Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — New results from the Iowa Democratic caucuses show Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders nearly tied with almost all the votes counted. But the race remained too early to call early Thursday with 97% of precincts reporting. Party officials were scrambling to verify the remaining results three days after Iowans gathered at caucus sites across the state to begin choosing which Democrat will take on President Donald Trump in November. Buttigieg has a lead over Sanders of three state delegate equivalents out of 2,098 counted. The deadlocked contest gave both a burst of momentum as they seek to pull away from the crowded field.

MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the victim of a deadly shooting in western Iowa as a 16-year-old boy from Mapleton. The Iowa Department of Public Safety on Wednesday said Joseph Hopkins was killed in the shooting Friday night in Mapleton, about 40 miles southeast of Sioux City. Mapleton police and medical crews found Hopkins’ body after responding to a 911 call about a shooting. An autopsy conducted Monday by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Hopkins died of a single gunshot wound. Investigators haven’t made any arrests. Officials said they don’t think there is a danger to the public in connection with the shooting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Another robbery charge has been filed against two men suspected of killing two brothers and a teenage friend at a southeast Des Moines duplex. Emmanuel Totaye Jr. and Daishawn Gills already are charged with murder and robbery connected to last Thursday’s shootings. Police said in news release Wednesday that the two assaulted and robbed a juvenile at his home earlier on the day of the shootings. Totaye and Gills are accused of killing 19-year-old Devonte and 16-year-old Malachi Swanks and a friend, 15-year-old Thayne Wright.

The Atlantic City Council rolled through their agenda items Wednesday evening, during a regularly scheduled session. During Consent Agenda discussion, Councilman Dick Casady asked why a Class-C liquor license was needed for Iowa Western Community College, in Atlantic. Ann Pross, Director of  IWCC’s Cass County Center, said the license is for their annual “Jazz and Wine” scholarship fundraiser on Sunday, March 1st. Pross said last year, they raised $15,000 to award scholarships to Cass County students.

In regular business, Council passed an Order to close select streets on June 13th, from 7-a.m. until 11:30-p.m., for the SHIFT ATL Block party. The affected streets include: Chestnut, from 7th to 6th, and 6th Street from Chestnut to Poplar. The event will include a beer garden, live music and smoke-off competition, with the proceeds benefiting SHIFT ATL by helping to accomplish their Atlantic revitalization initiatives.

The Council hear a report from Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, who recapped some key accomplishments of his department in 2019. Rasmussen also outlined his department goals for 2020. That includes, among other things:

The installation of second shelter around Lake #1 at the Schildberg Rec Area; Increasing the amounting of Nesting Boxes that can be offered within the wildlife refuge areas (In conjunction with the Iowa Bluebird Conservation Organization for some funding); removal of several Willow trees around the banks of the Schildberg Lakes, in order to increase the amount of recreational fishing opportunities; they will also get started on installing the raised box gardens at Mollett Park on East 3rd St. Place.

The Council then acted on passing a Resolution setting Feb. 19th as the date for a Public Hearing on approving “Fiscal Year 2021 Maximum Property Tax Dollars.” An advance look at the Maximum Tax Levy Rate was announced (& posted on the KJAN.Com News Page) earlier this week.

In other business, the Council set Feb. 19th as the date for a public hearing “On a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and to Borrow Money [in a principal amount] not to exceed $90,000. The final action item on the Council’s agenda, was action on passing a Resolution “Establishing the Allocation of Revenues from the City of Marne through Compensation for Specified Activities” (with regard to time and work performed by the Atlantic City Clerk and her Assistant). The Resolution set a schedule for how those funds are dispersed.

The Harlan Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Jan. 30th, 58-year old Danny Carl Thompson, of Irwin, was arrested following an investigation.  Thompson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with harassment.

On January 31st, 25-year old Kayley Jo Cooper, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Cooper was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while barred and no proof of insurance. And, 21-year old Jacob Michael Thill, of Mitchell, SD, was arrested.  Thill was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

On Monday, Feb. 3rd, 58-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Sioux City, was arrested in Harlan, following a call for service.  Mogensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication.

