Sheriff’s Deputies in Cass County, Sunday, arrested 49-year old Timothy Glen Post, of Cumberland, on a Class-D felony charge of Lascivious Acts with a Child. Post faces additional charges of Indecent Conduct with a Child, Indecent Exposure, and Dissemination of Obscene Material (Serious). He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $9,000 cash bond.

On November 22nd, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 32-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, on charges of Possession of Marijuana 1^st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Disorderly Conduct. And, 24-year old Kevin Allen Fee, of Chariton, was arrested that same day for Possession of Marijuana 3^rd Offense, and Disorderly Conduct. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail and were released the following day on their own recognizances.

On November 17, 2016, the Cass County Sheriff’s office arrested 44-year old Kimberly Denise Zeibig, of Griswold, and 36-year old Jason David White, of Council Bluffs, on charges of Interference with Official Acts. Both were taken to the Cass County Jail and were released the following day on their own recognizances.

On November 25th, Deputies in Cass County arrested 56-year old Robert Joseph Szewczyk, of Princeton, WI, for Theft in the 5^th Degree. Szewczyk was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released later that day.

And, the Sheriff’s office says on November 17th, 39-year old Jack Osborne, Jr, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant. Osborne was transferred to Pottawattamie County the following day.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has named an interim director to oversee Iowa’s transportation department after its last leader resigned. The governor’s office says Mark Lowe will formally take over the Iowa Department of Transportation on Tuesday. Lowe gave an agency budget presentation on Monday following an announcement of his new post.

Lowe replaces Paul Trombino, who resigned earlier this month. Trombino, whose last day on the job is Monday, says he stepped down so he could consider taking a private sector job. Lowe has led Iowa DOT’s motor vehicle division since 2009, and he previously served as the department’s general counsel. There is no timeline for naming a new Iowa DOT director, though officials are now accepting applications.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Medical marijuana supporters are hopeful the Iowa Legislature could expand the state’s limited cannabis oil law. The Des Moines Register  reports that Republican Rep. Clel Baudler plans to propose a bill that would allow the production and distribution of medical cannabis oil in Iowa.

The Legislature passed a law in 2014 that allows Iowa residents to possess cannabis oil for the treatment of epilepsy. That law is set to expire in July. A separate law currently makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute that oil in the state, while federal law prohibits its transportation across state lines.

Threase Harms, who lobbies on behalf of the Epilepsy Foundation and the upper Midwest chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, says the organizations will continue to try and educate lawmakers about the issue to build broader support.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa says a $45 million donation will fund a center to research diseases that affect the brain and nervous system. The Iowa Neuroscience Institute will investigate causes, preventions, treatments and cures. It will be led by Ted Abel, a University of Pennsylvania professor who will join Iowa’s faculty in January.

The gift comes from the university’s largest donor, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, which has now given $195 million. It was founded after the 1981 death of Carver, a Muscatine businessman and philanthropist.

The center will bring together top researchers from across the university, including biologists, computer scientists and engineers. The donation will support laboratories, research projects and faculty salaries. Medical school dean Jean Robillard says the gift will foster “a new era of scientific innovation.”

The state’s top medical officer has issued a “standing order” to pharmacies, so qualified people can get a drug that stabilizes people who overdose on “opioids” like Oxycontin or heroin. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the drug “Naloxone”  doesn’t “cure” the overdose, but it reduces the impact an opioid overdose has on the respiratory system, giving more time to get the victim to a hospital.

“First responders along with family members and friends to someone at risk for an opioid overdose are all encouraged to become aware of Naloxone, gain access to it and learn how it is administered,” Reynolds says. Iowa is now one of more than 30 states with a law that lets people who respond to emergencies or who are close to an addict get Naloxone. “Recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose can mean the difference between life and death,” Reynolds says.

In Iowa over the past decade, there’s been a 230 percent increase in emergency room visits from patients who’ve overdosed on an opioid.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Terry Branstad says it may be time for state officials to “carefully” review when video from police cameras mounted on dash boards and police body camera footage may be released to the public. “This is kind of a recent development, these police cameras, and I think it would be appropriate for us to carefully review our laws,” Branstad says.

Cedar Rapids police have not released the video of an officer-involved shooting during a traffic stop on November 1st. The Linn County Attorney has said the video of the shooting is exempt release under Iowa’s Open Records Law. The Iowa Public Information Board told Cedar Rapids media it’s up to the police chief to decide whether the dash camera should be released.

“The Iowa Public Information Board was established to really be able to answer questions that come up on this subject, but if there is an ambiguity or if there’s areas that need to be clarified, it may require legislative action so that’s something that I think we need to carefully look at and determine what would be appropriate to again protect the public safety, but do it in a way that’s fair and even-handed.”

Branstad says in general, he supports “transparency” that makes nearly all government documents and records public, but he says releasing these kinds of videos could “jeopardize” prosecutors’ ability to get a conviction. “Here’s the thing: when you’re looking at these kind of videos, they oftentimes involve a criminal investigation and so you don’t want to…release prematurely items that are important for a criminal investigation, so you have to be very careful about that,” Branstad says.

The Linn County Attorney is convening a grand jury to determine whether the Cedar Rapids policeman was justified in shooting Jerime Mitchell, who goes by the nickname “Danky”. Mitchell was shot in the neck during some sort of altercation with the officer and is paralyzed. Cedar Rapids police have not said why Mitchell was pulled over or what may have led to the altercation.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a Fort Dodge man died after being pulled from Big Wall Lake in Wright County Thanksgiving Day. Wright County Conservation Board and Wright County sheriff’s officials responded to a call around 4:30 p.m. of a man in distress at the game management area and found 55-year old Kevin Simons,  facedown in about 2 ½ feet of water approximately 200 yards from shore.

Simons was pulled from the water, treated at the scene but later died at the hospital. Authorities believe he died from exposure and hypothermia.