DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The interim director of the Iowa Public Information Board says it’s jeopardized by a proposed budget deal. The Des Moines Register reports that the deal between Gov. Terry Branstad and the Legislature’s Republicans would cost the agency $75,000 of its $348,000 budget. The $75,000 would represent more than 50 percent of its remaining operating budget through June.

Interim Director Margaret Johnson told the newspaper Wednesday that even a temporary closure of the office could be more expensive for taxpayers because the public records and meetings laws complaints the office handles likely would end up as lawsuits.

A spokesman for Branstad says the governor believes the board can continue with a lower budget. Last year the board staff – typically three people – processed 875 cases, including 107 formal complaints.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office said today (Thursday), a man from Henderson was arrested Monday for Driving While Revoked/OWI related. A deputy conducted a traffic stop on 1999 Chevy Blazer at around 2-p.m. Monday, after the plates for the registered owner came back as revoked. 39-year old Edward Allan Blough, of Henderson, was arrested and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

The Creston Police Department reports 33-year old Darrien Mead, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday evening for Pubic Intoxication/2nd offense. Mead was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond. A Creston resident was cited Tuesday afternoon, for Allowing an Animal to run At Large. 39-year old Terry Squibs was released after receiving the citation.

And, a resident of the 800 block of W. Adams Street reported on Jan. 15th, that sometime overnight Jan.14th-Jan.15th, someone entered her home and stole miscellaneous tools, jewelry, an LG cell phone and a sound bar. The loss was estimated at $480.

If you’re clicking that remote start to warm up your car, you MAY be breaking state law. It all depends on where the vehicle is parked. Under current Iowa law, it’s illegal to leave a running vehicle unattended on a public street. A bill to change that has cleared a senate subcommittee. Senator Thomas Greene of Burlington says if it’s available, lots of people are using the auto-start to warm up their cars this time of year.”Unless it becomes an issue where someone leaves it unattended for hours or an extended period of time, I really see no problem with this,” Greene says.

Greene says sometimes there’s nowhere else BUT the street to park a car and it’s time for state law to “catch up” with the modern convenience of a remote start. “I’m driving a nine-year-old car, so I don’t have that option, but the wife’s car, she loves it,” Greene says. “Technology advances.”

The Iowa D-O-T is not opposed to the bill, but an agency expert says one reason it’s illegal to leave your car running, unattended, on the street is because the car could roll and cause an accident.

(Radio Iowa)