CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City woman accused of stealing prescription drugs and violating patient confidentiality laws has pleaded guilty. Mason City station KIMT reports that Samantha Rogers also pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to making false statements related to health care matters. Prosecutors dropped other charges in return for her pleas. A criminal complaint says Rogers is a registered nurse and occupational therapist and that the incidents occurred in Cerro Gordo County.

Authorities say Rogers stole medications from co-workers. Authorities also say Rogers accessed medical records to find patient addresses and then would show up at their homes, posing as a public health worker who was recovering unused medications.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Creston Police say three people were arrested, Monday. At around 8:50-p.m., Mathew Lucas Auten, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He posted a $300 cash bond, and was released. And, at around 7:10-a.m. Monday, Boone Daniel Hayes, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault by strangulation, and Violation of a No Contact Order. His cash/surety bond was set at $2,000. At the same time, Leah Rose Hayes, of Creston, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. She was being held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa House has passed a bill that would prohibit a judge from overriding a parent’s wishes and ordering the withdrawal of life support from a child under the age of 18. Courts could only intervene if there’s conclusive medical evidence the child’s brain, heart and lungs are only functioning because of mechanical support. Representative Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says parents, not the courts, should make these decisions. “Children are not supposed to die…but that end-of-life care for children is something that parents must handle,” Hinson says. “This bill…clarifies that the court shall not override a parent’s or guardian’s interest when it comes to removing life support for their child unless it is proven that child is essentially dead.”

The bill had the support of 51 Republicans and seven Democrats in the House. Representative Mark Smith, a Democrat from Marshalltown, voted no. He says the legislation sets up a scenario where a court couldn’t intervene if a child’s parents disagree. “This is a terrible piece of legislation. It is too bad that we are debating it tonight when we are close on the philosophical issues and could have drafted a bill that would have had…the vast majority of representatives supporting it,” Smith said.

The legislation was drafted in response to a high-profile case in Britain. Last April a British court ordered 23-month-old Alfie Evans — who had a degenerative brain condition — taken off life support over the objections of his parents.

District 21 Representative Tom Moore reports the Iowa House, Monday afternoon, passed a Resolution recognizing the importance of free and fair trade. Moore says HCR 10 is critical to Iowa’s farmers and our economy. According to Moore, “It also encourages Iowa’s federal delegation to work towards and support a trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.” He said he was “Proud to support this resolution and hope Congress acts quickly to provide Iowa farmers with certainty and a fair trade deal.”

Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings said Monday, 30-year old Jay Pedrin, of Audubon, pled guilty Monday (March 11th), to charges that include Felony Burglary in the 2nd degree, and Felony Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury. He had been arrested in September in connection with the assault of a Perry man during an incident that took place Audubon, and again in December for a Burglary in Audubon County.

Jay Pedrin

Pedrin was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible for the two offenses. In her statement, Jennings said “Law Enforcement and I are very pleased with this result. Both Mr. Pedrin’s offenses were victim crimes- crimes that have serious and lasting impacts on real people. One was a heinously violent and unprovoked attack that left the victim with permanent physical effects, including partial vision loss. The other was a greed-driven crime has made an upstanding member of our community feel unsafe in his own home, a place that was once his safe haven.”

Pedrin had faced a 10-year sentence on the Burglary 2nd charge and a five-year sentence on the Willful Injury Class D charge. He and his attorney argued for the prison sentences to be suspended and for him to be placed on probation. Jennings argued not only for the prison sentences to be imposed, but that they also are run consecutively to each other for a total sentence of 15 years. The court went along with the County Attorney’s recommendation, sentencing Pedrin to Oakdale Prison on consecutive sentences for a total indeterminate term not to exceed 15 years. The court also ordered Pedrin to pay restitution to the victim as substantiated by the State.

Mittimus was issued immediately after sentencing, but Pedrin was taking into custody and transported to Carroll County first, to address pending matters there. He also has matters pending in Cass County as of this date. His appeal bonds were set at $20,000 on Burglary 2nd charge and $10,000 on the Willful Injury charge.

