(Radio Iowa) — It’s unclear when or even if veterans who’ve been short-changed on their “Forever G-I Bill” benefits may get what they’re owed. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican who is a combat veteran, is among those who’ve asked the Veterans Administration for an explanation. “Someone from the VA had indicated they would not go back and correct the deficient payments that had been made to our veterans for their educational benefits,” Ernst says, “and our stance is if you have promised our veterans that those payments would be made, then they need to be made.”

The Forever G-I Bill provides educational and housing benefits to military veterans who go to college.  “And if they were told that they would receive these educational benefits, we need to ensure they are receiving those educational benefits,” Ernst says.

A Veterans Administration official gave conflicting answers to a HOUSE committee yesterday (Thursday), leaving open the possibility benefits may not be recalculated and veterans may not be fully reimbursed for the fall semester. Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City says the situation is causing financial hardship for many veterans who’ve gone back to school. “We’re hopeful that this is going to get taken care of. I don’t know if it is just an IT glitch or what it is,” Loebsack says. “But this is compounding of course, the Iowa National Guard members who were forced to pay back a part of their salary after a payrolll error was made by the Army.”

Loebsack says Iowa veterans may call his office for assistance in calculating what they’re owed through the Forever G-I- Bill. “I’ve held every administration accountable, whether it’s Democratic or Republican, since I’ve been in congress and that’s what we’ve got to do,” Loebsack says. “We’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”

Loebsack has been a member of congress since 2007 — which means he’s served during the George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:20 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate in a northeast Iowa House district trailing by just nine votes has sued, seeking to force election officials to count 33 ballots left uncounted because they lack a postmark. Kayla Koether, is seeking a temporary injunction in Polk County District Court to stop Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate from certifying the House District 55 election results on Monday.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — Longtime Bettendorf Alderwoman Debe LaMar has died. She was 61. The city says in a news release that LaMar died Thursday. Television station WQAD reports that LaMar died after a long battle with cancer. She was first elected to the City Council in 1998 and served five terms. She also served as mayor pro-tem for seven years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal security agents say a gun was found this week in the carry-on bag of a passenger at the Des Moines International Airport _ the 11th gun found at the airport this year. Television station KCCI reports that Transportation Security Administration workers discovered the loaded handgun Wednesday during an X-ray screening of the bag. Des Moines police are investigating to determine whether the passenger will face criminal charges.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A state health official says the products that will be for sale when medical marijuana dispensaries open in Iowa on Saturday will shake up traditional ideas about the herb and how it is consumed. Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter says “there won’t be joints, there won’t be edibles.” Dispensaries are set to open in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux City, Windsor Heights and Waterloo.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at 9:55am Thursday of 38-year-old Luke Daniel Rinehart of Red Oak on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Rinehart was arrested in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail. He was being held on $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal security agents say a gun was found this week in the carry-on bag of a passenger at the Des Moines International Airport — the 11th gun found at the airport this year.
Television station KCCI reports that Transportation Security Administration workers discovered the loaded handgun Wednesday during an X-ray screening of the bag.

Des Moines police are investigating to determine whether the passenger will face criminal charges.
Travelers who bring a firearm to airport checkpoints also are subject to a civil penalty from the TSA of up to $13,000.

Police in Red Oak report an investigation has resulted in the arrest of a woman on Forgery charges. 45-year old Tiffany Lea Palmer, of Red Oak, allegedly committed acts of Forgery on three different occasions. She was arrested at around 11:30-a.m. today (Thursday) on three Class D felony Forgery charges and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, where her cash bond was set at $5,000.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County are investigating a burglary that was reported at around 5:30 this (Thursday) morning, in Stanton. An employee with the Cast Iron Cafe reported the incident. A surveillance camera caught a man entering the business at around 1:25-a.m.  The suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. Anyone with information, or who may have seen anything is encouraged to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, at 712-623-5107, or Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for tips leading to an arrest, and you can remain anonymous.

Cast Iron Cafe robbery suspect

A woman from Page County was injured during a single-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old Jasmine M. Adams, of Clarinda, was driving a 2008 Chevy Impala eastbound on 260th Street, east of Villisca, when her car lost traction as it was rounding a curve. The vehicle hit a road sign and entered the south ditch before running through a field fence and coming to rest in the ditch. The accident happened at around 1:37-p.m.

Authorities say Adams was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Clarinda Regional Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries. Damage from the accident amounted to $5,750 ($5,000 to the car, $250 for the road sign & $500 for the fence). No citations were issued. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Villisca Fire and Red Oak Rescue.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s workplace safety agency has reduced a fine by nearly 90 percent for violations at Iowa’s maximum-security prison that put staff at risk during emergencies. The Iowa Department of Corrections will pay a $5,000 fine for violations at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison under a settlement agreement with Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro’s office. Regulators working under Mauro initially proposed a $49,500 fine after citing the department for 21 serious violations at the prison, which houses 700 of the state’s most dangerous inmates.

An inspection found that officers’ radios could malfunction or fail during violent incidents, including two assaults last year in which problems slowed or prevented emergency responses. Inspectors also found widespread confusion over emergency procedures due to inadequate planning and training. The department had contested the violations. The settlement withdraws 1 violation and reduces the penalties associated with others. It gives the department until March 1 to fix problems.

(Radio Iowa) — Not having license plates on her vehicle led to a felony drug arrest for a Columbus Junction woman early on Wednesday morning. Authorities say 33-year-old Jessica Carrington was stopped in Burlington around 3:30 on Wednesday morning. They found her license was suspended indefinitely and she had warrants out of Louisa County. During a search of the vehicle police found three small baggies of methamphetamine hidden in a bag of Doritos. Authorities say the substance totaled 6.5 grams. Carrington was arrested on felony drug trafficking charges, also facing misdemeanor charges for driving with a suspended license. She’s being held in the Des Moines County jail on $10,000 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A plea and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for a man accused of fatally attacking a woman in her Cedar Rapids garage and setting it on fire. Linn County District Court records say 39-year-old Timothy Evans has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and other crimes connected to the April 29 attack on 38-year-old Gina Frederiksen. The records don’t say to which charges Evans will be pleading. The hearing is set for Dec. 7.

Frederiksen was pulled from the burning garage but died at a hospital. Court records show Evans, who is homeless, had been released from jail just two days before the attack. He was being held on car burglary charges when he was released.