DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting she beat her ex-husband to death with a baseball bat. The Telegraph Herald reports 64-year-old Dolores A. Flynn apologized in court Monday before she was sentenced, saying “If I could take it back, I would.”

Judge Michael Shubatt sentenced her to the 30 years recommended in a plea deal. Shubatt noted, “no one deserves to be beaten to death with a baseball bat.” Flynn initially was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 72-year-old Gary Breckenridge on Jan. 4, 2016. She pleaded guilty last month to voluntary manslaughter, willful injury and assault.

Breckenridge died at the home he shared with Flynn. Flynn says she wanted to apologize to the couple’s children for her actions.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law requiring doctors to screen patients’ risk of addiction before prescribing some painkillers. The law is part of the state’s effort to begin addressing its growing opioid epidemic. Reynolds signed it Monday at a Dubuque medical center that treats opioid addiction.

A good Samaritan provision will also give legal immunity to anyone who calls 911 to report an overdose. Medical experts warn Iowa must be careful to avoid a spike in heroin and other illegal drug use, which some other states have experienced as an unintended consequence of limiting opioid medication.

The Iowa Department of Public Health says preliminary data shows the state had 98 deaths linked to heroin last year among 309 overall opioid-linked deaths.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two organizations are expected to announce a lawsuit challenging a new Iowa law that bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Iowa affiliates for Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday they’ll make a joint announcement Tuesday afternoon. They declined to provide more information.

The law, set to go into effect on July 1, bans most abortions in Iowa once a fetal heartbeat is detected. That’s around six weeks of pregnancy, making it the strictest abortion regulation in the country.

The groups warned shortly before Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the law on May 4 that they would challenge its constitutionality. Reynolds and GOP lawmakers with majorities in the Legislature also indicated they expected the law to face litigation.

Activists converged on state capitals around the U.S. on Monday to begin six weeks of non-violent protests calling for new programs to help the millions of Americans who live in poverty, an overhaul of voting rights laws and other social change.

Officers cited 10 protesters at the Iowa Capitol who gathered in and around the staff offices of Gov. Kim Reynolds when they refused to leave the building at the close of business hours.

The campaign cast the protests as a “reignition” of the Poor People’s Campaign, the 1968 movement started by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others to challenge racism, poverty and militarism. According to the campaign, protesters will spend the next 40 days engaged in nonviolent action, including the mobilization of voters and holding teach-ins.

The first teach-in is scheduled for Tuesday in Washington. It is to feature Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund and a part of the 1968 campaign.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports 28-year old Adam James Magill, of Casey, was arrested May 7th in Guthrie County, on two Adair County warrants. The warrants charge Magill with Violation of Probation. His cash or surety bond was set at $4,000.

23-year old Ashley Nicole Kelly, of Des Moines, was arrested May 9th at the Polk County Jail on an Adair County warrant for Failure to serve Jail time. She was brought back to Adair County to serve the remainder of her court-ordered sentence.

And, 37-year old Michael B. Crall, of Orient, was issued a citation for OWI/2nd offense, May 11th, in connection with an accident that took place at around 9:35-p.m. April 5th, where a Chevy Impala struck a bridge. A deputy found Crall out of the vehicle, resting against the side of the bridge. The report said Crall appeared to have bloodshot, watery eyes, was unsteady on his feet, and smelled of alcohol. There were also several open containers inside the vehicle, and Crall told the Deputy he had consumed 15 beers.

He also appeared to have been injured, but consented to taking a preliminary breath test (PBT) prior to being transported to the hospital. The results of the PBT were above .08. Crall was transported to the Adair County hospital by his parents, and at the hospital, consented to giving a urine sample. The sample was sent to the State DCI lab, and came back with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .188, or a little more than twice the legal limit for intoxication.

The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will meet 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, in the City Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. On their agenda, is discussion and a recommendation to the Council, with regard to shooting-off large fireworks displays and the minimum distance from properties.

The CPC will also discuss and recommend to the Council, their suggestions with regard to Adoption of the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code, and a recommendation to deal with Yard Waste Site issues.

The meeting will conclude with any other business to come before the Committee.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two separate drug-related arrests involving four people. At around 1:50-a.m. today (Monday), 30-year old Zachary Clay Younts, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop by the Mills County K9 Unit near 370th Street and Highway 34. During a search of his vehicle, approximately 15 ounces of liquid methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription pills and drug paraphernalia were found. Younts was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), Possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying weapons and Driving under suspension. His passenger, 24-year old Amanda Lee Ann Solt, of Red Oak, was arrested for PCS, unlawful possession of prescription pills, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Younts and Solt were transported to the Mills County Jail without incident.

And, at around 1-a.m. Saturday, 20-year old Zachary Vaughn Case, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop by the Mills County K9 Unit on Interstate 29 at mile marker 30. Inside the vehicle, authorities found about 32-grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Case was arrested for PCS with the intent to deliver, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a Sarpy County, NE. warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. A male juvenile in the vehicle was arrested for Possession of Drug paraphernalia and transported to the Mills County Jail before being released to a parent.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque convenience store shift manager who stole more than $15,500 from bank deposit bags has been given two to five years of probation. The Telegraph Herald reports that 33-year-old Jennifer Villarreal last week also was given a deferred judgment at her sentencing. Under a deferred judgment, Villarreal’s conviction can be removed from court records if she successfully completes the terms of her probation. She also was ordered to pay restitution to Casey’s General Store. She’d pleaded guilty to theft.

Court documents say Casey’s corporate office staff discovered that deposits from Sept. 17, Sept. 27 and Oct. 6 last year were never made. The documents say surveillance video shows Villarreal leaving the store with the bank bags on Sept. 18, Sept. 28 and Oct. 7.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Doctors say an infant may have suffered brain damage when struck by an overthrown softball at her father’s game in northeastern Iowa. Mayo Clinic physicians in Rochester, Minnesota, have been balancing various medications as they treat 8-week-old McKenna Hovenga, whose skull was fractured. She was struck while in the arms of her mother, Kassy, on May 2 in Shell Rock, some 95 miles (150 kilometers) northeast of Des Moines.

A post on the Healing for McKenna Facebook page says doctors have pinpointed her seizures to two areas of the brain that appear to have been damaged, areas related to motor skills and development. The extent of any damage remains unclear. Another post says Kassy was allowed to hold McKenna on Mother’s Day for the first time in 10 days.