Police in Red Oak say a resident on east Nuckols Street reported Saturday that sometime on Jan. 14th, a person or persons unknown stole a packaged automotive component from his mailbox. The Turbo 350 Powerglide transmission yoke is valued at slightly more than $46.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Red Oak Police at 712-623-6500 or Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic lawmakers say they’re ready to introduce bills this session that would increase Iowa’s minimum wage, but the effort faces hurdles because of a divided Legislature and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad’s other priorities. Democrats in the House and Senate want to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour — the federal minimum — to $10.10 an hour. Some feel there’s national momentum on their side this year.

Twenty-nine states plus the District of Columbia have a minimum wage higher than the federal standard. Several increases took effect on Jan. 1. But Branstad has been vocal about other priorities, including anti-bully legislation and expanded broadband Internet in Iowa. Leadership in the Republican-controlled House has indicated more interest in funding job creation and worker training programs.

Authorities say two Council Bluffs middle schools received unspecified threats Friday that Council Bluffs police quickly determined were not credible – along with several other Iowa schools. The Daily NonPareil reports just before noon, Friday, the Wilson Middle School received a recorded call indicating a vague, external threat would be coming to the school. The school was immediately placed on lockdown, but Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Meyers said students did not appear to be in any real danger. Police presence was stepped up outside the school in response.

Shortly after Wilson received the all-clear at 12:25 p.m. and lifted its lockdown, a very similar threat was received at Kirn Middle School. Diane Ostrowski, chief communications officer with the Council Bluffs Community School District, said that though Kirn was not placed on lockdown, police responded and beefed up exterior security.

Meyers said authorities had been in contact with Harlan Police Department, as Harlan Community High School received a called-in bomb threat on Wednesday afternoon. The threat was deemed credible and classes were dismissed early, but the school was declared safe after a nearly three-hour search by law enforcement. A number of other threats were also made Friday against several other Iowa schools.

Media reports indicate similar threats were made at roughly the same time Friday to schools throughout Iowa, including: Ankeny, Cedar Falls, Davenport Central, Davenport West, Sioux City East and Waterloo West high schools. Mitch Mortvedt, special agent with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, said the DCI has not yet been asked by law enforcement to be involved with investigating the threats. However, the Department of Public Safety’s intelligence division is monitoring the situation.