MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A March trial has been scheduled for Mason City woman accused of filing false health insurance claims for her family. Cerro Gordo County court records say 34-year-old Amber Griffin entered written pleas of not guilty last week to four counts of insurance fraud-presenting false information and one of theft. Her trial is set to begin March 12.

Criminal complaints say Griffin submitted two fraudulent claims in October 2016 and one each in November and December that year. Each said a family member had been treated at a local medical facility. The complaints also said she submitted false medical records with the claims.

(Radio Iowa) — Licenses are now on sale for the paddlefish season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. The D-N-R fisheries expert for the area, Chris Larson says there are a couple of options for getting a license. You can purchase one tag now through December 31st. There are 950 resident or 50 non-resident licenses and if there are any left over you can purchase a second tag from January 1st through January 7th. A resident license sells for 25 dollars and 50 cents and a nonresident license is 49 dollars. You must also have a valid Iowa fishing license. Larson says there usually are enough licenses for everyone who wants one. “The first year we sold almost 800 of the thousand that are available — but the last couple of years we’ve sold right around 400. You should be able to get one — obviously there’s no guarantee — but we have not sold out since we started the season in 2015,” according to Larson.

Paddlefish are caught by snagging them as they swim on the bottom of the river. He says they’ve made some changes to try and get more people interested. One change involves the rules that required you to throw back any rough fish you snagged while trying to get a paddlefish. “Anglers were upset about that and they also wanted a longer season,” Larson says. “So, we open the season earlier, its going to open February second through the 30th of April, which is an earlier start than when we started the season five years ago. You can also snag rough fish and keep those as well. So if you want some common carp or Asian carp for table fare,” he explains.  It’s the second year for the adjustments that are aimed at bringing back those who tried paddlefishing and didn’t stay with it. He says hopefully the people who were upset about not keeping the rough fish will come back out.

Larson says you have to be specific in where you are looking for the paddlefish. He says the fish in the winter will be found in the slow-moving deep water and the only place you can find that is the holes behind the wing dikes where the fish overwinter. You a limited to catching one fish when you purchase a paddlefish tag. “You have to put the tag on the jaw — and as soon as you are out of tags you have to stop snagging. If you only have one tag and you snag a paddlefish and you are going to harvest it, you are done. You can also continue to snag the paddlefish and release them as well,” Larson says.

You can find out more about the paddlefish season by going to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website at: www.iowadnr.gov.

(Radio Iowa) — Forest City-based Winnebago Industries has withdrawn its common stock listing from the Chicago Stock Exchange. A company announcement said the move would save administrative costs. Over the past year, just one-tenth of a percent of Winnebago’s trading volume has been done in the Chicago Stock Exchange. Winnebago will continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It is traded under the symbol W-G-O (WGO).

A share of Winnebago stock was selling for 19-dollars-and-96-cents ($19.96) when the New York Stock Exchange closed yesterday. Winnebago’s announcement indicated the company’s listing on the Chicago exchange will end by December 31st.

(Radio Iowa) — A sociology professor at Iowa State University is raising concerns about a criminal justice reform bill approved in the U.S. Senate Tuesday. Matt DeLisi says while it’s “probably a good thing” to try and reduce the prison population, lawmakers should understand many people who are released are likely to re-offend. “It’s important to look at their entire criminal career to understand what kind of offender they are,” DeLisi said.

In a recently published study, DeLisi and other researchers examined data for young offenders in California. “What we found was that (their) prior offending history very strongly predicted what (they’re) in confinement for now,” DeLisi said. “So, I just urge lawmakers to consider offenders’ entire criminal history before making decisions.”

According to DeLisi, the behavioral histories of many offenders do not support their release from prison. For example, he notes the prevalence of psychopathy in the general U.S. population is only around one percent. It’s much different in prisons. “If you look at prison populations, the common estimate is that one in four inmates is clinically psychopathic. If you look at prisoners for the most severe and violent forms of crimes, the prevalence of psychopathy is even higher,” DeLisi said.

Just five years ago, DeLisi testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that cutting prison sentences would put more offenders back on the streets and increase the crime rate. He’s now calling on Congress to give consideration to criminal history while weighing changes to sentencing guidelines. Supporters of the “First Step Act,” approved by a vote of 87-12 in the Senate, says it’s designed to reduce sentences for some low-level, nonviolent offenders.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge has cited the courthouse arrest of a drunken prosecutor in dismissing charges against a man accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy. Judge Marti Mertz issued the ruling Monday, saying the Clarke County prosecutor’s unavailability at a recent hearing “was the finale” following unexplained inactivity and lack of responsiveness. The man was arrested more than a year ago. The prosecutor was arrested for being drunk just before the man was set to enter a new plea in October.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Corrections Department says a man serving a life sentence has died. The department said in a news release Tuesday that 61-year-old Charles Lasage was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. Court records say Lasage’s imprisonment began Jan. 25, 1993, after his first-degree murder conviction for killing 11-year-old Rosalyn Barnes in Polk County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines City Council found a new approach to contain the city’s beloved community cats and address health concerns. The “trap, neuter, return” ordinance _ in effect on March 1, 2019 _ aims to help manage cat populations more humanely.

GREENE, Iowa (AP) — Two rural northeast Iowa school districts intend to offer firearms safety courses for middle school students this spring. Joel Foster is superintendent for both the Clarksville and North Butler school districts, and he says he hopes the courses will prepare students in both districts to react in the event of an active shooter situation. Students will use inoperable guns with replica ammunition. Parents can opt to have their children sit out the courses.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge cited the courthouse arrest of a drunken prosecutor in dismissing charges against a man accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy. Judge Marti Mertz issued the ruling Monday and chastised Clarke County Attorney Michelle Rivera. The prosecutor’s unavailability at a recent hearing in the case “was the finale following unexplained periods of inactivity and lack of responsiveness” since the man’s arrest more than a year ago, the judge said.

