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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A retired farmer who applied to Gov. Kim Reynolds to have his gun rights restored has instead been arrested for illegally possessing firearms. Allan Phillips had been out of trouble for 40 years when he sent in his application to get his gun rights back, saying he wanted to move past a 1978 misdemeanor. But agents conducting a background check found that he owned multiple guns despite losing his firearm rights. The case illustrates how hard it is for ex-offenders to regain their gun rights.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is accusing insurance companies providing Medicaid services to two disabled Iowans in wheelchairs of violating their contracts with the state. Sand has notified the Iowa Department of Human Services that Amerigroup and UnitedHealthcare have each notified a Medicaid recipient that their services will be terminated.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been found guilty of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Federal prosecutors said in a news release that 38-year-old Jonas Ross III, of Davenport, was found guilty Wednesday in a federal court in Davenport. Investigators say the victim had traveled to Davenport from Ohio in November 2017, and checked into the Days Inn after contacting Ross to obtain heroin. He was found dead days later.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lobbyist who advised Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on agriculture and natural resources has been named the director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Reynolds appointed Kayla Lyon to the post which has been vacant for about a year after the previous director retired. Lyon, who has represented farmers and agribusiness in previous government affairs jobs, begins July 8. She is the first woman to be named DNR director.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand says two insurance companies that provide Medicaid services to two disabled Iowans in wheelchairs are violating their contracts with the state. Sand said Wednesday he’s notified the Iowa Department of Human Services that Amerigroup and UnitedHealthcare are not abiding by contract requirements that ensure services are not disrupted for clients.

Sand says he was notified that home services are ending for two unnamed people in rural Iowa receiving in-home care who fear they may be placed in nursing homes.

As state auditor, he says he has a right under the contracts to seek information from the insurers to see if they’re following the law and contract language. Sand says the companies have not complied. A spokesman for Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to comment, and the DHS spokesman says the agency is reviewing the issues Sand is raising.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 50-year-old registered sex offender in Minnesota faces federal charges after being accused of traveling to Iowa to have sex with minors. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say Terrance Nordwall has been charged with attempted sex trafficking of children, attempted enticement of minors and traveling for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. He was charged in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Prosecutors say Nordwall tried to solicit and entice two people he believed were under 18 to engage in prostitution and that he traveled across a state line in April to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Nordwall was convicted in Minnesota in 2004 of three counts of child sexual conduct and one count of having child pornography. If convicted of the latest charges, Nordwall faces up to life in prison.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lobbyist who advised Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on agriculture and natural resources has been named the director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Reynolds appointed Kayla Lyon on Wednesday to the post which has been vacant for about a year after the previous director retired.

Lyon, who has represented farmers and agribusiness in previous government affairs jobs, begins July 8. She is the first woman to be named DNR director.

The DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The agency also manages fish, wildlife, forest and prairie programs and oversees state parks.

It has the challenge of managing water quality in a heavily farmed state where control of cornfield fertilizer runoff and manure from hog farms has become an increasingly difficult problem.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been found guilty of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Federal prosecutors said in a news release that 38-year-old Jonas Ross III, of Davenport, was found guilty Wednesday in a federal court in Davenport.

Investigators say the victim had traveled to Davenport from Ohio in November 2017, and checked into the Days Inn after contacting Ross to obtain heroin. On Dec. 2, 2017, the victim’s body was discovered in his motel room. Officials say he overdosed and died from ingesting fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.

Ross is set to be sentenced Oct. 29.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that on Wednesday, June 26th, his deputies arrested 31-year old Austin James Haler, of Sidney, for the delivery of methamphetmine. Haler was arrested after an investigation was conducted in Sidney for narcotics delivery. Haler was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $10,000 bond.

Haler

On Tuesday, Fremont County deputies arrested 31-year old James Hume, of Sidney. Hume was arrested at his residence in Sidney for a valid Fremont county warrant for Animal Neglect, after his dogs were taken from his residence. Hume was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center where he bonded out.

Hume

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests over the past week. At around 12:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), 39-year old Daniel Lee Walling, of Glenwood, was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd degree and Theft in the 4th degree. His bond was set at $6,000.

On Monday, 18-year old Brendan Henry Bruce, of Council Bluffs, and 18-year old Brayden Zavier Dietz, of Glenwood, were arrested for Criminal Trespass, Minor in Possession, Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Their bonds were set at $1,900 each.

At around 12:20-a.m. Sunday, three people were arrested on in the vicinity of Ingrum Avenue and Highway 34 in Mills County: 62-year old Debra Lynn Pattman, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and two counts Unlawful possession of a prescription drug. Her bond was set at $4,000; 64-year old Robert Charles Carlson, of Omaha, was arrested on two counts of PCS and possession of paraphernalia. His bond was set at $7,000. And, 58-year old John Lee Carlson, of Omaha, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, depositing or throwing trash on a highway, speeding and fraudulent use of registration. His bond was set at $300.

