DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A right-wing conspiracy theorist from Iowa seen prominently in videos taunting a U.S. Capitol police officer and pursuing him up stairs during the Jan. 6 riot may be released from jail as he awaits federal court hearings in Washington. U.S. Magistrate Judge Celeste Bremer said in an order signed Thursday that Douglas Jensen may be released but he must remain in jail until Jan. 27 to give federal prosecutors time to appeal her decision.

This photo provided by Polk County (Iowa) Jail shows Douglas Jensen. Authorities have arrested Jensen from Des Moines, Iowa, who allegedly took part in the riot at the U.S. Capitol building by supporters of President Donald Trump. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, that officers assisted the FBI in arresting Jensen on Friday night at his home. (Polk County (Iowa) Jail via AP)

If there is no appeal, Jensen will be released that day to home confinement in Des Moines and electronic monitoring by probation officers. His federal public defenders asked for his release until his next court hearing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The jackpot for the Mega Millions lottery game has grown to nearly $1 billion ahead of Friday night’s drawing after more than four months without a winner. That record drought is thanks to bad luck, poor odds and reduced play partially blamed on the coronavirus pandemic. It’s only the third time a lottery jackpot has grown so large, but much has changed since the last time such a big prize was up for grabs in 2018.

And even as the huge Mega Millions prize and a $731.1 million Powerball jackpot won Wednesday by a single ticket sold in Maryland have juiced sales for the games, Maryland lottery director Gordon Medenica noted: “We’re not out of the wood yet.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The former CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa has been arrested and charged with first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. Records show that 40-year-old Jennifer Woodley, who now lives in North Carolina, was booked at the Polk County Jail in Des Moines on Thursday evening and released. The criminal complaints against her weren’t immediately available.

This Jan. 21, 2021, photo provided by the Polk County Jail in Des Moines, Iowa shows Jennifer Woodley. Former Make-A-Wish Iowa CEO Jennifer Woodley is charged with first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. The organization announced last summer that she had been terminated as CEO after it discovered financial irregularities during a compliance review. (Polk County Jail via AP)

The organization announced last summer that it had discovered financial irregularities during a compliance review and that Woodley had been dismissed after serving as CEO for one year.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman says applications are being accepted from County residents for various, open, County Boards and Commissions. “Cass County appreciates diversity in these appointments and welcomes all applicants at least 18 years of age and residents of Cass County. Terms and dates of appointments vary.”

A brief description follows the listing of the position.

• VACANCY BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE (4 year term 2021-2024; 1 to be appointed)
• LINCOLN TOWNSHIP CLERK (4 year term 2021-2024; 1 to be appointed)
  Township Trustee/Clerk: Four member board (three trustees and one clerk): townships of Bear Grove, Benton,
  Brighton, Cass, Franklin, Grant, Grove, Lincoln, Massena, Noble, Pleasant, Pymosa, Victoria, and Washington (Only
  Edna Township and Union Township elect officers). Township governments are responsible to provide vital functions
  such as fire protection/emergency medical service and responsible for any township owned public cemeteries.
• VACANCY ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT (5 year term 2021-2025; 1 to be appointed)
  Zoning Board of Adjustment: Five member board to review county zoning ordinance and hear requests for variances
  or special exceptions to the ordinance. Must reside outside the corporate limits of any city.
  (5 year term; IOWA CODE 335.11)
• VACANCY ZONING COMMISSION (5 year term 2021-2025; 1 to be appointed)
• VACANCY ZONING COMMISSION (5 year term 2018-2022; 1 to be appointed)
• Zoning Commission: Five member commission to review and enforce county zoning ordinance and make
  recommendations on any proposed changes to same. Must reside outside the corporate limits of any city.
  (5 year term; IOWA CODE 335.8)

Sunderman says “The Board of Supervisors is always looking for people interested in serving their community. Applications are required and can be obtained at the office of the Cass County Auditor and are also available on the county website: www.casscountyiowa.us (see DOWN-LOADABLE FORMS under Board of Supervisors: Notice of Vacancies and Application Form for Boards and Commissions) information may be obtained by calling the office of the Cass County Auditor: 712-243-4570.

Applications will be retained in our files for one year. Applications are public documents and as such may be reproduced and distributed to the public.

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

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The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says an eight-year-old male was arrested Wednesday afternoon for Burglary in the 3rd Degree-Theft from a vehicle/1st offense. Deputies were dispatched to Midstates Bank in Neola just before 4-p.m., following a reported burglary of a 2001 Chevy Impala. The boy was referred to Juvenile Court Authorities. No other details were released.

Officials with the Creston Police Department say Cook Video and Appliance reported Thursday afternoon, vandalism had been perpetrated on to two U-Haul vehicles with in the past 24 hrs. The first vehicle had two side mirrors destroyed. The second vehicle had the catalytic converter removed from it. The loss was estimated at $1,300 altogether.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Iowa Department of Public Health (as of 10-a.m. Friday) reports 1,319 new positive COVID-19 cases since Thursday. The IDPH said there have been 33 additional deaths since 10-a.m. Thursday, for a total to-date, of 4,478. Long-Term Care facility deaths are up to 1,839.  In southwest Iowa, one additional death was reported Friday (today) in each of Madison, Mills and Pottawattamie Counties. COVID-19 deaths attributed to Underlying causes amount to 4,076, while COVID was a contributing factor to 402 of the total deaths.

The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 is at its lowest level since October 7. There are now 450 Iowans hospitalized with the virus, down from 457 the previous day. The number admitted in the last 24 hours dropped from 77 to 66. There are 89 patients in ICU and 34 patients on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Western/southwest Iowa hospitals): 34 are hospitalized w/Covid; 11 are in an ICU; 3 were admitted Thursday, and 2 are on a ventilator. The number of long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 outbreaks is 69. The state reports 1,868 positive cases and 1,031 recoveries among residents and staff within those facilities.

The health department reports 310,596 total Positive cases, and 273,021 total recoveries since the pandemic began. Positivity rates continue to decline in Iowa. The 14-day Positivity rate declined from 11.3% Thursday to 11.1% today. The 7-day positivity rate also declined from 8.5% to 8.3%. There have been 1,439,736 Iowans tested for COVID-19, with 3,466,465 tests administered in the state.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday that Iowa’s vaccination data would be available on the health department website starting next week.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,147 cases; {+14}; 43 deaths
• Adair, 693; {+2}; 20
• Adams, 298; {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 417; {+0}; 8
• Guthrie, 1,036 {+1}; 24
• Harrison County, 1,574; {+4}; 62
• Madison County, 1,227; {+13}; 10
• Mills County, 1,381; {+6}; 17
• Montgomery, 874; {+4}; 24
• Pottawattamie County, 9,093; {+27}; 115
• Shelby County, 1041; {+5}; 27
• Union County,  1,102; {+3}; 23