DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Republicans are advancing a legislative effort to ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected by adding the measure to a separate bill.

A Republican-led panel agreed Wednesday to approve legislation that would ban the sale of fetal tissue. The heartbeat provision, which would ban abortions as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy, was tacked on during the meeting. The bill heads to the House Human Resources Committee, which is expected to take up the measure Thursday.

Rep. Shannon Lundgren, a Peosta Republican who led the panel, defended the bill’s change in scope. She argued the Iowa Senate passed a similar heartbeat bill earlier this year.

The House’s heartbeat provision would remove proposed penalties against a doctor who performs an abortion after a heartbeat is detected.

Using funds obtained through criminal forfeitures, the Mills County Attorney’s Office donated a new bite suit to the Mills County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit. The bite suit is one of the many tools the K9 Unit utilizes for regular training. Deputies and volunteers wear the suit to reduce the risk of severe injury during apprehension exercises.

On March 5, 2018, Naeda Elliott, Mills County Attorney, and Tyler S. Loontjer, Assistant Mills County Attorney, presented the suit to Deputy Josh England and his K9 partner, “Valor,” and Deputy Asa Mather and his K9 partner, “Zehn,” at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office.

Mills County Jailor Connor McQuillan bravely volunteered to break in the suit by taking the first bite from each of the dogs. Elliott said in a press release, that “The public may not be aware of how much training and expense goes into making these dogs specialized assets for our law enforcement.” She goes on to say “The dogs are an essential tool in detecting drugs and combating crime. We are grateful for the assistance the public has provided and this is just a small token of my office’s appreciation for the great work the deputies and the canines do on a daily basis.”

Deputy Josh England said “I am excited to put the new suit to work. We (the K9 Unit) appreciate the residents and businesses of Mills County supporting our mission. Our Unit relies almost exclusively on the donations it receives from the public for the care and equipment directly related to our K9 partners.”

If you would like to make a donation to the Mills County K9 Unit, contact the Mills County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 527-4337.

The Harlan Police Department reports three people were arrested March 11th, 24-year old Brandon Christopher Allen, of Harlan, was arrested for domestic abuse assault following a 911 call. Allen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault. Allen was arrested that same day for Violation of a No Contact Order, and returned to the Shelby County Jail. And, 53-year old Richard Vernon Shiernbeck, of Harlan, was arrested March 11th, following a traffic stop at 12th and Morningview Drive.

Shiernbeck was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, prohibited acts penalties, gathering, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, fail to maintain safety belts, failure to have a valid driver’s license, and operating a non-registered vehicle. 56-year old Ginger Kay Spray, of Harlan, was also arrested. She was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, gathering, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The H-PD says also, that on March 9th, 41-year old Lindy Jo Carter, of Harlan, was arrested following a search of property. Carter was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. And, 36-year old Krista Raye Barry, of Manilla, was cited March 9th, for driving while suspended following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highways 59 and 44.

A H&H Dump body trailer that was reported stolen Dec. 18th from a rural building site south of Clarinda, was recovered March 11th by Deputies with the Nodaway County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department. The trailer has since been returned to its rightful owner. An investigation into the person or persons responsible for stealing the trailer, is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident, is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports today (Wednesday), three arrests took place late last week into the weekend. Last Friday afternoon, 19-year old Seth Michael Lewis, of Shenandoah, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Probation Violation. The warrant stemmed from an original charge of O.W.I. 1st Offense. Lewis posted bond and was released pending future court proceedings.

And, last Saturday, at around 4:50-a.m., Page County Deputies stopped a 2011 Chevy Malibu for a traffic violation on Highway 71, south of Clarinda. During the traffic stop, 20-year old Erika Jean Mullen, of Clarinda, was arrested for O.W.I. 1st Offense. Mullen was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office for further testing. She was held in the Page County Jail until she posted $1,000 bond, and was released pending further court proceedings.

At around 4:05-p.m., Saturday, a Page County Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 2300 block of Highway 2, about three miles west of Clarinda. During the traffic stop it was found that the driver, 38-year old Michael Wayne England II, of Emerson, had a suspended driver’s license. England was arrested for driving under suspension and transported to the Page County Jail. He was booked into the Page County Jail for inability to post bond.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer, Wednesday (today), said two people were arrested over the past couple of weeks, for Domestic Abuse. On Feb. 27th, 21-year old Zeth Lee Petersen, of Audubon, was arrested  for Aggravated Domestic Abuse. And, on March 9th, 34-year old Ryan Mark Biensen, of Audubon, was arrested for Domestic Abuse. Both were transported to the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

Yesterday (Tuesday), 45-year old Verlyn Duane Richardson, of Audubon, was arrested by Audubon Police, on an active warrant.  Richardson was transported to the Audubon County Jail, where he posted cash bond and was released.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should act immediately to make flood control the top priority on the Missouri River, an attorney for hundreds of farmers, landowners and business operators said today (Wednesday), after a federal judge ruled the agency was responsible for recurring flooding. Judge Nancy B. Firestone’s ruling Tuesday in Washington cited river management changes initiated by the Corps of Engineers starting in 2004, including efforts to aid endangered fish and birds, that led to damages estimated to exceed $300 million in four states: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. The Corps manages the Missouri River’s system of dams and locks and decides when and how much water is released from reservoirs into the river.

In her 259-page ruling, Firestone wrote that flooding “was caused by and was the foreseeable result” of the Corps’ management of the river. Another trial will start in October to determine how much money the lawsuit’s 372 plaintiffs will receive. It wasn’t clear whether the U.S. government planned to appeal the ruling. The lawsuit, filed in 2014, contended the Corps unconstitutionally deprived people of their land, essentially taking it without compensation. Firestone found in favor of the plaintiffs in five of the six years in which flooding was blamed on Corps management, disallowing flood claims in 2011.

R. Dan Boulware, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said he will ask the judge to reconsider her decision disallowing the 2011 flood claims. Still, Boulware said the ruling makes it clear that the Missouri River is changed and is more prone to flooding. The lawsuit contended the Corps made a management shift in 2004 that downplayed flood control while emphasizing restoring ecosystem and habitat creation for threatened and endangered species. The court ruled that practices such as notching of dikes and reopening of chutes worsened the flood risk. The lawsuit also cited the Corps’ practice of releasing threatened and endangered species from reservoirs, even when river levels below the dams were high. And, it cited increasing reservoir storage as a factor in the recent floods.

The 63-day trial began in Kansas City, Missouri, before moving to Washington. It concluded in December.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports nine arrests took place over the last week. Four people were arrested Monday on drug charges, in Atlantic. 48-year old Ronald Bacon, of Altoona, 43-year old Virginia Keasey, of Stuart, 27-year old Callyn Pollock, of Anita, and 20-year old Nathaniel Riesberg, of Atlantic, were taken into custody. Bacon was arrested for Possession with the Intent to Deliver, Keasey and Riesberg were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, each. Pollack was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. All four were also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. They were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Last Saturday, Atlantic Police arrested 46-year old Gregory Jennings, of Atlantic, for Assault, and Public Intoxication. And, 27-year old Brittany Wood, of Iowa City, was arrested for Assault on Persons in certain occupations, Disorderly conduct, and Interference with Official Acts. Both were booked into the Cass County Jail.

On March 9th, 27-year old Alicia Dellaca, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. And, on March 6th, 53-year old Mitchell Thompson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. That same day, 31-year old Ruben Eram, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/2nd offense. All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.