DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa police captain is accusing her police chief and the city she serves of gender discrimination. The Telegraph Herald reports that Dubuque police Capt. Abby Simon filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Iowa District Court for Dubuque County alleging her rights have been violated under Iowa’s Civil Rights Act. Simon is also suing for harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit names Police Chief Mark Dalsing and the city.

The 20-year police veteran’s lawsuit says she was passed over for promotions, even though she scored better in tests and interviews than the men who won the promotions. She says Dalsing also emailed derisory comments about her to several colleagues. Speaking on behalf of Dalsing, spokesman Randy Gehl and City Attorney Crenna Brumwell said legal counsel is reviewing the lawsuit.

(Radio Iowa) — A special investigation by the state auditor’s office has identified more than half a million dollars worth of improper spending by the former office manager of an eastern Iowa organization that promotes economic development. Sharon Jelinek worked for the Iowa City Area Development Group for 15 years. Officials discovered she had taken out a credit card in the organization’s name, used it “almost exclusively for personal purchases” and used the organization’s checking account to pay the bills.

The auditors’ review flagged about 514-thousand dollars worth of spending connected to Jelinek. Auditors found she used the economic development group’s money to pay her monthly cell phone, satellite radio and cable T-V bills. She also bought items on the Home Shopping Network, Amazon and at Walmart with the economic development group’s money.

(Radio Iowa) — A man from the northeast Iowa town of Hawkeye faces charges, after a three-year old girl was run over by a lawn mower.  The Fayette county sheriff’s department says 23-year-old Tanner Miller was determined to be intoxicated when he allegedly ran over the girl with the lawn mower around quarter-to-nine Wednesday. Miller was charged with first-offense operating while intoxicated and causing a serious injury by vehicle, a class D felony. Authorities say the three-year-old was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

(Radio Iowa) — Charges have been filed against a Spencer bartender following a fatal crash in Clay County in late April. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says Jacoba Knight has been charged with selling alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person and supplying alcohol to a person under the legal age following a crash near Dickens late on April 26th.

Documents obtained by authorities show both the driver, 19-year-old Alfonso Maldonado of Graettinger, and a passenger, 21-year-old Tephonte Smith of Estherville, had been at Southside Grill in Spencer in the hours leading up to the crash that involved the vehicle leaving the roadway and striking a utility pole. Authorities say Maldonado was served multiple alcoholic beverages while at the business which led a to a blood alcohol level of more than three times the legal limit.

Both Maldonado and Smith were killed in the crash. Knight was released after being cited, but authorities say additional charges are pending.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 40-year old Christina Mae Robbins, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on several charges. Robbins was taken into custody for Eluding, reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain or use safety belts, unsafe passing and improper use of lanes. Her bond was set at $2,300.

Wednesday morning, 55-year old Victor Joseph Purvis, of Malvern, was arrested in Mills County, on a warrant for Assault causing bodily injury. Bond $1,000. 41-year old Robert Lee Watts, of Malvern, was arrested Wednesday afternoon, on two counts of Child Endangerment and Domestic Abuse Assault. Watts was being held without bond, in the Mills County Jail. 43-year old Sean Eugene Hicks, of Emerson, was arrested Wednesday evening, on a warrant for two counts of Failure to Appear. His bond was set at $4,000. And, 29-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office at around 4:15-a.m. Wednesday, for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 42-year old Shelby Lynn Weis, of Lenox, was arrested Wednesday evening, on a Union County Warrant for failure to serve jail time on the original charge of driving while barred. Weis was being held without bond for Union County, in the Adams County Jail, as she is required to complete jail time ordered on April 12, 2019.