Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:57 a.m. CDT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to increase releases of water Saturday from the Gavin’s Point Dam into the Missouri River. Missouri River Basin Management Chief John Remus said Thursday that the Corps is increasing releases because of water on the ground and runoff into the Oahe and Fort Randall reservoirs in South Dakota. He said the releases would increase by 5,000 cubic feet per second, to 75,000 cfs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Midwestern farmers are enduring a spring like no other. Most of the nation’s corn and soybeans are grown in the Midwest, and farmers in the region have for years struggled with low prices that got even worse due to a trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Amid those problems, farmers haven’t been able to plant because of seemingly endless storms. President Donald Trump promised $16 billion in aid but that led to confusion because details about the payments won’t be released until later.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — An ex-nurse at the Independence Mental Health Institute is blaming changes to collective bargaining rules for a decision to fire her after a patient severely beat her last fall. The Des Moines Register reports Tina Suckow was fired in March, days after her federally entitled medical leave expired. A patient beat Suckow with his fists last October, requiring surgeries and neurological treatments. Suckow and union leaders blame reduced staffing and more limited bargaining rights approved in 2017.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Officials in the eastern Iowa city of Davenport say the city is building a bigger flood barrier in the wake of a breach in April that sent floodwaters rushing into downtown streets. Davenport City Administrator Corri Spiegel tells the Quad-City Times that the city will build larger flood walls when there is a high probability the river cresting above 21 feet. Days after the last temporary barrier broke on April 30, the river hit a historic crest of 22.7 feet.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) officials have used the state’s safe haven procedures for the 35th time since the law went into effect. A boy was born May 17, 2019, at an Iowa hospital and the infant was released to the custody of DHS.

A court hearing to terminate parental rights is held within a month. Specific details are withheld in order to protect the identity of the parents and the child.

Through Iowa’s safe haven law, parents have the option to safely hand over custody of babies age 30 days or younger without fear of prosecution for abandonment. The parent, or their authorized representative, can leave the newborn at a hospital or health care facility, and can remain anonymous.

The safe haven law was approved in the wake of a high-profile case in 2001 involving a teen mother in eastern Iowa who killed her home-delivered newborn. Infants who are safe haven babies are placed with currently-approved foster or adoptive families.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please visit www.iowafosterandadoption.org. For more information on the safe haven procedure: http://dhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to increase releases of water Saturday from the Gavin’s Point Dam into the Missouri River.

Missouri River Basin Management Chief John Remus said Thursday the Corps is increasing releases because of water on the ground and runoff into the Oahe and Fort Randall reservoirs in South Dakota from recent rains.

He said the releases would increase by 5,000 cubic feet per second, to 75,000 cfs. The Corps also increased releases Wednesday.

Remus said the Corps is keeping its releases at the Garrison Dam in North Dakota at 15,000 cfs to offset other water flowing into the Oahe and Fort Randall reservoirs. He said the melting of mountain snow also has slowed.

The river has been high for months, and increased releases could lead to more flooding.

Des Moines, Iowa — Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division said today (Thursday), that Scott Leininger, of Spencer, was recently convicted of 2nd Degree Theft (a Class C Felony) in Clay County Iowa District Court, for filing multiple fraudulent insurance claims with his insurance carrier.

Scott Leininger

The claims sought reimbursement for damages which he alleged to have occurred to a motorized wheelchair, a biometric hand device and an elliptical rehabilitation machine. The conviction is Leininger’s second conviction this year resulting from his schemes to obtain money by defrauding his insurance carrier.

On May 28, 2019, Leininger was convicted of 2nd Degree Theft (a Class C Felony) in Clay County District Court for the theft of insurance proceeds from his insurer. He was sentenced to a five year suspended prison sentence and ordered to serve five years of probation.

On February 25, 2019, Leininger was convicted of Forgery (a Class D Felony) in Plymouth County Iowa District Court for his role in altering business invoice receipts for the same repairs to a wheelchair, biometric hand device, and the elliptical rehabilitation machine. The conviction also led to a five year suspended prison sentence and court ordered probation for a term of five years.

Both sentences will be served concurrently. Leininger’s restitution assessment is still pending in Clay County. An investigation revealed that in each fraudulent insurance claim, Leininger alleged that this equipment sustained extensive electrical damage as a result of power surges during lightning storms. To facilitate his fraud scheme, Leininger supplied the insurance carrier fabricated repair quotes and invoices for which he received insurance proceeds totaling $57,471.00 through his insurance policy.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A former nurse at a state mental health center is blaming changes to collective bargaining rules for a decision to fire her after a patient severely beat her last fall.

The Des Moines Register reports Tina Suckow was fired from her job at the Independence Mental Health Institute in March, days after her federally entitled medical leave expired. Her request for time off without pay was denied.

A patient apparently experiencing a manic episode beat Suckow with his fists last October, causing her to lose consciousness and require surgeries and neurological treatments.

Suckow and union leaders blame reduced staffing and more limited bargaining rights approved in 2017 for a climate that leaves workers vulnerable. The bargaining changes limit negotiations to salary issues. State spokespeople declined to comment on Suckow’s situation.