Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have given the all-clear at an Ames post office where a suspicious suitcase was reported. Officials determined yesterday that the suitcase did not pose a threat. It was found in the lobby earlier in the day.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they lured a man outside of his home with a pack of cigarettes to end a 30-hour standoff in Des Moines. Police used a stun gun to subdue 53-year-old Michael Reed when he stepped on the front porch to get the cigarettes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lawmaker who got national attention last week for critical remarks about homosexual lifestyles says he wants to go to lunch with a gay colleague. Sen. Dennis Guth, of Klemme, says on Monday that he’d like to do lunch with Sen. Matt McCoy, of Des Moines, and “get to know each other.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has approved legislation offering a tax break to small businesses if they cover part of employees’ health insurance. The Democratic-majority Senate unanimously approved the plan yesterday.

The Atlantic Board of Education was expecting to receive and accept petitions calling for a bond referendum during their meeting tonight (Monday), but the matter was instead tabled. Superintendent Mike Amstein said that was because the committee responsible for gathering the petitions wanted more time to get information out to the public in an effective manner. Amstein said the committee felt they couldn’t do that in the short amount of time the current election might be held. They requested the Board table the matter until a decision can be made on when the issue moves forward. The petitions are with regard to an $11-million dollar bond referendum for Capital Improvement Projects. Because the School Board took no action on the petitions, a Resolution ordering a special election on the issuance of $11-million worth of General Obligation School Bonds, was also tabled.  A tentative vote on the referendum was set to take place June 25th.

Mr. James Northwick, Elementary Principal at the Emerson-Hubbard, NE School District, approved as the Schuler Principal/Curriculum Director. (photo from the E-H School District website)

The Atlantic School Board was also briefly introduced Monday, to James Northwick, the man who will succeed Cam Smith as the Schuler Elementary Principal/Curriculum Director. Northwick comes from the Emerson-Hubbard School District in Emerson, NE.  Northwick, his wife and young daughter were in the community Monday searching for housing.

Gary Sinclair (Ric Hanson/photo)

Prior to adjourning for the evening, the Board heard a presentation with regard to District Finances, from Gary Sinclair, a former Superintendent with the Dallas Center-Grimes School District. Sinclair serves as the Finance Support Co-Director for the Iowa Association of School Boards and is the Senior Financial Adviser for PMA Financial Network. He spoke about the Financial Planning Program (FPP) to help provide additional resources and support for districts.

Police in Atlantic report the arrest Sunday of a local woman. 55-year old Cheryl Harrelson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harassment by Communication. Harrelson was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an initial court appearance.

Audubon County Community Foundation (ACCF) Chair Brett Irlmeier reports grants totaling $104,076 were recently awarded to five nonprofit agencies within the County. The largest grants of $34,692 each, went to the Audubon Recreation Foundation, for the construction of a recreation center, and the Exira Community Club, for the expansion and renovation of the Exira Rec Center.

Irlmeier says also, the City of Kimballton received a $24,692 grant to replace the Town Hall/Community Center, and, the Audubon County Agricultural Society along with the Audubon County Free Clinic, each received $5,000 grants from the ACCF, for their separate projects.

Only those nonprofit organizations within Audubon County that met the criteria of having charitable missions in five different areas, were eligible to apply for the grants. Each of the groups received their checks on April 12th.