DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled Iowa House has approved a version of Governor Terry Branstad’s plan to cut commercial property taxes, setting up a battle with the Democratic-majority Senate which favors an alternate proposal. In a 54-45 vote yesterday the House approved a plan to amend a Senate tax bill to include key items from Branstad’s proposal.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Social service agencies in southeast Iowa say they’re concerned about the future of a homeless shelter that appears to have suddenly closed. Local representatives for The Salvation Army and Community Action say the doors are locked tight at Burlington Area Homeless Shelter. A message left through the shelter’s voicemail system was not immediately returned yesterday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines couple lauded for their adoption of four children have been charged with child endangerment. Thirty-eight-year-old Damien Stovall and 37-year-old Allonna Stovall are accused of using a belt or wooden spoon to punish two of their children, ages 6 and 7. The couple’s seven children were removed from their custody. Court records say a trial is scheduled for June 12th.

MIDDLETON, Iowa (AP) — The Department of Natural Resources says a munitions plant in southeast Iowa has discharged about 100,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into a tributary of the Skunk River. The DNR said yesterday the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant began discharging the wastewater Monday afternoon when a pump at a treatment plan failed. Plant operators fixed the pump and stopped the discharge yesterday morning.