DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she disagrees with President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals joining the military. The Republican governor told reporters Monday that anyone who signs up for military service deserves appreciation and respect. Her office later said Reynolds doesn’t plan to take any action in response.

Trump directed the Pentagon on Friday to implement the ban and gave the agency authority to decide the future of openly transgender people already serving.

It’s unclear how many transgender Iowans serve in the military. An Iowa National Guard spokesman says no one has openly declared their status as transgender. Among Iowans serving in the federal armed forces, at least one transgender Army reservist told The Des Moines Register in July that he hopes to have a full military career.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from Nebraska suffered possible/minor injuries during a rollover accident Sunday morning. 25-year old Austin Jay Fricke, of Lincoln, NE., was driving a 1988 Toyota 4 Runner that was towing another 1988 4 Runner westbound on Highway 34, when the second vehicle began to sway. After Fricke lost control of his SUV, both vehicles entered the south ditch and rolled over.

Damage from the crash, which happened at around 9:10-a.m., Sunday, amounted to $3,500. Fricke, who was wearing a seat belt, complained of pain and/or injury, but was not transported to the hospital. There were no citations issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Another judge has ruled that Iowa Department of Transportation officers didn’t have authority to issue speeding tickets to drivers of noncommercial vehicles. The Des Moines Register reports Scott County District Associate Judge Christine Dalton says if officers had the authority to give tickets prior to a law change in May, an amendment wouldn’t have been necessary.

The new law gave department officers the authority to ticket drivers of noncommercial vehicles until July 2018. The ruling comes only weeks before another court takes up the broader issue of whether the agency acted illegally before the state law change.

State officials say the department could lose millions of dollars in federal money without the authority to ticket drivers of all types of vehicles.

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was in Atlantic last Friday, visiting with staff and administrators at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Afterward, he spoke with KJAN’s Jim Field about health care and other issues, including NAFTA. (You can listen to the “Heartbeat Today” interview under the podcast link found at kjan.com, under the “Programs” tab)

With regard to healthcare, two separate approaches to the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care) are being bandied about. Grassley said on one side, hearings are set for September on a Bi-partisan bill to deal with the issue. The other one, which could be bi-partisan, but is currently partisan, is picking up support.

US Senator Charles Grassley visited Cass County Health System on Friday, August 25th. After a tour of the facility with CEO Brett Altman, Senator Grassley met with CCHS administrators and staff. A number of healthcare issues were discussed, including the importance of continuing both the federal support for Medicaid and the 340B pharmaceutical program, which provides funding from pharmaceutical companies for discounted medications for patients. “We certainly appreciate Senator Grassley taking time to visit,” Altman said. “It was a great opportunity to showcase our first rate medical facilities and share with him the great work being done by our dedicated staff here at CCHS!” (Photo provided by CCHS)

Grassley says something has to be done to allow people to buy private health insurance. As for NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), Grassley says it’s important, especially for Iowa, not to have NAFTA upset. President Trump proposed getting rid of NAFTA during the election, but his views have since wavered, according to Grassley. He says Trump may be wanting to renegotiate NAFTA, and there is support from other changes, to at least make some updates or changes to, the agreement.

Grassley says the U-S has opened discussions with a hard bargaining position, but “That’s typical of how you start to bargain,” and he doesn’t think there will be a lot of damage done to NAFTA, particularly from the standpoint of agriculture.

And, with regard to President Trump’s threat to shutting down the government if he doesn’t see action soon on the border wall, Grassley said he hopes it’s just a bargaining tactic. He says experience has shown it’s costly to shut down and then at some point re-open the government. Shutting down the government, he says, “Would be a very bad thing to do.”

Grassley said also, he wishes the Press would focus more on what’s being accomplished in Washington than on what’s controversial, because there are bi-partisan efforts to move the country forward.

A call about a disturbance early Sunday morning, in Oakland, resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Shane Elam Rouse, II, of Oakland, was taken into custody at around 3:50-a.m., for Disorderly Conduct/Fighting, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Authorities say a Deputy was dispatched to the area of Hill Street for a disturbance involving two males in the street who were fighting. When the Deputy arrived, he was unable to locate the subjects. Another Deputy stopped an SUV that was leaving the are of the disturbance. The vehicle was pulled over in the Casey’s parking lot, in Oakland.

Rouse was a passenger in the vehicle. The report says Rouse’ knuckles were bloody. He acknowledged he had been in a fight with three people in ski masks on Hill Street, because they disrespected his girlfriend. Rouse was alleged to be “Extremely intoxicated and uncooperative.”

Based on his own admissions with regard to the incident, he was placed under arrest, at which time a marijuana pipe was found in his boxer shorts, near his groin. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail without incident.

Police in Creston say three people were arrested over the past few days. At around 1-a.m. Sunday, 28-year old Maria Rodriguez Muffley, of Creston, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. She was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

At around 12:25-a.m. Saturday, 21-year old Emery Mullen, of Des Moines, was arrested in Creston for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

And, 38-year old Seth Preston, of Creston, was arrested Friday morning on a Union County warrant for Failure to Comply with the Pretrial Release Program, on original charges of Controlled Substance Violation, Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – Marijuana, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. Preston was being held without bond, in the Union County Jail.

Authorities said also, Becky Sale, of Lorimor, was cited Aug. 23rd, for Failure to Abate a nuisance on property she owns in the 100 block of S. Stone Street.

Iowa’s new collective bargaining law that went into effect this year requires teachers and other school employees in 14 school districts and community colleges to hold recertification votes next month. The leader of the state’s largest teacher union is trying to get the word out. Iowa State Education Association president Tammy Wawro has visited all 14 schools urging teachers and other employees to watch for that envelope in the mail “It’s the most busy time of year for them and it’s imperative that their voice is heard,” Wawro says.

Wawro says under the law anyone who doesn’t vote will be counted as a no whether or not they’re union members. And if the vote falls short, the master contract covering all school employees goes away. Wawro says employees will have two weeks to return paper ballots by mail. ” If a unit does not recertify — the contract is gone. What concerns me is that that people don’t understand,” Wawro says.

The first ballots will be mailed out September 12th. The I-S-E-A is fighting the new law in court.

(Radio Iowa)