elections panel which rejected his ballot petition last week. A court hearing is set for 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The panel voted 2-1 to reject Corbett’s petition concluding he fell eight names short of the 4,005 required.

Two Republicans — Secretary of State Paul Pate and State Auditor Mary Mosiman— voted against Corbett while Democrat Tom Miller favored allowing him on the ballot. It means Reynolds now has no GOP primary challenger.

Corbett’s lawsuit claims the decision was irrational, unreasonable and arbitrary and asks a judge certify his ballot nomination.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 18-year old Auston Clark, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday night for Possession of Marijuana with the intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia, after Deputies with the Mills County K9 Unit made contact with a vehicle parked at Pony Creek Park. Upon investigation, and searching the vehicle, 12.5-grams of marijuana, THC chewable tablets, THC wax, U-S currency and multiple items of drug paraphernalia was located. Clark was a passenger in the vehicle.

At around 2:45-a.m. Saturday, the Mills County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 17,000 block of Lambert Avenue, for a moving violation. Upon investigation and searching the vehicle, a female passenger, 38-year old Billie Jo Monson-Johnson, of Plattesmuth, NE., was arrested for Unlawful possession of prescription drugs. She was transported to the Mills County Jail without incident.

Glenwood Police reports 21-year old Michael Schmoll, of Glenwood, was transported by private vehicle to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, following an accident that took place at around 11:25-p.m., Friday. Schmoll was driving a 2004 Ford northbound on 230th Street, just north of Gaston Avenue, when his vehicle entered the west ditch, struck an embankment, and rolled over before coming to rest on its side.

Schmoll left the scene and later identified as the driver. He was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Glenwood Police Department reports several recent arrests. Four people were arrested Sunday: 40-year old Andy Charles Andrews, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for being an Accessory After the Fact. His bond was set at $2,000;  53-year old Elden Owen German, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300; 18-year old Auston Phillip Clark, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver * Marijuana * and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5,300; and, 28-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, was arrested on a Warrant for Violation of Probation (2 counts), and Interference with Official Acts. His bond was set at $10,300.

Three people were arrested Saturday, in Glenwood. 45-year old Renee Jean Gooch, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300; 26-year old Shialea Kay Cozad, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Her bond was also $300. And, 38-year old Billie Jo Monson-Johnson, of Plattsmouth, NE., was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Bond was set at $1,000.

On Friday, Glenwood Police arrested 43-year old Steven Darrell Howard, Jr., of Glenwood, for Driving While Barred, His bond was $2,000.

Two people were transported by Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital Monday afternoon, following a collision northeast of Atlantic at Highway 71 (650th Street) and Fayette Road. Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westring said a blue Ford F-150 pickup was traveling north on Highway 71 at around 1:10-p.m. when a Chevy Blazer traveling east on Fayette Road, pulled out onto the Highway. (Click on photos to enlarge)

The pickup struck the blazer on the passenger side, sending the SUV into the ditch on the northeast corner of the intersection. It’s not clear if the vehicle rolled, according to Westring. He said the occupants of the Blazer suffered “substantial” injuries and were transported to the hospital. It’s also unclear if anyone was ejected. The driver of the pickup refused medical attention and was transported by private vehicle.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Atlantic Police Department today (Monday) released a report on accidents and arrests. As we told you Friday, an accident at 2nd Street and Sunnyside Lane took place at around 4-p.m. Officials say a vehicle driven by Addison McAtee, of Minden, was traveling north on Sunnyside Lane and stopped before pulling out onto 2nd Street (Highway 83). Her vehicle was struck by an eastbound truck driven by Kolby Fulk, of Atlantic. Fulk suffered non-life threatening injuries, and was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac. He was cited for Failure to show proof of insurance. Damage from the collision amounted to $8,000.

On March 28th, vehicles driven by Halsey Bailey and Essex Mullins, both of Atlantic, collided at 14th and Plum Streets, as both vehicles were traveling east on 14th. The accident happened at around 8-a.m. Officials say Bailey’s vehicle stopped in traffic, and was rear-ended by the Mullins vehicle. No injuries were reported. Mullins was cited for Failure to show proof of insurance. Damage amounted to $1,500. At about the same time and location, vehicles driven by John McConkey and Scott Ihnken, both of Atlantic, were traveling east on 14th Street and approaching the Plum Street stop sign. When Ihnken stopped in traffic, his vehicle was struck from behind by the McConkey vehicle. McConkey told police he had the sun in his eyes and didn’t stop in-time. No injuries were reported. Damage amounted to $9,500.

And, an accident March 24th at 9th and Chestnut Street, in Atlantic, caused $2,000 damage, but no one was hurt. The A-PD says a vehicle driven by Anthony Palijo, of Atlantic, was eastbound on 9th Street at a stop sign. A vehicle driven by Halsey Bailey, of Atlantic, was northbound on Chestnut. When Palijo failed to yield from the stop sign, the vehicles collided. He was cited for Failure to Yield.

As for arrests: 31-year old Tony Mack, of Atlantic, was arrested March 27th, for Violation of a No Contact Order. On March 30th, Allen Van Aernam, of Atlantic, was arrested on two counts of Disorderly Conduct, and two counts of Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. On April 1st, Atlantic Police arrested 39-year old Sergio Ramos, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault with injuries. Each of the suspects arrested were booked into the Cass County Jail.