IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa police chief says a dozen investigators are looking into whether the suspect in Monday’s kidnapping of two girls is connected to last year’s slaying of two cousins who vanished 90 miles away. Authorities believe Michael Klunder kidnapped 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard and her 12-year-old friend as they walked home from school. The 12-year-old was able to escape, but Kathlynn is still missing. Evansdale Police Chief Kent Smock said Thursday that investigators are now scrutinizing Klunder in connection with the deaths of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins because of similarities in the cases. The cousins were 10 and 8 when they disappeared while riding bikes last July. Their bodies were discovered in December.  Smock says investigators are “exploring anything and everything” about Klunder, who was found dead earlier this week.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has requested a presidential disaster declaration to help 19 Iowa counties affected by severe weather last month. Branstad wants to use public assistance funds to rebuild roads, bridges and other damaged infrastructure affected by heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding between April 17 and April 30. The money also can be used to cover emergency work and debris removal.

Branstad signed a letter Thursday that will be delivered to President Barack Obama. It requests the declaration for areas along a swath of central, eastern and southern Iowa, including Ringgold, Appanoose, Cedar and Warren counties. Officials say the 19 counties sustained an estimated $8.9 million in damage that could be eligible for public assistance funds.

Local residents, business owners and community leaders will have the opportunity to share their thoughts about opportunities and challenges in rural Iowa when Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, visits Atlantic on Wednesday, June 5th. A rural-issues roundtable discussion will take place starting at 10 a.m. at the Rowe Conference Room, Rock Island Depot, 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic.

USDA Rural Development’s funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $2.5 billion on essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities for Iowa families. Today, more than 1.7 million Iowans live in rural communities and areas, and nearly half of the state’s communities have fewer than 500 residents.

This past year USDA Rural Development’s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,600 jobs, aided 2,400 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 60 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure. For more information about finance programs available through USDA Rural Development, please call the office located in Atlantic at (712) 546-5149 Ext. 4. The office serves communities, businesses and residents in Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Adams, Fremont, Page and Taylor Counties.