DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Ottumwa man who once threatened to kill then-President Barack Obama is scheduled to be sentenced in January for threatening a federal judge.

Federal court records say Matthew James Howard has pleaded guilty to threatening the judge and to mailing a threatening communication. His sentencing is set for Jan. 10 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

Howard, who is serving prison time for robbery and burglary, received an additional three years in September 2013 for writing letters threatening to kill Obama and a judge earlier that year.

Howard was indicted in April for threatening U.S. Judge Linda Reade in a letter sent from prison in Anamosa in November.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether U.S. Rep. Rod Blum violated any rules related to his role in an outside business. A statement Tuesday from the committee chair and ranking member says the committee will continue a previously unannounced investigation into the actions of the Iowa Republican.

The statement says the committee plans to announce its results in December, after a midterm election in which Blum faces a difficult campaign. The investigation stems from a February story by The Associated Press into Tin Moon, an internet marketing business that Blum and a business partner began in 2016 during his first term.

Blum failed to disclose that he was a director of the business as required by House rules. Also, an online ad featured Blum’s chief of staff falsely posing as a satisfied customer.

The Mills County  Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past few days. On Monday, 56-year old Christine Jean Hobson, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution/Jail. Her bond was set at $5,000. Also arrested Monday, was 41-year old Clyde William Larcom, of Bellevue, NE. He was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000.

At around 4:40-a.m. Sunday, 21-year old Estuardo Carreto-Diaz, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st offense, No Valid ID, Leaving the scene of an accident, Failure to Maintain Control, and for Open Container. Bond was set at $1,000.

Friday afternoon, 37-year old Colleen Lyn Salmons, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension and Speeding. Bond $300. And, Friday night, 23-year old Kinzey Kay Long, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Long was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, pending a court appearance.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Katie Rose Carnes, of Red Oak, was arrested Saturday afternoon on a drug charge, following a traffic stop for a vehicle registration violation. Upon further investigation and a search of the vehicle, prescription pills were found. Carnes was arrested for Possession of a Schedule 4 Controlled Substance. She was booked into the Mills County Jail without incident. Bond was set at $1,000.

Early Saturday morning, a traffic stop in Mills County on a vehicle with an equipment violation, resulted in the arrest of 45-year old Jason Kibat, of La Vista, NE. Kibat, who was a passenger in the vehicle, had an outstanding warrant out of Douglas County, NE., for being a Fugitive From Justice. He was also found to be in possession of Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Kibat was arrested on the warrant, Possession of a controlled substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5,300.

The Atlantic City Council will act on several matters pertaining to infrastructure during their meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. A Public Hearing will also be held with regard to an amendment to Chapter 165 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, which pertains to Zoning Regulations. The amendment is with regard to fencing in Industrial and Commercial Zones.

Gary Richter, of Atlantic, would like to erect an eight-foot chain link fence with barbed wire around his impound yard. Current Zoning does not accommodate that request in any aspect. City Administrator John Lund suggests that heavy industrial areas be allowed to use a fence of 10-feet in height, with barbed wire as a permitted use. Such as change would also allow for variations from the six-foot limit in those same areas, by a Conditional Use Permit for construction on existing facilities, which requires a hearing from the Board of Adjustment, or variations to be a part of the site plan approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), which recently approved unanimously, to amend the Zoning Ordinance to better accommodate the needs of commercial and industrial development in their proper zones.

The hearing will be followed by the first reading of Ordinance pertaining to the amendment as written. There will also be a first reading on an amendment to an Ordinance with regard to speed limits, especially as it pertains to Sunnyside lane, where a 1,650-foot stretch of the road is unregulated to near 22nd Street. The change would make the entire stretch of Sunnyside, from 10th to 22nd, a 25-mile per hour zone.

Griswold Rescue and Medivac ambulance were paged-out to a motorcycle accident at around 11:40 today (Tuesday), on Highway six, in rural Pottawattamie County, between 480th and 490th Streets. A 70-year old male was injured, but conscious and breathing. No other details are currently available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa district officials say they’re not allowed to inform parents about the criminal records of felons volunteering in schools under state law. The Des Moines Register found through open records requests that convicted felons are volunteering in at least three of the state’s largest school districts in Des Moines, Dubuque and Davenport.

A criminal conviction doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from volunteering in Iowa’s K-12 schools. But school officials say Iowa Code bars districts from disclosing volunteers’ criminal histories.
Many Iowa districts screen school volunteers despite state law not requiring background checks.

Des Moines officials review the details of the conviction before making a decision. The Mid-Prairie school district consults the state Board of Educational Examiners’ list of crimes that disqualify someone from becoming a teacher.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Patrol has released some numbers showing it was a busy holiday weekend on the state’s roads. A year ago, 10 people died in traffic crashes in Iowa over the Labor Day weekend. This year, at least five were killed. That included a triple-fatality crash Sunday on Interstate 29 near the town of Little Sioux. The State Patrol reports troopers investigated a total of 82 crashes, assisted 65 motorists, and arrested 16 drivers for OWI.

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says several crashes over the holiday weekend were caused by drivers traveling too fast in rainy conditions. With more rain in the forecast, Ludwig is urging motorists to slow down.

Three people suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries during an accident Monday afternoon, in Shelby County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 47-year old Bryan C. Watkins, of Blair, NE., was traveling west on Highway 44 at around 3:35-p.m., and approaching the intersection with Shelby County Road M-47, when a car traveling east on Highway 44 began to make a left turn to travel north on M-47. In doing so, the other vehicle pulled in front of Watkins’ 2013 Dodge pickup.

When Watkins took evasive action to the right, his vehicle left the road and entered a ditch/embankment. Watkins, and his passengers, 48-year old Pamela S. Watkins and 6-year old Brennan Watkins, also from Blair, were transported by EMS to Myrtue Memorial Hospital, in Harlan. Irwin Rescue and Medivac assisted in the victims’ transport. No citations were issued.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 44-year old Michael Gene Bland, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:45-a.m. Sunday on a drug charge, following a traffic stop on Highway 71, near Exira. Bland was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. During the stop, the Audubon County K9 “Axel” indicated to the presence of the odor of a narcotic(s) on the vehicle. Bland posted bond and was released. Bland was arrested again on Monday, at around 7:25-p.m., on additional charges stemming from the traffic stop the previous morning. He was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-marijuana 2nd offense, Interference with official acts, carrying weapons and depositing or throwing litter on highway. “Axel” located marijuana that Bland allegedly attempted to hide along the highway. Bland is currently in the Audubon County Jail awaiting his appearance before the magistrate.

Audubon County Sheriff’s Deputies also arrested 21-year old Brandon William Henderson, of Audubon, on two outstanding court-ordered jail time warrants. In the process of his arrest, was also charged with possession of meth and possession of marijuana. Henderson remains in the Audubon County Jail on a $5,000 bond.