DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — Iowa House lawmakers passed a “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” after the state senate passed the measure more than a week ago. Republicans said the bill will protect Iowans’ constitutional right to practice their respected religions, while Democrats said this will allow discrimination against people such as LGBTQ people.

The legislation would propose a higher legal standard in situations where an individual claims that government action has restricted their exercise of religion. If a person believes a government entity’s actions “substantially burden” their religious practices, they could take the issue to court. People could seek damages or other means to address the violation.

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ released a statement in support of the legislation’s passing:

“The right of religious freedom is endowed upon us by our creator – not government,” the statement reads. “Our founders recognized this principle, and today the Iowa House took a step forward to protect it. Twenty-three states around the country, with both Republican and Democrat governors, have passed similar laws. Now, it’s Iowa’s turn.”

Meanwhile, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa also released a statement on what they called the “discriminatory” bill.

“It is a sad, and for many frightening, day in Iowa with the passage of the religious exemptions legislation inserting discrimination into Iowa law,” the statement reads in part. “The bill passed by Republicans in the Iowa Legislature will harm the LGBTQ and other marginalized communities in our state.”

The bill heads to Gov. Reynolds’ desk.

KEOKUK, Iowa (KCRG) – A Keokuk man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography.

Court records show 45-year-old Christopher Douglas Black was found with a minor who was reported missing from the Keokuk area. Following Black’s arrest, investigators found child sexual assault materials on Black’s cell phone.

Black was sentenced to 720 months in federal prison on Tuesday.

Following his term of imprisonment, Black will be required to serve ten years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

WAPELLO COUNTY, Iowa [WHO-TV] — A body pulled from the Des Moines River on Tuesday has been identified.

On Monday the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office received a report about a submerged truck in the middle of the Des Moines River near Rock Bluff Park.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Ottumwa Fire Department, and Deran’s Towing and Recovery pulled the truck from the river on Tuesday, where they found the body of an adult man. The deceased individual has been identified as 53-year-old Lee Alan Lukehart, of Ottumwa.

The sheriff’s office continues to investigate what led to Lukehart’s death.

STORY COUNTY, Iowa — [KCCI] – A Story County high school student has been charged with a felony after school leaders found a loaded firearm in his vehicle on school grounds. The Story County Sheriff’s Office said it took 17-year-old Mason McKinney of Zearing into custody, on Wednesday.

McKinney is a student at Colo-NESCO Senior High School. School leaders were tipped off by a social media post from an account belonging to McKinney about him bringing a gun to school. McKinney is charged with carrying weapons on school grounds, a Class D felony.

According to the criminal complaint, before turning his phone over to law enforcement, Zearing sent a text to his mother saying, “Pls just say you had the gun in the car. I found it.”

(Little Sioux, Iowa) – Officials with the Missouri Valley Fire Department report that at approximately 3-p.m., Thursday, crews were dispatched to provide mutual aid to the Little Sioux Fire Department, to fight a multi-structure fire. One engine and one tanker were sent northbound to the location. Authorities say crews remained on scene until around 8-p.m., Thursday. They added, “Unfortunately, all structures at the site were a total loss due to reports of an unattended campfire that sparked the blaze.”

Harrison County S/O photo

The incident is currently being handled by both the Little Sioux Fire Department and Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

Missouri Valley FD Facebook photos

At least nine departments, along with the Monona County EMA, DNR, fire and law enforcement personnel participated in handling the incident.

(Atlantic, Iowa) [updated] – The City Council in Atlantic, Thursday afternoon, passed a Resolution setting April 3rd, 2024 at 5-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on a proposed Maximum Property Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2025. The hearing will be held in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

City Administrator John Lund says the proposed maximum levy are as follows:

The Council also passed a Resolution “Approving the proposed maximum property tax levy for FY 2025.” In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved the “Homes for Iowa” Program and Housing Development Fund Budgets for the FY 2024 Revised Estimate and FY 2025 Budget. Mayor Grace Garrett said John McCurdy with SWIPCO provided her with information about Homes for Iowa, Inc., a public-private partnership with Iowa Prison Industries. The homes are built near the Newton Correctional Release Facility, south of Newton, IA.

Councilman Sean Sarsfield is familiar with the construction.

Iowa Prison Industries (IPI) builds the homes, trains the minimum-security offender crew, and sells the homes to HFI to pay for the training. HFI sells the homes to the public, manages all sales orders, coordinates moving logistics with IPI, and decides program policy. IPI contracts with a company to move the houses onto a slab or property with a basement in-place.

The City of Atlantic is on a list to acquire one of the the homes for $85,000-to $95,000. Councilperson Elaine Otte says they have a list of available lots the City owns.

Mayor Garrett said John McCurdy requested eight homes for the Counties they serve..

Previously, a private individual had to buy the home, but that was recently changed to allow a city to purchase one or more of the homes. It was noted that if the home doesn’t sell within 90-days, the City has the option to rent it out.