Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:33 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Government documents and emails show Iowa’s top 4-H leader was fired earlier this year after a proposed policy discouraging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender was withdrawn. The Des Moines Register reports that it reviewed more than 500 pages of communication that show Iowa 4-H director John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas was fired after he fought pressure to drop the policy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Navy says it has commissioned the USS Sioux City into service. The Navy said in a news release that the combat ship was placed into active service on Saturday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Plans for the USS Sioux City were announced in 2012. It was built at as shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Preliminary autopsy results show four people who died in a small plane crash in central Iowa earlier this month were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Television station KCCI reports that the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office report said all the victims died from “multiple blunt force injuries in the setting of carbon monoxide toxicity.” The crash happened the night of Nov. 9 after plane passengers reported the pilot had had an apparent heart attack.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old stepson have died in a crash in south-central Iowa. Television station KCRG reports that the crash happened Friday evening in Clarke County, about 9 miles south of Osceola. The patrol says 22-year-old Bethannie Kennedy, of Osceola, was driving south on U.S. 69 when she lost control, went sideways and was broadsided by a northbound pickup truck. Kennedy and 2-year-old Michael Dohrn Jr. died from injuries received in the crash.

At least four area school districts will hold their regular monthly meetings Monday night. The Griswold School Board meeting takes place at 5:30-p.m. in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School Building. During their session, the Board will receive updates (if available) on the construction projects and act on approving any change orders. They’ll also discuss and/or act on: Budget changes for 2019-20; The Elementary Building; the Pizza Card program; and specifications for the purchase of a van.

The Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board meeting starts at 6-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. On their agenda is a presentation with regard to the FFA’s trip to the National FFA meeting, discussion with regard to Construction projects, and action on Snow removal bids, an early graduation request, along with any personnel matters.

The CAM School District Board of Education meeting gets underway at 6:30-p.m. in the CAM High School Media Center. Their agenda includes: Bids on the school suburban for sale; snow removal bids; personnel matters, discussion on the district’s vehicle replacement plan, fundraiser requests and other matters.

And, the Audubon Community School District Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Monday, in their Board Room at the High School. Among the matters on their agenda, is an Early Retirement offer for teachers, setting the date for Superintendent Interviews, and other, personnel matters, to name a few.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Government documents and emails show that Iowa’s top 4-H leader was fired earlier this year after a proposed policy discouraging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender was withdrawn. The Des Moines Register reports that it reviewed more than 500 pages of communication that show Iowa 4-H director John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas was fired after he fought pressure to drop the policy.

Just days after Iowa officials posted a draft of the policy in April, an official with the federal department that administers 4-H, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, sent an email urging that the policy be dropped. Iowa 4-H officials were also pressured to drop the policy by Christian conservative leaders and one group threatened to file a lawsuit.

Chaisson-Cárdenas resisted because he was adamant that 4-H should be for all kids. Chaisson-Cárdenas was disciplined after the criticism for the way the policy was handled and later fired in August. He maintains that he followed proper procedure.

Police in Creston say snow on the road contributed to an accident Saturday afternoon. Authorities say the accident happened as a 2006 Dodge Caravan driven by 39-year old Sheri Ann Gist, of Creston, was traveling east on Montgomery Street at around 2-p.m., and turning left onto Cherry Street. A 2006 Nissan Murano driven by 60-year old Diana Rae Griffin, of Creston, was traveling south on Cherry Street and trying to turn right onto Montgomery Street, but due to snow on the road, she was unable to make the turn or stop. The Murano hit the Dodge, causing a total of $4,000 damage.

Sheri Gist complained of pain or possible injury, but was not transported to the hospital. Griffin was uninjured during the collision. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Navy says it has commissioned the USS Sioux City into service.
The Navy said in a news release that the combat ship was placed into active service on Saturday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

It’s the nation’s sixth littoral combat Ship. The vessel has an aluminum skin, high-tech computer capabilities and can reach a speed of 40 knots.

USS Sioux City

The Navy says the ship’s name was chosen to honor the residents of Sioux City, Iowa. Plans for the USS Sioux City were announced in 2012. It was built at a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors will hold their regular monthly meeting 5:15-p.m. Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda are updates from Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to the Schildberg Recreation Area Development Project, and a water quality project update at Nishna Park.

