A man with numerous withdrawals in effect on a suspended driver’s license, was arrested again Monday evening, in Red Oak. Authorities say 47-year old Robby Dale Lukehart, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. Lukehart was taken into custody at around 5-p.m., in the 100 block of S. Broadway Street and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his cash bond was set at $300.

Election officials like Kevin Hall in the Iowa Secretary of State’s office are unsure how many Iowans will participate in today’s (Tuesday’s) Democratic and Republican Primary Elections. “Turn-out is really hard to gauge at this point,” Hall says. “Of course, people are very interested in the political races this year, but it’s not the Caucuses this time. It’s primaries.”

Voters in five OTHER states will be holding PRESIDENTIAL primaries today (Tuesday). The only STATEWIDE race here is among four Iowa Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate. There also are primaries in three of the state’s congressional districts. You must be registered as a Democrat or registered as a Republican to vote today (Tuesday).

“But you can change your registration there at the polling location,” Hall says. “We have same-day voter registration, so if you’re not registered to vote, you can do that at your polling location. You do need to have some sort of photo ID and a proof of residence, like a utility bill.” Independent voters can participate, but they must register to vote as a Democrat or as a Republican in order to cast a ballot in one of the party primaries here.

There has been controversy in other states where the number of polling locations have been reduced, but in Iowa today (Tuesday), there is a voting location open in each Iowa precinct. “There are approximately 1700 precincts in Iowa and the great thing about Iowa is we have one of the longest early-voting periods. We have one of the longest polling hours in the entire nation,” Hall says. “Only New York State has longer polling hours.” The polls open at 7 a.m. and don’t close until 9 p.m. tonight (Tuesday).

If you don’t know your polling location, you can find a link to the Secretary of State’s ‘precinct locator’ on the web at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — It’s primary day in Iowa, and voters in the state that kicked off the presidential nominating season now are set to choose general election candidates for state offices. The top contest on the primary ballot Tuesday is the Democratic race to choose a challenger for longtime Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. Candidates also are seeking primary victories in three of Iowa’s four congressional districts and legislative races.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three days after Gov. Terry Branstad called a proposed higher education tuition increase too big, the board governing Iowa’s public universities released a plan Monday that would make it even bigger for some students. The revised Board of Regents proposal would generate $1.2 million in additional revenue by targeting University of Iowa engineering and business school students for larger hikes than their classmates in the coming school year.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City has approved a 6.65 percent water rate increase over the next three years, beginning July 1. The Sioux City Journal reports that the City Council voted 3-2 to approve the water hike Monday. Under the plan, the average residential water customer would pay an additional $2.27 per month in the first year, $2.39 in the second year and $2.57 in the third year.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man convicted of murder in the fatal shooting a woman in a Coralville mall has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. The Iowa City Press Citizen reports that a judge on Monday handed over the sentence for 23-year Alexander Kozak. A jury in April found Kozak guilty of killing 20-year-old Andrea Farrington at the Coral Ridge Mall on June 12, 2015.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Days after Gov. Terry Branstad called a proposed tuition increase too big, the board governing Iowa’s public universities released a change that would make it even bigger for some students. A revised Board of Regents plan would hit University of Iowa engineering and business school students with larger tuition hikes and generate $1.2 million more in revenue in the coming school year.

The plan maintains a $300 across-the-board hike for undergraduate students at the schools who are state residents. That’s on top of a $200 increase already approved in December for University of Iowa students. The new plan would further increase tuition by $200 for second-year students who are in the UI business and engineering schools. For upperclassmen in those colleges, tuition would rise by an extra $350 or more.

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County arrested two people on drug charges, Monday (today). 30-year old Deborah Kaye Olson, a homeless person, and 42-year old Ty Matthew Thompson, of Gillman, IA, were arrested on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine over 5 grams, and simple misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges.

(update 6/7) – Both subjects were transported to the Cass County Jail where they remain held on $100,000 bond each.

In an update to our earlier report, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office says two people from Pottawattamie County were arrested following a pursuit early this (Monday) morning. The chase began at around 12:50 at 550th Street and White Pole Road (near State Radio), and ended at Exit 46 near Walnut. Deputies arrested 23-year old Jennifer Rose Passarelli, of Council Bluffs, on a felony charge of Falsifying Public Documents, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Interference with Official Acts (Simple). 37-year old Nicholas Thomas Rohrberg, also from Council Bluffs, was also arrested on a felony charge of Falsifying Public Documents, and and Interference with Official Acts.

(Update 6/7) – Passarelli remains held in the Cass County Jail on $6,300 bond; Rohrberg remains held on $5,300 bond. The incident remains under investigation.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Cass County woman was arrested on a drug charge, Saturday evening, in Adair. 45-year old Georgenia Renay Chamberlin, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 5-p.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was also cited for Driving While Suspended and not having insurance. Chamberlin was released Sunday afternoon on a $1,000 cash bond. (Her arrest report also listed a residence in Wiota.)

