Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers continue debate at the Capitol as they attempt to adjourn the 2017 legislative session. Lawmakers were meeting privately Friday night in an effort to finalize a bill that helps make up the roughly $7.2 billion budget. The so-called standing appropriation bill includes policy and spending across several state agencies. They’ve already approved most budget bills that will require Gov. Terry Branstad’s signature.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa athletic director Gary Barta testifies his relationship with former administrator Jane Meyer deteriorated after Barta informed her she wouldn’t be considered for a top role during a planned reorganization of the Hawkeyes’ athletic department. Barta began his testimony Friday in a lawsuit filed by Meyer against the university.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Raw milk advocates’ efforts to expand availability across the U.S. have not slowed despite health officials’ assertions that it’s dangerous to drink milk that hasn’t been heated to kill bacteria. Efforts to legalize raw milk sales in some form have succeeded in 42 states, and expansion pushes are ongoing this year at least a half-dozen others. Health officials say increased raw milk consumption is linked to increased illness. Advocates say pasteurization kills beneficial enzymes and proteins.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a warrant to search a suspected drug dealer’s residence, even though a deputy and a judge failed to properly fill out the authorizing paperwork. The 4-3 ruling Friday exposes differences among the justices on whether officers and judges must be held to exacting standards or if seemingly minor bureaucratic oversights can be excused.

Tonight’s (Saturday) Powerball drawing falls on the same date that the very first drawing in the lottery game was held 25 years ago. Powerball was launched during this week in 1992 in Iowa and 14 other states. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says a lot has changed with the game in 25 years.

“Back when Powerball started, the jackpots started at $2 million and grew from there. Today, we barely blink an eye at $2 million,” Neubauer said. “It’s just funny to see how big the jackpots have become over time and all of the prizes that have been involved in that game through the years.” Powerball’s guaranteed jackpot now starts at $40 million.

Powerball tickets are now sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The world record for the largest lottery jackpot, a Powerball prize of nearly $1.6 billion, was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January of 2016. “The biggest Powerball jackpot won here in Iowa was also a very sizeable prize. That was $241 million claimed by the ‘Shipping 20,’ a group of co-workers from the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids,” Neubauer said. “That was back in June of 2012.”

Neubauer has compiled a list of some Powerball factoids in Iowa. “More than 1,200 Powerball prizes of at least $10,000 have been won here in Iowa. Twenty-seven Powerball prizes of $1 million and 5 prizes of $2 million have been won in Iowa. Overall, Iowa Lottery players have won 8 jackpots in the game,” Neubauer said. The first Iowan to claim a Powerball jackpot was Ed Brown of Washington. He split a $10.4 million jackpot with a Missouri woman in December 1992.

(Radio Iowa)

Douglas Miller, founder and spokesperson for the “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa” group, says its leadership, members and citizens are invited to a short meeting with 3rd District Republican Congressman David Young on Monday April 24, 2017 at 5-p.m. The meeting will be held in the basement of the Bridgewater United Methodist Church at 224 North Main Street, in Bridgewater.

Congressman David Young’s office staff responded to a letter sent by  Miller, asking for support and assistance in combating an ongoing drug problem in Bridgewater. The Director for Congressman Young said in his response to Miller, “We would like this meeting to be a starting point for a much lengthier conversation.”

The non-profit initiative “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa” was formed to unite citizens with efforts to reduce ongoing criminal events as drug related activities increase in the small rural Adair County town. More information about this meeting and “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa” can be found on the Facebook page by the same name.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for hacking to death his girlfriend, her teenage daughter and their landlord with a machete in central Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that Carlos Hernandez-Ventura was sentenced Friday, a month after being found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder.

Prosecutors say Hernandez-Ventura used a machete on Oct. 29 to kill 34-year-old Lourdes Flor De Leake, 14-year-old Melany Barraza and 78-year-old Juan Jimenez Tejada at the home in Perry.

At trial, Hernandez-Ventura had testified that Leake’s estranged husband ordered the deaths, but investigators say they found no evidence he was involved.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Raw milk advocates’ efforts to expand availability across the U.S. have not slowed despite health officials’ assertions that it’s dangerous to drink milk that hasn’t been heated to kill bacteria.

Efforts to legalize raw milk sales in some form have succeeded in 42 states, and expansion pushes are ongoing this year in states including Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, North Dakota and Texas.

All raw milk sales are banned in eight states. Dr. Megin Nichols with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says health officials worry that as access to raw milk increases, so will illnesses. Despite those concerns, people in states like Iowa that outlaw raw milk sales frequently travel to states such as Missouri where they can buy milk they believe is healthier.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa athletic director Gary Barta says his relationship with a former top administrator deteriorated after he informed her that after a reorganization of the athletic department, she no longer would be his second-in-command.

Testifying Friday in a discrimination lawsuit filed by former administrator Jane Meyer, Barta said the two initially had a strong working relationship but that she became antagonistic after he told her in 2013 that he’d look for a new deputy director. Barta said he based his decision, in part, because he believed the head football and wrestling coaches wouldn’t support Meyer.

Meyer’s lawsuit alleges she suffered workplace discrimination as a gay woman in a relationship with a coach, that the school retaliated against her and that she was paid less than a male counterpart.