Staashelm will also discuss with the Board a proposal pertaining to Board member terms. And, in his Director’s report, Seth is expected to discuss the status of the Ice Rink, the closing of the Schildberg campground on Nov. 26th, and he’ll make a public announcement that park restrooms are closed for the season, but the parks themselves remain open for the winter.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:45 a.m. CST

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Preliminary autopsy results show four people who died in a small plane crash in central Iowa earlier this month were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Television station KCCI reports that the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office report said all the victims died from “multiple blunt force injuries in the setting of carbon monoxide toxicity.” The crash happened the night of Nov. 9 after plane passengers reported the pilot had had an apparent heart attack.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old stepson have died in a crash in south-central Iowa. Television station KCRG reports that the crash happened Friday evening in Clarke County, about 9 miles south of Osceola. The patrol says 22-year-old Bethannie Kennedy, of Osceola, was driving south on U.S. 69 when she lost control, went sideways and was broadsided by a northbound pickup truck. Kennedy and 2-year-old Michael Dohrn Jr. died from injuries received in the crash.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former northeastern Iowa high school teacher arrested in April for being drunk at work has had his teaching license suspended. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported Friday that Daniel Reisner’s license was suspended for two years by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. He must complete at least 15 in-person class hours of an ethics course before his license is reinstated. He also received a written reprimand.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa is giving up the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress. Instead, he will chair the Senate Finance Committee. That means Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina will take over the chairmanship of the Judiciary panel. Graham has become a close Trump ally and was a vocal supporter of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Roads partially covered with snow from about Highway 44 southwestward to Highway 92 were causing numerous accidents Saturday evening. Dispatch reports continue to indicate vehicle were sliding off the road along Interstate 80 as the evening progressed. Just before 7-p.m., a moderate traffic jam was reported on I-80 in Cass County, from just west of the Olive Street Exit to Highway 173.

Road conditions as of 7:16-p.m. 11/17/18 (511ia.org)

Bridges and overpasses were said to be icy in spots. So far, there have been no reports of injuries.

Further south, from the Highway 34 corridor to the Iowa-Missouri line, roads were completed covered with snow. Blowing snow was also an issue. For more on current road conditions, go to 511ia.org on the web, or call 511.

(Radio Iowa) — Democrats who’ll be serving in the Iowa House next year met Saturday and elected State Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City as their new leader. “The message was unity,” Prichard said. “Let’s work together as a team. Move the state forward. We’re looking to work with Republicans when we can, in ways that we can. We’re looking to stand on principle when we disagree.”

Prichard was re-elected to a fourth term in the Iowa House this month. He’s replacing Mark Smith of Marshalltown as House Minority Leader. Smith did not seek reelection AS A LEADER after Democrats picked up suburban seats in the Des Moines area that were held by Republicans, but failed to win enough races to regain majority control of the Iowa House. Republicans have held a majority of seats in the Iowa House since 2011.

Prichard rejects the idea he’s been elected to help Democrats rebuild the party in rural Iowa. “This isn’t an urban-rural job. This is an all-Iowa job, so we’re looking to connect with people wherever they are,” Prichard told reporters Saturday afternoon. Prichard put 40-thousand miles on his car traveling the state before abandoning his campaign for governor in the fall of 2017 and seeking reelection to the House instead.

Prichard says he’ll ask his fellow House Democrats to travel the state, too. “I’ve got to have a collaborative effort from a team of Democrats and I think when we engage all of our resources of people, people will be impressed with what the Democrats offer and what we stand for,” Pricahrd says. Prichard, who is an attorney, is also a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, with tours of duty in Kuwait, Iraq and Egypt. Prichard is among four men and two woman who were elected to leadership roles for Democrats in the Iowa House next year.

Police in Red Oak, Saturday, arrested a man wanted on a felony warrant. 24-year old Bubba Dwain Mitchell, of Emerson, was taken into custody just before 1-p.m. in the 800 block of Senate Avenue, on a valid Red Oak Police Dept. warrant for Eluding and Child Endangerment. The charges stem from an investigation into a police pursuit that took place Nov. 4th. Mitchell was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $15,000 cash bond.