Deputies in Montgomery County have made another, drug-related arrest in Villisca. Authorities say 55-year old Kirk Alan Black, of Villisca, was arrested Monday evening on two counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine, following an incident in the 500 block of South 4th Avenue. Black was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $100,000 bond. Agents with the Iowa Dept. of Narcotics Enforcement assisted deputies in conducting the arrest. Monday’s arrest comes on the heels of the arrest last Friday also on drug charges, of six other Villisca residents, some of whom face an additional charge of Child Endangerment.

The Sheriff’s Dept. reports also, 20-year old Cody Benjamin Carrol Johnson, of Stanton, was arrested Monday evening on a Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. Johnson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,500 bond.

Sexual assault charges have been dropped against a western Iowa man who ran to succeed Joni Ernst in the Iowa Senate. The charges against 69-year-old Donald Brantz of Mineola were originally filed following an incident in Bellevue, Nebraska on October 10, 2014. Brantz was accused of inappropriately touching a woman and allegedly threatened to choke her. Brantz maintained he was innocent of those charges.

Donald Brantz

Brantz, who was a candidate for Iowa’s 23rd District Senate Seat vacated by Joni Ernst, was charged back in October with sexual assault in the third-degree, third-degree assault, disturbing the peace and interference with a public utility company. Sarpy County District Court Judge Robert C. Wester dismissed all but the disturbing the peace charge against Brantz, who pled no contest to that charge and will be sentenced on April 3.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The leader of a House committee tasked with deciding whether to approve the governor’s broadband expansion bill says there could be major changes to the legislation. The Republican-led commerce committee made a last-minute change to yesterday’s meeting and removed discussion of the bill. Democrats in the committee say they also have concerns about the grant program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel says it needs more time to review proposed changes to a bill aimed at reducing school bullying in Iowa. No formal action was taken by members of an education subcommittee yesterday. They plan to meet again before deciding whether the bill will advance to a full committee for review. The bill was proposed by Gov. Terry Branstad, who has made anti-bullying legislation a priority this session.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan to raise Iowa’s fuel tax to pay for road improvements could come up for votes in the state Legislature as early as today. Legislation to raise the tax by 10 cents a gallon is listed on the today’s debate calendar in the state House. Democratic Senate majority leader Mike Gronstal says it would also be listed on the Senate debate calendar, though he cautioned that putting a bill on the calendar doesn’t guarantee a vote.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) —A long-vacant Waterloo hotel dating to 1913 has been converted into eight residential lofts. Jim Walsh, a developer with JSA development, says the second and third floors of the historic hotel have been transformed into efficiency and two-bedroom units, with the ground floor open for retail or office use. David Deeds, controller for the development company, says many of the building’s original features have been preserved, including tin ceilings and wood floors.