DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A trial is scheduled to begin Monday for a woman accused of killing her stepfather in Des Moines. Twenty-nine-year-old Sera Alexander has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Alexander is accused of shooting to death Anthony Hartmann. A judge has refused to let Alexander use Iowa’s new “stand your ground” defense against the charge, noting the law was “prospective in nature.” It took effect July 1 last year, nearly two months after Hartmann was shot.

The law says a person doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force if the person thinks his or her life is being threatened. Her attorney has said family members reported that Hartmann had a history of abusive behavior toward them. Police have said Hartmann didn’t threaten or hurt Alexander immediately before he was shot.

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests took place last Friday. 26-year old Lucas Perrigo, of Creston, was arrested Friday night for Driving Under Suspension. He was later released on a $300 bond. Friday afternoon, 27-year old Alex Cunningham, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He was also later released on a $300 bond. A few hour prior to his arrest, Creston Police arrested 31-year old Ian Adamson, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury. His bond was set at $10,000. And, late Friday morning, 36-year old Joey Ebarb, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center in Creston, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge for a Controlled Substance Violation. Ebarb was being held on a $100,000 bond.

SPRINGVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities suspect a grill may have caused a fire that injured a Linn County man. Firetrucks were sent to the Springfield house around 3:20 p.m. Saturday. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says the residence was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived. A resident was taken to a hospital for treatment of what’s believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. He’s been identified as Mark Kirchmann. The Sheriff’s Office says Kirchmann had been grilling at the house. The fire remains under investigation.

The freeze-thaw cycle of the past few months has brought a bevy of bone-jarring potholes to virtually every Iowa road. Kelly Pargett, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance in Iowa, says motorists can’t do much about the crumbling roads but we can try to protect our vehicles by choosing where and when we drive. “Driving at night is harder so try to take well-lit roads so you can see the surface,” Pargett says. “Drive slower than you normally would. Give yourself a chance to see the potholes and avoid it before you’re into it.”

Some Iowa roads already more closely resemble moonscapes and Pargett says one key to keeping out of those concrete craters is to increase your following distance. “Tailgating does make it worse,” she says. “There can be a lot of driving issues and driving hazards from tailgating, more than just not seeing potholes. Certainly, give yourself a chance to see what’s ahead of you so you can try to avoid the pothole as much as you can.” As always, avoid distractions like cell phones, navigation systems and the radio. Pargett says keep your eyes on the road and get ready to brake. “If you can’t avoid the pothole, we do recommend trying to brake before you hit the impact because it’s less damage to your axles and tires,” she says.

It may be better for the suspension, too, if you brake before hitting the hole versus skidding over it. Pothole damage can quickly rise into the hundreds of dollars, though many insurance companies cover it under the collision portion of the policy. State Farm is Iowa’s largest auto insurer.

(Radio Iowa)

The man who’s been leading the Iowa Department of Human Services for the past eight months faces a political test. At least five Democrats will have to join the 29 Republicans in the Iowa Senate to confirm Jerry Foxhoven’s nomination to be director of the Iowa Department of Human Services. “I can’t tell you if he will or will not get confirmed. I think right now that’s up to him, so he needs to come and talk to Senate Democrats about his job performance from June until now,” says Senator Liz Mathis of Cedar Rapids, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Human Resources Committee. Mathis says Democrats are concerned about unresolved problems with the Medicaid program — from denied care for patients to unpaid bills for doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals.

“I like Jerry. He’s a friend of mine…Since he’s been DHS director, I’ve called him and asked him to visit our area and talk with a number of difference providers so, for me, he’s been accessible and responsive, but at the same time, not much has changed,” Mathis says, “so we still have a lot of providers who are owed a lot of money.” Republican lawmakers also have publicly expressed frustrations with the private companies hired to manage care for Medicaid patients. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says House members are drafting a proposal to address those concerns. “We want to make sure that the issues we’re concerned about are addressed and I think there’ll always be some form of accountability measure in that bill,” Upmeyer syas. “We want to know that we are getting good outcomes and that it is effective.”

Senator Mathis says some health care providers tell her they may have to cut services or close their doors because of the backlog of unpaid Medicaid bills. “There’s a lot brewing out there and I think Director Foxhoven could change some of this,” Foxhoven says. Republicans on the Senate Human Resources Committee voted a week ago to recommend Foxhoven be confirmed as Human Services director, but they did not speak out on his behalf. The D-H-S is the largest state agency, with four-thousand employees and a budget of six billion dollars in state and federal money. A million Iowans receive services from the agency.

(Radio Iowa)