A routine traffic stop Wednesday night at North Broadway and West Washington Streets in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a Clarinda man. Red Oak Police report 29-year old Jason Lynn Ridnour was taken into custody at around 10-p.m. on Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges. Ridnour was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 cash bond.

According to a report in the Daily NonPareil, a former Council Bluffs teacher accused of a sexual relationship with a student has pleaded not guilty. 29-year old Jeffrey Daugherty faces charges in connection with an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old female student while he was a math teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School. Pottawattamie County court records show he’s pleaded not guilty.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — A man who helped his neighbor escape flames that destroyed a mobile home in eastern Iowa says he’s no hero. Jerry McBride Junior says he merely answered a call of duty in aiding 71-year-old Fred Steven. The septuagenarian says he awoke from a nap Monday afternoon to find that tubes from his oxygen tank were on fire inside his North Liberty home. Oxygen tanks began exploding by the time he reached a doorway.

MANNING, Iowa (AP) — Officials say one woman died in a house fire in rural Iowa last weekend. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said yesterday that 47-year-old Julia Schlichte of Manning was found dead inside the home located about three miles northeast of town. No other injuries were reported.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A religious discrimination lawsuit filed against Sioux City’s Bishop Heelan Catholic school system has been dismissed. The Journal reports that in a ruling filed last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles said David Newbrough couldn’t proceed on his claim that the system fired him because he wasn’t Roman Catholic. Newbrough was the system’s chief financial officer.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa officials are ready to begin planning a steam production plant on the west side of the school’s campus. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that officials have asked the Iowa state Board of Regents for permission to begin planning the $75 million production plant that will be adjacent to the school’s new backup power facility.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s office has provided an update regarding Iowa Republican U-S Senator Joni Ernst’s request for an examination of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System’s mental health programs. Ernst’s inquiry followed news coverage of the death of veteran Richard Miles in Des Moines.

U-S Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

The Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s office has initiated a review of the mental health care provided to Richard Miles. The VA IG will share these findings with Senator Ernst once they are complete in approximately one month. Ernst said she’s “Pleased that the VA IG has begun initiating a review. We must ensure that our veterans have the access they deserve to quality mental health care. If there are systemic problems that exist, we must work to correct those as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

On February 23rd, Ernst sent a letter to the VA IG detailing that “It is tragic our nation lost a veteran who may not have received the mental health treatment he deserved.” She said, “As a member of the Senate, I have a responsibility to ensure our nation lives up to the promises it has made to its veterans. Furthermore, as someone who deployed in support of the Iraq War, it is my top priority to ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve after selflessly sacrificing for our nation. I request your office conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the VA Central Iowa Health Care System mental health care programs, treatment provided to veteran Richard Miles, and Mr. Miles’ requests for mental health care and the subsequent treatment received.”

The stop lights are working again at the intersection of Highway 92 and Harry Langdon Blvd. in Council Bluffs, two days after an accident involving an over-sized semi, caused them to be knocked down. Bluffs Police report the traffic lights have been repaired, and as of 4:45-p.m. Wednesday, traffic was allowed to resume a “normal” pattern in the construction zone.