DES MOINES – The State Interagency Missouri River Authority (SIMRA) will meet in Des Moines Dec. 12 to hear a presentation of “Navigation on the Missouri River” from Steve Engemann, president, Hermann Sand & Gravel, and a presentation from Seth C. Wright, attorney with Polsinelli PC about the Missouri River flooding lawsuit, Ideker Farms, Inc., et., al. v. United States of America, currently pending in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

The lawsuit is brought by farmers, landowners and business owners who sustained losses from one or more floods occurring in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

SIMRA seeks stakeholder input and makes recommendations on policies affecting the Missouri River. The group will meet at 10:00 a.m. to noon in Conference Room 3E/W in the Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.

The complete agenda is available on the SIMRA website at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/BoardsCommissions/InteragencyMoRiverAuthority.aspx

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Georgia man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a roommate whose skeletal remains were found in an Iowa basement in 2012. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports Judge Gary McMinimee ordered the mistrial Tuesday in the case of 55-year-old John Green, of Blairsville, Georgia. Green is accused of killing 58-year-old Mark Koster, who was reported missing in 2010. His remains were found buried in the basement of Koster’s Sac City home.

McMinimee made his decision after Sac City Police Chief John Thomsen testified investigators interviewing suspects “minimize the crime” because “bad people” don’t want to admit their roles. Defense attorney Charles Kenville argued that mischaracterized Green. McMinimee agreed, declaring a mistrial. A new trial will be scheduled.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials have apprehended a man accused of escaping from a work release facility in Iowa. The state Department of Corrections says 29-year-old Justin Lee Miller was back in custody Monday. He is being held at the Polk County Jail.

Officials say Miller was placed on escape status from a Sioux City work release program in August, after an unexcused absence. Additional information about Miller’s return is not available. He is serving time for convictions of willful injury, assault and escape. He was transferred to the work release program in June.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday morning in Atlantic, with regard to an amendment of the Fiscal Year 2015 Cass County Budget. On Nov. 19th, the Board of Supervisors discussed the budget and scheduled the hearing for 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Courthouse.

During last month’s meeting, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained the amendment is NOT related to a shortage of funds. In fact, he said, the “Jumpstart Program” was allowed to continue, which means the flow-through funds may be four-million dollars more than what was expected. The amendment allows the funds to be spent.

The funds are administered through SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council), are paid to contractors for work on disaster recovery and housing assistance. The funds can also be used to assist local governments in the areas of Public Safety and Communications.

In other business, the Board will hear from a representative with West Central Community Action (WCCA), with regard to a request for continued, matching funding. WCCA will also deliver its annual report. And, Cass County Weed Commission Larry Randel will present his annual weed control report to the Board.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say an Adair County woman was transported to the hospital in Creston following a single-vehicle rollover accident Monday afternoon. 18-year old Alison Metzger, of Orient, was traveling north on Highway 25 at around 2-p.m., when she came over a hill and saw another vehicle passing a vehicle as both of those vehicles were traveling southbound.

Metzger said she had no choice but to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. When she took evasive action, the 1998 Plymouth Neon she was driving went into the east ditch, and rolled onto its top. Metzger was transported by private vehicle to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, to be checked for possible injuries.

The car sustained $5,000 damage. No citations were issued.