DES MOINES, Iowa – Those who served our country will be honored at Veterans Day events across Iowa on Tuesday, but a look behind the scenes shows many returning vets struggle with a myriad of issues. Attorney Todd Schmidt is an advocate for veterans at Iowa Legal Aid, which provides free legal advice and assistance for residents who can’t afford an attorney.

“We’ve had clients that have had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of their experience in Iraq or Afghanistan and that can create a lot of other issues,” says Schmidt. He says the civil legal help they offer can involve veterans benefits, consumer issues, family matters and more.

One common problem is affordable housing. Schmidt says Iowa Legal Aid is among the partners in the state now working with those who are homeless and unstably-housed through the Supportive Services for Veterans and Families program. “We do a legal assessment with each veteran to see if they have any civil legal issues,” says Schmidt. “If they do, we’re able to help them more readily than we would normally be able to as a result of this program.”

In all, Iowa is home to more than 230,000 veterans.

(Iowa News Service)

The Creston Police Department reports two incidents of theft and once incident of vandalism were investigated over the weekend, and one person was taken into custody. 34-year old Brian Lee Rhodes, of Creston, was arrested Friday at the Union County Jail on a charge of Simple Assault. Rhodes was later released on a promised to appear in court.

An elderly Creston resident reported to police on Sunday, that her cell phone had been taken sometime between 2-pm and 7-pm that day. The loss was estimated at $50. On Saturday, a resident on north Birch Street in Creston reported her basement was broken into sometime between Nov. 5th and 8th. Someone stole a toolbox with six drawers, 5 gallons of paint, a bicycle, a space heater, weed eater, an air conditioner, and a chain saw. The loss was estimated at $600.

And a resident on south Division Street in Creston reported Saturday, that someone shot out the windows of a home at 210 south Maple Street. A b-b gun is believed to be the weapon used. Damage was estimated at $125.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A hearing will be held this (Monday) morning, on requests for a change of venue and a continuance (postponement), along with the waiving of a speedy trial, for an Atlantic woman accused of faking her daughter’s cancer by administering drugs that could have potentially harmed the girl. The hearing for 30-year old Leatha Slauson is scheduled to begin at 9-a.m., in Cass County District Court. If Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner’s motion, and one made last month by Slauson’s attorney to have her trial moved out of Cass County are denied, the woman’s trial will begin Wednesday.

In last month’s motion for a Change of Venue, Slauson Attorney Jaz Mez said the woman’s trial should be moved due to extensive media coverage, gossip, rumors and speculation by residents in Cass County that would make selecting a fair and impartial jury impossible. Earlier, Mez had said Slauson was competent to stand trial, but unable to tell right from wrong. Mez is expected to use a defense of “Diminished Responsibility” when her case comes before a jury.

Authorities say Slauson lied about her daughter having cancer, inserted a feeding tube into the 5-year-old girl and gave her drugs and cannabis oils. Slauson has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including assault, child endangerment and theft by deception.

A woman who is no stranger to law enforcement, was arrested again Sunday evening, in Montgomery County. 44-year old Shelby Joann Olivares, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. The woman is known to have at least five different aliases.
Olivares was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where she was being held this (Monday) morning, without bond.

One person was hurt during a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. The Omaha World-Herald reports the unidentified 35-year old man, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported by helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center. The accident happened at around 1-p.m. near the intersection of 270th Street and Juniper Road.

Additional details are currently not available.

A state task force assigned to review the assessments used to schools is recommending that the state adopt what are called the “Smarter Balanced” assessments. Iowa Department of Education spokesperson, Staci Hupp Ballard, says the assessments are used for public and accredited non-public schools, and the Smarter Balanced assessment was developed by a group of states. “That have the goal to ensure that all students — regardless of their background– leave high school prepared for success in college or career training,” Ballard says.

“And the consortium belief is that a high-quality assessment system can raise student achievement largely by providing teachers and schools the information and tools that they need to improve teaching and learning.” Ballard says the task force had several reasons for recommending the Smarter Balanced assessment. She says it is often referred to as “much more than a test,” and is considered more like a system, because it includes an annual test along with an optional classroom level tests that teachers can give to gauge student progress through the year.

Ballard says administrators, teachers and other gave their input to the task force. “When teachers talk about the advantages of Smarter Balance, it seems it’s much more than a test to them. It seems like it provides them helpful information to try to really pinpoint where a student is versus where a student is expected to be at a particular grade level,” Ballard says. The next step will be in the hands of lawmakers. “From now through January, the task force will work on a final report to the legislature. There’s a meeting scheduled for December 10th, and ultimately lawmakers will be charged with deciding whether or not to go with this recommendation,” Ballard says.

Iowa students currently take the Iowa Assessments in grades 3-8 and 11 in math and reading to meet state and federal accountability laws. The Iowa Assessments are developed and administered by Iowa Testing Programs at the University of Iowa. The Legislature opened the door for a new assessment process in 2013 by creating the Assessment Task Force.

(Radio Iowa)

Three males who escaped from the Clarinda Academy Sunday night were captured and returned to the facility early this (Monday) morning. The teens, two of them black, one Hispanic, were reported missing at around 8:15-p.m.  They were captured shortly before 2-a.m.

No other details were provided. The escapes happened nearly one week after a black male student at the academy jumped out a window and ran from authorities. He also was captured and returned to the facility that provides treatment and shelter to at-risk and delinquent male and female youth from several states.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — A group of volunteers have restored a veterans memorial in front of the Jones County Courthouse in Anamosa that was heavily vandalized early last week. Des Moines television station KCCI reportsthat the group gathered Saturday morning to repair the damage — just in time for Veterans Day on Tuesday.

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa school superintendent fired last week has hired a lawyer to fight fraud and other allegations made against him. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that former Shenandoah Community School District Superintendent Jeff Hiser has hired Council Bluffs attorney Eric Hansen. The lawyer is a former Mills County prosecutor.

WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) — A frantic hunt for a runaway, pregnant dog ended happily when searchers found the black lab mix in an Winterset garage — after it had given birth. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the hubbub began when the dog, which was being flown from Texas to a Wisconsin rescue shelter, slipped out of her harness and fled during a stop at the local airport on Friday. The dog named Ava was found before noon Saturday nursing nine puppies.

KENSETT, Iowa (AP) — A small country church in northern Iowa has launched its own radio station. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Elk Creek Lutheran Church in rural Kensett will soon celebrate its 150th anniversary. But it only this month began broadcasting nightly at 91.7 FM under the call letters KWGH.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session Monday evening in the Media Center at the High School. During their 7:30-p.m. gathering, the Board will hear special presentations from Jarrod O’Donnell, with regard to All-State Band, and Stephanie Graham, pertaining to Honors English 9 videos.

The Board will also act on approving Open Enrollment Request, various contracts and/or resignations, volunteer coaching positions, and a five-year School Board Review Committee (SBRC) application for Increasing Enrollment, Open Enrollment, and LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Instruction for immigrant/bi-lingual students.

They’re also expected to approve participation with the Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Program (IDATP) and an Early Retirement Proposal for the District. Near the end of the meeting, the Atlantic School Board will discuss their Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Priorities, and hold closed sessions with regard to student discipline and an informal evaluation of Superintendent Mike Amstein.