DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University has paid $125,000 to settle two lawsuits brought by a former university administrator who accused the school of blocking her efforts to investigate sexual assault reports. The university says the State Appeal Board approved the settlement with Robinette Kelley on Monday. The settlement resolves two lawsuits Kelley filed. She was the university’s equal opportunity and Title IX director who was fired in October 2015. She now works for North Carolina State University.

She alleged in the lawsuits that she knew Iowa State was not complying with Title IX, the federal law that requires public schools to provide equal opportunities to students regardless of sex. Kelley alleges the university tried to intimidate her and coerce her into ignoring her compliance concerns. The university denied her allegations.

Creston Police say one person was arrested, Tuesday. 49-year old Victor Thatcher, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 4:06-p.m., on a charge of Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Thatcher was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Connect-A-Dock, will host their annual Road Race this Saturday, August 11th, beginning at 8-a.m. The 2018 Road Race will be held on 6th Street across from City Park. The race will begin at 8:00 AM with a 2 or 5 mile run and a 2 mile walk. The route can be found on www.atlanticiowa.com and will be similar to last year; enjoying a route through Schildberg Recreation Area. Racers can register online at atlanticiowa.com until August 9th.

Day-of registration is at 7 AM at the Atlantic City Park, with the race beginning at 8 AM. Following the race, Atlantic Hy-Vee will provide fruit to all racers and Southwest Iowa Crystal Clear will be filling re-usable water bottles for all participants to enjoy. ATI Physical Therapy will also be on site offering pre and post-race stretching. For more information about the Road Race, or additional AtlanticFest information visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at (712)243-3017.

A Democrat from Maryland who is running for President – in 2020, will visit a farm near Atlantic, Thursday morning. Maryland 6th District Representative John Delany will visit with Democratic Iowa House District 21 Candidate Denise O’Brien at her home located at 59624 Chicago Road, from 10-until 10:30-a.m., Thursday, as part of his tour of the State that continues through Sunday. The tour marks his 14th campaign trip to Iowa, which also includes the Des Moines Register’s State Fair Soapbox and Iowa Democratic “Wing Ding,” on Friday.

MD-6 Democratic Pres. candidate John K. Delany.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government has decided it wants to build a new courthouse in Des Moines on the former riverfront site of a YMCA. The General Services Administration said Tuesday in a news release that the planned $137 million courthouse will “complement the character and context of the surrounding structures and amenities, interact with the Principal Riverwalk in a way that facilitates pedestrian activities and outdoor recreation, and include publicly accessible space.”

The government will have to acquire the site from Hubbell Realty Co., which released plans Monday for a luxury condominium development there. The city had wanted to reserve the land for private development.
Officials say courthouse construction is scheduled to start in fall 2019, and the building would open the following year.

(Radio Iowa) — Most people who visit Iowa’s 19 state-licensed casinos don’t suffer from gambling addiction, but for the few who do, those environments can be very detrimental. This is Responsible Gaming Education Week in Iowa. Wes Ehrecke, president and CEO of the Iowa Gaming Association, says it’s a time to focus on educating casino employees and patrons. “Well over 98% of people can go to the casino for the fun and entertainment it’s intended to be using their discretionary dollars,” Ehrecke says, “but for those that it might be a problem, we want to heighten awareness about resources that are available, gambling treatment counselors, 1-800-BETS OFF and other tools and resources they could explore if they’re experiencing a problem.”

Last year, significant changes were made to the voluntary self-exclusion program as a result of legislation passed in the Iowa legislature. This week, continued emphasis will help clarify and explain to patrons this reform that allows a person to voluntarily ban themselves for either five years or for life. Ehrecke credits the work of gambling treatment counselors at facilities near all 19 casinos.  “They are coming in to spend time, in some cases interacting with the patrons by setting up tables near the entrances,” Ehrecke says, “but especially with the employees to do staff training to better understand intervention skills and how to recognize if someone may be having a problem.”

Ehrecke says there is a new online link that was created by the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program for those who are in need of help.”They have developed this new link called Your Life Iowa,” he says. “It’s not just gambling. It could be substance abuse. It could be mental health, various issues people might be experiencing and they have it all under one umbrella. YourLife.Iowa.org is a very helpful resource for people.”  There is also more information at www.iowagaming.org.

A man in Humboldt County is accused of stabbing a sheriff’s deputy. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s office announced in a press release that a Rutland man has been charged with assault on a peace officer using a deadly weapon. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s office executed a search of the residence of 47-year-old Michael J. Saeger in Rutland on Monday, and after initially talking to deputies, he became combative towards a deputy.

Officials with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said Saeger fled to a room with authorities giving chase and that he grabbed a knife and stabbed the deputy 4 times. The deputy was wearing body armor and was not injured. Saeger is being held at the Humboldt County Jail on assault charges, interference with official acts and manufacturing and possession of controlled substances.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst (R-Red Oak) has been calling on congress to launch its own investigation of the U.S. Olympic Committee to see why a sports doctor was allowed to treat athletes for years after dozens of complaints. “Like many Americans, I was horrified to hear of the crimes committed by Larry Nassar, the USA Gymnastics doctor who abused hundreds of young athletes,” Ernst said during testimony in a senate committee this summer. Since January, Ernst has joined with other senators on a number of occasions to call for a congressional response. Ernst says Nassar’s actions and the individuals and institutions who protected him are “reprehensible.” “When these athletes reported the abuse to those they trusted — people within their university, their gymnastics club, Olympic leadership or people their parents paid to turn them into strong and healthy athletes — they were shut down,” Ernst said. “They were ignored and they were told: ‘There was nothing to see here.'”

The U.S. Olympic Committee’s chairman resigned at the end of February and Nassar essentially has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison, but Ernst says problems persist in the U.S. Olympic Committee and its affiliates that must be investigated and addressed. “Even more maddening is these organizations rake in millions of dollars a year and enjoy tax-exempt status,” Ernst said.  As a student at Iowa State University, Ernst volunteered at a rape crisis center and Ernst says that experience showed her survivors are forever altered by the abuse they endure. “Abuse like this is not something you can just simply forget,” Ernst said. “…We must take survivors’ stories seriously and ensure they are heard.” Ernst said. ‘

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has been created to oversee abuse complaints from athletes training for the Olympics. The U.S. Olympic Committee is a federally-chartered organization. It oversees 47 other groups like U-S-A Gymnastics that govern the individual and team sports that are part of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

A traffic stop in Montgomery County early this (Wednesday) morning, resulted in two, drug-related arrests. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a vehicle driven by 58-year old Terry Joe Halvin, of Red Oak, was pulled over in the 1800 block of Highway 48, at around 1:20-a.m. Halvin was subsequently arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – with the intent to deliver, a Class-B Felony. Halvin was also charged with Driving While Revoked. A passenger in the vehicle, 57-year old Julie Ann Vore, of Council Bluffs, also faces a Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – with the intent to deliver, charge.

Both were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where they were being held without bond until being seen by a magistrate. The Montgomery County K9 Unit and Red Oak Police assisted in conducting the arrests.