SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Woodbury County’s former social services coordinator has filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against county officials. The Sioux City Journal reports Patty Erickson-Puttmann says in the lawsuit that the officials treated female employees differently from men and says they reduced her salary because she had filed a state civil rights complaint about her treatment. She also says the officials issued a 19-point corrective plan to her because she’d pointed out that the county auditor, Pat Gill, might have violated privacy laws in the publication of some legal advertisements.

Gill has declined to comment about the lawsuit. Other officials say the pay cut resulted from a reduction in Erickson-Puttmann’s duties. Erickson-Puttmann is seeking back pay and benefits and damages for emotional pain and suffering and mental anguish.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state has cut nearly 2,100 jobs since Terry Branstad returned as Iowa governor in 2011, a point of pride for the Republican but worrisome to some state workers who argue the reductions have endangered the public and other public employees.

The Des Moines Register’s analysis of data from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services shows Branstad has eliminated at least 2,094 full-time positions in state government. Most of those job cuts occurred in four departments. Nearly 840 jobs were cut from human services, and more than 230 were cut from transportation. The workforce development department saw more than 240 cuts, and corrections had more than 260 cuts.

Ron Forget, a former corrections officer, says reduced staffing led to assaults against him and other prison employees.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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• 4 pounds whole chicken wings
• 1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

Line two 15″ x 10″ x 1″ baking pans with foil; grease the foil.  Cut chicken wings into three sections; discard wing tips.  Place wings in prepared pans.

In a small saucepan, combine the mustard, honey, butter, lemon juice and turmeric.  Bring to a boil.  Pour over chicken wings; turn to coat.  Bake at 400 degrees for one to 1-1/4 hours or until chicken juices run clear and glaze is set, turning once.

The Creston Police Department reports three arrests took place over the past few days. On Sunday, 57-year old Dennis Elva Brown, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While License Suspended. Brown was released from the Union County Jail on his own recognizance. Also arrested Sunday, was 18-year old Donavan Michael Houghmaster, of Creston, for Criminal Mischief. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 cash or surety bond.

And, last Friday morning, 30-year old Jessica Renee Pettit, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order. Pettit was later released on her own recognizance from the Ringgold County Jail.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests over the past week. On Sunday, 47-year old Randy Etheridge, of Corning, was arrested following a traffic stop in Corning, for Driving While License Revoked based on a previous OWI. His bond was set at $2,000. Sunday afternoon, 29-year old Kyle Gile, of Lenox, was arrested following a traffic stop. Gile was charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Pills and Drug Paraphernalia, as well as OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

Saturday afternoon, 29-year old Jody Reed, of Corning, was arrested following a traffic stop. Reed was charged with Driving While Barred, and cited for Driving While License Suspended (2 counts), Fraudulent use of registration, having No insurance, Operation a non-registered vehicle, Failure to file SR-22 insurance, and Failure to Use a Child Restraint Device. Her bond was set at $4,010.

Early Saturday morning, 62-year old Joseph Ronfeldt, of Corning, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Friday night, 26-year old Devon Miller, of Gravity, was arrested in Adams County for Driving While Suspended, and on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court.. Bond was set at $300. Early Friday morning, 41-year old Christina Sweat, of Clearfield, was arrested in Corning, following a traffic stop, during which deputies saw a glass smoking device in plain view. She was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,000.

And, back on Feb. 10th, 44-year old Vicki Cunningham, of Clarinda, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, following a traffic stop on Highway 34, in Adams County. Her bond was set at $2,000.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate arrests for Driving Under Suspension. At around 12:15-a.m. today (Tuesday), 48-year old Scott Len Lowery, of Des Moines, was arrested for DUS with 5 withdrawals in effect, following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highways 34 and 71, north of Villisca.

And, at around 7:15-p.m. Monday, 34-year old Brent Lee Wagaman, of Red Oak, was arrested at the intersection of Highway 34 and 4th Street in Red Oak, for Driving Under Suspension with 14 withdrawals in effect.

Both men were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $435 bond, each.

The first quarter income report from John Deere and Company released Friday showed a drop in net income — but it also held a positive message for the ag industry. Sales were up two percent and spokesman Ken Golden says there are signs of continued improvement.

“U-S farm income is expected to increase slightly in 2017, that’s always good news for people who sell to farmers,” Golden says. “In construction and forestry it’s the overall economy and G-D-P growth, housing starts and several other areas that really are indicators for our construction and forestry business.” Deere predicts sales will increase four per cent this year.

“In recent years we’ve been talking about decreases it seems like every quarter. So, this is beginning to give us indications we are near the bottom of the agricultural market and are beginning to swing in the right direction,” according to Golden. Deere in fact had predicted last fall that sales would drop one percent this year, before revising it to the projection of the four percent increase.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A panel of House lawmakers has approved a bill that would prevent Iowa judicial courts from applying foreign law to state cases. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the bill mirrors anti-Sharia legislation passed in other states, though Sharia law is not directly referenced in the bill. The GOP-led House Judiciary Subcommittee agreed Monday to support the bill. It now heads to a full committee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s largest state employees union has filed a lawsuit challenging a new law that eliminates most collective bargaining rights for public workers. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Iowa Council 61 filed the lawsuit Monday in Polk County District Court. It seeks an order halting immediate enforcement of the changes. The lawsuit argues that the law violates language in the Iowa Constitution that ensures equality to citizens.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has defended allowing a lobbyist to attend a private bill signing of the state’s new collective bargaining law. Branstad told reporters Monday that Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity witnessed the Friday signing because the lobbyist asked. Members of the press inquired about the event and were told it was private. Branstad defended the media’s exclusion from the signing by saying he’s accessible through events like weekly press conferences.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say five people have been wounded in a shooting that involved two Ames police officers. Police say the officers fired back at people who had fired from a car into a crowd early Sunday morning. Three people in the crowd were taken to hospitals, and police say two wounded suspects and two other men were found at a Fort Dodge hospital and arrested.