DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa dog breeder, fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for maintaining unsanitary and unsafe conditions for animals has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements in an effort to avoid paying the fines. Court documents show 61-year-old Gary Felts entered the plea July 13. He faces up to five years in prison.

The USDA fined Felts nearly $19,000 in 2012 after inspectors found repeated Animal Welfare Act violations over a five-year period at his kennels in Kingsley. Felts never paid the fine and he was ordered to file yearly financial disclosure statements and negotiate payments. Prosecutors say he failed to disclose bank accounts and a $25,000 workers’ compensation settlement.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents is approving a $250 tuition increase for tens of thousands of undergraduate students at Iowa’s public universities in the upcoming school year. The board Monday cut its $300 proposed increase for students from Iowa by $50 after the earlier plan was criticized as too high and coming too close to the year.

But regents said they needed to keep most of the increase in tact to offset lower than requested state funding levels approved by lawmakers. Board president Bruce Rastetter says the $50-per-student cut will raise $2.2 million less than the earlier plan would have for Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.

That means the increase will still generate about $19 million in new revenue for the schools.

Authorities in Page County along with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, are investigating a weekend camper fire incident. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says his office was notified at around 4:25-a.m. Sunday, that a camper was on fire at 3610 Oak Avenue, about 1.5-miles south of College Springs. The occupant of the camper made it out prior to Sheriff’s Office personnel arriving on the scene.  College Springs fire and rescue, Clarinda Fire, and Clarinda Rescue assisted at the scene

And, Sheriff Palmer says a man from rural Coin was arrested Sunday night, after he turned himself-in on a Page County warrant for Possession/depiction of a Minor in a sex act. The charge against 20-year old Tyler Eugene Lorimor stems from an investigation of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation that is more than a year old.  Lorimor posted bond and was released pending further court appearances.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports two recent arrests. 47-year old Candra Kaye Grant, of Adair, turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office this (Monday) morning, on a warrant for Disorderly Conduct and Simple Assault. The charges stem from an incident that took place in Exira, July 3rd. Grant was released from custody and will appear before a magistrate on August 22nd.

And, 24-year old Tyler Lee Carter, of Audubon, was arrested Friday night for OWI/2nd offense, Child Endangerment, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. The charges were the result of a traffic stop in Audubon. Audubon Police assisted in conducting the arrest. Carter was later released after appearing before a magistrate. The incident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report four recent arrests. This (Monday) morning, 38-year old Angie Lea Dabney, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on at the Sarpy County, NE., jail, on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $10,000.

On Sunday, deputies arrested 25-year old Gregory Allen Linkenhoker II, of Pacific Junction, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $1,600. And, 27-year old Steven Richard Smith, of Emerson, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And on Saturday, 27-year old Michael Alan Auffart, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was also being held without bond, in the Mills County Jail.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Audubon County man was arrested Saturday on OWI/1st offense and Driving While Revoked, charges. 44-year old Brian Nielsen Hoffman, of Exira, was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Last Friday, 25-year old Jade Michael Nicholson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Possession of Marijuana/3rd or subsequent offense, charge. Nicholson was later released on $2,000 bond.

And, on July 14th, 47-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena, turned himself in to the Cass County Jail on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Assault Causing Injury. Ranney was booked at the Cass County Jail where he pled to Simple Assault and was released to authorities in Adair County.