A sheriff’s deputy arrested Rivera for being drunk in an Osceola courtroom on Oct. 18, just moments before the man was scheduled to enter a new plea and be sentenced in the case. The man later sought a dismissal because he hadn’t been tried within a year of his arraignment. He was initially charged with sex assault and telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor. Investigators say he admitted engaging in sex act with a minor in August 2017.

The state can’t refile the same charges against the man, said Mark Pennington, a former Polk County prosecutor not involved in the case “Everybody should be upset about it,” Pennington said. “That’s why you have to hold elected officials, including county attorneys, to a high standard.” Drake University law professor Robert Rigg, a criminal law expert, said there are options if the state wants to pursue charges.

Clarke County prosecutors could attempt to file different charges, such as lascivious acts against a child. Or they could allow federal prosecutors to file their separate charges to get around the double-jeopardy protections the man now has at the state level. A spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office said no one at the county level has sought their help in the case.

Rivera pleaded guilty in the courthouse intoxication incident and was fined $65. Rivera lost her re-election bid in November. She was arrested again last week in Osceola on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and child endangerment. According to court documents, an officer said Rivera was intoxicated when she dropped her daughter off at a day care. A hearing on the new charges is set for Thursday.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were injured Dec. 13th during a collision on Highway 2, just east of O Avenue. Authorities say 82-year old David Eugene Anderson, of Clarinda, was driving a 1989 Chevy Caprice eastbound on the Highway, when he fell asleep at the wheel and crossed into the westbound lane a little after 3-p.m.

Anderson’s car hit a 2006 Ford van driven by 34-year old Tanja Marie Bolton, of Council Bluffs, as she was traveling westbound on Highway 2. Bolton and Anderson were transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by Clarinda Ambulance Service, for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Anderson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $5,000.

Also happening on Dec. 13th, was the arrest at around 3:40-p.m., of 28-year old Drew David McKinley, of Omaha. He was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in the 1800 block of Highway 71, for a minor traffic infraction. During the traffic stop K-9 Lucas was deployed and alerted on an illegal substance in the vehicle. McKinley was transported to the Page County Jail where he posted a $300 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

And, on Dec. 14th at around 2:15-p.m., deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office were notified by a Jailer of an inmate possibly having contraband in the Jail. Jail staff and Sheriff’s Office staff conducted a search of the jail. During the search, 45-year old Jess Scott Larson, of Clarinda, was further charged with Possession of a controlled Substance, possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of contraband in a correctional facility. Larson was removed from the cell block and placed into another block.

He was originally held in the Page County Jail on Clarinda Police Department charges for Theft in the 5th degree, Possession of a controlled substance, and one-counts of Contraband in a correctional Facility stemming from a December 8, 2018 arrest.

The Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, issued a report on recent arrests. Most recently, on Monday, 63-year old Gary Lyn McCoy, of Harlan, was arrested for making false reports to police, interference with official acts and disorderly conduct.

Last Saturday, 66-year old Larry Steven Muerer, of Harlan, was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct.  And, 23-year old Dakota Jay Grote, of Harlan, was cited for disorderly conduct stemming from the same disturbance incident.

Last Thursday, 38-year old Suzanne Kay Labastida, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an active warrant following a traffic stop in Harlan.  Labastida was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

On Dec. 12th, 37-year old Galen Mckinzie Hutt, of Harlan, was taken into custody following an investigation.  Hutt was escorted to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with sexual abuse 2nd degree.

And, on Dec. 11th, 46-year old Larry Monroe Lange, of Harlan, was arrested for trespassing and public intoxication.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa volunteers are needed for a medical study that’s testing whether using nicotine patches can improve memory in people who have mild memory loss. Doctor Paul Newhouse is the lead investigator for what’s being called the MIND Study, that’s MIND for Memory Improvement through Nicotine Dosing.

Contrary to popular beliefs, he says memory loss is -not- a normal part of aging and can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. Up to 20 volunteers from Iowa are needed to take part in the study which would be conducted at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

While there is no payment for volunteering, there would be free treatment for up to two years and those who need it could be compensated for travel. Because nicotine is in tobacco products, most people think it’s addictive and harmful, but Newhouse says that’s not the case when it’s used in a transdermal patch.

Nicotine is a natural plant product, he says, and it’s safe when used as directed. Nicotine has medicinal benefits, according to Newhouse, and while it’s usually associated with tobacco, it’s also in tomatoes, eggplant and cauliflower. Newhouse is director of the Center for Cognitive Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The study is underway at 32 sites nationwide though this will be its first trial in Iowa. For more information, call 866-MIND-150 or visit: MINDStudy.org.

(Radio Iowa) — A partial federal government shutdown will happen Friday if lawmakers fail to resolve an impasse — and Republican Senator Joni Ernst says it’s unclear what may happen this week.

The sticking point in negotiations has been President Trump’s demand that congress provide five BILLION dollars for construction of a wall along the southern border. A White House spokeswoman today (Tuesday) said the Trump Administration has found other ways to get that money.

Democratic leaders in congress have repeatedly said there are not enough votes in the House or Senate to fund the wall. Ernst, who is now part of the Republican leadership team in the U.S. Senate, says that doesn’t make sense.

That 2013 bill was the immigration reform package that passed the Senate with bipartisan support. It included a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who entered the country illegally as well as that eight billion dollars for enhanced border security. The U.S. House did not take a vote on the package.