Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have passed a bill that could send a person to prison for life if they cause death of a fetus, even if it’s an accident and in cases where someone didn’t know the mother was pregnant. Sen. Jake Chapman amended the bill Tuesday on the floor of the Senate to make causing the death of a fetus a life-in-prison crime, the same as someone convicted of murder. Language equates such deaths to “killing an unborn person.” The bill now goes to the House.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Sioux City man of first-degree arson and involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 fire-related death of a woman. The Sioux City Journal says Robert Mahoney was convicted Tuesday in the death of 51-year-old Wanda Blake. Blake died three weeks after Mahoney torched his Sioux City apartment on Feb. 4, 2018. Mahoney faces up to 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced May 17.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — More than 1 million private wells that supply drinking water in mostly rural parts of the Midwest could face the risk of contamination from floodwater, posing a health concern that could linger long after the flooding subsides. The high water and swift current carries such things as raw sewage from overburdened treatment plants. The National Ground Water Association says there are 1.1 million private wells in 300 flooded counties in 10 states.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has approved a bill requiring the removal of all automated traffic cameras, sending the measure to the House even as that chamber considers another proposal dealing with the devices. The Senate bill passed Tuesday by a vote of 30 to 19. Republican Sen. Jack Chapman pushed for the ban, saying cities primarily installed the systems to raise money even while violating citizens’ constitutional rights.

At least eight Iowa cities operate more than 70 cameras. The most recent data showed Cedar Rapids raised the most, at $4 million annually. Windsor Heights, a Des Moines suburb of about 5,000 people, raised $2 million.

Democratic Sen. Claire Celsi, who says she received an automated speeding ticket Monday in Des Moines, opposed the bill, saying cameras change driver behavior, improve safety and free up officers.

Similar legislative efforts to ban the cameras have been tried for nearly a decade but have failed. The House measure would divert an estimated $6.5 million a year from cities to the state Department of Public Safety.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Des Moines Public Schools employee and youth theater director has been charged with five felony child sexual exploitation counts.
The Des Moines Register reports that 49-year-old Thatcher Lane Williams was charged after police found multiple files of apparent child pornography on his Tumblr account on his home computer earlier this year. Police say in court records that Williams told investigators no one else had access to the Tumblr account.

Williams had been the office manager at Monroe Elementary before resigning Monday when he learned charges would be filed. He had been placed on leave when police began their investigation in January. Williams has also worked with Class Act Productions, a children’s theater group in Altoona, as a director.

Williams was being held Monday on a $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is set for April 5.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Sioux City man of first-degree arson and involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 fire-related death of a woman. The Sioux City Journal says Robert Mahoney was convicted Tuesday in the death of 51-year-old Wanda Blake. Blake died three weeks after Mahoney torched his Sioux City apartment on Feb. 4, 2018.

Prosecutors say Mahoney was bored when he set a small fire in his apartment with bug spray and a lighter. When the fire went out, Mahoney became angry and set a second fire, which blazed out of control and damaged several units at Central Apartments.

Firefighters found Blake unconscious in a hallway. She was taken to a hospital and was recovering, but died when blood clots in her legs traveled to her lungs. Mahoney faces up to 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced May 17.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have passed a bill that could send a person to prison for life if they cause death of a fetus, even if it’s an accident and in cases where someone didn’t know the mother was pregnant.

Sen. Jake Chapman amended the bill Tuesday on the floor of the Senate to make causing the death of a fetus a life-in-prison crime, the same as someone convicted of murder. Language equates such deaths to “killing an unborn person.”

Chapman, a staunch anti-abortion lawmaker, denied the bill has anything to do with abortion. He argued the bill recognizes the fetus “is a person in the womb and it should have rights.”

Sen. Janet Petersen says the amendment makes the bill a personhood bill and is unconstitutional. She says it could prompt criminal investigations of women who lose babies through miscarriage or stillbirth.

The bill passed on a vote of 31-18 and goes to the House.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday, that 40-year old Troy Joseph Sterba, of Omaha, was arrested late Sunday morning, for Criminal Trespass and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $600.

And, at around 5:50-a.m. Saturday, Mills County Deputies arrested 50-year old Julie Marie Bockert, of Riverton, for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Possession of Contraband. She was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County said Tuesday (today), a Creston resident had reported Monday morning, that sometime between Friday and Saturday, someone entered a building on his property at took a Northern tools tool box and tools, battery operated Dewalt grease gun, and an Echo 18” chainsaw.  The loss was estimated at $375.

And, a woman from Afton, reported Monday afternoon, that sometime this month, someone entered her farm residence and took camera’s, Nintendo DS, toy dump truck, bicycle, and several pieces of costume jewelry.  The loss was estimated $365.

Shelby County Emergency Management Agency Operations Director Jason Wickizer reports that at 12:28-p.m. today (Tuesday), Westphalia, Kirkman, Harlan, and Defiance Fire Departments responded to several 911 calls regarding a barn fire in the 1500 Block of Highway 59.

Westphalia Fire Department arrived on scene to a fully involved barn.  Westphalia Fire Department was able to take defensive measures protecting an adjacent residential structure.

As mutual aid departments arrived they were able to assist in extinguishing barn fire.  Fire Departments were assisted on scene by Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County EMA, Mid America Energy, and Medivac Ambulance.