DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s fetal heartbeat law, an anti-abortion bill considered one of the strictest in the country, faced its first major test Friday as a state court judge heard arguments in a legal challenge to the controversial legislation. The law, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May, would prohibit most abortions once a heartbeat is detected. The judge says it may take 60 days to reach a decision.

WAUKEE, IA (IRN) – The Waukee Community School District placed Chief Operating Officer Eric Rose on paid administrative leave Friday, a day after a state audit revealed improper spending and a culture of mistrust in the district. Iowa Auditor Mary Mosiman said her office found over $130,000 in payments that were not in the best interest of taxpayers, including over $83,000 spent on team-building trips out of state and nearly $49,000 at local restaurants.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Senate Democrats have released committee assignments for 2019, but state Sen. Nate Boulton, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, is not assigned to anything. Some members of his own party, including Senate Minority Leader Janet Peterson, have called on him to resign. Peterson says she won’t give Bolton any committee assignments until the Senate Ethics Committee completes its investigation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is planning to run for re-election in 2020, according to the Des Moines Register. She says she will continue to support President Trump, and that his policies are working. She is telling anyone who wants to challenge her to “bring it on.” Iowa voters elected Ernst in 2014.