Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has passed a $365.2 million transportation bill, one of several budget bills requiring floor votes before the end of the legislative session. The Republican-controlled House voted in support of the budget, which would cover the fiscal years ending in 2016 and 2017. It now heads to the Democratic-led Senate. The bill’s funding will go to the Iowa Department of Transportation, which oversees expenses for the state’s motor vehicle division and its highway division, among other things.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The nation’s top publisher of magazines and websites for women has announced the layoffs of about 100 employees, one-third of which are in Des Moines. Meredith Corp. officials say the job cuts are a result of the Des Moines-based company’s recent acquisition of several new businesses, including Shape and Martha Stewart Living magazines. Another third of the layoffs are in New York and the rest elsewhere in the country.

GARNER, Iowa (AP) — Jurors didn’t reach a verdict Tuesday after a day of deliberating the case of a former Iowa lawmaker accused of sexually abusing his wife, who suffered from dementia. They will resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Prosecutors say 78-year-old Henry Rayhons had sex with his wife at a nursing home May 23 after being told she was not mentally capable of consenting. He testified in his own defense, saying he and his wife did not have sex that day. His wife, Donna Lou Rayhons, died in August.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved Gov. Terry Branstad’s bill aimed at expanding broadband in the state, though some lawmakers say the legislation still needs work. The bill now heads to the Senate. The legislation would create a 10-year property tax relief program to help service providers with the cost of adding infrastructure for broadband, also known as high-speed Internet. A grant program would be funded with federal and private dollars.

Four people were arrested recently on separate charges, in Harlan. Officials said Tuesday (today), three arrests took place on Saturday:

20-year old Johnathan Behrens, of Harlan, was arrested after officers responded to a possible road rage situation, where the Behrens was allegedly threatening another driver with a knife. After Police stopped Behrens’ vehicle, he was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault with displaying a dangerous weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

28-year old Jared Joyce, of Audubon, was arrested Saturday after officers were called to investigate the theft and use of an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card from one of the homes owned by Concerned, Inc. Joyce was brought to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with theft in the 5th degree.

And, 26-year old Chelsey Hancock, of Elk Horn, was arrested Saturday following a traffic stop, in Harlan. Hancock was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and speeding.

On April 14th, Harlan Police filed charges against 34-year old Juan Romero, of Harlan, after officials with the Harlan school notified police about a young man who might have been abused. Romero was charged with child endangerment with injury. He was cited, given a court date and released from custody.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a special session Wednesday evening in their chambers, at City Hall. The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. During their session, the Council will act on accepting site plans for the Heritage House addition. During their regular meeting last week, the Council tabled action on accepting the site plan, so the City’s Engineers could review a private engineering firms’ plans to deal with storm water runoff and concerns about how it might affect other area properties.

The Council Wed. evening will also act on approving an amendment to an Economic Development Agreement with Sonntag Development, LLC, with regard to the Southern View Estates Housing Project.

And, prior to adjournment, the Council will enter into a closed session to review and/or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal law, to be kept confidential.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state report released Tuesday shows Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped for the third-straight month this year, down to 4.0 percent in March. Iowa Workforce Development data shows the rate improves upon February’s 4.1 percent and the March 2014 rate of 4.4 percent. It is also under last month’s national average of 5.5 percent.

Iowa lists approximately 1.65 million people as employed in the state, 600 more than in February and 25,500 higher than last year. The report also shows the education and health services sector posted the most job gains in March with an increase of 2,300.

Agency director Beth Townshend says consistent growth in Iowa’s nonfarm workforce shows such employment has expanded to an all-time state high, boosting the overall number of nonfarm jobs to about 1.57 million.

Awards totaling $21.8 million were announced today (Tuesday) for 57 communities across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 58 community investment projects. The federally funded grants were awarded for community facilities, infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization and single family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation.

In the KJAN listening area, CDBG funds were awarded to the following cities for their respective projects:

• Guthrie Center – $500,000 for the replacement of old, undersized water mains, with new, 6-to 8-inch mains.
• Magnolia – $183,000 for the construction of improvements to the city’s water system to provide a reliable source of water and to comply with 10 state standards.
• Mt. Ayr – $420,000 for the installation of a sewer main extension to add 4 customers who are illegally not on the municipal system, and better serve a 5th household.
• New Market – $143,500 for the repair of the sewer collection and lagoon valve systems to reduce inflow and infiltration, and eliminate excess discharges.
• Elk Horn – $304,00 to be administered through SWIPCO, for eight housing units.
• Red Oak – $368,500 administered through SWIPCO for 10 housing units.
• Adair – $300,000 for the rehabilitation of 18 downtown building facades.
• Clarinda – $500,000 for the rehabilitation of 16 downtown building facades.
• Walnut – $300,000 for the rehabilitation of 15 downtown building facades.
• Mapleton – $482,586 for Stormwater verge infrastructure.

Debi Durham, director of IEDA said “Using these federal funds in all areas of our state, we are able to make strategic investments in Iowa’s smaller communities to assist them in becoming development-ready. As a result of these projects, thousands of Iowans will see infrastructure improvements, rehabilitated housing, new community facilities and exciting enhancements in their downtowns.”

IEDA received 108 applications for funding, totaling $38.9 million in requests. Grants were awarded based on benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, slum and blight elimination, financial need, project impact and readiness, and commitment of local resources to the project.

The Community Development Block Grant program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. Applications are solicited annually, generally during the fall.