DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is asking the Defense and Justice Departments to explain how they handle student-on-student sexual assaults at K-12 schools the Pentagon runs on military bases worldwide. The Iowa Republican wrote Defense Secretary James Mattis and Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday asking a dozen questions based on issues raised in an ongoing Associated Press investigation.

In stories published last week, the AP found that reports of student-on-student sexual assaults or rapes often languish, and that administrators do not accurately track them. The 71,000 students who the schools educate have fewer protections than public school kids if they are sexually attacked by a classmate on campus.

Ernst, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joins colleagues who last week demanded answers and promised a public hearing.

LYTTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a traffic accident in northwest Iowa killed the younger brother of Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert. The crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. Monday near Lytton, in rural Sac County. The Iowa State Patrol says the vehicle driven by 44-year-old Deon Wingert, of Carroll, drifted into a ditch, hit a field entryway, went airborne and then rolled several times, ejecting him.
Deon Wingert was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police in Red Oak arrested an Adams County man Tuesday afternoon on Theft charges. 52-year old David Dudley Byers, of Corning, was arrested at 1905 E. Summit Street in Red Oak, at around 3-p.m., Tuesday. He was taken into custody for Possession of Stolen Property and Theft (Theft 4 & 5th Degrees). Byers was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $1,000 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Joni Ernst is asking the Defense and Justice Departments to explain how they handle student-on-student sexual assaults at K-12 schools the Pentagon runs on military bases worldwide. The Iowa Republican wrote the defense secretary and attorney general Tuesday based on issues raised in an ongoing Associated Press investigation. The AP showed how reports of student-on-student rapes or assaults often languish and that the system’s 71,000 students have fewer protections than public school kids.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The recent discovery of the USS Juneau in the depths of the South Pacific has provided some closure to people with connections to the ship that was blown apart during World War II. Hundreds died, including the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa. An expedition team backed by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen reported finding the wreckage over the weekend. The Sullivans’ story was told in a 1944 movie.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A 30-year old northern Iowa man convicted of sexually exploiting a child and extorting the minor has been sentenced to more than 28 years in federal prison. Prosecutors say Jason Marvets, of Eagle Grove, was sentenced Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of extortion.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Wisconsin man convicted of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors in Iowa say 26-year-old Carson Sibley, of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, received the prison term Monday after pleading guilty to one count of enticement of a minor. Prosecutors say Sibley twice travelled to Grundy County, Iowa, hoping to have sex with a minor.