(Radio Iowa) — Many of Iowa’s largest employers rank commercial air service as a top factor in expansion and relocation decisions. However, a national pilot shortage is threatening air services in some mid-sized Iowa cities. Pam Osgood, director of the Mason City Municipal Airport, says the shortage is being felt in both commercial and private sectors of aviation. “By 2021, the national system will need 5,000 pilots and without those pilots, 500 aircraft could be grounded,” Osgood says. “If the pilot shortage continues to swell, by 2026, there could be nearly 15,000 pilots needed which would ground over 1,500 aircraft.”

Experts in the industry say the shortage is due in large part to a massive number of pilots about to reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. Osgood says difficult FAA requirements on training and the cost of that training are among the other factors. “The training is prohibitively expensive and not eligible for traditional student financial aid and education loans,” Osgood says. “We need to make it more affordable for young men and women to get their pilot’s license.”

The Regional Airlines Association has warned the pilot shortage has already caused small regional airlines in the U.S. to shut down. The RAA has called on regulators to allow pilots to qualify with fewer hours in the air, replacing some of the training with a flight simulator.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person was hospitalized after a fire that damaged a house on the west side of Sioux City. Firefighters were dispatched a little after 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Fire officials say three people were home when the fire started near where a carport connected to the house. The injured person is expected to survive. The fire cause is being investigated.

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

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Police say the body of a missing 13-year-old Iowa boy has been found. Marshalltown police said in a news release that Corey Brown’s body was located about 10:45 a.m. Sunday in a secluded area on the west side of Marshalltown. They said there’s no evidence the boy’s death involved criminal activity, but that they will continue to investigate. In an earlier release, police said Corey was last seen around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — An idle meat-processing plant that closed in 2014 in northwest Iowa will reopen this week with new owners. The Sioux City Journal reports that Iowa Food Group has hired about 35 people initially to work at the plant in Cherokee, Iowa, and plans to increase the staff to about 100 this year. The company plans to process beef, chicken, pork and lamb slaughtered elsewhere and package it for retail. Arkansas-based Tyson Foods closed the plant in September 2014, taking 450 jobs with it.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa firefighter seriously injured in a fiery explosion that killed one of his colleagues has been sent home from the hospital. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 23-year-old Clinton firefighter Adam Cain, who was severely injured Jan. 5 while fighting a silo fire, left an Iowa City hospital Friday. Thirty-three-year-old fire Lt. Eric Hosette died while fighting the fire at the ADM grain facility.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The last of four men charged in the killing of a man at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter has been sentenced. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 21-year-old Cody Varnes pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison. Varnes and three other men were charged after the March 21, 2018, killing of 44-year-old Lee Johnson in a bathroom at Joshua House.

Sheriff’s officials in Marshall County report the body of a teen missing since late Tuesday night, was discovered Sunday morning. In their statement, authorities said “The Marshalltown Police Department regretfully reports Corey Brown, age 13, was found deceased today (Sunday). His body was located this morning at approximately 10:45 a.m. in a secluded area on the west side of Marshalltown. At this time, there is no evidence or information that indicates criminal activity is connected to this missing person/death investigation. However, this is still an active investigation and all possible scenarios will be thoroughly investigated.

Corey Brown

No other public information is available for release. The Brown family requests everyone honor and respect their privacy. The family wishes to thank the Marshalltown, Marshall County community for all of their support during this difficult time. The family also thanks the public safety personnel, and volunteers, who worked diligently during the search for Corey. The family is not accepting requests for interviews and do not wish to make a public statement at this time.”

Police in Council Bluffs are looking for a man who allegedly tried to steal a vehicle at gunpoint. Officers were called a little after 8-a.m., Sunday, to the 3000 block of Ave E for an attempted auto theft, during which the suspect pulled out a gun when confronted by the owner. The owner of the vehicle reported he had used a remote start to start his Chevy Suburban. When he walked out to the vehicle, he saw a man in the vehicle. When he went to confront the person, the suspect pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the him. When the victim ran back into his house, the suspect walked off west bound on Ave E.

Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect, who was described as being a white male, about 6-feet tall, possibly bald. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with white writing on the front, black pants and had a black backpack.  Anyone with information in reference to the incident is urged to contact: Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728  or  Council Bluffs Police Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — An idle meat processing plant that closed in 2014 in northwest Iowa will reopen this week with new owners. The Sioux City Journal reports the Iowa Food Group has hired about 35 people initially and plans to increase that to about 100 this year. The company plans to process beef, chicken, pork and lamb that is slaughtered elsewhere and package it for retail.

Arkansas-based Tyson Foods closed the plant in September 2014, taking 450 jobs with it. Tyson held onto its lease and weathered criticism that it was holding the county hostage economically.

Police in Council Bluffs were called to a residence in the 2500 block of Avenue D at around 1:17-a.m. today (Sunday), in reference to a shots fired call. Upon arrival officers made contact with the offender, Thomas Nelson. Authorities say Nelson would not follow officer’s commands, and refused to show his hands. Officers ultimately deployed a Taser to subdue Nelson. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers checked the residence to make sure there was no one injured inside. They were able to make contact with the victim who informed Police that Nelson had fired one round into the basement wall. No one was injured. Nelson was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail for Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault/Domestic, Interference with Official Acts and Discharging a Firearm within the City Limits.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says they were notified at around 10-p.m. Saturday, about minors attending a school dance in the 200 block of Broad Avenue in Stanton, who appeared to be impaired by alcohol. As a result of a investigation, eight juveniles were cited into Juvenile Court for alcohol under age, and two 18-year old’s were cited into Adult Court for alcohol under age. All those cited were released to the custody of their parent or guardian.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:00 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa firefighter seriously injured in a fiery explosion that killed one of his colleagues has been sent home from the hospital. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 23-year-old Clinton firefighter Adam Cain, who was severely injured Jan. 5 while fighting a silo fire, left an Iowa City hospital Friday. Thirty-three-year-old fire Lt. Eric Hosette died while fighting the fire at the ADM grain facility.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The last of four men charged in the killing of a man at a Council Bluffs homeless shelter has been sentenced. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 21-year-old Cody Varnes pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison. Varnes and three other men were charged after the March 21, 2018, killing of 44-year-old Lee Johnson in a bathroom at Joshua House.

PRIMGHAR, Iowa (AP) — Constituents applauded Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King at his first public event since his nearly unanimous rebuke by the U.S. House over racist comments he made during a newspaper interview earlier this month. King took questions from about 75 people at the Saturday morning meeting in Primghar. The New York Times story that led to the rebuke quoted King as saying, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization – how did that language become offensive?”

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa law license of a former Marshalltown prosecutor who stole a co-worker’s underwear has been suspended. The Iowa Supreme Court ordered the license of Benjamin Stansberry suspended indefinitely, for at least one year. Stansberry pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and trespassing charges in the case in September 2016 following his arrest a month earlier. He paid more than $200 in fines and court costs and resigned from his job in the Marshall County Attorney’s Office.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies, along with crews with the Adair County Ambulance Service, Greenfield Fire Department, Menlo Fire and Rescue as well as the Iowa State Patrol, were called to the scene of an apparent, single-vehicle accident late Saturday night.

The crash happened at around 11-p.m., near Highway 25 and 150th Street, or about 4.5-miles south of Interstate 80. No other details are currently available.

(Photos Courtesy Shellie Weed, Adair County S/O)