Red Oak Police responding to a possible domestic violence incident early this (Tuesday) morning, arrested a man and woman on separate charges. Officers were called to the 1000 block of E. Reed Street at around 3:18-a.m.  Upon further investigation, 25-year old Jayme Marie Parker, of Red Oak, was arrested for Domestic Assault/1st offense, and, 25-year old Joshua Michael Parker, of Red Oak,  was arrested for Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Both were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Jayme Parker was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate, and Joshua Parker was being held on a $1,000 bond.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Monday night, posted a report on arrests from over the past week. On Saturday, 27-year old Shane Sim Blackford, of Chariton, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Blackford was released later that same day, on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Friday night, 23-year old Jason Joseph Joliet, of Adair, was arrested by Adair Police for OWI/1st offense. He was cited and released on bond later that same night. At around 1:10-a.m. Thursday, 20-year old Rayvon Dawn McFarland, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense in connection with an incident involving her live-in partner. She was released later that day after pleading guilty to the offense.

On March 6th, 42-year old Joseph Eric Funke, of Fontanelle, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Funke was subsequently Released on his Own Recognizance (ROR). On March 5th, 48-year old Donald James Noggle, of Stuart, was arrested by Stuart Police, following a domestic incident at his home. Noggle was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree and also was released on his Own Recognizance.

On March 4th, 25-year old Angelic Lashay Lockheart, of Des Moines, was arrested at a restaurant in Adair, for Public Intoxication, after her PBT (breath test) showed a .156% level of intoxication. Lockheart was released later that same day, on her own recognizance. And, on March 3rd, 36-year old Jason Eugene Sheeder, of Guthrie Center, was arrested at the Guthrie County Jail on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear for Contempt of Support Payments. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for time served.

(NEWTON) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports two correctional officers were assaulted by an inmate at the Newton Correctional Facility at approximately 6-p.m., Monday. The assault occurred when an inmate was given a directive by staff, but became hostile towards them.

The inmate was instructed to allow for restraints to be applied, but when the officers attempted to apply the restraints, the inmate became physically combative. An officer suffered a closed fist strike to the head and was also bitten by the combative inmate, while another officer suffered minor injuries while trying to restrain the inmate.

The officers were able to use defensive tactics and restraint techniques to eventually gain control over the aggressive inmate. The inmate involved in the incident did not seem to suffer any notable injuries. The officers involved were seen by institution medical professionals and treated for their injuries.

The incident remains under investigation.

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

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A special state Senate election in Iowa is gaining a national spotlight as presidential hopefuls try to help a fellow Democrat win. Cedar Falls resident Eric Giddens won the party’s nomination for the seat to be decided next week. For the Democratic field, campaigning alongside Giddens is an opportunity to prove their commitment to building up the state party, a quality local elected officials and party operatives are looking for as they evaluate whom to support for the White House.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke is making his first trip to Iowa of the 2020 campaign, visiting the state that kicks off presidential voting amid intense speculation he’ll enter the race for the White House. A spokesman says O’Rourke will visit the University of Northern Iowa on Saturday to campaign for Eric Giddens, the Democratic candidate running in a state Senate special election there. O’Rourke had previously failed to answer invitations to visit Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A board has agreed to pay a former prison guard $2.3 million as settlement for discrimination and retaliation she says she suffered after filing a sexual harassment case against the state. The state paid Kristine Sink $1.65 million last month to settle the sexual harassment case, and the Iowa attorney general recommended settling the second retaliation case. The State Appeal Board Monday approved the settlement but only after State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald complained about such settlements.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A proposed underground transmission line would carry electricity generated mostly by wind turbines in Iowa to the Chicago area. The company behind the $2.5 billion project, Direct Connect Development Co., said Monday that it has lined up three major investors to back the project. It could be operational in 2024 if regulators approve. Direct Connect plans to bury the transmission line in land that runs along existing Canadian Pacific railroad tracks, aiming for minimal disruption for landowners.