COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The leaders of several Midwest states hit recently by flooding along the Missouri River say they’ve received assurances from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the states will “have a seat at the table” when it comes to river management decisions.

The Republican governors of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri and Kansas’ Democratic lieutenant governor all met with Corps officials in the western Iowa city of Council Bluffs on Friday, the second such meeting since last month’s devastating floods.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the states are considering pushing for formation of a Missouri River management commission — similar to the Mississippi River Commission — that would include representatives from the states.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also said repair contracts for three of the river’s larges breaches have already been awarded and that some of the repairs could be finished as early as July.

(Radio Iowa) — The deadline is approaching for you to appeal if you got a new assessment on your home that you think is too high. Iowa Association of Realtors president John Goede says there’s a place you can get help. He says call your agent to get help with your assessment. He says the real estate agent can help you research comparables.

“They’re the professional, they’re the pro, they’re the expert in your area. And they would be glad to help to get some compables to help you with your presentation to the board of adjustment,” Goede says. The appeals have to be into the county by April 30th.

ELDORA, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman convicted on charges related to confining her boyfriend’s 8-year-old son under basement stairs has been sentenced to jail and a small fine.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Traci Lynn Tyler was sentenced Friday to up to a year in jail, following her April 10 conviction of misdemeanor false imprisonment. She had been charged with kidnapping but a judge convicted her of the lesser charge.

Prosecutors say Tyler and the boy’s father, Alex Shadlow, locked the child in a space beneath the basement stairs of their Ackley home for at least nine hours a day in summer 2017. The boy told authorities he slept on concrete.

Because Tyler served 266 days in jail before her conviction, she may only serve another three months. That time could be reduced for good behavior. She was fined $315. Shadlow is awaiting trial.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Efforts to end the Iowa legislative session have been delayed by a last-minute amendment from conservative Republicans who are seeking to prohibit the use of Medicaid funding to pay for sex-reassignment surgery.

Backers of the Friday afternoon amendment to a Health and Human Services funding bill say the prohibition on using federal or state money for sex reassignment surgery is a response to an Iowa Supreme Court decision. The ruling last month said the state cannot deny two transgender women Medicaid coverage for such a surgery.

Republican Sen. Jake Chapman says his constituents believe “this is an elective surgery that if Iowans want to do, that’s fine but not with our taxpayer dollars.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen called the amendment a mean-spirited attempt at discrimination. By raising the issue so late, she says Republicans prevented Democrats from amending the proposal.

The measure also would prohibit government money from paying for sex education programs by Planned Parenthood.

The Senate passed the bill 31-19. The bill was to be heard in the House later.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Londo report FEMA will be opening disaster recovery centers for people to apply for assistance in Shelby county. They will be in Harlan at the Harlan Fire Department located at 906 Cyclone Ave on Monday April 29 thru Wednesday May 1st. The hours will be Monday 12pm to 7pm and 9am to 7pm Tuesday and Wednesday.

FEMA representatives will in Shelby at the Community building located at 500 East St on Thursday May 2nd thru Saturday May 4th. Hours of operation are Thursday 12pm to 7pm and 9am to 7pm Friday and Saturday.

FEMA personnel will then follow the same schedule the following week at both locations. There is no need to set up an appointment, just come in and register.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report the arrest at around 12:25-a.m. Thursday, of a Council Bluffs man and woman. 38-year old Bryan James Regenscheid was arrested in the area of 221st St. and Highway 34, on two counts Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at  $2,600. At the same place and time, 27-year old Angel Marie Shlee was arrested for Forgery and Theft in the 5th degree. Her bond was set at $5,300.

Wednesday night, 30-year old Amanda Corine Elrod, of Glenwood, was arrested at 6th and N. Vine Streets in Glenwood, for Driving Under Suspension and having No SR-22 Insurance. Bond was set at 1,300.