The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. Among those taken into custody was 19-year Selena Marie Hansen, of Atlantic, who was arrested just after 8-a.m. Tuesday, and charged with Driving Under Suspension. Her bond was set at $300. 18-year old Jacob Lee Reafleng, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault and 1st Degree Harassment. His bond was set at $5,000. 29-year old Michael Shawn Beltran, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested in Mills County for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300. And, 32-year old Joshua Calvin Anderson, of Highland, CO., was arrested this (Wednesday) morning in Malvern, for Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on a warrant Wednesday.  Deputies arrested 47-year-old Kenneth Houtchens of Red Oak at 11:30am on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Houtchens was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has passed legislation that would increase penalties for repeat domestic abusers. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted unanimously 50-0 Wednesday in support of the bill, which would create a mandatory minimum punishment for stalking, harassment and repeat domestic violence. It would also allow a judge to set a higher mandatory minimum sentence.

The bill received overwhelming support in the Republican-majority House in March. Supporters say the legislation would better protect domestic violence victims. The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence initially opposed the bill amid concern over the value of longer sentences. The group said Wednesday it now supports the bill because of several other elements in the measure.

Changes to the bill mean it will return to the House before it can reach Gov. Terry Branstad’s desk.

A Red Oak woman was arrested on multiple theft charges Wednesday by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deuputies.  At 1:45pm Wednesday Deputies arrested 39-year-old Janet Lynn Tarbox of Red Oak on one count in the 1st Degree, two counts in the 2nd Degree, one count in the 3rd Degree, and one count in the 4th Degree of Theft.  She was taken into custody and held on $10,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new law will allow drivers or passengers in snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles to carry loaded firearms. Gov. Terry Branstad signed the legislation into law Wednesday. The law will allow people to carry a loaded firearm whether it’s concealed or not, though there are separate rules for gun owners who are on their private land and those who are not on such property.

A gun owner on his or her own land will not be required to keep their gun permit on them at all times. They will also not be required to keep a firearm on a retention holster. Gun owners will still not be allowed to shoot a weapon from the moving vehicles.

TREYNOR, Iowa (AP) – A former teacher and coach accused of sexual abuse is appealing a school district decision barring him from district grounds.  The Daily Nonpareil reports the Treynor school board plans an appeal hearing April 13 after 46-year-old Michael Travis asked to have some restrictions removed. District attorney Joe Thornton says Travis is prohibited from district facilities unless he’s attending his children’s activities.

Travis gave up his teaching and coaching licenses upon pleading guilty in August to simple assault. He maintained his innocence despite his negotiated guilty plea. Travis
was arrested in May 2014 on two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Former students accused Travis of inappropriately touching them between 2001 and 2006.

Travis was an assistant softball coach at Treynor High School and taught elementary school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed legislation into law that sets new funding levels for K-12 education in the next state budget. Branstad signed legislation Wednesday that will increase K-12 education spending by 2.25 percent for the fiscal year that begins in July. The Republican-majority House and the Democratic-controlled Senate approved the funding earlier this session.

The state currently pays about $6,445 per student in most school programs. The new legislation will increase that by $145. Some educators say the funding increase isn’t enough to avoid financial hardship for school districts around the state. Legislative leaders in both chambers have said there’s limited funding available for the new budget, though some Democrats have also criticized the compromise.

The state spends about $3 billion on K-12 education.