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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jurors have acquitted an Iowa journalist who was pepper-sprayed and arrested by police while covering a protest, in a case that critics have derided as an attack on press freedoms. A jury on Wednesday acquitted Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri and her ex-boyfriend on misdemeanor charges of failure to disperse and interference with official acts. The two were arrested last May while Sahouri was covering a Des Moines protest over racial injustice. Sahouri told reporters after the trial that she was relieved by the quick acquittal, which she called a victory for press freedom and democracy. She also said the case had taken a toll on her personally and professionally, but that she would continue reporting the news.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman and former paralegal working for the federal Justice Department has been sentenced to six months in prison for leaking the identities of informants working with federal authorities in a drug trafficking case. The Justice Department said in a news release that 37-year-old Danielle Taff, of Ankeny, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in November to one count of fraud.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An organization representing Iowa’s Hispanic population has filed a lawsuit to challenge a new Iowa voting measure passed with only Republican votes a day after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it into law. The League of United Latin American Citizens is represented by Washington-based voting rights lawyer Marc Elias in the lawsuit filed in state court in Des Moines. The law shortens time for voters to cast mail ballots, reduces days voters can request a ballot and shortens the time polls are open on Election Day. The lawsuit claims it creates an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote citing numerous violations of voters’ constitutional rights.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — As Iowa ramps up vaccinations to include everyone between age 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions, the state has turned to the honor system with no validation required when someone claims to qualify for a shot due to a health issue. The state is allowing adults Iowans to get vaccinated if they have any one of several conditions including cancer, lung disease and heart disease that create a higher risk for severe illness if they get a coronavirus infection. Obesity and smoking also qualify. Iowa health officials say the system is relying largely on Iowans being honest about their health when arranging for a vaccine. Gov. Kim Reynolds says the process is working well.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, voted 4-to 1, with Nick Hunt against, extending the mask mandate until April 5th. The expectation remains in place that masks will be worn when social distancing is not possible. Their decision followed a lengthy discussion, which included acknowledgement the County’s positivity rate is under 10-percent, and that most teachers who wanted the COVID-19 vaccine have, or will receive it before Spring Break.

Hunt said he was in favor of doing away with the district imposed mandate, at least with regard to students being outside during recess, because “I think we’re over the period where somebody is going to get really sick and die, and we’re not talking about the staff. The staff had an opportunity to get a shot.”

In other business, the Atlantic School Board passed a Resolution approving the plans, specifications, and form of contract, for the High School Parking Lot and Sidewalk Improvements. Their action followed a Public Hearing, during which no one made written or spoken comments on the project. Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm, said there were six bids, all of which came in under the engineer’s estimate of $728,892. The low bidder was Precision Concrete Services (PCS) of Atlantic, at $620,084.30. Sturm will send out the contract for the project, on Thursday.

The School Board expressed their frustration with the status of the district’s facilities project. Superintendent Steve Barber said it despite the fact the weather has cooperated, they’ve experienced issues with the original PCC (Portland Cement Concrete) contractors, another one has taken over. As far as the time frame is concerned, completion of the baseball/softball complex will depend on how much grass is seeded in the outfield, and at the high school, some grading is needed on the dirt work and rocks on the infield. However, because the asphalt plant isn’t likely to open until the second week in April, “it will be nearly impossible to get that track done before the end of May,” according to Mr. Barber.

Dave Sturm added “everything hinges on the asphalt plant opening-up.” In other business, the Board approved Superintendent Barber’s recommendation for the following changes to the 2020-21 School Calendar, to make-up for lost hours on snow days:

• Add May 27th & 28th. Dismiss 1.5 (90 minutes early) on Friday
• Go to school all day on May 26th and May 19th.

Those changes, he says, would result in a total of 14.5 hours, and bring the total to 1,082.5, which meets the state requirements, and provides flexibility, he says, “in case we need to start school one-day late.” Barber says “If additional time is lost, we would have to look to have full days on Wednesdays, to still get students out before Memorial Day.” Teachers, he said, will need to return for three-days, after Memorial Day.

The Atlantic School Board approved the following resignations:

• Connor Larson, HS PE/Weight Training/Health Teacher, & MS Football/Assistant Wrestling Coach
• June Halder, Washington Elem. Secretary
• Riley Speer, Washington Elem. Office Paraeducator
• Jennifer Rumery, Food Service.

And, they approved the following Contract Recommendations:

• Mark Anderson, HS Boys Soccer Coach
• Payton Wilkenfeld, Jalen Petersen and Roger Warne: HS Track Volunteer Coaches
• James Northwick, HS Tennis Volunteer Coach
• and Cal Heuton, HS Boys Soccer Volunteer Coach.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds, Wednesday, signed Executive Order 8 launching a new Child Care Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the child care shortage and barrier to work in Iowa. The governor also announced awardees of two child care grant programs totaling $13,053,372 and contributing to the creation of more than 4,000 new child care slots across Iowa.

“When we remove the obstacles to high-quality, affordable child care, our families can nurture their kids while maintaining maximum freedom to enter and remain in the workforce,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Today’s announcement will further our efforts to provide high-quality, affordable access to child care in every corner of the state.”

