Republicans on a committee in the Iowa House last night (Thursday) advanced a plan to “defund” Planned Parenthood. It sets up a likely showdown with the Democratically-led Iowa Senate which has resisted similar efforts in the past. Chuck Hurley of The Family Leader Foundation, a Christian conservative organization, has been lobbying Republicans legislators to take a stand.

“From our vantage point, we should not be funding anybody who’s killing children in the womb,” Hurley says. State tax dollars currently cover the costs for Medicaid patients who get reproductive health exams or contraceptives at Planned Parenthood, but state tax dollars are not used to pay for abortions. Hurley says that’s not good enough.

“Imagine saying, ‘Well, the money that the German people are sending to Auschwitz only goes to cover the gates and the fencing and the food to keep the place open,” Hurley says. Democrats suggest House Republicans are out of touch with public opinion. A recent Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” found 74 percent of Iowans want the state to continue spending tax dollars at Planned Parenthood to cover NON-abortion services for low-income Iowans.

Hurley says there’s more “zeal” among activists due to undercover videos released last summer that showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the organization’s fetal tissue donation program. A Texas grand jury concluded Planned Parenthood broke no laws. Two people who worked on the video project have been charged.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 15-year-old girl has died in a rollover crash in Sioux City. The Sioux City Police Department said in a news release that Alexis Wilde was riding in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by another 15-year-old Wednesday evening, when the vehicle went off the roadway and struck a dirt embankment, causing the car to roll over.

Police say Wilde, the driver and another 15-year-old passenger were transported to a hospital, where Wilde died from her injuries. The other two teens suffered minor injuries. The crash is under investigation.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Members of the Republican-controlled House have advanced a budget bill that would remove state funding for Planned Parenthood, though the proposal is not expected to have enough support in the Democratic-majority Senate. The House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines Thursday for a bill that would remove Medicaid funding for family planning facilities that provide abortions.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) — An investigation into dog fighting by authorities in northwestern Illinois has resulted in two arrests and the seizing of 58 dogs. Rock Island Police Chief Jeffrey VenHuizen says 11 federal search warrants were executed Thursday in Rock Island and Davenport as part of a year-long, on-going investigation related to dog-fighting, narcotics and firearms.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate is attempting to revive a proposal to fund water quality initiatives through a sales and use tax increase, but the plan has little support in the Republican-majority House. A three-member panel of the Senate Ways and Means Committee agreed Thursday to advance a bill that would increase Iowa’s sales and use tax by less than a penny to fund a natural resources and outdoor recreation trust. The trust, established in 2010, has no money in it.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities has indicated it may need to increase tuition for students because the Legislature has proposed limited new dollars for the next budget year. Bruce Rastetter, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, says the board is disappointed by the proposed funding announced Thursday. Rastetter says the board will immediately start discussions regarding tuition increases for the upcoming school year.

Sheriff’s deputies in Fremont County arrested a motorcycle driver for Operating While Intoxicated, Thursday. Deputies stopped a 2009 Harley Davidson for speeding in the 2400 Block of Highway 59. The driver, 42-year old Carl Ward, of Riverton, was placed under arrest for OWI/1st Offense. Upon arrival to the Fremont County Jail, Ward became combative with deputies and jail staff.

He was charged with Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense, 2 counts of Assault on an Officer, Interference with Official Acts, and Speeding. Ward was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $6,195 bond.

Carl Ward

A bill that would increase the state sales tax by a fraction — to raise money for water quality projects — has cleared its first hurdle in the Iowa Senate, but it faces strong opposition that’s likely to sink the proposal. Senator David Johnson, a Republican from Ocheyedan, has become a champion of the tax hike, to fill a state fund Iowa voters created in 2010 for water quality initiatives.

“What is this General Assembly going to be remembered for?” Johnson asks. “…We can do this and it is the best plan.” Johnson and about two dozen other people spoke in favor of the plan during a statehouse hearing Thursday afternoon. Mark Ackelson, a former president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, says water quality problems are “urgent” and it’s time for legislators to act.

“Water quality’s important, but it’s much more than water quality and people need to understand this,” he says. “This is about investing in our future. It’s investing in our grandkids. It’s about investing in our quality of life. It’s about investing in economic development.” Two state senators signed off on the proposed tax hike Thursday. That makes the bill eligible for debate in a senate committee. Earlier this week House REPUBLICANS advanced their own plan. They want to shift state taxes being used for other purposes toward water quality projects. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal says it does not appear ANY plan has enough support in the senate.

“I would say there’s a lot of ships passing in the night and lots of and no consensus developing on a funding mechanism,” Gronstal says. Representative Tom Sands, a Republican from Wapello, chairs the HOUSE Ways and Means Committee. He says a “straight up” tax increase cannot pass the Republican-led House.

