DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three aides to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and six newly appointed agency directors earn more than the governor, a decision a spokesman says reflects the need to attract top talent. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa law sets the governor’s salary at $130,000 and some of Reynolds’ top appointees will be paid more. One of the top earners is Debi Durham, the director of the state’s economic development and housing agencies. A $50,000 retention bonus brings her annual salary to about $204,000.

Reynolds spokesman Pat Garrett says the high salaries are needed to keep top talent. Durham says she took the job because she believes “in the mission, not because of the pay. Other top earners include the governor’s chief of staff, the chief operations officer and chief counsel.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report a woman waiting to visiting an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was arrested Monday morning, after it was determined she had a warrant for her arrest. 20-year old Robyn Christine Hick, of Council Bluffs, was wanted for Harboring a Runaway against the wishes of their parent. Hick claimed the charge had already been dismissed by a judge, but the warrant was still valid in the system. The woman was subsequently booked into the Pott. County Jail.

A Sheriff’s Deputy called to a residence on Northern Pine Road, in Council Bluffs for a protection order violation, met with the reporting party. Afterward, a warrant was issued for 47-year old James Eric Larson, of Council Bluffs. Larson had not been taken into custody as of the time the report was issued.

And, 70-year old Michael Ray Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was transported Jan. 24th from the Buffalo County, Nebraska Jail to the Pottawattamie County Jail. Authorities say Christensen was booked-in on warrant for Failure to Appear on a Harassment in the first degree, charge.

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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man strangled his former girlfriend before setting at fire in a Sioux City hotel room. Woodbury County court records say Jordan Henry was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder. He’s already been charged with arson, trespassing and other crimes . Police say an autopsy showed 40-year-old Elizabeth Bockholt, of Hinton, was strangled. Firefighters found her unresponsive Thursday night in the damaged Wingate Hotel room, and she was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

A criminal complaint says Henry is a 29-year-old transient living in Sioux City. The complaint says he was identified on surveillance video and by witnesses who saw him leaving the area just after the room fire was discovered.

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

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Tyson Foods is recalling more than 36,000 pounds of chicken nuggets because they may be contaminated with rubber. The U.S. Agriculture Department says there were consumer complaints about extraneous material in 5-pound packages of Tyson White Meat Panko Chicken Nuggets. There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions. The packages have a best if used by date of Nov. 26, 2019 and the case code 3308SDL03. The establishment core P-13556 is inside the USDA inspection mark.

The nuggets should be thrown out or returned to the place of purchase. Tuesday’s recall comes after Perdue Foods recalled more than 16,000 pounds of chicken nuggets because of an undeclared allergen, milk.

(Radio Iowa) — The U.S. Postal Service will not be delivering the mail. Schools, churches and even some Iowa businesses are closed on this frigid Wednesday, but state government is open. “State agencies within the executive branch of state government will be open to maintain our commitments to Iowans throughout the state.”  Governor Kim Reynolds says there was very similar weather in 2014 and state government did not close then either. “In a couple of days, it’s going to be 40, so we just need to be conscientious of the weather,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds spoke with reporters yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon and read through a list tips for surviving when the “feels like” temperatures reach minus 40, minus 50 or even more frigid depths. “Stay indoors when possible. Dress warmly in loose-fitting, layered, light-weight clothing. Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently, to prevent loss of body heat. Maintain at least half a tank of gas at all times and keep an emergency supply kit in your car,” Reynolds said.

The governor’s schedule calls for her to be on the road today (Wednesday), visiting businesses in four eastern Iowa cities. “We’re Iowans and this is part of the elements that we deal with and so just be mindful that it’s nasty outside,” Reynolds said. “…I think if people are just thoughtful about when they go out into the elements, they’ll be fine.” Reynolds plans to be in Albion by 9 a.m. today, followed by mid-day tours of companies in Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids, plus a late afternoon stop in Tipton.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A deadly arctic deep freeze has enveloped the Midwest, forcing widespread closure of schools, businesses, government offices, and prompting the U.S. Postal Service to take the rare step of suspending mail delivery to a wide swath of the region because of the cold.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the first Democrats running for president propose taxing wealth and providing universal health care, a broader debate is emerging over how far Democrats should go to appeal to their base during the primary season. Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is among those pitching to the party’s center. He recently visited Iowa to test his theory that Democrats are less interested in a resistance champion than someone with a record of achieving liberal goals even with divided government.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man with a lengthy criminal record who is already in prison for other crimes has been convicted of trying to hire a hitman to kill two northeastern Iowa people. Federal prosecutors say 44-year-old Jason Harriman was convicted Tuesday of two counts of murder-for-hire. Prosecutors say Harriman began serving a 15-year federal sentence in 2011 on gun charges and made multiple phone and email contacts from prison with someone he thought was a hired killer.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a man already serving a 25-year federal prison sentence for the 2017 death of a central Iowa man whose body was found weeks after he went missing. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 28-year-old Armando Adame III was arrested Tuesday at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility on charges of first-degree murder and a weapons count in the death of 28-year-old Michael Bruce Johns.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports early this (Wednesday) morning, Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36 year old Jeffrey Sidney, of Plattsmouth,NE.   Sidney was traveling westbound and coming around the bypass in Sidney, when he failed to maintain control of his vehicle and wrecked landing on the front lawn of the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center.

When Deputies made contact with Sidney, he was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. At that time Deputies walked  him from the front lawn into the jail where he is being held on $1,600 bond.

Police in Red Oak report a traffic stop Tuesday afternoon resulted in the arrest of 50-year old Rene Telesforo Valdivia, of Red Oak. Valdivia was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense (Marijuana). He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond.

And, Red Oak Police responded to a two-vehicle accident with No Injuries, Tuesday. The collision happened at the intersection of 4th and Oak Streets, in Red Oak. Authorities say a female juvenile was traveling westbound on Oak in a 2012 Hyundai Sante Fe, when the female juvenile driver of a northbound 2007 Jeep failed to yield the right-of-way. The SUV’s collided, with the damage estimated at $5,000 altogether. No citations were issued at the scene.