(Radio Iowa) — A Laurens man is jailed for allegedly threatening people with a gun at the Storm Lake Walmart on Wednesday. Police allege 21-year-old Christian Eberle pointed a handgun with a green laser attached at two different people as they were leaving the store multiple times following a verbal altercation inside of the store. Eberle then fled in a car. The car was located in Albert City. Police seized a handgun from the car along about 80 rounds of ammo. Eberle was charged with four counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying weapons, all aggravated misdemeanors. Police allege the initial argument was connected to illegal drugs.

(Radio Iowa) — A longtime person of interest in the Jodi Huisentruit case has made his first statement to the media in 24 years, saying he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. John Vansice and his wife Jane released their statement on Wednesday through Steve Ridge, who is the chief operating officer of the Magid media consulting group based in Cedar Rapids. Ridge says they asked him to disclose that Vansice has recently been diagnosed with moderate and advancing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Vansice says the diagnosis weighed heavily in his decision to issue a definitive statement regarding the disappearance of Huisentruit, who vanished in June 1995, failing to show up for her morning program at KIMT television. Ridge says Vansice told him that despite the very private nature of this personal information, his desire to help find the person or persons responsible for Huisentruit’s abduction outweigh personal considerations for privacy. Ridge says he reviewed an 11-page confidential medical evaluation and can attest to the formal diagnosis of progressive Alzheimer’s Disease.

A search warrant was executed against Vansice more than two years ago, but the contents of that search warrant have remained sealed. Vansice numerous times has denied any involvement with Huisentruit’s disappearance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who was stabbed during a fight has died at a Des Moines hospital. Officers sent Monday night to check a report of fighting found the wounded man. Police say he was taken to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, where he died Wednesday. The man’s been identified as a 31-year-old Des Moines resident, Thein Aung.

Police say his death is Des Moines’ fifth homicide of the year. No arrests have been reported.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year old Chad William Perkins, of Villisca, was arrested at around 12:10-a.m. today (Thursday), for Public Intoxication. Perkins was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. At around 9-p.m. Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 26-year old Phillip Kenneth Dalton Johnson, of Red Oak. Johnson was taken into custody for Public Intoxication and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Montgomery County K9 Unit assisted at the scene.

And, at around 8:40-p.m., Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 27-year old Jackie Lee O’Dell, of Hamburg, on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear on a citation. O’Dell was transported to the Adams County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa House has voted to set a new annual registration fee for electric vehicles. The fee would be 65 dollars next year, then double to 130 in 2022. Republican Representative Ashley Hinson of Marion says electric vehicle owners do not pay much or in some cases any gas taxes that are used to maintain roads and bridges. “This bill is at its roots is about infrastructure and equity and safety,” Hinson says.

She added, “…This plan will help ensure we have those safe roads and bridges for Iowans in the future, no matter what you drive. If you use the infrastructure, you should pay for the infrastructure and that’s what this bill does.”

By last fall, there were about 800 battery-powered vehicles licensed in Iowa. Nearly two-thousand other vehicles run on electricity, then switch to gasoline when the charge expires. Represenative Chuck Isenhart, a Democrat from Dubuque, says these new fees may be too high, but he supported the bill. “We want all vehicle users, all users of our roads, to share in the upkeep and maintenance of those roads,” he says.

The bill also would establish a per-kilowatt fee for charging an electric vehicle at a public charging station. There are also hydrogen-powered vehicles on Iowa roads today — primarily buses and trucks. The bill sets a 65-cents-per-gallon state tax on hydrogen which also would be deposited in the Road Use Tax Fund. The House passed the plan on a 78-to-20 vote. It now goes to the senate for consideration.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former DuPont manager to 3 ½ years in prison for stealing trade secrets about its ethanol fuel business and giving them to a competitor who hired him. U.S. District Judge Linda Reade ordered 55-year-old Josh Isler of St. Ansgar, Iowa, to spend 42 months in federal prison. Isler pleaded guilty last summer to stealing trade secrets and making false statements to the FBI.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Getting disaster aid approved and making sure it gets to the people affected by this spring’s flooding is a priority for area Senators. The bureaucratic rules that govern disaster aid spending require an analysis of the costs and benefits of repair projects. That can make it tough to get aid money to rural projects.

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Jay Inslee is taking a methodical approach to campaign in the shadows of better-known rivals, but the Washington governor says his emphasis on climate change is the right way to start what he hopes is a long campaign. Inslee recently visited Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, making his first extended trip since launching his candidacy. He says his goal is to be noticed for his climate emphasis, then explain to voters his wider liberal record.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa businesses and individuals soon will get some limited protection from lawsuits if they hire people with a non-violent criminal record. Governor Kim Reynolds approved the new law today (Wednesday). “The bill reflects Iowans’ belief in redemption and second chances,” Reynolds says.

