Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate Ways and Means committee advanced legislation yesterday that would offer a tax break to small businesses if they cover part of employees’ health insurance. Under the Affordable Care Act, a small business that employs up to 24 people and chooses to cover 50 percent of their employees’ health insurance costs gets a federal income tax break. If the bill passes, these businesses would get an additional state income tax break.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers in the Iowa House approved an economic development budget plan with less funding than the state Senate version. The plan passed in the House yesterday offers $45 million to economic development activities in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate approved a bill yesterday that would give funding to food banks and give tax breaks to farmers who donate produce. The bill would give an incentive for small farmers to donate produce by providing a 15 percent state income tax break on the market value of donations worth less than $5,000.

SUMNER, Iowa (AP) — More than 40 students from the Sumner-Fredericksburg School in northeast Iowa suffered minor injuries when two buses crashed. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV says the crash happened near Sumner just after 3:30 p.m. yesterday when one bus reared-ended the other.

The jury in the case of a Marne man facing an Aggravated Misdemeanor charge of Animal Abuse in connection with the shooting of a Colorado woman’s dog who strayed onto his property Dec. 24th, 2012,  rendered its verdict Tuesday afternoon, after a single day of testimony. District Court Judge James M. Richardson announced the decision of the seven woman, five man members of the jury before confirming the verdict with the jury foreman.

Charles Collins Cutler on the witness stand

It took approximately 30-minutes for the jury to deliberate and determine 56-year old Charles Collins Cutler was guilty of the offense. Their decision was handed down at around 5:15-p.m. The Judge ordered sentencing in the case to take place 9-a.m. May 6th, in Cass County District Court.

Earlier in the afternoon, the jury heard testimony from Dr. Keith Leonard, with the Atlantic Animal Health Center. The veterinarian testified the chocolate Labrador belonging to Stacey Ernat, an Elementary School Teacher in Denver, Colorado, died 30-minutes after it was brought in to his clinic for examination and treatment. Also testifying in the case was Cass County Deputy Corey Larsen, who, during the investigation into the incident, asked Cutler why he shot the 18-month old dog Ernat had owned since she obtained it from a breeder when it was a puppy. Cutler told the deputy it was because he feared for his dog’s safety, and “Was just tired” of animals running loose in Marne, especially on his property.

Ernat testified her dog, which was wearing a collar and tags, along with “Ranger,” a German Shepherd owned by her boyfriend Brandon Petersen’s brother, Jeremy Petersen, were outside playing before they were to make the long trip to the Quad Cities to visit Stacey’s parents.

Stacey Ernat

She learned from Brandon that something terrible had happened to her dog “Wrigley,” as she was preparing to load the car with their belongings. She says she ran through the snow to where the dogs were playing, and saw her dog laying under a pontoon boat, bleeding from her hind quarters, looking dead. They immediately took the dog to Atlantic to try and save it.

Collins Cutler testified that he was in his garage and was afraid to walk to his house because he heard one of the two dogs growling, but he didn’t know which one. After he ordered the dogs to “Get,” he went into the garage and loaded a .410 shotgun, and pointed it at the one dog that was left on his property…Wrigley…before pulling the trigger. Cutler said he was afraid for his cats and his own dog, which was secured in his house, when he shot the Lab. The animal he said may have been turning away when the pellets hit it in the right rear flank.

The jury ruled Cutler did not have the right to shoot a collared and licensed dog, because under Iowa law, the animal was not chasing, maiming or killing another domestic animal, or attacking or attempting to bite a person. Following the verdict, Ernat said while the verdict “Will not bring Wrigley back,” it sends a message that “It is not okay to abuse animals,” and that Cutler “Needs to be held accountable for his actions, and being found guilty and having to go endure the repercussions makes her happy,” and will help to bring closure to a four-month long ordeal. She said she knows her dog would have wanted to find the happiness she had when the two were together. Cutler faces up to 2-years in prison and a fine not to exceed $6,250, when he’s sentenced next month.

The Atlantic City Council will meet in a regular session Wednesday evening, at City Hall. During the meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m., they will hear reports from: Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Megan Roberts, and Dolly Bergman, with regard to the City’s “Trees Forever” Award.

The Council will also act on matters pertaining to: A contract with Iron Specialties, for the Park Maintenance facility; a change order on a contract with Snyder and Associates for additional services related to the 2013 Street Improvement Program; and, a Resolution approving the Contract and Bonds executed by Spray Com Utility, of Knob Noster, MO. (with regard to the sewer relining project).

Prior to concluding their session, the Atlantic City Council is expected to enter into a closed session to discuss initiating litigation to take title of an abandoned property, as allowed under Iowa Code.