Red Oak Police report the arrest just after 1-a.m. today (Monday), of 28-year old Zachary Charles Burkes, of Red Oak, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault, a simple misdemeanor, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Burkes was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

At around 9-p.m., Sunday, Red Oak Police arrested 38-year old Tina Marie Shavers, of Red Oak, on charges of Aiding and Abetting a Theft in the 3rd Degree, an aggravated misdemeanor. Shavers was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And, at around 5:45-p.m., Sunday, 32-year old Robert Benjamin Harris, of Red Oak, was arrested by Red Oak Police, for Theft in the 3rd Degree, and Trespass. Harris was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

One of Governor Branstad’s former budget directors says she hopes Iowa lawmakers tackle pension reform soon. Gretchen Tegeler, who served as Branstad’s budget director in the 1990’s, says “I hope they are teeing up the look at what we have. Is it the best thing going forward for new employees? We need to do some things different.”Tegeler is now president of the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa.

Branstad has indicated he wants Tegeler to be part of a review of public worker pensions. “Pension reform means lots of different things,” Tegeler says. “It’s very important to understand that our approach is about retirement security. The people that are in these plans now, if we don’t do something different for future employees and we continue to compound the risk that is in these plans, then everybody in these plans now is at much greater risk.”

While some public worker pension systems in other states are teetering toward insolvency, Iowa’s system was recently ranked as the 10th best positioned pension system in the country. There are four main systems for public worker pensions in Iowa, but by far the largest is the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System, commonly called IPERS. It covers more than 325-thousand current, former and retired employees of the state, counties, cities and school districts.

Critics say new workers should no long be promised a defined pension, but instead should invest money in accounts similar to the 401-K programs in the private sector. The Republican leader in the Iowa Senate expressed support for that move three years ago. Tegeler made her comments during an appearance on Iowa Public Televisions’s “Iowa Press” program.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After decades as the crossroads of prairie populists and checkbook conservatives, Iowa has suddenly become solidly Republican like many of its Midwestern neighbors. It was one of four states _ along with Kentucky, Missouri and North Carolina _ that flipped to complete GOP control since the November election, but Iowa’s rush of new legislation has been the most intense. In an all-night session last week, the Legislature voted strip long-held collective bargaining rights.

ATLANTA (AP) — A bustling city street filled with cars, buses, bicyclists and college students in the heart of Atlanta is being eyed as a real-world proving ground for self-driving vehicles. It’s one of several communities nationwide vying to be test sites for the emerging technology. Atlanta would become one of the largest urban areas for testing self-driving vehicles if its plans for a vehicle demonstration this summer can be accomplished.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As House Republicans push for a bill that would prevent local governments from determining minimum hourly wages, workers in some Iowa counties are expressing bewilderment over the potential loss of raises that have improved their lives. The Iowa House is ready to debate the bill, which would prohibit Iowa’s counties and cities from increasing their local minimum hourly wages above the state standard of $7.25 and cancel higher wages already approved in Polk, Linn, Johnson and Wapello counties.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new lawsuit seeks to stop the city of Des Moines from garnishing the state income tax refunds of people it says owe traffic camera violation fines. The Des Moines Register report that the city has seized refunds for such fines for three years. The lawsuit asks that Des Moines be ordered to immediately stop the practice and for the court to declare it illegal.

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident Sunday night just west of 5th and Poplar Streets, in Atlantic. According to Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue, the teenage female driver of a 2015 Chevy Sonic was westbound on 5th Street at around 8:40-p.m., when she swerved to miss a cat on the road. She overcorrected, causing the vehicle to jump the curb and strike a tree, before the car flipped onto its top.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new lawsuit seeks to stop the city of Des Moines from garnishing the state income tax refunds to pay traffic camera violation fines. The Des Moines Register reports the city has seized refunds for such fines for three years. Attorney Jim Larew, of Iowa City, said in the lawsuit filed last week that officials are misusing the program.

Jason Fett, of Guthrie Center, is one of the plaintiffs. He says Des Moines sent him a notice in December threatening to seize part of his return if his fine wasn’t paid by Jan. 13. But Fett says he successfully challenged the citation in Polk County District Court in May 2015. The lawsuit asks for the practice to be stopped immediately and for the court to declare it illegal.

Police in Red Oak say three people were arrested on separate charges Sunday morning. Just after 9-a.m., 37-year old Becky Jo Hegarty, of Red Oak, was arrested for simple Assault, following a family dispute in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street. Hegarty was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

At around 6:25-a.m., 23-year old Ashley Nicole Woodman, of Red Oak, was arrested for Public Intoxication, after Red Oak Police were called to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, where a female was reportedly causes issues. Woodman was found in the hospital’s parking lot and taken into custody. Her bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $300.

And, at around 5:30-a.m. Sunday, 41-year old Jason Neal Beacham, of Red Oak, was arrested for Domestic Assault. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A conference next month will focus on the best ways to raise awareness about the dangers of radon gas. The Environmental Protection Agency is working with health officials in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa to put on the conference in Manhattan, Kansas, on March 7.

The odorless colorless radon gas is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, and is the most common cause in nonsmokers. The meeting will highlight ways to help the public reduce radon exposure. Organizers say anyone interested in attending the free meeting should register before Tuesday online at http://svy.mk/2kOzd96 .

(Updated) — COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa jail inmate infected with HIV has been charged with felony assault after officials say he threw a carton of his urine on a detention officer in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 52-year-old Charles Perkins, of Youngstown, Ohio, is charged with assault by inmate with bodily fluids or secretion. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Police say the incident occurred Feb. 8 at the Pottawattamie County Jail. Investigators say Perkins told them he intended to throw the urine on another inmate, but his aim was off and hit the jail officer.

The officer is being evaluated for HIV exposure. Perkins’ public defender declined to comment to the Daily Nonpareil about the case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Who knew unemployment insurance could be so risque? At least 78 Iowa businesses received letters this week from Iowa Workforce Development that mistakenly directed their questions about unemployment insurance payments to a phone sex hotline.

The Des Moines Register reports that the agency’s Feb. 13 letter went to people who had return-payment notices. It informs them to call the Unemployment Insurance Tax Bureau, then gives a telephone number. But instead of answers, callers to the number get a seductive female voice giving out less than work-friendly sentiments.

Iowa Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance Administrator Ryan West says the erroneous number was a typo and that correct letters were mailed late Friday. West said no employee is expected to be disciplined.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — For decades, Iowa represented the crossroads of prairie populists and checkbook conservatives. Now it has become solidly Republican like many of its Midwestern neighbors. Iowa’s rush of new legislation has been the most intense of the four states that flipped to complete GOP control in the November election.

In an all-night session last week, Iowa lawmakers approved a bill similar to one enacted in Wisconsin six years ago that strips most public sector unions of long-held collective bargaining rights, including health insurance.

Among other items, Republicans also are pressing to eliminate state money for all Planned Parenthood services and outlaw the use of fetal tissue for medical research. There’s also talk of a tax cut, despite a $110 million shortfall in the current budget year.