DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State lawyers representing Gov. Kim Reynolds say lawmakers lack the legal standing to bring a lawsuit challenging her use of a reserve fund to plug a budget hole. Assistant attorneys general defending Reynolds and Department of Management Director David Roederer asked a judge Monday to dismiss the lawsuit, which alleges the two illegally transferred $13 million from the State Economic Emergency Fund in September. A hearing is set for next month.

Democratic representatives contend in the lawsuit that the fund is intended to cover unexpected drops in revenue and that the legal conditions weren’t met for the Republican governor to use it. Reynolds’ lawyers argued that lawmakers lack standing because they haven’t demonstrated “a personal interest at stake or an injury that is more than abstract.”

Lawmakers’ attorney Gary Dickey says it’s disappointing that Reynolds would “attempt to hide behind procedural technicalities” after her office called the lawsuit politically motivated.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents occurred during Monday’s snow storm (Other than the fatal accident covered by the Iowa State Patrol). At around 11:30-a.m., a single-vehicle accident occurred on westbound Interstate 80. Officials say a 2008 Toyota Highlander owned and driven by 49-year old Long Ngoc Nguyen, of Des Moines, was westbound on I-80 when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow, entering the north ditch and striking a tree. Nguyen was transported to CCMH via Medivac. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $8,000.

And, just before Noon, Monday, a two-vehicle accident happened on eastbound I-80. A 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 22-year old Johnnie M. Wilson, of Omaha, was eastbound on I-80 when the driver braked for slowing traffic in front of him. A 2011 Chevy Impala owned and driven by 23-year old Charles Scott Rettey, of Des Moines, attempted to pass Wilson’s vehicle and came into contact with the rear driver’s side of Wilson’s vehicle. Both vehicles began to spin on the slick road and ended up in the median. No injuries were reported. Damage to Wilson’s vehicle is estimated at $4,500; damage to Rettey’s vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on February 1st, of 34-year old Christopher Leon Bomer, of Atlantic, on a Felony charge of Possession of Marjiuana 3^rd or Subsequent Offense, and a serious misdemeanor OWI 1^st Offense charge. Bomer was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on $5,000 bond. On February 2nd, Deputies arrested 31-year old Ashley Chantelle Nicole Hetterich, of Denison, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Hetterich was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $15,000 bond.

On February 6th, Cass County Deputies arrested 18-year old Colin Edward Peterson, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department Felony warrant for Theft 2^nd Degree. Peterson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. That same day, 53-year old Randall Joe Conry, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Conry was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a Page County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured during an assault at the jail, Tuesday. The Deputy suffered a fracture in the nasal cavity area of his face, and was treated at the Clarinda Regional Health Center’s Emergency Department. The Deputy was released from the hospital and has since returned to duty. The incident began a little after 1-a.m. Tuesday, when Clarinda Police Officers & Page County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to investigate an assault that had occurred at 506 E. Tarkio St.

After responding, officers and deputies arrested 26-year old Michael Ryan Weeden, of Clarinda for assault resulting in bodily injury to a seventeen-year-old male juvenile at the residence. The juvenile did not require medical treatment. While being booked into the Page County Jail, Weeden struck a Page County Sheriff’s Deputy in the face with a closed fist. Weeden has additionally been charged with assault on a peace officer resulting in bodily injury and resisting arrest resulting in bodily injury. Weeden is currently being held at the Page County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Police reports concerning these incidents have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

Voters in the Glenwood Community School District, Tuesday, approved passage of a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) that will generate about $3.7-million for a long list of renovations to the complex, including a new track surface, a press box, bleachers, locker rooms, concession stands, ADA compliant restrooms and a parking lot. Unofficial results from the Mills County Auditor’s Office show the physical plant and equipment levy referendum passed 969-to-838 (or, 53.62 percent-to-46.38 percent).

The levy amounts to 85-cents per thousand dollars property valuation. Voters rejected the first referendum on the issue last April by a super majority. Tuesday’s PPEL referendum passed on a simple majority.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voters in two Des Moines suburbs have approved bond measures to build new schools. The Des Moines Register says Ankeny voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an $18 million bond referendum to build a new elementary school. It will be built north of the Des Moines Area Community College campus in the Prairie Trail development. Construction is planned to begin in the fall and is set to open in 2020. Officials say the bond will not affect property tax rates.

Urbandale voters approved a $59 million plan to build two new elementary schools to replace four 50-plus-year-old school buildings set to be closed. The bond will also cover construction of the district’s first fitness center. Urbandale school officials say the consolidation will save the district $1.8 million annually. Construction won’t begin for another 18 months.