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

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BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials are trying to stop the spread of gypsy moths in eastern Iowa’s Jackson County. The Telegraph Herald reports that the state conducted aerial treatments of land west of Bellevue earlier this month. The gypsy moth has spread slowly west from Massachusetts since the 1870s. It’s an invasive species that can cause extensive deforestation as its larvae eat leaves, particularly oak leaves.

Mike Kintner is gypsy moth outreach and regulatory coordinator for Iowa, and he says last year’s treatment reduced the number of gypsy moths, “but we noted that there was movement northward. This year we’re trying to stop that spread.”

Creston Police report five arrests took place over the past few days. At around 2:45-a.m. today (Monday), 21-year old Klay Logan Evans, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Sunday afternoon, 42-year old Jeremiah Lee David Parcher, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. At around 3:40-a.m. Sunday, 57-year old James Leo Pettit, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

Just before 4:30-a.m. Saturday, 25-year old Tyler Douglas Smith, of Creston, was arrested by Creston Police for OWI/1st offense. And, Friday afternoon, 33-year old Cassie Ann Wilmeth, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. All five subjects were later released on bond.

(7-a.m. News)

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that at around 1:50-a.m. today (Monday), officers responded to investigate a report of a sexual assault that occurred at a local motel. A 39-year-old female reported that she had been sexually assaulted by a male acquaintance. Officers located and arrested 31-year old Anthony Louis Applebee, of Cohasset, Minnesota, on probable cause complaints for felony sexual abuse in the 3rd degree and false imprisonment.

Applebee was taken into custody without incident and is being held at the Page County Jail on no bail pending an appearance before the court. Brothers said the case was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public. Reports concerning the incident have been submitted to the office of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — The warmer weather usually means homes sales start to pick up, but the president of the Iowa Association of Realtors expects the flooding to have some impact. John Goede says some of the impact may have already been seen in the March sale numbers that were down. “I know that there were all kinds of buyers and sellers and real estate agents that were just trying to keep their communities from washing away,” Goede says. He says it’s natural that the flood response would have an impact. “There’ll be few showings, fewer listings, few pendings, just because of that.” he says.

Goede believes the impact is just starting. “I think it’s going to be a dampening impact,” Goede says, “I would be surprised if the numbers would come up. I think it will dampen it for the next three months.” Goede has a real estate agency in Spencer.

Police in Red Oak, Sunday evening, arrested a man on felony criminal mischief charges. 21-year old Devon Lee Smith, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:20-p.m. for Criminal Mischief in the 2^nd degree, a (Class D Felony). Smith was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people were taken to a hospital after a house fire in Cedar Rapids. Firefighters say the front of the two-story house was engulfed in flames when firetrucks arrived early Saturday morning. All six people in the home got out on their own, but three were taken to a hospital. One occupant who leaped from a second-story window had to be helped away from the structure.
No names have been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans may be getting more door knocks and phone calls lately from businesses and individuals offering to help out with lawn care, tree trimming and clean-up work. While many of them may be legitimate, Bess Ellenson with the Better Business Bureau says there are plenty of scammers out there looking to take advantage of you in the spring season. “We always recommend that people get everything that is supposed to be done in writing,” Ellenson says, “so if something happens where you don’t get the work you want done, the work that they did falls through, you have a little more grounds to fight.”

Ellenson says one test of a company’s legitimacy is finding out if they’re insured — as required by the state. If they’re not, the business could be shady and you could end up paying, one way or the other. Ellenson says, “Let’s say you hire somebody to come trim some trees and they don’t have insurance and they’re on a ladder and they fall, you could be liable for that, you could be liable for their injuries.”

She recommends getting multiple quotes for any job you want done and always bring the company out to your property in person to get the most accurate estimates. Research prospective yard companies at BBB.org.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a woman who was shot while driving in northeast Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the shooting happened on Highway 218 on the outskirts of Waterloo around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Waterloo police say a bullet struck a woman in the neck as she was driving. The bullet continued on to strike one of the woman’s two male passengers and injure him. Authorities haven’t released the names of the woman or the injured passenger.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a Waterloo man kidnapping and trying to kill a woman by intentionally wrecking the car they were in last April. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that 55-year-old Ronald Share was convicted Friday of kidnapping, attempted murder, willful injury and eluding police. He faces a mandatory life sentence on the kidnapping count alone when he’s sentenced June 25.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — Is the U.S. ready to put a woman in the Oval Office? Women are among the Democratic Party’s most energized and engaged voters and were more than half the electorate in the 2018 midterms. Democrats sent a historic number of women to Congress last year and have a record number of women running for president. Given Democrats’ deep desire to oust President Donald Trump, some don’t want to take any chances with their nominee. Said one woman AP spoke with: “I feel that America’s just not there yet.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have ended the 2019 legislative session. Legislators adjourned the session Saturday that was highlighted by the passage of bills that authorize farmers to grow hemp, gamblers to bet on sports and a requirement that local governments publicize and get a supermajority vote on property tax increases. The session ended with bills on gun rights, abortion, animal abuse penalties, traffic cameras, Medicaid work requirements, judge selection and solar energy fees left unfinished.