Arrested separately on June 23rd, was 20-year old Chase Zachery Stewart, of Glenwood, for Violation of a Protection Order, and 29-year old Colton Fred White, of Neola, for OWI/2nd offense, and carrying a weapon while intoxicated. Stewart was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, where he was being held without bond. White was arrested in Pacific Junction and was being held on a $3,000 bond.

On June 22nd, 21-year old Alexander Duane Von Seggerm, of Blair, NE., was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st offense. And, 27-year old Bobbi Janette Flynn, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Failure to Appear.

And, finally, on June 21st there were two arrests: 53-year old Michael Scott Holtz, of Malvern, was arrested on I-29 for Driving While Barred, Possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to provide proof of insurance, operating a non-registered vehicle, and windshield/window requirement.; 42-year old Michael Leon Boren, Jr., of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse, Obstruction of emergency communication, and Harassment. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot himself after finding an unsecured gun in a car has been charged with a misdemeanor. Television station KCCI reportst Rachel Marie Rowe has been charged with making a firearm available to a minor. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says Rowe was ticketed for the simple misdemeanor.

In May, police were called to the southeast end of the city for a report of a shooting. Investigators say the boy had been left unattended in a car when he found the handgun and began playing with it. The gun fired, hitting the child in the shoulder.

Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley today (Wednesday) announced that USDA is investing $192 million in 71 projects located across 29 states to improve rural water infrastructure. Nine of those projects, totaling $15.3 million, are assisting residents living in rural Iowa communities. Three of the projects are in Kimballton, Lewis and Massena.

USDA is making the $192 million investment through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Rural communities, water districts and other eligible entities can use the funds for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

The city of Kimballton is receiving a $1,461,000 loan and $1,400,000 grant to make significant capital improvements to its municipal water system. Funds from the project will be used to replace water mains, install new piping to create a looped distribution system, construct a 50,000-gallon elevated storage tower, purchase a back-up generator and make various repairs and updates to the water treatment plant. These improvements will update the city’s aging infrastructure and improve water pressure throughout the community.

The city of Lewis is receiving a $1,041,000 loan and $1,000,000 grant to improve its wastewater collection system, including spot repairs in 14 locations, lining 5,000 feet of pipe, repairing manholes, constructing a third cell in the lagoon and adding ultra-violet disinfection to the treatment system. The repairs and new treatment will help the city meet new Iowa Department of Natural Resources testing limits.

The city of Massena is receiving a $925,000 loan and $927,000 grant to improve its wastewater treatment facility. The lagoons will be updated with a submerged attached growth reactor system, and ultraviolet disinfection will be installed. Without these repairs and updates, the treatment facility will fail to meet new compliance limitations for ammonia-nitrogen and E. coli.

The city of Dow City (Crawford County), is receiving a $557,000 loan to construct a new well. Both of the city’s current wells will be taken out of service because water from them contains high nitrate levels. The new well will ensure city residents have access to safe and reliable drinking water.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests. On June 19th, Deputies arrested 40-year old Erik Dean James, of Massena, on a felony Forgery charge. James was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5,000 bond.; and, 31-year old Jessica Lynn Pedrin, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Pedrin was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $7,500 bond.

Also on the 19th. deputies responded at around 2:30 a.m. to a report of a two-vehicle accident in Atlantic. A 2002 Dodge Neon owned by Sierra Lanae Parker and driven by a 16-year-old female, was eastbound on 14th Street when car struck the rear of a parked Chevy owned by Nicole Larae Kinney.  No injuries were reported. Damage to both vehicles is estimated at $2,000 each. Upon investigation, the juvenile driver of Parker’s vehicle was charged with OWI 1st Offense,and Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense. The driver was subsequently released to her parent.

On June 20th, as the result of a traffic stop, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 18-year old Erin Leigh Mack, of Atlantic, on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana (C Felony) and Drug Tax Stamp Violation (D Felony). Two 16-year-old males from Atlantic, who were also in the vehicle, were also charged and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. Mack was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance. Information on the custody status of the juveniles is not available at this time.

On June 23rd at around 1:30 a.m., deputies in Cass County responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on 745th Street. A 2012 Ford F150 owned and driven by 24-year old Tyler Thomas Stork, of Anita, was southbound on 745th Street when the vehicle entered the east ditch, rolling multiple times and landing on its top. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $12,000. Upon investigation, deputies arrested Stork on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

On June 24th, 29-year old Amanda Dawn Ruchti, of Wiota, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Violation of Probation and an additional charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Also charged with Violation of a No Contact Order was 24-year old Tray D. Anderson, of Exira. Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on their own recognizances.

Also arrested June 24th, was 49-year old  Vicente Gomez, of San Antonio, TX, who was taken into custody on a court warrant for Failure to Appear. Gomez was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day as a result of dismissal of charge.

On June 25th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 23-year old Amanda Kay Ellis,  of Lincoln, NE, on charges of OWI 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ellis was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $1,300 bond.