Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police in western Iowa have arrested a man and charged him in the death of a toddler. Police say officers and fire personnel were sent to a Council Bluffs apartment last week for an unresponsive child. The 16-month-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial investigation led to an arrest warrant being issued for 22-year-old Javon Jennings. Police say Jennings was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $250,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has begun chipping away at the series of spending bills that will make up the next state budget. The Republican-controlled chamber voted 57-36 Wednesday to approve legislation to fund agriculture and natural resources. That followed a unanimous vote to pay for transportation services. The GOP-led Senate must also OK the bills. Preliminary votes could come as soon as Thursday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former employee at agriculture and industrial heavy equipment maker Vermeer Corp. in Pella, as well as three others, have been indicted on fraud charges. Federal prosecutors in Iowa say 54-year-old Scott Whitehead, 38-year-olld Natalia Sheps, 63-year-old Boris Vaysman, and 57-year-old Ana Hallon Gallego were all indicted Tuesday. Investigators say Whitehead was maintenance manager at Vermeer when he received kickbacks from two chemical companies over a five-year period.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A man convicted of fatally stabbing his girlfriend at a Dubuque home last year has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that 26-year-old Fontae Beulow maintained his innocence in the death of 21-year-old Samantha Link at the sentencing hearing Wednesday. Buelow was found guilty in January of second-degree murder for the March 31, 2017, killing in Peosta.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday, that two people, a man and a woman, were arrested on felony drug charges. Matthew Sims and Crystal Oxenreider, both of Brooks, face felony charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) With the Intent to Deliver (Class D Felony, and Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana) With the Intent to Deliver (Class D Felony).

The pair were also charged with varying degrees of misdemeanors, including Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana), Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Sims was additionally charged with Interference with Official Acts.

The case remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has begun chipping away at the series of spending bills that will make up the next state budget. The Republican-controlled chamber voted 57-36 Wednesday to approve legislation to fund agriculture and natural resources. That followed a unanimous vote to pay for transportation services.

The GOP-led Senate must also OK the bills. Preliminary votes could come as soon as Thursday. Republicans have been negotiating behind closed doors to reach a broader agreement on a roughly $7.49 billion budget set to begin in July. They want the deal to include tax cuts.

The $380 million bill funding the Department of Transportation maintains overall staffing levels. The $129 million bill funding the agriculture and natural resources departments restores staffing levels to where they were before mid-year cuts.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police in western Iowa have arrested a man and charged him in the death of a toddler. Police say officers and fire personnel were sent to a Council Bluffs apartment last week for an unresponsive child. The child, a 16-month-old girl, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Javon Jennings

The initial investigation led to an arrest warrant being issued for 22-year-old Javon Jennings, of Council Bluffs, charging him one count of child endangerment causing serious injury. Police say Jennings was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $250,000 bond.

Police say Jennings was the sole caretaker of the girl when she was fatally injured. Her injuries included a broken left leg. The cause of the girl’s death remains under investigation, and detectives are awaiting final autopsy results.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met during a brief session Wednesday evening and voted to approve a settlement with the Atlantic Employee Association, which represents the Non-Certified Staff (which includes Bus drivers, custodians, grounds maintenance, para-educators, secretaries and cafeteria personnel). Superintendent Steve Barber said the agreement (Which was tentatively reached March 13th) stipulates each eligible employee shall move a step on the salary schedule, and all employees shall receive 15-cents. Also, those employees serving as bus or event drivers, will receive a 50-cent per hour raise (from $10.50 to 11.00) for wait times during events.

All transportation staff would have the option to be paid bi-weekly, as well, if they choose. The total package amounts to $47,348.22, or an increase of 1.72%. Negotiations for the Certified Teaching Staff are currently underway. The Board held an exempt session following the regular meeting, for the purpose of negotiation strategy and/or related matters.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved a Driver’s Education Contract for the 2019 school year (effective 1/1/19), with White Knuckle Driving School in Atlantic. Local certified instructors will be used for the course. And, the Board approved a bid of $75,660 for a Middle School bleacher replacement from Academic Specialists LLC, doing business as Iowa Direct Equipment, of Cedar Falls.

The other bid, from a company in Minnesota, was considerable higher. Superintendent Steve Barber said there was no explanation why the bid from Carroll Seating Company, of Owatonna, MN. ($107, 973). He mentioned that a representative from, Iowa Direct came to the Middle School to examine the layout. The project was estimated to cost between $80,000 to $90,000.

The next, regular Atlantic School Board meeting will take place in the Middle School Media Center on May 9th, beginning at 5:30-p.m.