Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she is “very disappointed” and angered by the conduct of thousands of male soldiers who have posted and viewed naked photos of FEMALE soldiers on a private Facebook page. “There is absolutely no excuse for this,” Ernst says, “especially for those who wear our nation’s uniform.”

The “Marine United” Facebook page was created as a private meeting place for active duty and retired Marines, but a veteran who runs the “War Horse” NEWS site recently revealed photos of female Marines were being posted on the Marines United page. Ernst, a retired Iowa National Guard commander who is a combat veteran, spoke Tuesday during a U.S. Senate hearing with two Marine Corps generals. “Those who participated in these disgusting and horrible actions have not only failed our Marine Corps, they’ve failed the men and women who wish to join your ranks,” Ernst said, “and they have failed our country.”

Ernst cites additional reporting which indicates similar activity in other branches of the military. “This is a cultural problem, not just in our military, but society at large and hearing that many individuals were not surprised about these reports disappoints me. Hearing that there may not be a way to hold many of the people that were involved in this accountable, that angers me,” Ernst said. “Illegal or not, members of our community need to know this they type of activity creates a culture that leads to sexual assault.”

Marine Corps leaders admit investigators are having trouble identifying “Marines United” Facebook users for possible prosecution or discipline within the military, plus spin-off websites are popping up with links to the naked images of female soldiers.

(Radio Iowa)

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – A Waukee man who says he’s been sober for 10 years has thanked the last police officer who pulled him over for driving drunk. The Des Moines Register reports Callin Prieskorn went to the Johnston Police Department on Tuesday and hugged Sgt. Kenny Agan, whom he’d last seen alongside a road.

Prieskorn says the arrest led to jail time and the loss of a job before he could turn a corner in his life and begin his recovery. Over the past 10 years he’s married, welcomed two sons into his family and gotten new jobs. Agan told Prieskorn that “it’s impressive to see the changes you’ve made.” Johnston Police Chief Dennis McDaniel says police “never get this kind of feedback. It’s a big day for us.”

A traffic stop late Tuesday night in Adams County resulted in the arrest of a Missouri man on a drug charge. 26-year old Andrew Kerwin, of Sheridan, MO., was arrested just before midnight, Tuesday, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a man from Nebraska was arrested Monday on a Fremont County felony warrant for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, causing a minor to engage in sex act. Fremont County authorities received confirmation from Nebraska, that 21-year old Brock Jay Wichman, of Nebraska City, NE., had been arrested in Fremont, Nebraska on the Fremont County, Iowa warrant.

The charge stems from an investigation initiated by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office in August and September of 2016. Deputies were assisted by the Nebraska City Police Department, Fremont, Nebraska Police Department, and the United States Marshall Service. Wichman is being held at the Fremont County Jail without bond, pending an initial appearance with a Magistrate.

Brock Wichman (photo submitted)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate has begun debate on a bill that would ban most abortions in the state after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The chamber launched floor discussion Tuesday night. It’s unclear when lawmakers will vote on the measure, though it’s expected to pass. Iowa law bans abortions at the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, or 27 weeks. The bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that stage.

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) — Environmental officials say about 1,600 gallons of ethanol leaked into a northwestern Iowa creek as crews pulled three derailed train tankers from the water. A news release Tuesday from the Iowa Natural Resources Department says the last three tankers from the fiery train derailment were pulled from Jack Creek on Monday. One spilled about 1,500 gallons, and another spilled about 100 gallons.

DENMARK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a suspect in the weekend shooting of a southeastern Iowa man is the man’s 13-year-old son. The Hawk Eye report that the 58-year-old man was treated at an Iowa City hospital for two gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening. His son is being held at a juvenile detention center in Montrose. The Associated Press generally does not name juveniles charged with crimes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Financial analysts say Iowa is taking in less-than-expected revenue and must address a new shortfall of about $131 million for its current budget. The three-member Revenue Estimating Conference announced Tuesday that Iowa was expected to take in about $7.1 billion for the current budget year, which ends June 30. It’s the third time the revenue forecast has been cut since last fall. Gov. Terry Branstad’s spokesman says the state should offset the deficit by tapping its cash reserves.