“Most offenders will re-enter society and, when they do, we want them to be successful and too often employers have overlooked skilled workers with past criminal records because of the fear of lawsuits.”

The shield from liability does NOT apply in cases where a past criminal conviction disqualifies someone from an occupation or certain jobs.

(Radio Iowa) — The search is now underway for the state’s best breaded pork tenderloin of 2019. Kelsey Sutter, spokeswoman for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says the competition was launched in 2003 as a way to celebrate this unique regional delicacy. “I didn’t realize until I started working at Iowa Pork that it’s really a Midwest specialty,” Sutter says. “If you go to the East or West coasts or even to the South, it’s not something that you’re going to find on menus.”

To nominate a restaurant in the past, a lot of information had to be entered on the nomination form. Now, Sutter says, the process has been streamlined. “Simply by going to our website, Iowa Pork.org, on the home page you can find the link to nominate your favorite tenderloin,” Sutter says. “There’s a search bar that you can use to search for the restaurant and all of the information is already uploaded. Simply click on the restaurant you want to nominate, enter your name and email, and hit ‘Submit’.”

The deadline to nominate your favorite pork tenderloin-serving restaurant is June 7th.”We will take the five with the most nominations in each of our eight districts across the state, so that’s going to be our top 40, and then throughout the summer months, our Iowa Pork members will help us judge those top 40,” Sutter says. “There’s a points system and they’re required to take some photos.”

A panel of judges will narrow down the nominees to five and then will secretly visit each of the top five before a winner is named in October. Last year’s winner was Three C’s Diner in Corning.

(Radio Iowa) — With little fanfare — and after more than a decade of missed attempts — the Iowa Senate has voted to legalize sports betting in Iowa. Nineteen Republicans and a dozen Democrats teamed up to vote “yes” on the bill, while 18 senators opposed it.  “Sports wagering will no longer be acceptable in the dark. The sun is shining and Iowans will be able to participate legally.”

Senator Roby Smith of Bettendorf was the only senator to speak during Wednesday evening’s debate. “This place,” said Smith, who guided the bill through six public hearings and two senate committees this year. “…It always surprises me.”

Under the plan, wagering on professional and college sports is to be managed by the 19 state-licensed casinos in Iowa. Gamblers in Iowa will be able to use a smart phone app to place their bets.  “I believe what we’re doing in this bill is the right thing to do. Sports wagering is not something I’m not fully eager to participate in myself,” Smith said, “but that does not mean we cannot ensure that Iowans have the best experience for those who choose to participate.”

The bill also legalizes “fantasy” sports prizes connected to the performance of professional athletes. It’s currently illegal for an Iowan to claim winnings from FanDuel, Draft Kings or other online “fantasy” sports games. The sports wagering issue now moves to the House, where legislation similar to what passed the senate is eligible for debate.

Last year, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened the door for states to join Nevada in the “sports book” business. Iowa is among 28 states that have moved to consider legalized sports betting this year. Six other states already took action to make the activity legal.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution setting May 14th as the date for bids on a proposed addition to the Street Department Building, and May 15th as the date for a Public Hearing on the proposal, which has garnered much talk on social media and elsewhere. City Administrator John Lund originally said $100,000 was set aside for the proposed project. Councilman Chris Jimerson asked Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm where that figure came from, and if there were ways to reduce the costs.

Jimerson said he looked at the Street Department facilities and asked what would be saved by remodeling the one stall employee restroom and knock-off 10-feet of the proposed addition dimensions. Sturm said the new bathroom would be ADA compliant, but wasn’t able to immediately furnish a cost breakdown. Right now, they have a bench to sit on in front of the building as a break area.

Mayor Dave Jones they need the room and not just a plywood table and bench. Councilperson Ashley Hayes commended the Street Department and said they deserve this addition. “Everything they do for other departments…and entities in town…and everything we have done for other departments…it’s time to give them what they feel that they need in there.”

It was pointed out that the funds for construction of the addition are coming from the Road Use Tax Fund, not property taxes or the Debt Fund. John Lund, who fielded calls all day from people complaining about the possible cost of the addition, said the negativity was getting to him. He said “The Street Department has literally been the one and only department that has had to live with working facilities like [they are now], and I’m not joking. The dogs at the Animal Shelter have a better place indoors to do stuff. This is not even a heated or air-conditioned facility where they can take their breaks. I don’t believe what we’re doing is extravagant. They’ve been asking for this for years.”

Members of the AHS Speech and National Debate Team.

At the start of their meeting, the Council recognized the Atlantic High School All-State Speech Team and National Debate Team, including: Abigail Evans; Sarah Schorle; Belle Wickman; Grace McCurdy; Olivia Engler; Genevieve Martinez; Troy Roach; Molly McFadden; Regan Watson; Lane Muell; Carina Birkel; Nolan Perez; Brycen Ericksen, and Xander Moore.