October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The issue has been in the national spotlight after a few high-profile cases involving N-F-L players accused of abuse. In Iowa, officials say the state’s domestic abuse hotline and shelters field more than 70-thousand calls a year. Leah (LEE-uh) Gilbert is with the Domestic Violence Awareness Center in Fort Dodge that serves residents in 15 counties in north central and west central Iowa. “This year we’re just asking for everyone’s help to raise awareness and show support for victims and survivors in Iowa,” Gilbert says.

There are 12 domestic violence shelters in Iowa and Gilbert says her facility in Fort Dodge gets 10 to 15 calls every day. “We are strictly shelter-based now, so within the month I would say we house between 20 to 25 women, men or children,” Gilbert says.

The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence is asking supporters to put a purple bulb in an outdoor light fixture to show support for the movement. On October 23rd, Iowans are being invited to make a five-dollar donation to the statewide organization and wear jeans to work on “Jeans Day”. The money will be used to buy clothes for domestic violence shelters.  “Money is a big issue,” Gilbert says. “We all know that funding has been cut in a lot of areas and so donations, volunteering — anything that anyone would want to do — we would greatly appreciate.”

According to the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, weekends are the most common times cases of alleged domestic abuse are reported — and about two-thirds of the perpetrators of domestic violence are under the age of 35. A federal report indicates 70 percent of those accused of domestic abuse were abused as children.

The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence is holding the eighth annual “It’s About Time” fundraiser tomorrow night (Saturday) in Des Moines. Shelters around the state have a variety of fundraisers scheduled throughout the month, too. (The other 11 domestic violence shelters are located in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Ames, Des Moines, Clinton, Waverly, Oskaloosa, Iowa City, Burlington, Muscatine, and Dubuque.)

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – After years of stability, Iowa’s congressional delegation will soon have some new faces – and the candidates running for the state’s two open seats all say they can bring some homespun pragmatism to Washington.

Democrat Staci Appel, a former state lawmaker, and Republican David Young, a former aide to Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, are both making that argument in the 3rd district, where longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Latham is retiring. Appel says she supports boosting the minimum wage and other efforts to help working families and argues Young lacks perspective due to his long career in Washington. Young says his experience means he can effectively work across the aisle.

The 1st district also will have a new representative because incumbent Rep. Bruce Braley is running for U.S. Senate.

A man from Union County was arrested on an assault charge, Thursday evening. According to the Creston Police Dept., 27-year old Lee Anthony Brown, of Creston, was arrested at his home on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. Brown was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

The Creston P-D said also, the manager of the Casey’s north store on west Townline Road, reported a man entered the business between a little after 10-a.m. Thursday and stole a 20-ounce bottle of pop. The loss was estimated at $1.86.

The Iowa Public Information Board has been asked to review action conducted during a closed session of the City Council in Pacific Junction. The Daily NonPareil reports Councilman Earl Smith filed a complaint with the board alleging that the Pacific Junction City Council had violated the state’s opening meetings law by voting during closed session to acquire a $50,000 loan in November 2013. However, last month, Smith said the action never happened, according to a letter sent to the board.

Margaret Johnson, the deputy director of the IPIB, said Thursday that Smith essential withdrew some of the complaints he made against the council. Smith also sent his complaint to the Iowa State Auditor’s Office. In his letter, Smith said a loan for $40,000 – not $50,000 – was voted on and approved by the City Council at the beginning of the meeting. He continued that a closed session was held to discuss an “obligation debt” for federal, Social Security and Medicare back taxes in the amount of $50,000.

Smith said in his letter that Pacific Junction Mayor Andy Young told council members that the city clerk had already arranged payments with the Internal Revenue Service to pay back the debt, and “there is nothing to worry about.” Smith said there was confusion among the council’s decision because, according to a recording of the meeting, it was announced the city clerk made arrangements before knowing the amount owed to the IRS and before the plan could be approved by the City Council.

Johnson said it is likely the IPIB will hear Smith’s complaint during its October meeting – even though it falls outside the 60-day filing deadline called for in the Iowa code. Johnson said, in the future, it would benefit the City Council to make more concise agendas and take better notes during meetings.