ODEBOLT, Iowa (AP) — Iowa environmental officials are investigating a chemical fertilizer spill in western Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources say a tanker carrying ammonium thiosulfate, a liquid fertilizer, tipped over Friday morning in Odebolt.

Investigators say the tanker, which was bound for a bulk plant in Boone, was carrying about 4,340 gallons of fertilizer. Officials say it’s not known how much of the product leaked from the top fill port before it was stopped and contained.

Some of the fertilizer ran into a small tributary, through a culvert and flowed through town to Odebolt Creek. Officials have tested water quality at several places and found elevated levels of ammonia, but did not detect ammonia downstream. There are no fish in the tributary. Cleanup of the spill is planned.

Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Community Foundation, has announced that grants amounting to a little more than $114,462 were awarded to Cass County nonprofit agencies. The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Cass County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Cass County Board of Directors:

Organization/Project/Award

• Anita Foundation: Anita Wellness Center treadmills $10,000
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center: Repaint and repair classrooms and bathrooms $6,000.
• Atlantic Lions Club: Refurbish historic 1875 schoolhouse located in Sunnyside Park, $3,000.
• Atlantic Parks & Recreation: Construct fishing ADA compliant fishing pier at Schildberg Recreation Area $10,715.
• Atlantic Rock Island Society: Zoned climate control in American Legion Memorial Building $8,000.
• Cass County Conservation: Stand Up Paddleboard Equipment $4,000.
• Cass County Fair Board: Replace walk-in food cooler at 4-H stand $9,000.
• Cass County Historical Society: Repairs to exterior of south wall, annex 2 $3,000.
• CASS Incorporated: Relias Learning Management Software $4,000.
• City of Anita: Hilltop Park playground equipment; $4,000.
• City of Lewis: Public Library Book Laminator & Cart $3,000.
• City of Massena: Public Library State Library Association e-book program subscription $747.
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library: Concrete pad in back, new water heater, new circuit breaker, panic bar $2,000.;
• Griswold Public Library: ADA Compliant Door $2,000.
• Griswold Rescue Department: Purchase a Stryker Power Cot $6,000.
• Griswold Volunteer Fire & Rescue: 2-Man Ice Rescue Team Kit $2,000.
• Lewis First Responders: Replace and upgrade pagers $3,000.
• Little Lambs Preschool: Playground Revitalization $3,000.
• Marne Firefighter & Rescue Association: Replace aging PPE/bunker gear
  $6,000.
• Nishna Valley Family YMCA: Building Refresh Project $10,000.
• Nishna Valley Trails: Construction to connect two existing trails between Atlantic & Audubon $15,000.

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services.  Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible. Cass County agency representatives received their checks on April 21st.  During brief check distribution activities, Hunt commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Cass County.

In a statement, Nicholas Hunt said “Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $114,462.82 in grants to these important community efforts in Cass County. The Cass County Community Foundation is one of nine counties that are collectively known as the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa and meets or exceeds the Standards for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.”

The Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the changing, vital community needs and interests.  Donating to a permanently endowed fund helps your neighbors today AND you help build a stronger community tomorrow.   Not only that, you’ll be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal tax benefits for which you may qualify.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact any of the Board Members, or call Dennis Nissen, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.

A long-time Atlantic employer has announced plans to lay-off employees. Officials with Owner Revolution, Incorporated (ORI) told their employees Thursday about the expected reduction in its workforce, and in a Press Release Friday (Today) said  “A number of employees of ORI at its location in Atlantic…will experience layoffs, as a result of unforeseen business conditions due to a cancellation of its contract with a major customer.” According to some employees, the customer is YETI coolers.

ORI said in its news release, that they consider the layoffs to be permanent, and that “As part of the corporate reorganization, ORI will continue operation of its manufacturing facilities by maintaining its other customers and by obtaining additional contracts or new business.” They went on to say that “If these efforts are successful, some ORI employees may be maintained or recalled to work. However, because the success of such efforts are entirely unknown at this time, ORI has informed employees who are laid off that they should not count on being recalled to employment.”

In addition, the company said “Temporary layoffs that were previously announced on March 30th will now become permanent. Additional layoffs [were] expected to begin around April 21st (Today/Friday). The layoffs may come in stages, depending on the need for workers as the cancelled customer contract is completed. Layoffs are most likely to occur before June 30, 2017, but may be sooner or later, again depending upon the business need to maintain its workers as the full impact of the contract cancellation and the resulting corporate reorganization becomes known.”

Company officials stressed that the layoffs affect The Plastic Professionals in Atlantic, only, which produces a wide variety of rotationally molded plastic products serving the needs of many industries and customers. ORI’s other operations, including Schafer Systems, Connect-A-Dock, and Schafer Solutions, are not affected.

ORI has facilities in both Adair and Atlantic, with a combined manufacturing and office space of over 300,000 square feet. ORI was founded in 1986 and became an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) company in 1999.

The Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports his office has received numerous calls from citizens reporting they have received a phone call or had a recording left on their phone from someone claiming to be from the IRS. Johnson says with new technology, the scammers can use their number as the IRS or even the Department of Treasury.

The scam has been around for years but Johnson says it seems to be hitting Audubon County more frequently. The callers claim to be from the IRS and threaten to take legal action. Sheriff Todd Johnson would like to remind citizens that the IRS does not call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes without first mailing a bill.

Also, never give any personal or financial information.