SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors say the fatal shooting of an intruder by a Sioux City resident was justified. Sioux City police said Monday that charges won’t be filed against Travis Gutierrez. He shot 19-year-old Jose Montanez on April 9, after Montanez broke into Gutierrez’s home. Police say Montanez was involved in a disturbance at his home and was cut by broken glass as he jumped out from a second-floor window. He ran through alleys and then broke into Gutierrez’s home a few minutes later.

Police say Montanez was shot after refusing to leave and attacking and injuring Gutierrez. An autopsy report says Montanez had been using morphine and LSD at the time of the break-in.

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

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Police in Creston say two people were arrested at around 5-a.m. today (Tuesday), on drug charges. 31-year old Todd Reinier, of Des Moines, and 24-year old Emily Maxfield, of Melcher, were arrested on Spillway Road. Reiner was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd Offense, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,300 bond. Maxfield was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or Subsequent, and Possession of Paraphernalia. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,300 bond.

FAIRFAX, Iowa (AP) — Linn County authorities say a boy died after a lawn mower overturned, pinning him beneath. First responders were sent around 8:20 p.m. Monday to a site about a 1 mile east of Fairfax. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says the boy was trapped under the mower, which had overturned when the boy was trying to mow a ditch.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. His name and other details haven’t been released.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:38 a.m. CDT

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University is dropping claims of wrongdoing against a former employee and paying her $225,000 to resolve a financial dispute over its popular outdoor sculptures made from Legos. As part of the settlement, Iowa State has also taken several steps to restore the reputation of former employee Teresa McLaughlin. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen has written her a glowing letter of recommendation calling her an honest, innovative employee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic leaders in the Iowa Legislature are calling for hearings on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ refusal to explain her firing of former Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven. Senate and House Government Oversight Committee Democrats called Monday for hearings on Foxhoven’s sudden departure last month and want him to appear to explain what happened. The firing of Foxhoven gained attention after The Associated Press reported on his love of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of two state agencies has received approval from a state panel to buy a building and locate both agencies under one roof. Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority, received approval Monday to spend nearly $7.8 million to buy the four-story building on 10 acres. The finance authority now rents space in the building near downtown Des Moines. Continuing to lease space would have cost about $7.5 million over 10 years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of lottery players who bought tickets for drawings that were rigged by an insider may be eligible for refunds under a tentative $4.3 million class-action settlement. Lawyers for plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit and the Multi-State Lottery Association have proposed the settlement to a judge. The settlement was announced Monday. It would resolve claims stemming from former association security director Eddie Tipton’s long-running jackpot-fixing scheme.

Police in Red Oak, Monday night, arrested a woman on a warrant. 21-year old Dakota Lynn Girouex, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 10:30-p.m., on a Taylor County warrant charging her with Simple Assault. Girouex was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Police in Red Oak who were called to the Fareway Store at around 5:15-p.m. Monday, ended-up arresting 32-year old Benjamin William Hrabik, of Red Oak, on simple misdemeanor charges. Hrabik was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th degree and Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, and held on $300 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of two state agencies has received approval from a panel of top state officials to buy a building and locate both agencies under one roof. Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority, received approval Monday to spend nearly $7.8 million to buy the four-story commercial office building on 10 acres.

The finance authority now rents space in the building, on the southwest edge of downtown Des Moines. Continuing to lease space would have cost about $7.5 million over the next 10 years.

Durham has run both agencies since March 2018 and says merging them in one building allows her to align them more closely. The finance authority oversees housing assistance and community development programs while economic development works to attract business to the state.

The Iowa Executive Council approved the plan.

Rural growers can get a head start on knowing what’s in their water, before regulations take effect

AMES, Iowa – Produce growers who want to get their water tested can do so for free, thanks to an effort by the Produce Safety Team at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, which is providing five drop-off dates and locations across the state.

Local producers are reminded that the final drop off date scheduled in Southwest Iowa is Tuesday July 23, from 4-6 p.m. at the Orscheln Farm & Home parking lot, 1200 E. 7th St. in Atlantic. Testing kits can be picked up at the Cass County Extension office, 805 West 10th Street in Atlantic, from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Other drop off sites for the state are listed below.

Some producers are required to have their water tested, depending on the size of operation and the source of water, in order to comply with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act. Others may wish to test their water to be precautious, in case there are any issues.

Since testing is limited in rural areas, Iowa State Extension and Outreach is sending test cups to county extension offices and farmers markets across the state. Producers should use one cup per water source, and can submit multiple cups if they have multiple water sources.

Producers must follow all collection directions, being sure to mark the time on each sterile cup, and delivering the cup to the drop-off location within three hours.

Members of the On-Farm Produce Safety Team will receive the samples at the drop-off locations and return them to the ISU lab in Ames. Testing and results will be completed in about a week’s time.

“This is important for rural growers because water testing is going to be required by the FSMA, and there are very few labs in the state that are performing the required test,” said Dan Fillius, food safety educator with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Fillius said FDA has pushed back the compliance dates to 2022 and beyond, depending on the size and classification of each producer. However, he said testing makes sense now, so growers can be prepared and take appropriate actions to improve their water quality, if necessary.

Growers who use public and municipal water do not need to do this test. Growers do not need to belong to a farmer’s market to drop off samples, and growers from any county are welcome to use the service. The three-hour delivery of collected samples is critical.

Drop-off location: Atlantic: June 25 and July 23, 4-6 p.m., 1200 E. 7th St., Orscheln Farm & Home parking lot

For more information, visit the On-Farm Produce Safety Team online, or call 515-294-6773.

Officials with RAGBRAI report a TREK (brand) bike was stolen Sunday in Atlantic from an event participant. A picture of the bike is shown below. Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson told KJAN news they do have a white bike with a Ragbrai sticker on the back, but he was not sure what the brand name was. The A-PD will try and contact the owner once they are officially identified.

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