(Radio Iowa) — A student at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City has died in an accident in Arkansas. Newton County Arkansas Sheriff Glenn Wheeler says 20-year-old Andrea Norton died after she accidentally fell Saturday from a rock formation near Jasper, about 101 miles northwest of Little Rock. Norton is from Hot Springs, South Dakota and was a member of the Briar Cliff volleyball team.

University President Rachelle Karstens posted a message asking for prayers for Norton, her family and students struggling with the loss of their friend, classmate and teammate. Sheriff Wheeler says Norton was with a group of students from Sioux City, and was reportedly re-positioning herself for a photo when she fell about 100 feet off the Hawksbill Crag. The area is a popular hiking destination within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.

Wheeler says the crag is widely considered one of Arkansas’ most-photographed hiking areas, and several people have died in falls there in recent year

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports over the weekend, through testing from the State Hygienic Lab, a Northeastern Iowan was confirmed to be infected with measles. The individual was unvaccinated and recently returned from Israel, where measles transmission is occurring. The individual has cooperated with public health officials. Public health officials are following up with potentially exposed persons to ensure they are vaccinated against measles; however, at this time there is no indication there is any threat to the public.

This is the first case of measles in Iowa since 2011, and serves as a reminder for all Iowans to ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date. Vaccines prevent diseases and save lives.

(Radio Iowa) — A key senator says it appears there is “one viable option” in the legislature for changing Iowa’s medical marijuana law this year. The Iowa House has approved a measure that changes the calculation of the cap or limit on the amount of the chemical T-H-C that’s allow in cannabis products sold in Iowa. Senate President Charles Schneider says it makes sense to measure dosages in milligrams rather than a percentage, because that’s how other medications are measured.  “When you take an Advil, the label tells you how many milligrams of ibuprofen are in that Advil,” Schneider said. “What switching this cap from a percentage to a milligram-based cap would do is more fully inform the consumer exactly what they’re putting into their bodies.”

States have been moving to expand access to cannabis products as treatment for medical conditions — and a few allow marijuana for recreational use — but it is still classified as an illegal drug under FEDERAL law. Schneider says ideally, he’d like it to be treated like any other medication.  “That, I hope, we can get to at some point, but the federal government hasn’t acted,” Schneider says. “We hear a clear outcry from our own constituents who want access to this for the different conditions that they themselves or their family members have and at the end of the day, we have to be responsive to our constituents and that’s what we’ve done with the law that we have on the books now.”

The bill that’s passed the House to change dosage measurements is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.  Representative John Forbes, a Democrat from Urbandale, is a pharmacist who voted for the bill.  “Gives more dosing options now for people who go to the medical dispensaries and can then work with their physician when they get the recommendation letter and then work with the people in the dispensary, to make sure they make the best recommendation on dosing for them,” Forbes says.

Iowans who’ve been told they only have months to live would be able to get more potent dosages of medical marijuana if the bill becomes law. The two legislators made their comments during a weekend appearance on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa Public Television.

There were several arrests in Pottawattamie County this past week. At around 2:30-a.m. Sunday, 29-year old Kaylo Jo Mackland was pulled over for speeding west of Carson at Highway 92 and 385th Street. Upon further investigation, she showed signs of impairment. Mackland was arrested for OWI/1st offense. A little after 3-a.m. Sunday, 37-year old Nathan Duane Blue, of Council Bluffs, was arrested after Deputies responded to Mercy Hospital with regard to a reported assault of a 38-year old female that took place outside the Council Bluffs city limits. Blue was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/Strangulation, Harassment in the 1st degree/threatening by forcible felony, and Kidnapping in the 2nd degree/armed with a dangerous weapon. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $30,000 bond. And, 35-year old Justin Ray Wicker, of Neola, was arrested Sunday morning at a residence in Neola, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury, in reference to an incident involving a 28-year old female. His bond was set at $1,000.

Saturday night, 36-year old Lindsey R. Fox was arrested at a residence in Council Bluffs, for Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury/1st offense (using a blunt object), in connection with an incident involving a 41-year old male. Friday evening, 59-year old Mark Andrew Korngiebel was arrested west of Council Bluffs for OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, after he nearly collided head-on with another vehicle while passing a Sheriff Deputies’ vehicle. The incident happened while the Deputy was traveling east on Highway 6 near 238th Street. Korngiebel was also cited for unsafe passing.

On April 9th, 35-year old Mathew Allen Kochen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following an investigation into a domestic assault that occurred in a vehicle on Old Lincoln Highway and involved a 36-year old female. Kochen was charged with Kidnapping in the 3rd degree, Domestic abuse assault w/a dangerous weapon – 1st offense. His bond was set at $12,000. That same day, 71-year old Michael Ray Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual offender, after a deputy was dispatched to assist a motorist at Honeysuckle and McClelland Avenue. The vehicle was stuck in the soft gravel in the middle of the road.