The Department of Human Services and Iowa Workforce Development worked together to strategically award $12,052,958 from the DHS Investing in Iowa’s Child Care funding program and $1,000,414 in Child Care Challenge grants to all eligible applicants throughout the state. Child Care Challenge grants support community projects to establish local childcare facilities, while the DHS funding provides support for equipment, personnel, training, and supplies for new or ongoing child care facilities.

“The Child Care Challenge was created to bolster and support innovative partnerships between leaders in the community and key stakeholders in the private and public sector,” Gov. Reynolds continued. “Today’s investment allows us to leverage existing resources from DHS to further grow the scope of our program.”

“As a working mom, I know how important child care is. Child care is the backbone of our workforce and serves as an early learning platform for our children,” said Director Kelly Garcia, Department of Human Services.

“This is a big day for workforce development in Iowa because of the significant investment we are making in expanding child care availability through our investments in 64 different projects around the state, ” said Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development.

To capitalize on this investment, and in furtherance of the recommendation of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, Governor Reynolds announced an executive order to establish a new Child Care Task Force, led by Emily Schmitt with Sukup Manufacturing. In 100 days, the task force will present recommendations to the Governor to address Iowa’s child care crisis.

Additional members of the task force representing business, non-profit and community organizations, child care providers, and local government include (but are not limited to):

• Dianna Williams, Ann Wickman Childcare Center YMCA in Atlantic
• Jenna Ramsey, Stanton Community Development 
• Raven Walker, Child Development Home Provider, Council Bluffs 

ATLANTIC, IA (March 10, 2021) – Produce in the Park is holding a Spring farmers market. Celebrate Spring and Easter with Spring Celebration Market! Spring Celebration Market will be held the day before Easter. The market will offer pre-order drive-through pick-up only (there will be no in-person shopping). Pre-orders will be accepted from Thursday, March 25 – Thursday, Thursday, April 1 on www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. Purchases can be picked up on
Saturday, April 3 at the Cass County Community Center between 12:00 – 2:00 PM.

Spring Celebration Market is being held the day before Easter, so customers can pick up treats for Easter Baskets and local foods for Easter meals. The market will offer baked goods including Miss Nini’s pies and macarons and The Kringleman’s Danish Kringle, in addition to local meats, produce, and more.

Vendors interested in participating in Spring Celebration Market should contact the market manager at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870 by March 19. Event details, including vendors, and information on pre-orders will be posted on Produce in the Park’s website www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com and on the Produce in the Park

Facebook page www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark. Produce in the Park 2021 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission and Cass County Tourism.

Sheriff’s officials in Ringgold County, Wednesday, said a man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon, following an investigation into a “shots fired” incident, in Diagonal. An Officer responded at around 4:45-p.m. to the 400 block of Washington Street, and visited with 34-year old Daniel Edward Snyder, of Diagonal.

Daniel Edward Snyder

Snyder claimed he had been lighting off fireworks, but after interviewing a witness, it was determined Snyder had fired a handgun on his property. Snyder denied the incident and was placed under arrest. A search warrant was requested to locate the weapon described.

In the process of searching for the weapon, drug paraphernalia and some drugs were found. The search was then stopped and another search warrant was requested to seize the drugs and paraphernalia. Snyder was transported to the Ringgold County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate. He faces charges that include:

• Interference with official act
• Possession of a Controlled Substance/Meth – 1st offense
• Unlawful possession of prescription drugs
• Theft in the 4th Degree
• Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense
• Poss. of drug paraphernalia, and
• Reckless use of a firearm.

The Harlan Police Department reports six arrests took place over the past week. On Monday, 33-year-old Tamara Leigh Dryer, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant, and for Violation of a No Contact Order. 37-year old Troy Dakota Weelborg, of Council Bluffs, was arrested that same day, for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop.

Last Friday, 36-year-old Aubree Jasmine Cline, of Council Bluffs, and 28-year old Nancy Nalleli Salinas, of Denison, were arrested on active Shelby County warrants.

On March 3rd, 41-year-old Lisa Marie Briggs, of Harlan, was arrested on an active warrant. She was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, 57-year-old George Otis Brittain, of Harlan, was arrested the same day, following a traffic stop. Brittain was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Suspended.

There were also two, property-damage-only accidents, in Harlan. Those incidents took place March 8th and 9th.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jurors have acquitted an Iowa journalist who was pepper-sprayed and arrested by police while covering a protest in a case that critics have derided as an attack on press freedom and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. A jury found Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri not guilty on misdemeanor charges of failure to disperse and interference with official acts.

It also acquitted her former boyfriend, Spenser Robnett, of the same charges, which carried the threat of fines and even jail time. The verdict came after a three-day trial in Des Moines.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — As Iowa ramps up vaccinations to include everyone between age 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions, the state has turned to the honor system with no validation required when someone claims to qualify for a shot due to a health issue. The state is allowing adults Iowans to get vaccinated if they have any one of several conditions including cancer, lung disease and heart disease that create a higher risk for severe illness if they get a coronavirus infection.

Obesity and smoking also qualify. Iowa health officials say the system is relying largely on Iowans being honest about their health when arranging for a vaccine. Gov. Kim Reynolds says the process is working well.