Police in Red Oak, Thursday afternoon, arrested 59-year old Coronne Rena Denton, of Red Oak, for Theft in the 5th Degree (fuel value under $200). Authorities say Denton allegedly charged just under $21 in fuel on a United Farmers Mercantile Cooperative (UFMC) account. Denton is a former employee, and did not have the right or privilege to charge on the account. It is also alleged that she had the intent to deprive the the business of the property/money. She was seen on surveillance cameras signing for the fuel and charging the account. Her bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican lawmakers have given preliminary approval to prohibiting Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding for sex education.
GOP-led legislative committees approved budget legislation Thursday that would add disqualifying language for federal grants aimed at sexual health education to Iowa youth.

The state administers the grants, and the proposed language says recipients of the money can’t provide abortions, maintain or operate a facility where abortions are performed, or regularly make referrals to entities linked to abortions.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the local affiliate, says it’s been awarded these grants repeatedly. The federal money isn’t used for abortions. A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman called the move a “targeted attack.” It comes one day after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill that would ban most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy. The abortion ban will likely be challenged in court if signed into law by anti-abortion GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — The adoptive parents of a 16-year-old Iowa girl who weighed only 56 pounds when she died face new charges.

Des Moines television station KCCI reports that 41-year-old Misty Ray and 42-year-old Marc Ray have been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, theft and fraudulent practice. The pair had already pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, child endangerment resulting in death and other counts related to the starvation death last May of 16-year-old Sabrina Ray.

Misty and Marc Ray face a total of 17 charges in the case. Last month, the teen’s adoptive grandmother, 63-year-old Carla Bousman of Perry, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to not seeking medical attention for the dying girl and to concealing evidence after Sabrina died.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An audit of a Des Moines elementary school serving one of the poorest segments of the city has shown that a former principal improperly spent more than $4,700 using a school credit card.

The Des Moines Register reports that Eric Van Dorin displayed about $2,000 worth of the items, including collectible toys, bobbleheads and books, at his office in Moulton Elementary School. Other items included a digital camera and smart watch. The report says the improper purchases were made over three years starting in 2015 and that Van Dorin sometimes approved his own expenses.

Van Dorin’s teaching license was suspended earlier this year and he was ordered to take an ethics course before it can be reinstated. Van Dorin resigned Aug. 31. He reimbursed the district $1,800 and returned some items, while the district kept other items.

Officials with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office report the arrest Tuesday night, of a Pacific Junction Man. 29-year old Justin Michael Svoboda was arrested at around 8:30-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault. His bond was set at $1,000.

And, at around 4:20-p.m. Wednesday, 39-year old Myron Lee Brandon, also of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Registration Violation/ 1st Offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

Officials with the Union County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday (today), a Creston man reported Wednesday evening, that sometime within the last month, his Taurus .357 Magnum revolver was stolen from his vehicle. The gun was valued at $375.

The East Pottawattamie County Extension and Outreach and 4-H program offered “Cooking with Kids” after school program on Wednesday’s in April at the Carson Fire Station for all 4th grade youth.  Youth spent the afternoon learning about basics and safety of cooking and baking, measuring, reading a recipe, using kitchen utensils and appliances, washing dishes, setting a table, manners and working together.  Throughout the 4 sessions, youth learned to crack eggs, cook meat to the safe internal temperature, dice up meat and fruit, use the stove top, oven, blender, griddle, make French toast, mini chicken pot pies, fruit smoothies, peanut butter cookies, homemade pizza, toss salad, and fruit salad all while getting to taste test and learn how to perfect their recipes.  Youth also created a cookbook with a collection of all of their recipes along the way.

Pictured is: Laney Rice, Oliva Lund, AJ Kremkoski, Danika Feigenbutz, Ana Wilson & Sam Bernard eating the full meal they prepared of homemade pizza, toss salad, fruit salad, & peanut butter cookies at the table they practiced setting.

FAIRBANK, Iowa (AP) — Northeast Iowa residents have won a fight to remove three large wind energy turbines as the Iowa Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from a wind energy company. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Tuesday’s decision leaves in place an order that Mason Wind and Optimum Renewables must take down the 445-foot turbines built in 2016 for an estimated $11 million.
Fayette County zoning officials said the towers near Fairbank were “electric and gas transmission and regulating facilities” that didn’t need special permitting.

Neighboring property owners and the city sued the company and the county alleging the interpretation was incorrect. They say the turbines violate county zoning laws. A district court judge ruled in 2016 that the turbines are electrical generating devices that require board of adjustment approval. Mason attorneys declined to comment.

Police in Glenwood, Tuesday, arrested 24-year old Christopher Toler. The Glenwood man was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Bond was set at $1,000.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been delayed again for a northwest Iowa man accused of fatally stabbing his sister. Trial had been set to begin May 15 for Thomas Bibler. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts in the June 11, 2016, death of 27-year-old Shannon Bogh, of Le Mars. He was arrested that day after a short standoff at his Le Mars apartment.

On Wednesday a judge granted the defense request, which said in its motion that reports from recent mental health evaluations of Bibler had not yet arrived. Judge Jeffrey Neary said he’ll set a new trial starting date after the opposing attorneys consult with witnesses about availability.

Previous starting dates for Bibler were Jan. 30, Dec. 19, May 16, Feb. 14 and Dec. 13, 2016.