Harlan Police report also, 25-year old Kylie Sierra Kleffman, of Harlan, was cited Jan. 31st, for possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. The citations were the result of a traffic stop.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Board of Regents, Mike Richards, made a statement to the board today (Wednesday) on the investigation of the claims that members of the University of Iowa band were assaulted during the 2019 Iowa-Iowa State football game. “Following an investigation, it was determined there was not enough evidence available to substantiate the pursuit of any charges,” Richard says. Richards says they will continue working on the issue for the next football season.

“All three university presidents have agreed to work together to review and improve game management policies for games on each of our campuses prior to the start of the fall 2020 semester. These efforts are already underway. Richards says. He says each school has made a commitment to continue to make safety at our games a priority. University of Iowa athletic director Gary Barta got things started with a written statement that said there “inappropriate actions” toward band members and staff and said an investigation was underway.

Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard first said he did not know what the actions were. The two then released a joint statement saying there had been “rude and vulgar” behavior directed at both bands. University of Iowa president Bruce Harreld told the student newspaper that the two universities may have to stop the “Cy-Hawk” game altogether if safety can’t be guaranteed. The two sides eventually worked things out and conducted the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who returned recently from China are undergoing testing for the coronavirus. Department Medical Director, Kaitlin Pedati says the two are under voluntary home confinement while testing is done. “These individuals are isolated with Public Health Supervision and this testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We anticipate the results will likely come back to us in several days,” Pedati says.

She says they won’t release any more information on the identity of the two. “We always balance patient privacy and security with sharing information that is important to protecting the public’s health. We do that thoughtfully and in accordance with state and federal laws,” according to Pedati. “So, in this circumstance, we’re not going to be providing any additional information about the patients or their location to the public.”

Doctor Pedati says there is no confirmation that the two actually have the cornonavirus until the results come back. “There’s no recommended action that the general public needs to take at this time. Now, if that were to change, we would certainly adjust accordingly,” she says. Pedati says we are still in the flu season and everyone should continue to take precautions to avoid any kind of virus.

“We want Iowans to remember those good respiratory etiquette habits of covering your cough, washing your hands and truly staying home from work or school when you are ill — which we know is hard to do,” Pedati says. She says there is one group of people who should pay particular attention to their health. “We also want to reiterate that anybody who has traveled to China in the past 14 days and become sick with fever or breathing problems, should reach out to their health care provider and call ahead to let them now they are coming,” According to Pedati.

“And we’d like health care providers to be on the lookout for people with these symptoms who have traveled to China within the last 14 days.” Thousands of people have been infected in China and nearly 500 have died.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Buttigieg is clinging to a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in a new batch of votes released by the Iowa Democratic Party. The race remained too early to call with 75% of precincts reporting by Wednesday afternoon, almost two full days after the state hosted its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Much of the political world has already shifted its attention to New Hampshire, which votes on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s updated results show Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar trailing. Iowa officials attributed their delay to technical problems. The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of Iowa’s election, which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum.

Authorities in southwest Iowa are asking for your help in finding a stolen pickup and the man who stole it. Red Oak Police say at around 5:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), officers were notified about a pickup stolen from an alley behind  709 E. Nuckols Street. Surveillance video showed the white Chevy extended cab with Iowa license plate CCU 984, was stolen at around 1:23-a.m., and the suspect was 45-year old Stuart James Andrew Sellers, who is wanted in connection with a theft from the University of Iowa Hospital, had fled from authorities Tuesday evening. The pickup has black fender flares over the wheel wells, a silver toolbox in the back, and rust on the rear bumper. Officials say the keys to the vehicle had been left in the unlocked pickup. If you see the vehicle, call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712. You can remain anonymous, and your information could result in a cash reward.

Stuart Sellers

Authorities said on Tuesday, Red Oak Police were contacted by detectives with the University of Iowa Police, who requested assistance in attempting to positively identify a possible burglary suspect. The U-of-I Hospital had recently been the victim of a burglary resulting in a loss of more than $10,000. Items stolen included electronic equipment, printers, phones, personal belongings and miscellaneous equipment. Red Oak Police located the suspect (Stuart Sellers), and began an investigation into attempting to positively identifying him for the U-of-I Police. During the investigation, Sellers fled on foot and eventually entered a creek.

