DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A board that enforces Iowa’s government ethics laws hasn’t been following a rule that requires its meeting minutes to be available online. An administrative rule says minutes of Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board meetings will be “available for viewing” on its website, but the board hasn’t posted any since its November 2016 meeting. That means citizens who want to easily review actions taken by the board since then are out of luck.

Board director Megan Tooker says the agency is no longer able to update its website and is building a new one, which it expects to launch in the next few weeks. Tooker said the same thing in early January, when she explained why an upcoming meeting date hadn’t been posted. She explained then that the board was waiting to launch the site until after a Jan. 19 campaign finance filing deadline.

(Radio Iowa) — The deadline is next week for Iowa schools to apply to have their water fountains swapped out for water bottle filling stations. Suzanne Heckenlaible, executive director of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, says they’ve budgeted 300-thousand dollars for this year’s “Rethink Your Drink” program, which should be enough to outfit about 60 schools statewide. “Priority will be given to schools that have a large percentage of students on free and reduced-price lunch, they don’t have a current water bottle filling station, and they’re in optimally fluoridated communities,” Heckenlaible says.

Last year was the first year for the program and Delta Dental spent 230-thousand dollars to retrofit water fountains in 54 schools in 26 Iowa counties. That reached about 28-thousand students, encouraging them to quench their thirst without buying a sugary soft drink. “Not only are we bringing the water bottle filling station to the school, we’re also bringing water bottles to every child there,” Heckenlaible says, “so they actually have the tool to fill up their bottle throughout the day to ensure they are hydrated.”

Each child also gets a toothbrush and a book mark. Despite efforts by families, schools and public health agencies to educate students on better drink choices, kids often choose caffeinated beverages, sports drinks and energy drinks — or they just go without. “We know that more than 50% of children and teens in the U.S. are not properly hydrated during the school day,” Heckenlaible says. “Certainly, that can impact cognitive functions and energy levels throughout the day.”

By choosing water, she says students and staff are more alert, better hydrated, protect their tooth enamel and make their teeth more resistant to cavities. An added plus, in the first three months of the program, she says more than 200-thousand plastic water bottles were saved from Iowa landfills. The deadline for schools to apply is May 1st at the following website: www.deltadentalia.com/H2O

The East Pottawattamie County 4-H is offering an Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium overnight trip.  You’re invited to come camp out overnight with the sharks at the Zoo.  The campout is open to all area youth completing grades 4, 5, and 6.  The campout will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018 where we will meet outside the Zoo entrance at 6:30pm.  The evening will consist of evening & morning zoo hikes, programing, snack, an overnight stay, breakfast, drinks and a souvenir campout patch.  Parents will pick up youth at the zoo entrance on Sunday morning at 9:00am where participating youth will then have a day pass into the zoo for Sunday.  Registration and health forms can be found on our website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/eastpottawattamie/news/sleeping-bags-sharks-zoo-overnight .

Registration forms and fees are due to the East Pottawattamie County Extension by April 30th.  All spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.  A limited number of spots are available.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert reports, the local fire Danger will remain HIGH through Monday. If you plan to burn, PLEASE, contact your local Fire Chief.   Seivert says they have had several fire dispatches in the last few days where the volunteers are called from home and work to respond to a fire, only to arrive and find someone has started a controlled burn, and not called their local Fire Chief or Emergency Management 911. He asks persons planning a controlled burn, to “Please respect the time our volunteers spend protecting your property. Plan your burn in advance, use a burn plan, and call in prior to starting. 712-755-2124.”

Seivert warns also, that the chances for severe weather are expected to increase next week, so be prepared for weather bulletins and to take cover when warnings are issued.

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — A man accused of robbing a gas station in Mitchell, South Dakota, earlier this month has been arrested in Davenport, Iowa. Police last week issued an arrest warrant for 18-year-old Montez McClain after viewing surveillance camera video and investigating other leads. The Daily Republic reports McClain was apprehended Wednesday. Police say a man walked into the Easy Come Easy Go store on April 12, threatened the clerk and fled with about $800 in cash. He did not display a weapon. McClain was wanted for second-degree robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

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

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa man has been given two years in prison for making counterfeit $20 bills. Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Victor Ineson Jr., of Forest City, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. He was ordered to make $240 in restitution to area businesses and serve two years of supervised release after he leaves prison.

He’d pleaded guilty, admitting that, from April through mid-May last year, he’d used chemicals to wash the print off lower denomination bills and reprint each bill to look like a $20 bill. He used some of the fakes at local retailers. Two other charges were dropped in exchange for Ineson’s plea.

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

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on two separate drug-related charges, Wednesday evening. At around 7:15-p.m., Deputies arrested 40-year old Michael Todd Brace, of Red Oak, for Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine – a Class B Felony, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation – a Class D Felony. Brace was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate. And, just before 9-pm. Wednesday, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 58-year old Terry Joe Halvin, of Red Oak, for OWI/drugged. Halvin was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

Two women were charged following a situation involving 911 calls, Wednesday evening. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports just before 7-p.m., authorities received a 911 call from 54-year old Roxann Marie Boyce, of Corning, about a suicidal female in Mt. Etna, 33-year old Lacey D. Schmidt, of Moscow, ID. The caller stated Schmidt was in possession of drug paraphernalia. At around 7:11-p.m., another 911 call from Boyce said Schmidt had a gun and was suicidal.

Deputies arriving on the scene were unable to locate a weapon. Schmidt was transported to the hospital in Corning to determine her mental stability, and was later released with no suicidal findings evident. She was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Boyce was arrested for making false statements to deputies, with regard to the fire arm.