(Radio Iowa) – A new course is being offered at Iowa State University this semester which aims to teach students how to incorporate small habits into their lives that will bring them joy. Amie Zarling, an I-S-U professor of human development and family studies, is teaching the course she created called “The Science and Practice of Happiness.” “It’s so important because not only is there science and research to back all this up, that allows us to learn and know about the data that’s coming out about how to be happy,” Zarling says, “but then also it’s important to learn how to apply that to ourselves, because that can be one of the best ways to actually learn about the topic.”

Zarling says there are 85 students participating in the course’s inaugural semester from a variety of different majors across campus. “We started off by learning about and practicing gratitude, and learning about how to express gratitude in a way that works for each person individually,” Zarling says. “The students have really loved incorporating gratitude into their life and have reported that it’s working to increase their happiness.”

They’re also studying the importance of social connections and how much social interaction is needed every day. Zarling says she’s encouraging students to seek out wonder and awe, as well as self-compassion — treating ourselves with kindness. “We have also talked about being present and mindful in our daily lives, and we’ve practiced that in a few different ways,” Zarling says, “one of which is savoring positive experiences, really relishing those experiences, and squeezing them to their last drop and appreciating those positive emotions that we experience in our lives.”

Zarling says the course offers students a vital respite in an existence that’s often filled with negativity, politics, war and hatred. “We could all use a little positivity and happiness in our days, and so much of the world isn’t focused on that right now,” Zarling says. “I tell the students, that doesn’t mean that we completely stick our heads in the sand and ignore all the negativity. We can’t necessarily do that. However, we can add some positivity and happiness to our life with these small habits.”

Zarling says a lot of jobs and careers are stressful, so learning how to manage that stress and be resilient can truly help people. She plans to offer the course again in the fall.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  A woman from Red Oak was arrested Thursday afternoon on a Montgomery County warrant. Red Oak Police say 44-year-old Peggy Sue Gurney was arrested at around 3:15-p.m. on the warrant for Compulsory Education Violation/1st offense. She was taken into custody in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

MAURICE, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has charged a Maurice couple, one of whom was the Sioux County Deputy Sheriff, with seven counts of neglect of a dependent person.

On Thursday, Feb. 22, former deputy sheriff Caleb Haverdink and Jill Haverdink of Maurice were charged with seven counts of Neglect of a Dependent Person, Class C Felonies; two counts of Mandatory Reporter Violations, Simple Misdemeanors; and one count of False Report to Law Enforcement, a Simple Misdemeanor, according to a release from the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.

The charges come as a result of an Iowa DCI investigation. According to the initial complaint, both Haverdinks, who are foster parents, allegedly “had prior knowledge of a child in their care committing numerous acts of sexual abuse and sexualized acts against other children [under their care].” However, they allegedly did not take action to protect the other children from the abuse.

When the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office received the complaint, they asked for assistance from the DCI and the Clay County, Iowa Attorney’s Office in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

Following the DCI investigation, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office held an internal investigation with an outside investigator. They concluded that the conduct of Caleb Haverdink, who was deputy sheriff at the time, “was contrary to the mission of the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.” He was then removed from his position on Feb. 14.

“Haverdink’s employment was terminated based solely upon his off-duty conduct which was contrary to established policies and that which brought reproach upon himself and our agency,” the release states.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office also emphasized that these criminal charges are only allegations.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to increase the fines for violating Iowa’s open meetings law. The House bill would require government officials to complete a course that explains Iowa’s open meetings and open records law within 90 days of being elected to public office or appointed to a board. Representative Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs says public officials need to understand the state’s sunshine law and make sure it’s followed.

“Each year in the state of Iowa we see numerous open meetings law violations,” Siegrist says. “Many of them are simply because of not understanding the law. Others are blatant disregard of the law…and then there are simply egregious examples of breaking the law that we have seen in the Davenport area in the wake of the apartment building collapse last year.”

Representative Gary Mohr of Bettendorf is the bill’s sponsor. “Last May we had a six story apartment building collapse in downtown Davenport,” Mohr says. “As the local media groups asked questions and many of the citizens asked questions, the city was very reluctant or would not provide information such as: ‘Did the building pass inspection? When was the last time that building was inspected? Who was involved in approving the inspections?’ And the city simply did not provide timely responses to those questions.”

Mohr says citizens found out two days after the November election that Davenport’s city attorney had approved about two million dollars in payments to three city employees to settle harassment claims. “Apparently there had been a discussion with the city council, but the city council never approved that expenditure in a public meeting,” Mohr says.

Mohr quoted the late Bill Wundrum, a long time columnist for the Quad City Times as he urged his colleagues to act. “Periodically Bill would say: ‘Is anybody there? Does anybody care?’ I’ve thought of him so many times over the last nine months. Yes, Bill, some of us are there. Some of us do care and ladies and gentlemen of the House, we’re either going to have open records in this state or we’re not. I asked you to support this bill.”

The bill passed on a 92-to-two vote. If the Senate agrees to the policy and the governor signed it into law, Siegrist expects some local officials to complain about the required training. “Too often in Iowa they just simply claim ignorance of the law,” Siegrist says. “This would make sure that’s no longer a viable option and we would make sure that we maintain our open meetings laws.”

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa are the only groups that have registered on the legislature’s website as supporting the bill, while a number of groups representing government officials have checked the undecided box. The Iowa Association of School Boards is the only group on record as opposing the bill.