A perimeter was set up, and three K-9 units as well as the Montgomery County Emergency Management drone equipped with an infra-red search camera, searched for Sellers. Despite their efforts, authorities lost track of Sellers and called off the search at around 8:45-p.m., Tuesday. As a result of the investigation, though, authorities were able to recover a majority, if not all, of the stolen property. The investigation is ongoing, and charges are currently pending against Sellers. If you have any information on his location, contact Montgomery County Crimestoppers or Red Oak Police, at 712-623-6500.

Red Oak Police were assisting in their investigation and incident by: The University of Iowa Police Department; Montgomery, Mills, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as the Montgomery, Mills and Fremont County K9 Units.

(12-p.m. News)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is not pleased with Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s action to tear up a copy of the President’s speech right after he finished the State of the Union. “I’ll put it diplomatically — I thought it was very disrespectful…Just truly unbelievable really that the Speaker of the House would act out in such as way,” Ernst says. Ernst says it was not appropriate. “I know that she and the president have disagreements and we are obviously going through a very trying time in the last several weeks and months — but that does not excuse her behavior,” Ernst says.

Some of the trying times that Ernst refers to is the impeachment hearings. She says she will vote not against impeachment when it comes before the U-S Senate. “Bottom line, the articles of impeachment that were sent over from the House clearly do not define anything that the president has done that rises to the level of impeachment,” according to Ernst. Ernst was also asked about the issues with the Iowa Caucuses during her weekly conference call with reporters. She doesn’t buy into any conspiracy theories about what happened. “I think it was technology. And we all know that certainly technology needs to be rigorously tested,” Ernst says. “And so I don’t want to go into any of the political side conversations. So, I do think that it was simply a failure of technology.”

She says the Iowa Caucuses are still important in the selection of the president. “The process itself — you know I still believe in it and think the grassroots way that we do business in Iowa is very, very helpful. Not only to our citizens, but also very helpful to all of those candidates,” according to Ernst. “Iowa is a great testing grounds — it doesn’t matter who you are — whether you are a campaign with the least amount of money, or a campaign with the most amount of money.”

Ernst says she will continue to defend the process because she believes it puts the candidates through a rigorous test with all the questions they face in the state.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), set Feb. 26^th at 9:30-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing, with regard to a Proposed Property Tax Levy. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg said the Board discussed the proposal this (Wednesday) morning, as well. She said they are required by law to complete a Maximum Levy Budget Notice, hold a Public Hearing on the notice, and then approve by Resolution during their regular budget hearing. Berg presented the figures to the Board, which show the tax dollars raised this year was only a .95 (point-nine-five) percent increase in the General and General Supplemental Fund.

She said rural property owners would see a .25 (point Two-five) percent increase, under the proposal. In other business, Berg said Brenda Dudley, from Stuart, spoke to the Board about closing down White Pole Road for a few hours, on April. 18^th for the 2^nd Annual, “Bonnie and Clyde” Run/Walk from Dexter to Stuart. The road will be closed from 10:30-a.m. until 1-p.m. that day, for the event, which begins at the Dexter City Museum and follows White Pole Road into Stuart. It ends in downtown Stuart, near the former 1^st National Bank (The site of Bonnie and Clyde’s last bank robbery in April, 1934).

For more information look for the Bonnie and Clyde 5 mile Run/Walk on Facebook.

The Iowa Dept. of Public Safety today (Wednesday), identified the victim of a shooting that occurred Friday night, in Monona County. Authorities say an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner determined 16-year old Joseph Hopkins, of Mapleton, died as the result of a single gunshot wound. Investigators do not believe there is a current danger to the public.

The teen’s body was discovered when Mapleton Police and EMS responded to a reported shooting in Mapleton, at around 9:40-p.m., Friday.  Authorities spoke with minors in the residence as part of their investigation, which is ongoing. No further details are being released at this time.