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) — Environmental officials say about 1,600 gallons of ethanol leaked into a northwestern Iowa creek as crews were pulling three derailed train tankers from the water. A news release Tuesday from the Iowa Natural Resources Department says the last three tankers from the fiery train derailment were pulled from Jack Creek on Monday. One spilled about 1,500 gallons, and another spilled about 100 gallons.

DNR environmental specialist Amber Wolf says water tests later taken downstream showed normal oxygen levels in the creek — good news for fish. The Union Pacific train hauling ethanol derailed around 1 a.m. Friday on a trestle bridge spanning the creek near Graettinger. It sent 20 tanker cars off the tracks and sparked a fire that burned until midday Sunday.

Three people have been arrested on drug charges in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports as the result of a traffic stop, Sunday, 34-year old David Allan Minard, of Griswold was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense. Minard and a passenger in the car, 29-year old Stephanie Dawn Minard, of Malvern, were also each charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both subjects were taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on their own recognizances.

On Monday, 37-year old Misty Lynn Scybert, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office felony warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine. Scybert was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $50,000 bond.

And today (Tuesday), Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 53-year old David Allan Charles, of Atlantic, on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Charles was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Financial analysts say Iowa is taking in less-than-expected revenue and must address a new shortfall of about $131 million for its current budget. The three-member Revenue Estimating Conference announced Tuesday that Iowa was expected to take in about $7.1 billion for the current budget year, which ends June 30. It’s the third time the revenue forecast has been cut since last fall.

Gov. Terry Branstad’s spokesman says the state should offset the deficit by tapping its cash reserves rather than make additional cuts. Iowa lawmakers have already cut more than $117 million from the current budget to address an earlier shortfall. Analysts didn’t point to one reason behind the revenue decline. They predicted Iowa also must cut about $191 million from the budget year beginning in July.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 23-year old Beau Michael Keegan, of Council Bluffs, was arrested today (Tuesday) at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Dependent Adult Abuse/Intentional Physical Injury. No other details were immediately released. Keegan’s bond was set $10,000.

Beau Michael Keegan

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved nearly $6.5 million in grants and initiatives funding to 22 nonprofit organizations and government entities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. For the second year, the Foundation awarded $1.8 million in multi-year funding to seven nonprofit organizations in Pottawattamie County. The multi-year funding program is designed to provide essential general operating funds over a three-year period to organizations who fulfill the most critical roles in Pottawattamie County. The organizations include Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, FAMILY, Inc., Green Hills AEA, Heartland Family Service, Justice For Our Neighbors, Lutheran Family Services and the MICAH House.

Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE), a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening, developing and promoting art, cultural, and historical institutions and activities in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, received an installment of $1.2 million in funding as part of the Foundation’s $7 million commitment to the initiative, for the proposed renovation of the historic Harvester II building in downtown Council Bluffs into an arts and culture center. PACE Executive Director Judy Davis said construction is expected to start early next year.

Also in the Foundation’s “placemaking” focus area, The Nature Conservancy received $400,000 to acquire more than 500 acres of the Loess Hills Natural Area near Council Bluffs, while the City of Council Bluffs received $175,000 for Loessfest 2017. The recently announced lineup for the Memorial Day weekend events can be found at http://loessfest.com/.

In addition to placemaking quality of life grants, the Foundation also awarded a placemaking infrastructure grant to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors for the CITIES program. Collectively, the communities of Macedonia, Minden, Treynor and Walnut received $921,525 for projects including façade upgrades, streetscape enhancements and water main and well construction.

The Foundation also awarded nearly $30,000 to three Pottawattamie County fire departments as part of its ongoing commitment to rural southwest Iowa communities. The Lewis Township and Hancock Volunteer Fire Department received $10,000 and Carson Volunteer Fire Department received $9,852, all for equipment upgrades.

The Letter of Inquiry period for the Cycle 2 grant application process opened on March 1 and will close March 15. Applications are due April 17, due to the 15th falling on a weekend. Grant application and initiative decisions will be made in June. Please see the Grantmaking section of the Iowa West Foundation website for more information (http://www.iowawestfoundation.org/ )

The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has distributed more than $400 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska since the inception of its grant program. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s.