Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport officials say recent flooding cost the city more than $20,000. That’s far less expensive than flooding costs earlier in the spring. The early June flooding cost more than $20,000, mostly for overtime. Flooding was more severe in April, and the cost totaled nearly $300,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has picked an interim director for the Iowa Department of Education. Duane “D.T.” Magee will run the department until a permanent director is named. Magee will retain his position as executive director of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Department of Natural Resources biologist says Iowa’s pheasant population likely will decline this year because of the cool, wet spring. Habitat also has been an issue for the pheasant population, but Todd Bogenschutz says the state has made progress in efforts to set aside land.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — State regulators have indefinitely suspended the license of a Coralville social worker accused of being drunk on the job. Brian Nedoba is accused of drinking alcohol and being intoxicated while providing services at a Waterloo business in September 2011.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports a bridge replacement project slated to begin Monday, June 24th, will result in the closure of Hazel Road in the victinity of Mosher Creek, for about eight weeks. The bridge is located just north of 2129 Hazel Road, between 2200th and 2000th Streets, or between Union Townships 20 and 21 in Shelby County.

Residents in the area and Emergency Responders who serve the area, should plan an alternate route of travel. For more information, call the Shelby County Engineer’s Office at 712-755-5954.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest today (Tuesday), of 20-year old Joseph Alan Sullivan, of Council Bluffs. Sullivan was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail at around 7:40-a.m., on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, on Monday, 18-year old Dylan Lee Conn. Conn, whose place of residence was not listed, was taken into custody at around 7-p.m. in Glenwood, on a warrant for Violation of his Probation. Bond was set at $1,000.

An argument that escalated into an assault Saturday evening in Atlantic resulted in the arrest of three people. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says authities responded to the 600 block of Elm Street at around 7:40-p.m., and following an investigation, arrested 44-year old Richard Dean Fineran, of Atlantic, on a charge of Disorderly Conduct, while 34-year old Adam Ramirez and 32-year old Ericka Sanchez, both from Texas, were arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly Conduct. All three suspects pled not guilty to the charges, and were released from custody on Sunday.  

Also arrested in Atlantic on Saturday, was 30-year old Brandon Eugene King, of Grove, OK. King was taken into custody on a warrant out of Oklahoma. He was being held in the Cass County Jail pending extradition. That same day, 33-year old Moises Hernandez, of Clarion, was arrested on a charge of Reckless Driving. Hernandez was taken to the Cass County Jail where pled guilty and was released on Sunday.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet one-hour earlier than usual, Wednesday morning. 

During their 8-a.m. session at the Courthouse in Atlantic, the Board is scheduled to act on: A request from the Cass County Historical Museum for additional funding; A request from the Veterans Affairs Commission to set the V-A Administrator’s wages for Fiscal Year 2014; Approving miscellaneous employment change requests for end of probationary employment and wage adjustments for F.Y. 2014; End of Fiscal Year expense appropriations following a review and amendment; and, if ready, discuss and approve entry into a 28-E agreement for Mental Health Regionalization. 

The Board is also expected to receive a report from the Family Crisis Support Network, and other, departmental reports from the Engineer, County Attorney and General Relief/Mental Health Coordinator.

An Exira man arrested in April in connection with a knifing incident outside of a business in the community, plead guilty Monday to charges associated with the crime. 21-year old Jesse Lee Brubaker was facing two Class C felony charges of Willful Injury, associated with an assault that resulted in two persons being cut with a knife. Online court records indicate Brubaker instead reached a plea agreement that reduced the Willful Injury charges to a Class D felony, and included a charge of OWI/1^st Offense.

Brubaker was sentenced to a total of 10-years in prison, the term for which will be served at the Iowa Medical & Classification Center, in Oakdale. He’s also required to pay a fine of $750 plus related court costs. Brubaker was given credit for time already served associated with the OWI charge for an offense that took place in January.   

Had he been found guilty of two Class C felony charges of Willful Injury, Brubaker could have been sentenced to 10-years in prison on each count, and would have been subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each count. The two Class D-felonies are punishable by a maximum of 5-years in prison on each count, and fines of up to $7,500 for each offense.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Months after customers blasted the company for skyrocketing rates, Iowa’s dominant health insurer says it will limit premium increases in 2014 to less than six percent for individual and small business policyholders. 

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced Tuesday it won’t raise premiums to cover increases for medical or administrative costs in 2014. Instead, it will only raise rates to offset new fees and taxes required of insurance carriers under the Affordable Care Act. The decision impacts 330,000 individuals who purchase health insurance from Wellmark, or who get insurance through small businesses with less than 50 employees. 

It comes after an increase of more than 12 percent went into effect for Wellmark customers April 1. The hike prompted customers to express frustration online and at a public hearing.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Monday of 62-year old Thomas Harrelson, of Atlantic. Harrelson was taken into custody for allegedly possessing a controlled substance believed to be heroin. Harrelson was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, 33-year old Abigail Lennon, of Atlantic, was arrested Monday on a Cass County warrant charging her with Failure to Appear. Lennon was also booked into the jail and held pending a court appearance.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Harlan Police Department is warning all businesses in the city about counterfeit bills being passed in the area. The PD confirmed the Shelby County State Bank received two counterfeit $20 bills on Monday. The bills had the same serial number. Authorities are urging businesses to check larger bills as they are concerned there may be more in the area.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)