The just-concluded Iowa legislature enacted one of the most expansive laws in the country when it comes to gun rights. The Republican-led legislature also passed one of the country’s toughest abortion laws. It will require women seeking an abortion to wait three days and it forbids nearly all abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. Chuck Hurley of the Family Leader had lobbied for a “personhood” bill that would have banned abortion altogether. “This is the best session that I’ve experienced in 27 sessions that I’ve been in or around the capitol,” Hurley says. “Still a long ways to go, but I give very, very high marks for the efforts that were expended by our friends.”

Another abortion-related proposal was inserted in a budget bill. It will no longer allow Medicaid patients to get exams and contraceptives from Planned Parenthood or other facilities where elective abortions are performed. Erin Davison-Rippey is with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. She says the organization is “reviewing all options.” That includes filing a lawsuit to block the legislature’s new abortion-related laws. “This fight is far from over,” Davison-Rippey says. “We have seen attempt after attempt to intrude on a woman’s right to a constitutionally protected medical service.”

Earlier this year Republicans in the legislature dramatically changed Iowa’s collective bargaining law, to restrict union contract negotiations to the single subject of pay. In addition, the G-O-P-led legislature changed the system for compensating injured workers. Iowa Chamber Alliance president John Steinman says the 2017 legislative session has “definitely” been good for business.

“Whether you’re looking at a uniform minimum wage across the state, whether you’re looking at adjustments to the regulatory posture or necessary reforms to the workers comp system,” Steinman says, “there are some big, fundamental pieces that were put in place this year that are going to be around for a long time.”

Leaders in the labor movement hold the opposing view, calling this the worst year ever for working Iowans. Charlie Wishman, secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Federation of Labor, says  “People are awake and they are ready to fight back against this kind of thing.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place, Saturday. At around 4:35-p.m., 35-year old Jesse Donald Trost, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Trost was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond. And, at around 11:10-p.m., Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 24-year old Stefani Rae Ann Smith, of Red Oak, for Driving While While Revoked. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has adjourned a legislative session marked by a remarkable conservative shift that included passage of measures limiting public union power, expanding gun rights and enacting new abortion restrictions. Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers, finalized votes Saturday on the roughly $7.2 billion state budget following a series of private meetings that began nearly 24 hours earlier.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After being threatened with elimination, a state board that handles public transparency questions will emerge from the Iowa legislative session with a small funding increase. Lawmakers had planned to scrap funding for the Iowa Public Information Board, but in the waning days of the Legislature, they decided the nine-member volunteer board actually saved the state more money than it cost. The funding allows the board to continue resolving disputes about open meetings and public records.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a man shot to death outside a Des Moines apartment building. Police said Saturday that 41-year-old Stephen Pausuan Kim, of Des Moines, was shot around 10:30 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the University Terrace Apartments. Responding officers found Kim with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

WAPELLO, Iowa (AP) — A former Wapello bank teller has been found guilty of stealing about $36,000 from the Community Bank and Trust branch in 2015. The Hawk Eye reports that a Louisa County jury found 39-year-old Gina Kerr guilty on Thursday of first-degree theft. Kerr faces up to 10 years in prison when she’s sentenced June 30.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 12:28 p.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man has died after being shot outside a Des Moines apartment building. Officials say the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the University Terrace Apartments. Responding officers found a 41-year-old man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Officials had not released the man’s identity Saturday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has adjourned a legislative session marked by a remarkable conservative shift that included passage of measures limiting public union power, expanding gun rights and enacting new abortion restrictions. Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers, finalized votes Saturday on the roughly $7.2 billion state budget following a series of private meetings that began nearly 24 hours earlier.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After being threatened with elimination, a state board that handles public transparency questions will emerge from the Iowa legislative session with a small funding increase. Lawmakers had planned to scrap funding for the Iowa Public Information Board, but in the waning days of the Legislature, they decided the nine-member volunteer board actually saved the state more money than it cost. The funding allows the board to continue resolving disputes about open meetings and public records.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature adjourned its 2017 legislative session on Saturday. They approved a range of bills and proposals over the span of a few months, from collective bargaining restrictions to allowing the sale of consumer-grade fireworks.

A traffic stop early Saturday morning north of Farragut resulted in the arrest of two people on drug charges. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports the Fremont County K9 unit conducted the traffic stop on 370th Avenue, during which the driver, 19-year old Max Mitchell, of Farragut, and his passenger, 18-year old Gabrielle Baxter, of Loveland, CO., were found to be in possession of multiple bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Mitchell and Baxter were arrested without incident and transported to the Fremont County Jail, where Mitchell was charged with Possession with the Intent to Deliver, and Baxter was charged with Conspiracy to Deliver. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

Baxter

Mitchell

w/ Chris Parks

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests were made after a traffic stop early Saturday (4/22) morning. At 12:47am Deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Mandi Lee Calkins of Corning. Calkins failed field Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense.  Calkins was also charged with Possession of a Contolled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

A passenger in the vehicle, Ann Marie Hinton, was also arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Calkins and Hinton were taken into custody and held on $2,300 bond each.

The Adams County Sheriff’s office released details on a couple of recent drug-related arrests.

On Saturday, April 15th at 9:38pm Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by 19-year-old Kalyn Denise Smith of Massena. After investigation Smith was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  She was taken into custody and held on $300 bond.

On Sunday, April 16th Adams County Deputies investigated a trespassing complaint in Corning. Deputies spoke with 62-year-old James Robert Brown of Corning outside his residence and detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the residence. A consent search revealed numerous smoking devices, marijuana, a marijuana grinder, and rolling papers. Brown was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Red Oak Police Department arrested a Red Oak man on Friday after investigation into a domestic incident. At 8:15pm Officers arrested 26-year-old Michael Todd Archer of Red Oak for Domestic Abuse Assault, a simple misdemeanor. Archer was arrested in the 1900 block of East Summit Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate. Red Oak Police were assisted by Montgomery County Deputies during the arrest.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on multiple charges on Friday evening. At 5:42pm Officers arrested 19-year-old James Michael McCauley of Red Oak on a valid Montgomery County Arrest Warrant for Theft 3rd Degree. He was arrested at the intersection of West 4th and West Washington Streets.  McCauley was also charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $2,000 cash bond.