DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former high-ranking Iowa judge who was laid off in 2013 after he opposed efforts to make his job a political appointment. Judge Michael Huppert’s ruling last month didn’t address the merits of claims made by Joe Walsh, former chief Administrative Law Judge in Iowa Workforce Development.

Instead, Huppert ruled that Walsh failed to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit, saying he should’ve pursued his complaint through the Public Employment Relations Board. Walsh is expected to appeal.

Then-Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert changed Walsh’s job into an at-will political appointment in 2013. After Walsh complained that the change violated federal law, Wahlert reversed the decision but then eliminated Walsh’s job, citing budgetary reasons. Walsh contends that was a pretext and he was fired for opposing Wahlert’s efforts to pressure judges to favor employers in unemployment benefits disputes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An analysis by The Des Moines Register shows more than two-thirds of Iowa legislators are paying hundreds of dollars less a month than appropriate for their health insurance, a potential violation of state law. Data analyzed by the newspaper shows that more than 90 of nearly 150 Iowa legislators pay as little as $20 a month in health insurance premiums, rather than the $142 to $334 a month those plans call for. Another nearly 40 lawmakers pay up to $344 a month for coverage plans, rather than as much as $446 their plans call for.

The newspaper found the total underpayments are costing taxpayers more than $29,000 a month, about $350,000 a year. The state Department of Administrative Services provided the data, but declined the newspaper’s request for comment. The Attorney General’s Office also declined to comment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate is preparing to vote on a bill that would pass up millions in federal dollars in order to stop contributing a small amount of state funding toward Planned Parenthood. The Senate debate today (Thursday) could stretch for hours. Republicans who hold a majority will likely approve the bill, sending it to the GOP-led House. Gov. Terry Branstad, also a Republican, supports the measure.

The bill proposes Iowa give up nearly $3 million in Medicaid money to create a state-run family planning program that excludes funding for organizations that perform abortions. No family planning money now funds abortions.

Iowa contributes about $480,000 under the federal setup, so the bill shifts all expenses to the state. To offset that, Branstad proposes using separate federal funding that currently helps at-risk youth.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Senate Republicans are considering an education funding bill that Democrats and some educators say is inadequate and will hurt schools. The GOP-controlled chamber is expected to vote on the legislation today (Thursday). It has support in the Republican-led House, where a vote is scheduled Monday.

The bill would add about $40 million to the roughly $3 billion K-12 education budget that goes into effect in July. It would add $73 to what’s spent on each Iowa student, which is currently just below $6,600. Republicans say the amount is all the state can responsibly afford amid budget constraints. Gov. Terry Branstad has recommended more education spending.

Democrats say Republicans are not prioritizing students. Some educators say the proposal doesn’t account for increased operating costs at school districts, and would result in cuts.

A traffic stop Wednesday afternoon in Pottawattamie County resulted in two men from Wisconsin being cited for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says 30-year old Antonio M. Spears and 25-year old Stefhano S. Towers-Young, both of Milwaukee, WI., were cited and released following the traffic stop for speeding on Interstate 80 westbound near mile-marker 10, a little after Noon, Wednesday. The deputy who spoke with the men as they were in a 2014 Chevy Impala, detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search of the car was conducted, which resulted in the recovery of a gram of pot.

And, a man from Council Bluffs was arrested Wednesday evening on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order. A Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a pickup occupied by 35-year old Anthony Joseph Quandt and a 23-year old woman from Council Bluffs. Quandt produced evidence the warrant had been quashed by the court, but Pott. County Dispatch verified a separate warrant for Violating a No Contact Order was valid. Because Quandt was unable to produce any evidence the other warrant was not valid, he was taken into custody and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

A man from Des Moines was also arrested Wednesday in Pottawattamie County. The Sheriff’s Office says 36-year old James George Murdock was arrested for Violation of a Protective Order, after a Deputy called to the 42 mile marker of Interstate 80 to assist a motorist checked the vehicle’s registration and learned Murdock was with a 37-year old woman who had a protective order against him.

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) said Wednesday, CCHS began a new affiliation with Diagnostic Radiology, PC., on Feb. 1st.  Carrie Schmitt, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, said “When patients have diagnostic imaging tests done here, like x-rays or CT scans, those tests are reviewed by radiologists. As of February 1st, we are changing the radiology firm that we work with so that we can offer more services to our patients without having to travel to another city.”

Diagnostic Radiology, PC is a group of radiologists serving the Omaha metro, western Iowa, Siouxland, and northwest Missouri. With more than 8 physicians and several advanced practice providers, Diagnostic Radiology, PC is well equipped to provide remote and weekly on-site services in Atlantic.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston report the arrest Wednesday afternoon, of 39-year old John Burgoyne, of Creston. Burgoyne was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

And, CHS, Inc., in Creston, reported Wednesday morning, that someone had thrown a rock through the window of the weigh station located in the vicinity of Division/Union Streets. The incident happened sometime between 8-a.m. Jan. 25th and 8:30-a.m. Feb. 1st. Damage was estimated at $250.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Voters in Montgomery County will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in a Special Red Oak School District Election. On the ballot, is Public Measure “A,” a renewal of the 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and a PPEL income surtax. If approved, the 10-year Levy would authorize a tax of not more than $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation within the Red Oak School District, beginning June 30^th 2021, and a tax on personal income starting December 31^st for each calendar year, and commencing with the 2020 calendar year.

Friday (tomorrow), Feb. 3^rd, at 5-p.m., is the last date/time to request an Absentee ballot from the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office. Voters may vote absentee in-person on Election Day (Tuesday, Feb. 7^th), at the Auditor’s Office, from 8-a.m. until 11-a.m. The polls will open at Noon, Tuesday, and close at 8-p.m.

The polling site is the Montgomery County Gold Fair Building for those Red Oak residents residing in City of Red Oak Wards 1,2 and 3; Coburg City; Garfield, West, Red Oak, Grant, Frankfort, Lincoln, Sherman, and Pilot Grove Townships in Montgomery County, Fremont Township in Page County, and Grove Township in Pottawattamie County.

If you have any questions about the Red Oak School District Special Election, call the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127, 8-a.m. until 4:30-p.m., Monday through Friday’s.