DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Planned Parenthood of the Heartland says its decision to close two southern Iowa facilities was financially driven and wasn’t influenced by the efforts of abortion rights opponents who regularly protest outside those locations and others.

The Iowa-based affiliate, which also serves Arkansas, Nebraska and eastern Oklahoma, will close facilities in the communities of Red Oak and Creston effective June 18, after officials determined the centers each averaged about one patient per month. Spokeswoman Angie Remington calls it a “fiscal efficiency issue.”

The announcement comes around the time Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, the affiliate based in Oregon, announced plans to close three facilities in the region and reduce staff. Planned Parenthood Federation of America says affiliates operate independently from the national group and that there was no directive to close facilities.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Sioux City are considering a local law to cut down on litter from plastic shopping bags. The Sioux City Journal reports that details have yet to be worked out, but a possible ordinance likely would not contain an outright ban on plastic bags. Instead, the city could impose a fee on plastic bags or encourage retailers to issue reusable bags.

City environmental services analyst Melissa Campbell says any restrictions might affect only larger, corporate businesses at first. Campbell says the push to create an ordinance began after people complained to her office about plastic bags getting stuck in fences and trees and littering streets and parks.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Organizers of a planned Christian-themed park in Sioux City have declined a $140,000 public grant to avoid a controversy that arose after the grant was announced last month. Garry Smith, a member of The Shepherd’s Garden board, tells the Sioux City Journal that the group didn’t want to be in the middle of a lawsuit over the grant.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, of Madison, Wisconsin, complained last month about funding the Christian-themed park with public money from Vision Iowa. The group said the grant violated the U.S. and Iowa constitutions. Smith says the group’s objection prompted private donors to come forward, and now the project doesn’t need state money.

Smith says the $810,000 park is still on track for completion in the fall.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in Council Bluffs and Harlan this week. The Governor and Lt. Governor will hold the 31st Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards recognition ceremony 9-a.m. Wednesday, June 11th, at Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluffs.

And, at 11-a.m., Wednesday, the pair are scheduled to be in Harlan for an “Iowa is working” Shelby County Town Hall meeting. The event takes place at the Therkildsen Activity Center,

A woman talking on her cell phone received a warning for unsafe backing, following a fender-bender accident Friday afternoon, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 2004 Buick Rendezvous driven by 29-year old Kimberly Dentlinger, of Elliott, was backing out of a parking stall in the 300 block of east Reed Street at around 12:42-p.m., Friday. Moments later, a 2009 Chevy Impala driven by 49-year old Karen Stanbrough, of Shenandoah also began to pull out of a parking stall.

Stanbrough’s car hit the right rear wheel well of Dentlinger’s vehicle, causing a total of $3,700 damage. Dentlinger claimed Stanbrough was on her cell phone at the time of the accident. No injuries were reported.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a couple from Pottawattamie County were arrested early this (Saturday) morning, for felony neglect/abandonment of a dependent person. 30-year old Gordon Leroy Currin III and 38-year old Misty Schalome Currin, both of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody at around 1:50-a.m. following an incident near High Street and U Avenue, in Villisca.

The pair were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond, each. If convicted on the Class C Felony charge, the couple each face 10 years imprisonment and a potential fine of $1,000 to $10,000.

Authorities in Montgomery County report the arrest Friday morning of a man on a trespass charge. 29-year old Kyle WIlliam Chase, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:15-a.m. in the 100 block of w. Maple Street. Chase was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Kevin Costner, Dwier Brown and other stars of the baseball blockbuster “Field of Dreams” will be in Iowa this coming Father’s Day weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the movie. The celebration is being held outside Dyersville on the northeastern Iowa farm where the movie was filmed.

Activities will be held on Friday, Saturday and Father’s Day, including ballgames and a screening of the movie. Details about activities can be found at the movie site’s website at http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/25thanniversary .