AMES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa group has devised a strategy to keep monarch butterflies off the national endangered species list. The Des Moines Register reports that the 135-page plan issued Monday is aimed at helping farmers, backyard gardeners and others boost monarch butterfly habitat in Iowa. Nearly 40 agriculture, conservation, business, utility and government groups, calling themselves the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, pulled together the strategy.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering protecting monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act. Supporters of the protection say farming in the Midwest is among the reasons for monarch’s decline.

Steve Bradbury is an Iowa State University entomologist, and he says it’s unclear exactly how many habitat acres Iowa should add to help keep monarch butterflies off the national endangered species list.

A Red Oak man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning on an assault charge. Police say 36-year old Luke Daniel Rinehart was taken into custody at around 3:18-a.m. in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue, in Red Oak. Rinehart was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

A traffic stop Monday night in Adams County resulted in the arrest of a woman on multiple charges. 28-year old Trisha Mitchell, of Lenox, was placed under arrest at around 7:30-p.m., for OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Carrying Weapons, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Her bond at the Adams County Jail, was set at $5,300.

Police in Red Oak, Monday, arrested 35-year old Bobbie Jo Bruce, of Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. Bruce was taken into custody at around 3:50-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $5,000.

The Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman says the party’s new NATIONAL leader has committed “in writing” to keeping Iowa’s Caucuses first in the presidential selection process. Tom Perez was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee Saturday night with the support of Iowans on the committee, including Iowa Democratic Party chairman Derek Eadon.

“He talks a lot about changing the culture of the DNC,” Eadon says. “He talks a lot about upgrading our technology, the importance of Iowa’s role as well as caucuses in this process.” Eadon and other officers from the Iowa Democratic Party met with Perez earlier in mid-February and got a personal commitment from Perez on the positioning of Iowa’s Caucuses. Perez, who grew up in Buffalo, New York, served as U.S. Labor Secretary during the last three years of the Obama Administration.

As the new leader of the Democratic National Committee, he will soon appoint a “unity commission” and the 2020 calendar for presidential contests will be on the agenda. “I imagine the Caucuses will come up during that,” Eadon says, “but you’re hearing a lot more talk about ‘super delegates,’ you’re hearing a lot more talk about the make-up of the DNC leadership as well.” Perez supported Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Perez asked a key Bernie Sanders supporter to serve as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and Eadon says that’s a significant move from Perez. “I think he’s a true change agent for the Democratic Party,” Eadon says. Perez, the new Democratic National Committee chairman, endorsed Clinton during an event in Sioux City back in early December of 2015. Last summer, Perez was rumored to be on Hillary Clinton’s list of potential running mates.

(Radio Iowa)

Republicans in the Iowa House are considering the repeal Iowa’s “bottle bill.” Grocers have long complained that filth comes into their stores along with the empties they must accept from customers who want their nickel deposits back. Later this (Tuesday) morning, the House Environmental Protection Committee will consider junking the “bottle bill” and having Iowans recycle empty pop and beer containers at the curb. Thirty-nine years ago, then-Governor Robert Ray AND Terry Branstad, who was a state legislator at the time, backed the “bottle bill” as a way to reduce roadside litter. Mick Barry, president of Mid-America Recycling, says Iowa now is among the top five states in the country for recycling.

“This is something Iowans like — 84 percent of people in the state of Iowa support the ‘Bottle Bill’ today,” Barry says. Supporters of getting RID of the “Bottle Bill” say the empties in the grocery stores are a health hazard, plus curbside programs could profit from having more aluminum, plastic and glass containers to sell. Barry points to data indicating curbside recycling is less effective.

“Nationally, we’re seeing 34 percent of glass recycled, 39 percent of aluminum beverage containers and 16 percent of plastic (polyethylene terephthalate or) PET soda and beer containers,” Barry says. Barry says due to Iowa’s “Bottle Bill,” nearly nine of every 10 aluminum soda and beer cans are recycled in Iowa, along with the vast majority of glass and plastic beverage containers.

