DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines is raising the city’s property tax rate 20 cents, following county voters’ rejection of a 1-cent sales tax rate increase. The Des Moines Register reports that the $738 million budget for the next fiscal year also approved Thursday does not call for any immediate staff reductions, but it halts new hiring and any work on projects that don’t have a clear source of funding. The budget takes effect July 1.

Des Moines prepared two budgets before Tuesday’s sales tax vote: one anticipating an estimated $37 million in revenue from the proposed sales tax hike and one without.
A majority of voters in Des Moines backed the increase, but the measure didn’t have enough votes in the suburbs to pass.

Deputies in Montgomery County conducted a traffic stop at around 3:45-a.m. today (Friday), and ended-up arresting a Nebraska woman. Authorities report 21-year old Alicia Lynn Johnson, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested on a Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – charge. Deputies were assisted at the scene near the intersection of Highway 34 and K Avenue, by the Montgomery County K9 Unit, and Officers with the Red Oak Police Department.

The Iowa House has unanimously approved new “accountability measures” for the private companies hired to manage care for Iowa Medicaid patients. Representative Dave Heaton, a Republican from Mount Pleasant, says doctors, hospitals and other health care providers are complaining to legislators about unpaid claims — and patients are complaining about denied care. “We know that there have been some bumps in the system and the governor has recognized some of those difficulties that we are having,” Heaton says. “As a legislator, we thought this bill…was an opportunity to address some of these concerns and encourage our managed care program to operate smoother.”

The bill that cleared the House directs the private companies to adhere to “national industry guidelines” and meet contract deadlines for paying claims. Any error in processing claims would have to be corrected in 90 days. The bill also seeks to ease the process for patients seeking “prior authorization” for things like seeing a doctor or having surgery. Representative Lisa Heddens, a Democrat from Ames, was on the committee that developed these new guidelines. “It’s not quite as strong as I would like the oversight language to be,” Heddens says, “but it does have some very good starting points in it.”

For example, Heddens says it would establish one, consistent co-payment amount for all prescription medications. She says there’s confusion among patients, pharmacies and managed care companies because the current system has varying co-pays, depending on the type of medication. These changes had been a priority for House Republicans and Democrats. The proposals now go to the Iowa Senate for review.

(Radio Iowa)

Red Oak Police, Thursday night, arrested a woman on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Authorities report 40-year old Marjorie Denise Peshlakai, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 1200 block of Circle Drive, at around 7:40-p.m. She was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

A traffic stop Thursday night in Adams County on a vehicle with a headlight out and no license plates. resulted in the arrest of Jonathan Vert, from Creston. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says Vert was taken into custody at around 8:20-p.m. near the intersection of Highway 34 and Quince Avenue. He was charged with OWI/1st offense.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A western Iowa woman has been sentenced in Nebraska to five years’ probation for being an accessory to a 2016 road-rage shooting death. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 19-year-old Page Green, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Wednesday. She had pleaded no contest to being an accessory to a homicide in the shooting death of 32-year-old Cristian Pastrana-Marin, of Omaha.

AVOCA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they have charged a western Iowa man whose son took some of his father’s marijuana to school. Court records say the fourth-grader found a small bag of pot Feb. 23 on the floor of his dad’s bedroom in Avoca, took it to school that day and gave it to school officials. James Mills’ attorney said Thursday that her client will plead not guilty to the charges of marijuana possession and child endangerment.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has awarded $2 million in damages to a former Iowa correctional officer who faced retaliation after complaining she was sexually harassed by inmates. The Polk County jury made the award for lost earnings and emotional distress to Kristine Sink, a former officer at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Jurors ruled that Sink was the victim of retaliation for bringing an earlier lawsuit that exposed the prison’s practice of allowing violent inmates to watch graphic films.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Court records say a central Iowa man accused of killing his mother, father and sister intends to change his plea. The records say lawyers for 21-year-old Chase Nicholson had requested a plea hearing, which has been scheduled for April 30 in Polk County District Court. The records don’t say how he’ll plead and to what charges.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst says a “brush fire of retaliation” could erupt if President Trump doesn’t reconsider imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports — and Iowa’s economy will suffer. “This threat of retaliation is a reality. History has shown that retaliatory tariffs are often targeted at agriculture,” Ernst said. “Our farmers are deeply fearful and I share their sentiment.” For example, Ernst notes China is the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans and may choose to buy beans elsewhere after the tariffs take effect.

“With already low commodity prices, farms are barrelling toward crisis. There are other countries that are ready, filling and able to fill the food product demands of China and other nations that seek to buy U.S. agricultural exports,” Ernst said. “Iowans cannot afford a trade war.” Trump — over the objections of fellow Republicans like Ernst — signed an order Thursday afternoon that will impose the tariffs later this month. Ernst released a video statement shortly afterwards.

“You cannot build a grain bin out of a paper bag or plow a field with a toothpick,” Ernst said. “You see, our farmers rely on steel and aluminum for the products and equipment that make farms work. Imported products like these are used to keep farm operations moving and making money.” Ernst warns the tariffs will trigger higher prices on farm equipment and other product and “drastically increase the cost of doing business.” Ernst cited notable Iowa manufacturers like John Deere, Vermeer, Lennox and Des Moines Steel as companies that would be hit with higher production costs.

“As Iowans know, free and fair trade is not just a lofty Washington principle,” Ernst said in a video statement. “It is at the core of Iowa’s economy and sustains our families and farms.” Ernst says she agreed with President Trump “on many things,” but she warns tariffs will prompt customers in other countries to buy elsewhere.

“I couldn’t agree more when the president has said that the U.S. should be its own boss when it comes to driving our trade policies, but America must understand its customers,” Ernst said. “…We simply cannot afford to be the over-priced boutique when the store down the street is selling the same goods at a discount price. We will lose every time.” Ernst and the rest of Iowa’s congressional delegation sent Trump a letter Wednesday, pleading with the president not to take the action he took Thursday.

(Radio Iowa)