“This idea of just going to Iowans and saying: ‘You need to pay more,’ I do not support,” Sands says. “But it very possibly with some changes could be more of a long-term going forward, just not this year.” Sands says that means CUTTING income taxes at the same time the sales tax is raised. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says it will be up to advocates of the tax increase to get lawmakers to embrace the plan.

“We can move mountains in the legislature, but it requires Iowans not to sit on their couch and just expect it to happen,” Petersen says, “but people need to get on their phones and they need to email and let people truly know how badly they want this.” Petersen supports the three-eighths percent increase in the state sales tax, with those extra taxes deposited in the “Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.” Sixty-three percent of Iowa voters approved creation of the fund in 2010, but there’s no money in it.

(Radio Iowa)

Two people from Atlantic were arrested on Assault charges today (Thursday). The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year old Laura Lynn Madden was arrested on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Later in the day, 39-year old Adrian Duane Hansen turned himself in on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for the same charge. Madden and Hansen were booked in at the Cass County Jail and subsequently released on $1,000 bond each.

Six people will look to get one more payout today (Thursday) as they leave the greyhound racing industry in Iowa. The legislature passed and the governor signed a bill that shuts down the Council Bluffs greyhound track and shifts the management of dog racing in Dubuque to the Iowa Greyhound Association.

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission administrator, Brian Ohorillko says part of the agreement set aside money to pay those who are getting out of the industry. The commission will hear the first six “hardship” claims filed for that money at their meeting in Council Bluffs. “The current rule allows for up to 100-thousand dollars per claim….what we have done is there is an application form for the applicants and they complete that and submit all the documentation or supporting documentation for their claim,” Ohorilko explains.

He says the commission will review a report on each claim and hear from those involved. “We have assigned an I-R-G-C staff member to review those claims, meet with the applicant, verify the information that is being submitted and just try to get a better understanding of each circumstance,” Ohorilko says. The I-R-G-C staff member will make a recommendation to the commission, and then the commissioners can decided what action they should take.

“It’s up to the commission and the commission will hear from each of the applicants,” Ohorilko says. The dog tracks in Dubuque and Council Bluffs agreed to make annual payments to a fund for seven years and amounting to around 72 million dollars to get out of greyhound racing. Ohorilko says the hardship payments are one part of the whole process.

“There is money that’s already been distributed to no-kill animal shelters that have received greyhounds from the cessation of racing,” Ohorilko explains. “There was money that was allocated to trainers and assistant trainers who are no longer in the business. There was some money allocated to trainers with the removal of equipment and other items.” Ohorilko expects the commission to receive more requests for hardship payments, and says they’ll know more about how the process works after today’s meeting.

“This is the first time that we’r dealing with these harship claims and if turns out that there are some other questions that need to be vetted ahead of time — or maybe a different process that works better — we have that flexibility and can make those adjustments as we move forward,” Ohorilko says. Those seeking a hardship payment for the end of greyhound racing have until June 30th to file a claim.

(Radio Iowa)

An ongoing investigation in Page County into an alleged assault, has resulted in an arrest. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports 59-year old William Eddie Fidler, of rural Clarinda, was arrested for Assault at around 5-p.m. Wednesday. Fidler posted $300 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

His arrest stemmed from and investigation about persons not stopping at a stop sign in the un-incorporated village of Hawleyville.  Hawleyville is north and east of Clarinda in Page County. During the investigation, it was determined that Fidler confronted and allegedly assaulted a person whom Fidler claimed had committed a traffic violation.  The investigation continues into persons allegedly committing traffic violations at a stop sign in Hawleyville.

Palmer said also, that at around 4-p.m., Wednesday, 27-year old Joseph Cody Foster,  of New Market, turned himself into the Page County Sheriff’s Office on a Page County warrant for Assault.  Foster posted a $300 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a southwest Iowa man was arrested Tuesday night on a warrant issued out of North Carolina. 45-year old David Laneir Morgan, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34, for being a Fugitive from Justice. Morgan was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Officials said also, an Omaha man, 50-year old Michael Anthony Weltch, was arrested at around 4-a.m. today (Thursday), for Theft in the 5th Degree, Providing False Identification information, and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $900.

Two people were arrested Wednesday, in Mills County: 41-year old John Allen Ahrens, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 49-year old Carl David Galvan, Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to spend $3.6 billion on a wind turbine operation that will generate up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity. Bill Fehrman, the utility’s CEO and president, announced the project Thursday at an event in Des Moines attended by Gov. Terry Branstad and other state officials. Officials say the wind farm will be the largest economic development project in the state’s history.

Fehrman says when the project is completed, the utility will generate wind energy that equals 85 percent of its annual customer sales in Iowa. MidAmerican is the state’s largest utility. MidAmerican didn’t release where the new turbines would be erected but says the utility will finalize locations while the Iowa Utilities Board considers the project.