Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The governing board for Iowa’s three public universities is cutting ties with the man who has served as its top lawyer since 2004. A June 16th memo obtained by The Associated Press shows general counsel Tom Evans will soon no longer be employed by the Iowa Board of Regents.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls residents will decide Tuesday whether to back a $35 million bond issue that would help increase elementary school capacity. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the district wants to expand Orchard Hill and North Cedar elementary schools while also building a seventh elementary school. If it is approved, the bond issue would add $1.38 of taxes per every $1,000 of taxable value over the next 20 years.

CENTRAL CITY, Iowa (AP) — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has forced competitors at the Linn County Fair and other poultry events in the state to prepare educational displays and leave their birds at home. But the 79 participants in this weekend’s Linn County competition got to meet Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. He visited the fair Saturday to speak about poultry health and the bird flu.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa family that lost a son to suicide in jail this January is pushing for changes in the way people with mental illnesses are treated by authorities. Jim Cornick tells the Des Moines Register that sick people shouldn’t be sent to jail when they clearly need treatment.

A woman from Adair County faces numerous charges following an accident at Orange Avenue and 230th Street on June 22nd. According to Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, 32-year old Kelly Marie McCormick, of Greenfield, was arrested on charges that include OWI/1st offense, No Insurance (accident related), Leaving the scene of an accident, Failure to Maintain Control, Driving Under Suspension, and Operating a Non-registered vehicle (a 2002 Ford Escape). McCormick was later released on $1,000 bond.

And, on June 25th, 31-year old Patrick Lawrence Nolte, of Stuart, was arrested for allegedly violating a No Contact Order issued by a magistrate. According to the complaint, Nolte showed up at a females’ place of employment and allegedly threatened to shoot a man who had provided the woman with a ride to work. The woman said Nolte told her he could show up other mornings as well, unless she talked to him. Her statement indicated she left with Nolte and drove around for a couple of hours until he took her home. Nolte’s bond was set at $300.

Governor Terry Branstad has until July 6th to make final decisions on the entire state budget outline legislators sent him earlier this month, but Branstad’s giving strong hints he’ll reject the legislature’s plan to keep the Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant open. “I would point out Iowa was late to get serious about redesigning our mental health system,” Branstad says. “Other states like Minnesota went from 11 institutions to one. They’ve done that. Wisconsin has reduced the number of institutions. So has Nebraska and Illinois — most of our neighboring states.”

Already last week layoff notices were sent to 28 employees at the state-run Mental Health Institute in Mount Pleasant and 53 M-H-I employees in Clarinda. Branstad says he wants to “move forward” and shift to community-based mental health services. “We haven’t made a final decision, but I have shared my philosophy and my goals to have a better system that better meets the mental health needs of Iowans and I believe makes more sense,” Branstad says.

Branstad made his comments during taping of the Iowa Press program that will air today (Sunday) at Noon, on Iowa Public Television.

(Radio Iowa)