Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has awarded a former Iowa workers’ compensation commissioner $1.5 million, concluding the state and former Gov. Terry Branstad discriminated against him because he’s gay and that a pay cut was retaliation for refusing to quit. Jurors in the civil trial found Monday that Chris Godfrey proved Branstad’s attempts to get him to quit and cut his pay in 2011 were discriminatory and deprived him of his rights.

BANCROFT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people found dead in Bancroft last week were homicide victims and that a third person also found there had killed himself. Officials on Monday identified the bodies found Friday in a home as 22-year-old Mason Alrik Cederwall, 30-year-old Amy Lynn Manna and 30-year-old Austin James Bernhard. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Cederwall and Manna were shot to death and classified their deaths as homicides. Bernhard’s died was classified a suicide.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s Iowa senior adviser is departing his 2020 presidential campaign, leaving Booker without one of his top staffers in a key early voting state. Iowa senior adviser Joe O’Hern confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that he departed the campaign last week for personal reasons. O’Hern is widely known among Iowa’s political class as a seasoned organizer with a deep understanding of the caucus process. Booker’s campaign declined to comment on the departure.

HUDSON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were killed when the vehicle they were in crashed off a Black Hawk County road. The crash occurred a little before 9:30 a.m. Sunday just southwest of Hudson. Deputies sent to the scene found the vehicle in a field and noted that it appeared to have rolled several times. The driver and a passenger, both of Reinbeck, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was identified as 33-year-old Kimberly Hoskins, and the passenger was identified as 32-year-old Tobi Vanhauen.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports three arrests. Saturday afternoon, 43-year old Scott William Richard Funke, of Greenfield, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order, Possession of a Controlled Substance; Gathering where controlled substances are used, and 2 counts of Felon in control of a Firearm in a domestic situation. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a total of $17,300 bond, with the 300 for a Dallas County arrest warrant.

When Deputies went to serve Funke with an active arrest warrant, a woman from De Soto who is under the protection of a court order, was observed within the same garage as Funke. Both knew a Protection Order was in-place. Funke had been arrested in the past for Violation of the same Order.  During the execution of a search warrant at his residence, a safe was located. Inside was 36 rounds of .9-millimeter Luger FC ammunition, and a .32-caliber H&R revolver. Funke’s conviction for Domestic Abuse prohibits him from possessing ammunition and firearms.

And, Funke was found to be in possession and claimed possession of, a small, re-sealable baggie that contained a substance that field tested presumptive positive for meth. A separate baggie of meth was in plain view on the floor, between a bed and night stand. Funke also acknowledged there was drug paraphernalia in the garage.

The Sheriff reports also, 42-year old Justin Colby Pruitt, of Hiwasse, Arkansas, was arrested early Saturday morning by Greenfield Police at Ridgeview Park in Greenfield, for OWI/2nd offense. Pruitt was cited and released from the scene.

And, on July 10th, 51-year old Ramon Guerrero Gonzalez, of Des Moines, was arrested by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper in Adair County, on an Adair County warrant for OWI/1st offense. Gonzalez was being held in the Adair County Jail until he completed his 48-hour sentence. He was released the following day on a Recognizance bond.

Firefighters from Lewis and Atlantic were called to a residential fire northwest of Lewis, Monday evening. The call about smoke coming from the roof soffits at 60766 555th Lane came in at around 6:24-p.m. All the residents were out of the home before firefighters arrived.

Lewis Fire Chief Terry Erickson told KJAN news the fire was electrical in nature. The fuse/electrical panel box shorted out and caught fire. The flames ran along/upside the kitchen. He said damage to the home was minimal. There was smoke damage, though, and the electricity was shut-off until repairs could be made.

There were no injuries reported. Medivac Ambulance and Cass County Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon were at the scene to offer assistance.

Shelby County Emergency Management Operations official Jason Wickizer filed a petition last week in Shelby County District Court against the County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Emergency Management Coordinator, alleging that during the course of his employment he has worked a substantial amount of overtime hours and was regularly required to be available on an “on call” basis.

Jason Wickizer (photo from the Shelby County EMA Facebook page)

Wickizer also says that from 2006 to March 17th, 2017, he was paid based on the number of hours he worked as an hourly employee. He also states that in 2017, he was switched to a salaried employee to avoid excessive payout of overtime. Wickizer said that his daily responsibilities and significant overtime remained the same, but he was no longer compensated.

The petition alleges that the defendants knowingly and intentionally failed to compensate Wickizer for his labor, services and paid leave. He’s seeking damages for past, present and future losses as well as liquidated damages, costs and attorney fees.

A special investigation was released in March where Wickizer was named in the audit report. The investigation was requested by Shelby County due to concerns of improper payment of overtime, compensatory time or vacation pay to certain Emergency Management Association employees, including former EMA coordinator Bob Seivert, former EMA Assistant Communications Supervisor Mike Jensen and Wickizer, currently employed by the EMA.

