Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Trump administration is withdrawing a federal rule that would have required organic meat and egg producers to abide by stricter animal welfare standards. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday it has withdrawn the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule published in January 2017 by former President Barack Obama’s administration.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican majority leader of the Iowa Senate resigned Monday after a website published video showing the married lawmaker kissing a statehouse lobbyist. Sen. Bill Dix submitted a one-sentence resignation letter several hours after the liberal website Iowa Starting Line published its report about the Shell Rock Republican. Dix did not comment on the circumstances surrounding his resignation as majority leader and as state senator.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say about 40 jobs will be lost with the closing of a Goldman Sachs call center in Cedar Rapids. Station KCRG reports that Goldman Sachs spokesman Andrew Williams confirmed the company is consolidating the work at its Salt Lake City operation. He also says the Cedar Rapids workers will be able to transfer to the Utah office.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state says Iowa’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.9 percent in January. Iowa Workforce Development said in a news release Monday that the December rate of 2.9 percent was revised upward from the preliminary rate of 2.8 percent reported Jan. 23. Iowa’s unemployment rate compares to a 4.1 percent national rate. The department says Iowa gained 900 jobs in January.

A central Iowa woman is launching an internet-based program called “Look, Cook and Eat.” “It is an online digital resource designed to help people with intellectual disabilities learn to cook and be more independent in the kitchen,” according to Sue Hoss, of Des Moines.

For 30-dollars a year, subscribers can access dozens of recipes with very detailed, visual instructions geared especially for people with intellectual disabilities. “They’re very good at computers and I’ve found a lot of them to be visual learners,” Hoss says. “Because of its visual components, photographs, videos and voiceovers, there are a lot of things they can grab onto really fast.”

Hoss’ sister was born with an intellectual disability and Hoss helped to launch a church coffee shop in Des Moines that employs and empowers people with disabilities. Being able to prepare a meal is an important ingredient for living independently and Hoss says the step-by-step program makes healthy meal preparation fun and easy.

“They have access right away to over 150 recipes,” Hoss says. “Each recipe has images of all of the foods that you need to make the dish. No more than nine ingredients in any recipe to keep things really simple.”

Each recipe includes up to three short videos and a complete list of all tools and utensils required, also, no more than nine. The new program is already drawing interest from across the state and around the globe, with users as far away as Great Britain, Australia and Israel. Hoss has plans to continue expanding Look, Cook and Eat, adding new recipes monthly.

“We would like to build the company itself so we can hire people with disabilities to actually be the people that do that work behind the scenes or in front of the camera,” she says.

Eventual goals include broadening the service beyond cooking to include more lifestyle lessons in topics like exercise and wellness, etiquette, artwork and gardening. (On the web at www.lookcookandeat.com )

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, said three people were arrested over the past few days. At around 12:09-a.m. Monday (March 12th), 37-year old John Oliver Knight, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred after being pulled over on Interstate 29. Bond was set at $1,000.

Sunday afternoon, 28-year old Jonathan James Pleake, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. He was being held without bond.

And, Friday afternoon, 39-year old Jerry Joseph Richardson, of Hastings, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was also being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Firefighters from Lewis and Atlantic responded to a structure fire Monday evening, in Lewis. Griswold Rescue and Lewis 1st Responders were on stand-by. The call about a residential fire with visible smoke at 406 California Street, at around 5:22-p.m.  Lewis Assistant Fire Chief Tim Pope told KJAN News, that when the first crews arrived on the scene, flames were visible upon arrival on the outside of the home on the outside, near the back porch, and it was unknown if anyone was inside.

Eventually they learned the occupants were safely out of the home. No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters. Pope said the cause appeared to have been carelessly discarded smoking materials.

He said the flames spread up the wall into the attic of the home. The structure sustained extensive water damage, probably in the area of $20,000. The occupants were being assisted by the American Red Cross. Firefighters were on the scene for about two-hours.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that on March 1st, 2018, the Page County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an alleged Burglary and attempted Sexual Assault that had taken place at a residence in College Springs.   An investigation ensued.  A Juvenile female said the incident occurred on February 26th, 2018 between 7:15 AM and 8:00 AM at her residence in College Spring.  The victim knew who the alleged male Juvenile offender was.

Today (March 12th), the alleged juvenile offender male was taken into custody on a Juvenile court order and transported the Southwest Iowa Juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs.  Charges on the Juvenile male are Burglary 2nd degree, Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, and Trespassing.  More charges are possible.

The names of the Juvenile victim and alleged Juvenile offender are not being released at this time.

Two more Republicans have filed nomination papers for the June 5th Primary election in Cass County. According to the Cass County Auditor’s Office, current Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall is running for re-election. And, Mark T. O’Brien has submitted his papers to run for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 2.

O’Brien will be in a race against fellow Republican Pat McCurdy for the District 2 seat. Tracey Marshall is currently unopposed. The deadline to file completed nomination papers with the County Auditor’s Office, is 5-p.m. March 28th.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say about 40 jobs will be lost with the closing of a Goldman Sachs call center in Cedar Rapids. Station KCRG reports that Goldman Sachs spokesman Andrew Williams confirmed the company is consolidating the work at its Salt Lake City operation. He also says the Cedar Rapids workers will be able to transfer to the Utah office.

The Cedar Rapids center will close April 13. Goldman Sachs took over the center in 2016 as part of an acquisition from GE Capital.