A man whose address was formerly listed as being in Stuart, but recently homeless, was arrested May 30th in Stuart, on three warrants for Violation of Probation. Sheriff Vandewater said 47-year old Kevin Eugene Stark was being held in the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond.

A man from Adel was arrested on numerous charges May 31st in Greenfield. Vandewater says 35-year old Bobby Joe Lee Mumford faces charges that include: Trespass causing more than $200 damage; Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree (for damaging a pickup); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Meth pipe) and a Prescription Drug violation; Driving While Barred for being an Habitual Offender; Burglary to a motor vehicle (entering a pickup), and Child Endangerment. Mumford was later released on $2,000 bond.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says also, 47-year old John Elsworth Schildberg, of Casey, was arrested Friday morning on two warrants for Failure to appear, on charges he failed to report the harvesting of a deer or turkey, and restrictions on taking game deer and turkey. Schildberg was later released from custody on his own recognizance.

Others arrested in Adair County over the past week, include: Manuel Jesus Mayancela-Carchi, of Perry, for failure to hold fishing licenses and throwing litter; Zachary Linn Britcher, of Cedar Rapids, for Driving While License Suspended; Zachary Eugene DeCamp, of Dallas Center, and William Joseph Mumford, of Des Moines, for Trespassing; Mikisha Nicole Williams, of Des Moines, for Possession of a Controlled Substance; Barrett Martin Driskill, of Afton, for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense.

In an update to our reports over the weekend, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says four people suffered minor injuries during a collision Saturday evening, south of Elk Horn. Officials say vehicles driven by 71-year old Susan Andersen, of Elk Horn, and 21-year old Dustin Goodridge, of Henderson, collided at the intersection of Highway 173 and 400th Street, when Anderson tried to turn left onto 400th Street, as she was traveling north on Highway 173.

Her 2007 Ford Freestar van was hit by Goodridge’ southbound 2001 Ford Taurus. Anderson, and her passenger, 82-year old Charles Anderson, of Elk Horn, were transported to Myrtue Hospital, in Harlan. Goodridge, and his passenger, 21-year old Karlee Reeves, of Carroll, were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. All of their injuries were described as minor.

Officials say Susan Anderson was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

(12:40-p.m. News)

SCHLESWIG, Iowa (AP) – A Minnesota man has pleaded not guilty to shooting at two Iowa deputies during a standoff.  The Sioux City Journal reports 45-year-old James Champion, of Mankato, Minnesota, entered his written plea Monday. He’s charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer with a dangerous weapon in a March 9 standoff in Schleswig.

Crawford County sheriff’s deputies say Champion pointed a rifle at them and threatened to shoot after authorities went to check on him. He later opened his door and pointed a rifle toward officers and fired once.

Lt. Corey Utech returned fire, hitting Champion twice in the torso. Champion was flown to an Omaha hospital for treatment and released. Utech was cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Cass County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees announced today (Monday), it has terminated the contract of Chief Executive Officer Todd Hudspeth, effective immediately. Ned Brown, Board Chairman, said in a statement, “After thorough consideration of Mr. Hudspeth’s actions and his judgment in several recent situations, we are concerned about his ongoing ability to be an effective leader for our organization.”

Brown said also, “We will begin the search for a new CEO immediately.  In the interim, we have complete confidence in our current Administrative Team, medical providers and staff to continue providing outstanding care for our communities during this time of transition.”

CCHS CEO Todd Hudspeth

Over the weekend, it was learned that Hudspeth’s attorney, last Thursday, entered a written Alford Plea for Hudspeth, with regard to Hudspeth’s felony Forgery charge in Buena Vista County. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who proclaims he is innocent of the crime, and admits that the prosecution has enough evidence to prove that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is entered when the accused, together with his attorney, has made the calculated decision to plead guilty because the evidence against him is so strong that it will likely lead to conviction. Typically, it results in a guilty plea of a lesser crime

Last month, Hudspeth had entered a written plea of Not Guilty to the Forgery charge filed against him in Buena Vista County Court. Storm Lake Police had earlier arrested Hudspeth after he allegedly presented a $10,000 check with a forged signature at Storm Lake MetaBank. Hudspeth has said the check was deposited into a checking account to pay for his son’s college expenses. Hudspeth later acknowledged he had made a poor decision in endorsing a disbursement check that included his name, and that of his ex-wife. Hudspeth admitted that he took “A foolish shortcut to expedite” the process of transferring funds for his son’s expenses. He faces a similar felony charge in Cass County, filed in May.

A jury trial was set to begin in Hudspeth’s Buena Vista Coutny case on July 12th, but with his plea, a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) will now take place August 1st, during what’s called a “Plea taking.” Hudspeth was hired as the CEO for the Cass County Health System in November, 2013. He took over in January 2014 from former CEO Pat Markham, who retired after more than 29-years of service.