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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., 5/23/18

News

May 23rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The president of the Planned Parenthood chapter for Iowa and Nebraska will step down as the organization prepares to join a larger chapter based in Minnesota. The Des Moines Register reports the agency announced Tuesday that Suzanna de Baca will step down effective Sept. 30. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is joining Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to form a new regional affiliate: Planned Parenthood North Central States.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker is signaling he won’t push for a measure similar to a new Iowa law that would ban most abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation earlier this month that bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks of pregnancy.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The abrupt downfall of Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix soon became a cash windfall for the Republican Party of Iowa. The party accepted a $522,000 contribution from Dix’s campaign on March 26, two weeks after the Shell Rock farmer quit the Legislature. A party spokesman is defending the move, saying the cash “was raised to help elect and defend a Republican majority.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A spokesman for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ campaign says it plans to return a $250 contribution from a former ally she fired over sexual harassment allegations. A campaign finance disclosure shows that then-Iowa Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison and his wife made the donation to Reynolds on March 1. Asked about the donation Tuesday, campaign spokesman Pat Garrett said, “we plan to return it.” Reynolds fired Jamison on March 24.