Wickizer was named among the others for allegedly receiving improper payroll totaling $13,494.62.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has awarded a former state workers’ compensation commissioner $1.5 million, concluding the state and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad discriminated against him because he’s gay and that a pay cut was retaliation for refusing to quit.

Jurors in the civil trial found Monday that Chris Godfrey proved Branstad’s attempts to get him to quit and cut his pay in 2011 were discriminatory and deprived him of his rights. Godfrey’s attorney, Roxanne Conlin, says jurors awarded $1.5 million for discrimination based on sexual orientation, retaliation and violation of his constitutional rights.

Branstad, the U.S. ambassador to China, denied knowing Godfrey was gay when he asked for his resignation. Branstad’s attorney directed reporters to the governor’s office for comment. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s disappointed and is consulting with attorneys.

The verdict in Godfrey’s favor could mean Iowa taxpayers will be responsible for millions of dollars in attorney fees for Branstad and Godfrey.

BANCROFT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people found dead at a home in the small northern Iowa community of Bancroft last week were homicide victims and that a third person also found there had killed himself.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety on Monday identified the bodies found Friday in a home as 22-year-old Mason Alrik Cederwall, 30-year-old Amy Lynn Manna and 30-year-old Austin James Bernhard.

Someone called the Kossuth County sheriff’s office on Friday morning to report finding two bodies. Bancroft police officers went to a residence and also found a third body.

The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Cederwall and Manna were shot to death and classified their deaths as homicides. Bernhard’s died due to a single gunshot and was classified a suicide. Authorities determined Bernhard was Manna’s ex-boyfriend.

On July 4, Bernhard was arrested on assault and burglary charges in an incident that involved the two victims.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s Iowa senior adviser is departing his 2020 presidential campaign, leaving Booker without a top staffer in a key early voting state.

Iowa senior adviser Joe O’Hern confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that he departed the campaign last week for personal reasons. O’Hern was Martin O’Malley’s caucus director in 2016, managed a Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign in 2018 and is widely known among Iowa’s political class as a seasoned organizer with a deep understanding of the caucus process.

Booker’s campaign declined to comment on the departure. Booker has invested considerable time and resources in Iowa, a state that remains a top priority for his presidential campaign. But he’s struggled to gain traction in both Iowa and national polls for the primary.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department received a $150 donation during their meeting, Monday evening. The funds were presented by Brad Rasmussen, the father of Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen. Brad Rasmussen said he’s a member of a local “Birthday Club,” and when it came time to direct the funds he received, he said “Sometimes I send it to the Alzheimers Association, because my mom died from that. This time I chose the Atlantic Parks and Recreation.”

He said if possible, he would like to see the money used for two swings at Mollet Park on the east side of East 3rd Street Place, in Atlantic, where there are two baby swings, but none for the older kids. Any leftover funds could be used to purchase native plants. The Board was grateful for his donation.

In his report to the Board, Bryant Rasmussen said an engineer from the playground equipment manufacturer will be in town July 31st to oversee the construction of the west playground equipment at the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA). It’s hoped volunteers will assemble the equipment August 1st, weather permitting. The construction was put-off earlier this year due to the wet weather.

Rasmussen said construction of the bathhouse at the SRA was also delayed by the wet weather, but now that it’s being more cooperative, the walls and other features have been erected or installed, but there’s still some work to be completed. Work on the dock at SRA is being discussed to make the best possible, cost-effect plan. The dock was ripped up from its mooring during the flood earlier this year.

As for the East Ridge Park washout, a bridge constructed by Rasmussen has been installed over the culvert, and accessible to pedestrian traffic. With regard to the Bull Creek Pathway, the parks department has been working with the Street Department, to address a washout just north of 14th Street, but that likely won’t take place until after RAGBRAI. Rasmussen said they’ve planted native plants along a portion of the creek to help prevent erosion and look more attractive. Rip-rap has also been installed to prevent washouts. And, artwork has been added as a feature along the pathway, thanks to Brad Rasmussen. At Nishna Park, crews have been working on the wetlands area for bioswells, thanks to a Water Quality Grant. The goal is to control the flow of water turning periods of heavy rain.

In other business, Bryant Rasmussen said numerous incidents of vandalism at the City Park restroom in downtown Atlantic have him considering closing the restrooms at night. The incidents include an adult diaper being set on fire in the restroom, feces smeared on the walls, and more. The Board suggested Rasmussen speak with Police Chief Dave Erickson about having officers lock the doors at night.

And, Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic will be closing August 10th, due to a lack of available life guards. Rasmussen said memberships and passes to the pool will be honored at the Nishna Valley YMCA.

Firefighters from Lewis and Atlantic have been called to a residential fire northwest of Lewis. The call about smoke coming from the roof at 60766 555th Lane came in at around 6:24-p.m. All the residents were out of the home. The fire was apparently electrical in nature.

No other details are currently available.