There were also warrants served on several individuals, including: 33-year old Patrick Ryan Daniels, of Carter Lake, whose bond was set at $10,000; 34-year old Ivan Alexander Woods, of Omaha; 45-year old Jason Thomas Thacker, of Council Bluffs (Total bond $2,495), and 30-year old Ronald Shane Hoschar, who was being held in the Pott. County Jail on other charges.

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

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CRESCO, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa woman has been given two to five years of probation for stealing thousands of dollars from a hospital auxiliary. Howard County District Court records say 58-year-old Rebecca Creger, of Cresco, was sentenced last week. She was given a deferred judgment and ordered to pay restitution of $20,275. A deferred judgment allows Creger’s conviction to be removed from court records if she fulfills her probation terms.

She’d pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct. Prosecutors dropped a theft charge in return. Authorities say Creger wrote checks to herself in 2017 while she was treasurer of the Regional Health Services of Howard County Hospital Auxiliary. She told an investigator that she needed the money for medical bills and that she wanted to pay it back.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people inside a sport utility vehicle died when it was struck by a train in Cedar Rapids. The crash was reported around 4:20 p.m. Sunday near Tait Cummins Memorial Park. The names of the deceased and other details about the crash haven’t been released. The crash is being investigated.

Five people were arrested on separate charges over the weekend in Creston, and two property owners reported incidents of vehicle vandalism. Creston Police say 24-year old Collin Zachary Wilber, of Bay City, Michigan, was arrested early Saturday morning, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Saturday afternoon, 47-year old Anita Ruth Michael, of Creston, was arrested for Assault. She was being held in the Adams County Jail before being released on a $300 bond. Saturday evening, 32-year old Brodie Lee Pingree, of Creston, was arrested at his home for Violation of a Protection Order. He was released after seeing the magistrate.

27-year old Clara Margaret Winfrey, of Prescott, was arrested Saturday night for Violation of a Protection Order. She was held in the Adams County Jail until seen by a magistrate and then released. And, 49-year old Randy Eugene Overholtzer, of Creston, was arrested Saturday evening for Driving While Revoked. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.

A pickup truck was vandalized sometime late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, in Creston. Two tires on the Ford F-250 were punctured while the vehicle was parked at the Creston Supertel motel. The loss was estimated at $200. And a man residing in the 700 block of W. Adams Street in Creston, reported someone vandalized his vehicle while it was parked outside of his home. The loss was estimated at $4,000.

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 Atlantic City Council has a full agenda for their meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in their chambers at City Hall. Among the topics of discussion, is that which pertains to erosion issues and possible remedies for Troublesome Creek, which is seeing increased erosion near the AMU well fields, and that will eventually encroach on the trail system. Snyder and Associates’ Jeff Godwin will explain the problem in more detail and how it can be fixed.

The Council will then hold a Public Hearing on Designating the Urban Renewal Area for the Atlantic Downtown Revitalization Project, as part of the required process of formally applying to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Downtown Revitalization Fund. SWIPCO’s Alexis Fleener will be present to update the Council on the project. The hearing will be followed by action on a Resolution of “Necessity to establish the boundaries of the Atlantic Facade Improvements Phase 1 Project Area by identifying the District a blighted area.”

The Council will act on a related Resolution to authorize Mayor Dave Jones to make an application to the CDBG Downtown Revitalization Fund, and act on an Order to Adopt an Administrative Plan for the Atlantic Downtown Revitalization Project. In other business, the Council will consider a bid of $5,350 for City-Owned Property at 602 Spruce Street, which is the full price for the lot.

They will also hold a Public Hearing on the Plans, Specifications and Form of Contract for the 2019 Palm Street Improvement Project, the 85 page document for which is available in advance by request, from the City Administrator. The hearing will be followed by: a Resolution approving the plans, specs & form of contract; a review of the construction bids, and awarding of contract for the project.

Among the other action items on the City Council’s agenda, is the setting of a bid date and public hearing for the addition of a break room to the City Shed on the northwest side of town. The City has set aside $100,000 for the proposed project (that does NOT mean it will cost that much. It’s the maximum budgeted). The Council will also act on an Order to approve an electrical easement for an alley off 10th Street, (east of 708 W. 10th Street) between Birch and Mahogany Drive, as a follow-up to a request from AMU.

And last but not least, the Council will hold the first reading of an Ordinance amending a 2011 Re-codification of the Municipal Code enacted to assist City Officials and the RAGBRAI Committee in dealing with the public health and safety issues associated with the event to be held July 21st-22nd. And, the Mayor will discuss the future of the Atlantic Senior Center. New developments include: another party has expressed an interest in the building, and that they Elks may be considering another bid submission. Mayor Jones is likely to have the matter reviewed by the Personnel and Finance Committee, according to City Administrator John Lund.