JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is appointing former Des Moines police chief Judy Bradshaw as the new director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Bradshaw has been the academy’s assistant director since retiring from the Des Moines Police Department last year. She will replace director Arlen Ciechanowski, who has decided to retire after his appointment to a four-year term wasn’t approved by the Iowa Senate.

Branstad withdrew Ciechanowski’s appointment after Democrats raised questions about his management and whether the academy had a welcoming environment for female cadets. Branstad says the 56-year-old Bradshaw has the “leadership, knowledge, temperament and communications skills” necessary to lead the academy.

Bradshaw says she looks forward to helping teach future police officers “best practices to effectively serve their communities.” Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation next spring.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Funding has been pulled for adult day care for veterans in Omaha and western Iowa due to a $2.5 billion shortfall in the Department of Veterans of Affair’s health care budget. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will no longer cover adult day care and other forms of non-skilled nursing care after July 31st.

VA spokesman Will Ackerman says that officials understand that it’s an inconvenience to veterans and their families but that they must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.  Ackerman says the VA will work with veterans’ families to ease the transition.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Monday of 23-year old Theodore Brayman. The Glenwood man was charged with Public intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $600.

A couple of public hearings will take place during the City Council meeting in Atlantic, Wednesday evening. The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. The first hearing is with regard to the Plans, Specifications and Form of Contract for the Connector Trail and Pedestrian Bridge Project. The hearing, as required by State Law, allows public input on the project for which the City has agreed to contribute $50,000 from the Local Option Sales Tax (or, LOST) Progress Fund. City Administrator John Lund has indicated the fund has grown significantly over the past year, and uses for the fund are limited. And, since the trails system in Atlantic serve as a potential launch pad for a number of economic development opportunities, the LOST fund would be an appropriate use of the money, according to Lund.

The second public hearing is with regard to the Southeast Urban Renewal Plan Amendment, as it pertains to the Ash Street Housing Development project being proposed by Boose Building Construction. The estimated value created by the development, according to Lund, is Tax Increment Finacing (TIF) amounting to slightly more than $1.02-million. Boose has requested TIF from the City to support the project, which the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has thoroughly reviewed and recommended for passage, by the Council. The site plan was approved by the Council during their meeting on April 15th.

Following both hearings, the Council will act on Resolutions approving both matters, along with a review of the bids for the Connector Trail Project and awarding of a contract for that project. They will also act on a Resolution authorizing an Internal Advance of Funds for the Urban Renewal Project, the TIF agreement for which amounts to $80,000. Lund says setting up an internal loan simplifies the process for all parties involved, and will be made out of the General Fund. It will be repaid through revenue from the TIF district over the agreed upon terms outlined in the development agreement.