The bill House Republicans are considering would no longer have consumers pay and then redeem a nickel deposit fee on containers with carbonated or alcoholic beverages. Instead, a new tax would be imposed on beer and pop containers. The one-cent-per-container tax would go into a new state-run fund to finance recycling programs. In addition, the state would impose a tiny tax on ALL beverages sold in the state, to raise money for the Keep Iowa Beautiful fund.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:00 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Early voting would be reduced under a bill approved by a House subcommittee that also requires voters to show identification at the polls. Rep. Ken Rizer, a Marion Republican, on Monday announced several changes he’d made to a voter identification bill, including a shortening of early voting from 40 days to 29 days. The panel later sent the bill to the full House State Government Committee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa could effectively ban abortions under a GOP bill approved Monday that would declare life at conception, though it’s unclear if the bill has the necessary backing to clear the Senate. The legislation supported by 20 GOP senators and 1 independent would recognize “personhood” protection for fertilized eggs, effectively making abortions illegal in Iowa. The bill would not prohibit the use of contraception nor criminalize miscarriages.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An investigation by a state agency finds that Iowa’s professional licensing boards have become unaccountable to the citizens they are supposed to protect from misconduct. An Office of Ombudsman report says the boards enjoy a culture of secrecy that produces “lackadaisical investigations, apathetic board members, poor documentation of deliberations, and questionable outcomes.” The report examined the system of 36 boards responsible for regulating trained workers, from doctors to barbers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man, who allowed his teenage child to invite several friends to his house for a party, provided them alcohol and then had sex with one of them after she was drunk, has been ordered to pay $127 million to the victim and her family. Polk County court records show 47-year-old James Lee Hohenshell of Bondurant pleaded guilty to lascivious acts with a child and providing alcohol to minors connected to his actions in August 2013. The girl he molested was 13.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A so-called personhood bill that would effectively ban abortion in Iowa has passed out of a legislative subcommittee, though it’s unclear if it has the necessary backing to clear the Senate. The measure was approved Monday as dozens gathered at the Capitol to support or oppose the bill. It now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The measure would recognize that life is protected from the moment of conception, effectively making abortions illegal. The bill would not prohibit the use of contraception. The legislation is co-sponsored by 20 Republicans and 1 independent in the Senate. It will need more support to pass out of the GOP-majority chamber.

If approved, the measure would likely be challenged in court. It’s among several bills seeking to restrict abortions in Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Early voting in Iowa would be reduced under a bill approved by a House subcommittee that also requires voters to show identification at the polls. Rep. Ken Rizer, a Marion Republican, on Monday announced several changes he’d made to a voter identification bill, including shortening early voting from 40 days to 29 days. The panel later approved the bill with only Republican support and sent it to the full House State Government Committee, which Rizer also heads.

The amended bill would also eliminate the option of voting straight party with a single mark on a ballot. The bill was initially drawn up by Secretary of State Paul Pate, who declined to comment on whether he supported the changes. His spokesman says Pate hopes lawmakers will pass his original bill.

Think Spring! The Cass County Master Gardeners are excited to present their annual Spring Garden Seminar, on Saturday, March 18 at the Atlantic High School. Registration begins at 8:30 AM, with the program beginning at 9 AM. Featured keynote speaker for the day is Kelly Norris- Director of Horticulture at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. 10 workshop topics are lined up for the day, with participants able to attend three breakout sessions of their choice. The day will also feature rolls and coffee to start the morning, a sandwich luncheon, garden vendor show and a great opportunity to network with old friends and new as we prepare for the 2017 gardening season!

The seminar is open to all interested gardeners no matter the level of experience! Participants are not required to have completed Master Gardener training to attend, but Master Gardeners who attend the full day will be given 5 credit hours toward their continuing education requirements. The morning will kick off with Norris sharing tips for adding “Plants with Style!” to the home garden. After lunch, he will also provide the second keynote presentation on “Native Plants in the American Garden”- highlighting plants and plans to incorporate natives beautifully into the landscape. Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to attend 3 different breakout workshops on topics including succulents, rock gardens, mini hostas, iris, herbs, trees and more! Several of the workshop sessions are hands-on, where participants will make and take an item to enjoy at home.

The cost for this day of fun and learning is $35, including all meals and keynote materials. Some hands-on workshops may have an additional materials fee, which is payable on the day of the seminar.  A full list of all breakout sessions, a schedule for the day and printable registration form are all available online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or can be picked up at the Cass County Extension Office. Brochures are also available at many local businesses with a full schedule and registration form.

The early registration deadline is Friday March 10; registrations must be postmarked or dropped at the Cass County Extension Office by this date to be eligible for door prizes. In addition, organizers encourage attendees to register early for best selection of breakout sessions, as the sessions fill on a first-come basis. Registrations are also welcome after this date, and up to the day of the Garden Seminar, including walk-in registrations at the door.

For more information on the Spring Garden Seminar or the Cass County Master Gardener Program, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic.