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) — Republican Senator Joni Ernst says now that there’s divided government in Washington, it’s up to President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders to find a border security solution that ends the partial government shutdown. “I would tend to agree that not all areas of our border needs a physical barrier if those are adequately patrolled by Border Patrol agents, if we have the technology to monitor those areas without having a physical barrier and can adequately respond in a timely manner to illegal border crossings,” Ernst says.

But Ernst says some areas of the border can only be secured with “a barrier of some form.” She says capturing terrorists, drug smugglers, gun runners and human traffickers along the border is a national security priority. “And by having a physical barrier in some of those places, we can shape the way the traffic is flowing, the foot traffic,” Ernst said. Ernst says she learned in the military that barriers on a battlefield funnel people into areas where they can be apprehended. Ernst told Iowa reporters on a conference call yesterday (Thursday) that she would not support a deal that ONLY funds more agents and more surveillance along the border, because a wall or fencing is necessary in some areas. The “smartest way to move,” according to Ernst, is to have Border Patrol agents and the Department of Homeland Security map things out. “I do think it needs to be a comprehensive plan that allows us to make smart choices on how we spend our dollars on the border,” Ernst says.

About 25 percent of the federal government has been shut down since December 22nd. President Trump has repeatedly said he will not agree to reopen the government until congress approves five-point-seven BILLION dollars for a border wall.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The city has spent about $10.5 million to buy 78 homes damaged by June’s flash flooding in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that most of the residences are situated along Fourmile Creek in northeast Des Moines, the area hardest hit. Demolition began this week. The city used money generated from stormwater utility fees rather than relying on state or federal sources, which can slow the process. City officials have said buying the most flood-prone properties and demolishing the homes reduces the chances of more damage or resident injuries in the future.

The average purchase price of the 78 homes was more than $136,000. The city offers were up to 110 percent of the homes’ assessed values.

(Radio Iowa) — The eastern Iowa town of Clinton will grow by several thousand today (Friday) as a public visitation is held for the firefighter who was killed in the line of duty last weekend. Thirty-three-year-old Lieutenant Eric Hosette died in an explosion Saturday while fighting a fire at the A-D-M plant in Clinton. Another firefighter was critically hurt. Fire Chief Mike Brown says mourners are expected from near and far to pay their respects, adding, the outpouring of support is tremendous. “Our community really becomes an amazing place when things are bad,” Chief Brown says. “They’ve really shown that again. They’re coming in here just to hug people, just to drop off food or flowers or money and they care. They really care about these two guys and the rest of us.”

Special red lighting is now illuminating the fire station at night and many residents are displaying red lights on their homes to show support for the department. Reports say local stores have sold out of the red light bulbs. Chief Brown says it’s difficult to imagine how they proceed without Hosette, but he knows they will. “We’re going to move on and we’re going to have a big void to fill but we’re going to get stronger, eventually,” Brown says. “It’s going to take a while but everybody’s doing everything they can to move forward.” The firefighter who was injured in the blast, 23-year-old Adam Cain, remains at University Hospitals in Iowa City in critical but stable condition. The chief says he’s been told by veterans from other fire departments that this death will leave a permanent mark on the department. “It is going to be changed forever but we absolutely hope that it’s going to change for the better, make us stronger, make us care for each other more, make us train harder, make us safer, make us work harder,” Brown says. “It’s going to be positive change.”

He says the support has come not just from within the community but from across Iowa and from all over the nation. “How do you honor somebody’s memory? By doing something good,” Brown says. “We’ll continue to change for the better in his honor.”  Hosette’s public visitation is scheduled from 2 to 8 P-M today at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton. Services for the community to honor Hosette will be held at 11:30 A-M tomorrow (Saturday) at the bandshell in Riverview Park in Clinton.

A private family burial service will be held at the Rossiter Cemetery rural Charlotte (char-LOT) after the service. Hosette leaves behind a wife and young daughter. He also served as the fire chief in the Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department. Donations can be made to the family through a fund established at Clinton National Bank.

SHERRILL, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters have found the body of a woman inside the charred remains of a Dubuque County home. Firetrucks were sent to the home west of Sherrill about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. The body was found after the blaze was extinguished. Fire officials identified the woman as 53-year-old Lisa Kloft. An autopsy has been ordered.

Another resident of the home was taken to a Dubuque hospital and then flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. He’s been identified as 52-year-old John Oglesby. Fire officials say he suffered burns and smoke inhalation but is expected to survive.

The fire cause is being investigated.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a man from Ringgold County was arrested Thursday night on drug and alcohol-related charges, following a traffic stop. Jack Snyder, of Diagonal, was placed under arrest for OWI1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine)/1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana)/1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a digital scale and 3 meth pipes). Snyder was also cited for Speeding, Unsafe Passing, and Open Container.

Jack Snyder

His arrest took place after Adams County Deputies saw a vehicle traveling 72 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle also passed a semi in a no passing zone into oncoming traffic. A traffic stop was conducted at around 7:23-p.m., near the intersection of Highway 34 and Sycamore Avenue. During the course of the investigation, K9 Baxo was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics.

A man from Nebraska faces multiple charges following a burglary and stand-off Thursday afternoon, in Council Bluffs. Bluffs Police say Officers had been attempting to locate 27-year old Joshua McCoy, of Omaha, earlier in the day, for charges of criminal mischief and a protection order violation (in association with a 33-year old female victim). McCoy had valid warrants out of Nebraska.

At around 2:30-p.m.,  McCoy was located hiding inside of an apartment he had just forced entry into. McCoy refused to comply with orders to come out and was found to be armed with a hammer. One bean bag round from less than lethal shotgun was discharged, striking McCoy. He ultimately surrendered without further confrontation at around 3:36-p.m. McCoy was treated and released by Council Bluffs Fire Department medics at the scene, and then transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections.

Joshua McCoy

He’s been charged with:
1. Fugitive from Justice for the Nebraska warrant
2. Burglary 3rd Degree (Class D Felony) for breaking into the apartment intending to harm the victim.
3. Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) for damage to the apartment
4. Harassment 1st Degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor) for threatening the victim
5. Violation of a Protection Order (Simple Misdemeanor) for violating a protection order
6. Interference with Official Acts (Simple Misdemeanor) for refusing to comply with orders

The Iowa State Patrol reports a Polk County man faces two counts of Homicide by Vehicle – Reckless Driving and OWI, in connection with a November 10, 2018, two vehicle crash that took place in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 near the east mix master, in Des Moines.

Authorities say a vehicle driven by 39-year old Zlatan Vukasinovic, of Des Moines, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 and struck a westbound vehicle head-on, driven by 31-year old Franklin Sylalom, also of Des Moines. The head-on crash resulted in Sylalom’s death.

On Tuesday, January 9th, 2019, Vukasinovic was booked into the Polk County Jail on the charges mentioned. He was being held on a $200,000 bond for Homicide by Vehicle/Reckless Driving, and without bond for the Homicide by Vehicle/OWI charge.

ZlatanVukasinovic

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Steve King likes to note that President Donald Trump has referred to him as “the world’s most conservative human being,” but the Iowa congressman is bracing for what could be his toughest campaign since taking office 16 years ago. The challenge isn’t from a Democrat, but from a conservative state legislator who announced he’d seek the Republican nomination in the sprawling 4th District, saying voters needed an effective leader rather than “more sideshows and distractions.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa GOP legislative leaders say they plan to go into the 2019 session challenging the way things are done in state government several issues including property taxes and picking judges. Senate Republican leader Jack Whitver said Thursday at a legislative forum hosted by The Associated Press that Iowans expressed confidence in his party by returning it to power again and that means keeping campaign promises.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are criticizing a fellow GOP lawmaker for making what they say are “racist” comments. Rep. Steve King of Iowa was quoted in The New York Times saying, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization _ how did that language become offensive?” Rep. Liz Cheney tweets that King’s remarks are “abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse.” Rep. Justin Amash says, “This is an embrace of racism, and it has no place in Congress or anywhere.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa workplace safety inspectors were fired in what they are calling retaliation for blowing the whistle on a hostile environment inside their agency. The firings of Jason Garmoe and Travis Stein are the latest turmoil at the Division of Labor, which has been rocked by personnel turnover and accusations of cronyism and harassment. The agency accused both of misconduct that included leaving a state vehicle running for two hours while conducting an inspection _ an allegation they call false.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says “It appears the unseasonably mild weather is coming to an end as winter weather approaches and a winter weather advisory goes into effect.” Bothers asks residents to help out the snow plow operators, by following the city’s parking ban, which states:

“No person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more. Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $15.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fees in order for the vehicle to be released.”

The parking ban remains in effect until the snow ceases to fall and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb.