DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lawsuit challenging a new Iowa law that prohibits federal funding to be used by Planned Parenthood to teach sex education has been filed against Gov. Kim Reynolds and the state.

On the last day of the legislative session, Republican legislators pushed through language in a budget bill that banned Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving money from two federal grants that have been paying for youth sex education programs.

It was the latest effort by conservative lawmakers to end all streams of government funding for the organization, which as part of its family planning efforts also performs abortions. They said other organizations could provide the information.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the measure into law May 3. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed the lawsuit Wednesday in state court in Des Moines for Planned Parenthood. It seeks to block the law temporarily until a court can consider whether it’s constitutional.

The lawsuit argues the law violates the organization’s free speech, due process and equal protection rights. Reynolds spokesman Pat Garrett says, “Governor Reynolds is 100% pro-life and believes taxpayer dollars shouldn’t fund an organization that provides abortion.”

For the past six-years, the Atlantic Rotary has presented their Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award to one person each year. This year was different. Last year’s winner Gini Jordan announced today (Wednesday) that the winners this year were Justin Williams, CCEOC 9-12 Teacher, and CCEOC/Special Education Teacher Karen Vogl.

Atlantic Rotary 2019 Teachers of the Year/Atlantic Community School District (Justin Williams & Karen Vogl)

Vogl said she was “Extremely happy, appreciative and pleased” to receive the award. She credited her success to her team, which includes Justin Williams. Williams also recognized the team, and said he was humble to receive the award.

Rotary Teacher of the Year Chair Becky Schroeder said there were an outstanding pool of nominees this year. The winners she said will receive a check for $5,000 to be used however the teacher sees fit. Both also received a plaque.

Other awards were presented for years of service and to those who are retiring. The retirees honored include:

• Christi Garrett and Deb Nelson, from Washington Elementary.
• Melia Clark, from Schuler Elementary.
• Sheryl Dusenberry, Atlantic Middle School.
• Craig Fredin, Maryle Hopper-Henningsen, Pat Wiederin and Michele Lane, from the Atlantic High School.
• Maintenance retiree, Arnie Lamp.
• Transportation retirees Dave Eckles, Sam Hoover and Jan Imhoff.

Other staff received certificates for serving anywhere from 5-to 35-years with the district.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on May 7th,  of 24-year-old Aaron Cole, of Atlantic. Cole was arrested for Theft  in the 1^{st degree,}  Burglary in the 2^nd Degree, three counts of Burglary 3^rd Degree – Motor Vehicle, two counts of Unauthorized use of a Credit Card under $1,000, Criminal Mischief 4^th Degree, Interference with Official Acts, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct – Unlawful Activity.

27-year old Kaytie Beschorner, of Atlantic, was arrested May 9^th on Cass County warrants charging her with four counts of Forgery, two counts of Theft 3^rd Degree, fourteen counts of Unauthorized use of a Credit Card under $1,000, Theft 4^th and Ongoing Criminal Conduct – Unlawful Activity in Montgomery County.

Col and Beschorner were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

Atlantic Police also arrested 46-year-old Joseph King, of Atlantic, on May 12^th, on two Cass County warrants for Violation of Probation. 27-year old Stephanie Stuart,  of Sedalia, Missouri, was arrested May 13^th for Operating While Intoxicated.

19-year old Zachary Butler, of Atlantic, was arrested May 14^th on a Cass County warrant for Interference with Official Acts. And 57-year old Charles Burns, of Atlantic, was arrested that same day, on a Cass County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order.

All individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous drug-related arrests have occurred recently. On Tuesday (May 14), 27-year old Stephen Edward Ross, of Atlantic, was arrested for: OWI 1st Offense; Possession of Meth 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ross was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. And, 27-year old Jade Michael Nicholson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Sheriff’s Office felony warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth. Upon arrest, Nicholson was additionally charged with felony Possession of Oxycodone 3rd/Subsequent Offense. He remains in the Cass County Jail on $55,000 bond.

Last Friday (May 10), Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 60-year old Robert John Rasmussen, of Massena, on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession Marijuana 3rd or Subsequent offense, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation. He was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Tuesday, deputies served Rasmussen at the Jail with a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. He remains at the Cass County Jail on $120,000 bond. Also arrested May 10th, was 33-year old Cody Michael Johnson, of Adair, and 35-year old Lisa Marie King, of Cumberland. The pair were taken into custody after deputies responded to a report of an attempted burglary in progress at 64666 Tucson Road. Johnson and King, were each arrested on a felony charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. King was additionally charged with Possession of Meth 1st Offense, while Johnson was additionally charged with Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense. Both were being held in the Cass County Jail on $6,000 bond each.

May 5th, Cass County deputies arrested 47-year old Jack Lee Carson, Jr., of Elk Horn, for felony Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, felony Possession of Meth 3rd/Subsequent Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Carson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $55,300 bond.

On May 9th, 28-year old Karen Dawn Hernandez, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Hernandez was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance. On May 8th, 35-year old Ryan Mark Biensen, of Fort Dodge, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant for Probation of Violation. Biensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $20,000 bond.

On May 4th, 48-year old Vicente Gomez, of Texas, was arrested on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. Gomez was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of chickens were killed when a truck crashed in northeast Iowa. KCRG-TV reports the crashed happened early Tuesday when a truck hauling about 5,000 chickens crashed on Highway 18, about a mile west of West Union. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says the 44-year-old driver was heading west when he crashed into a ditch. He and a child passenger were treated for minor injuries.

About half the chickens were killed. The others were loaded onto another truck. The driver was cited for failure to maintain control of his vehicle.

The Iowa Board of Medicine has taken action against a northwest Iowa man accused of sexual misconduct. Officials say 47-year old Christopher J. VandeLune, D.O., who formerly practiced family medicine in Cherokee (Iowa), entered into a combined Statement of Charges and Settlement Agreement with the Board on May 9, 2019. The Board alleged that Dr. VandeLune engaged in sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment in violation of the laws and rules governing the practice of medicine in Iowa, when he sent sexually suggestive text messages and social media messages to, and engaged in sexual relations with, two female co-workers for whom he also provided medical care in Cherokee, Iowa, in 2017.

At the direction of the Board, Dr. VandeLune completed a Board-approved comprehensive sexual misconduct evaluation on March 2, 2019. Under the terms of the May 9, 2019, combined Statement of Charges and Settlement Agreement, the Board issued Dr. VandeLune a Citation and Warning and ordered him to pay a $5,000 civil penalty. The Board also ordered Dr. VandeLune to complete a Board-approved professional boundaries program and placed him on probation for a period of five years subject to Board monitoring, including professional boundaries counseling.

(Radio Iowa) — The Senate’s Republican leader has promised a vote will be held next week on a disaster relief package and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican, says she’s encouraged by progress toward a final deal. “Hopefully it is a bipartisan one that we can actually get to the desk of the president,” Ernst says.

Congress has been deadlocked over disaster funding since December and Democrats now in majority control of the U.S. House are insisting Puerto Rico get additional aid to recover from 2017 hurricanes. Funding for this spring’s flooding in Iowa has been included in recent proposals. Ernst toured flood damage in Davenport and Buffalo, Iowa, this past weekend. “I was just reminded of the time that I spent mobilized as a National Guardsman in the Iowa floods of 2008 and 2011,” Ernst said. “Not knowing if these families are going to be able to get back into their homes, not knowing if those businesses will be able to return — the economic damage to those communities is significant and they need assistance.”

The Democratically-led House passed a disaster aid package last week. The Senate’s G-O-P leader wants to include provisions to ensure hemp farmers can buy federal crop insurance. President Trump is asking that the disaster aid package include extra money for border security to deal with a surge of immigrants at the southern border.

The DAV and RecruitMilitary will host an Omaha Veterans Job Fair at CHI Health Center tomorrow (Thursday, May 16) from 11-a.m. to 3-p.m. for veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, National Guard members and Reservists.  The free event features 30+ employers ready to hire this May during “Military Appreciation Month.”

Just last week, Google announced a new feature of its partnership with RecruitMilitary that provides “remote work” search options for those seeking flexible, remote work opportunities.  This feature is especially important to the underemployed and underutilized military spouse demographic that currently accounts for 25% unemployment among its 600,000 eligible work-force.  This is the highest unemployment rate of any demographic in the U.S.

RecruitMilitary is providing a solution to this staggering unemployment issue by working with Google to bring 8,000 remote jobs directly to military spouses and veterans through this week’s Omaha hiring event, as well as its mobile-friendly online job board.  For more information, or to register, go to: https://success.recruitmilitary.com/events/omaha-veterans-job-fair-may-16-2019

There were four arrests in Mills County, Tuesday. 34-year old Jeremiah Louis Roenfeld, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Barred.His bond was set at $2,000.  27-year old Michael Xavier Simpson, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). His bond was set at $10,000. 18-year old Sydnee Kay Wiese, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday for Possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $300. And, 22-year old Brennen Joseph Carter, of Carson, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond is $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Current and past attorneys general from both major political parties from several states are imploring Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to veto a measure that would force Iowa’s attorney general to seek permission to file out-of-state lawsuits. They think the move designed by Republicans to keep Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller from joining lawsuits against the Donald Trump administration violates basic checks and balances.

Iowa would be the only state with such limits on an attorney general. Reynolds is considering the measure passed in the final days of the legislative session. It would require the attorney general to get the permission of the governor, the Legislature or the state executive council, which includes the governor and other statewide elected officials, to file any out-of-state court action.