Police in Red Oak report the arrest Monday evening of a woman on alcohol-related charges. 38-year old Ginger Lee Reed, of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 9:30-p.m. in the 1000 block of East Maple Street in Red Oak, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Reed was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.

U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst says communication is the key to resolving the partisan impasse in Washington, D.C. “You absolutely have to be communicating,” Ernst says, “even with people you may not agree on those same ideas or same philosophies, but you know what? You have to sit down and communicate — period.” Ernst is one of a handful of candidates who are running for the Republican Party’s 2014 nomination for the U.S. Senate. Ernst and competitors Sam Clovis and Matt Whitaker signed an online petition calling for an “ObamaCare Showdown” over “defunding” the Affordable Care Act.

“We need to repeal and replace ObamaCare,” Ernst says. “I know that they are working hard to do that, but they have to communicate.” Ernst was at the statehouse Monday to publicly receive the endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. Afterwards, Ernst was asked by a reporter if the federal government shutdown was the “wrong strategy” for Republicans in congress. “I don’t know that it’s the wrong strategy,” Ernst replied. “But, again, they need to be working through this situation and I don’t see the communication right now.”

Ernst, a state senator from Red Oak, is also a battalion commander in the Iowa National Guard.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is asking a judge to put fired Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent Larry Hedlund’s wrongful termination lawsuit on hold. Its lawyers say Hedlund’s termination technically isn’t final because he still has administrative appeals. Hedlund’s attorney has asked a judge to declare those appeals unnecessary.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Specialty Iowa license plates commemorating law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty are now available. The state Department of Transportation says the plates have a “Fallen Peace Officer” emblem. A numbered license plate costs $35 and a personalized plate is $60. Funds from the plates will be distributed to nonprofit organizations that assist families and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A rule disallowing the use of a video-conferencing system to distribute abortion-inducing pills will take effect Nov. 6 unless stopped by a court. That’s after a committee that provides legislative oversight on state agency rule making decided the rule can go forward. Monday’s rules committee meeting was the last opportunity to stop the rule administratively. Planned Parenthood is has filed a lawsuit to try to do so in court.

BONDURANT, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa high school is banning the use of cellphones and other hand-held devices during the entire school day. Officials at Bondurant-Farrar High School say students can carry them in their pockets or purses, but can’t use them or even look at them. That includes between classes and during the lunch hour. Officials say the ban is in response to students’ excessive use of electronic devices. They say they also want to control cyberbullying on social media.

Three people were arrested Sunday on alcohol-related charges in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Department says 68-year old James Stanley Kwiatkowski, of Griswold, was taken into custody on a charge of OWI 1st Offense/Serious Misdemeanor. Kwiatkowski was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

33-year old Matthew Bernard Steffens, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense/Aggravated Misdemeanor. Steffens was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And, 23-year old Fernando Romero, Jr., of Omaha, was arrested Sunday on a charge of OWI 1st Offense/Serious Misdemeanor. Romero was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on $200 bond.