A round table discussion about the Farm Bill and Iowa’s Agricultural Economy will be held this Thursday, Aug. 23rd, in Atlantic. The Farm Forum takes place at the Atlantic Public Library, from 10-until 11:30-a.m., and features Democratic candidates for political office that include Tim Gannon (Ag. Secretary Candidate), Cindy Axne (3rd District Congressional candidate) and Denise O’Brien (Dem. candidate for House District 21). The forum will be moderated by retired Des Moines Register columnist Chuck Offenburger.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise on Friday, August 24, 2018, to sunset on Saturday, August 25, 2018, in honor and remembrance of former Congressman Leonard Boswell. He passed away on Friday, August 17, 2018, at the age of 84. “Congressman Boswell will be remembered for his many years of public service to our state and for his service to our country,” Gov. Reynolds said. “He was an individual willing to reach across the aisle on many issues to make Iowa a better place. My prayers are with his family, friends and Iowans impacted by his legacy.”

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has reprimanded the Davenport school superintendent for spending more than the state allows districts to spend. The board’s order issued earlier this month says Art Tate’s conduct “constitutes a violation of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics governing the teaching profession.” Tate and the board staff negotiated the reprimand to settle the state’s complaint.

The Iowa Education Department filed the ethics complaint in December 2016, saying the district broke state law by using money in a reserve account to pay for ongoing programming. Davenport officials have said some districts can spend up to $175 more than Davenport per pupil, so the district used reserve funds to make up that difference. Tate announced in 2015 that he intended to violate the state law for the district’s 2016-17 budget.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested on an assault charge Saturday afternoon, in Carson. A Deputy responding to a disturbance call arrested 41-year old Steven Edward Messerli, of Carson, for Domestic Assault with Injury, in a connection with an incident involving his 39-year old girlfriend, who suffered apparent, minor injuries. A woman from Missouri Valley was arrested Saturday evening, following a disturbance involving a gun, at a residence in the 33-thousand block of Old Lincoln Highway. 70-year old Tammy Kay Anderson faces a charge of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon charge, in connection to an incident that involved a 61-year old woman who was also from Missouri Valley.

A call from the Pottawattamie Council Jail early Sunday morning, resulted in the arrest of a woman on drug charges. Jail personnel called 911 for a welfare check on the lot of the Sheriff’s Office. While speaking with 44-year old Heidi Ann Hill, of Council Bluffs, a Deputy noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view in the woman’s vehicle. A search conducted on the vehicle resulted in additional paraphernalia. Hill was arrested for Possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Seized into evidence was a bag containing 1.1-grams of meth, and two pipes used for smoking meth.

And, a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle at around 2:45-a.m. Sunday in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of 27-year old Kyle James Hartigan, from Treynor. Hartigan showed signs of being impaired and was placed under arrest for OWI/2nd offense.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Friday, of 43-year old Timothy Patrick Vanscoyk, from Council Bluffs. He was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Pre-trial Revocation. Bond was set at $10,000.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to meet Tuesday morning this week, instead of Wednesday. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. session at the courthouse in Greenfield, is discussion and/or action on the Final Officials Statement pertaining to General Obligation Bonds, Series 2018, an IPAC agreement for FY 2019 and FY2018 Financial report, and at 9:15-a.m., continued discussion with regard to the Adair County wind farms.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 55-year-old woman has been ordered to pay back more than $32,000 she stole from her employer in Mason City. Cerro Gordo County District Court records say 55-year-old Melissa Gott, of Mason City, was sentenced last week to three to five years of probation and told to pay restitution to Yesway. She’d pleaded guilty to theft.

Gott must undergo a mental health and gambling evaluation and complete all recommended treatment as part of her probation. Authorities say she stole the money from a Yesway store’s bank deposits between Jan. 3 and Jan. 14.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trial is expected to begin Monday of a man accused of stabbing to death a Mason City resident. Cerro Gordo County District Court records say 21-year-old Braedon Bowers has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. Authorities say he stabbed 23-year-old Wraymond Todd on May 30, 2017, in Mason City. Todd died June 4. Bowers also lives in Mason City.

One person suffered possible/unknown injuries during a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon, in Creston. Authorities say when officers arrived at around 3:45-p.m., they saw a 2002 Chevy K2500 pickup had struck a utility pole on Highway 34/Taylor Street. An investigation determined the pickup, driven by 28-year old Alex Richard Cunningham, of Creston, was westbound on Highway 34, when it crossed the centerline and hit the pole. Cunningham was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, by EMS ambulance.

When an officer went to the Emergency Room to speak with Cunningham, he acquired implied consent. Cunningham said he had not been drinking, but the officer noticed the man had blood-shot, watery eyes, and a slow, slurred speech. Various tests for alcohol intoxication levels were taken, including a urine sample. The sample will be sent to the DCI Crime lab for testing before any citation, if any, is issued. Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000.