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Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, July 3rd 2015

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July 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a popular park near downtown Des Moines that was closed due to flooding will reopen soon. City officials for Des Moines say Gray’s Lake Park will reopen Friday morning at 5 a.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has vetoed $55.7 million in one-time education funding as well as a bipartisan deal to keep two state mental health institutes open. Branstad announced the vetoes late yesterday afternoon, as he approved a slew of budget bills. The fate of the two mental health institutes — in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda — was hotly debated. After Branstad sought to end funding for the facilities, lawmakers reached a deal to keep the Mount Pleasant center open and to seek a private provider to run the other.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — State and local leaders in Dubuque celebrated the start of construction on the largest phase of an estimated $200 million flood mitigation project aimed at avoiding future property damage and adding green space to a key part of the city. The Telegraph Herald reports the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday marked work that has been underway for several weeks.

WALL LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa woman is scheduled to be sentenced August 5th after pleading guilty to selling marijuana from the home she shares with her four children. The Sioux City Journal reports that 37-year-old Laura Lawler was convicted Wednesday in Sac County District Court.