Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report an inmate serving time in the Pott. County Jail for 2nd Degree Theft, was served Tuesday, with a warrant out of Douglas County, NE. 28-year old Richard Paul Stechenfinger, of Omaha, was presented with the warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was then returned to the custody of Corrections Staff. Bond on the Theft charge was set at $5,000. He was also being held without bond, on the Fugitive warrant.

A man being held in the Pott. County Jail for probation violation and for placement in a Residential Corrections Facility (RCF), was presented with a warrant Thursday, for Violation of Probation. 20-year old Darius Javion Hudson, of Council Bluffs, was then returned to his cell. Bond for the second probation violation was set at $10,000.

And, on Thursday, a traffic stop by the Iowa State Patrol resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Nicholas Daniel Andersen, of Omaha. Andersen was transported to Pott. County Corrections by a Sheriff’s Deputy, in connection with a Pottawattamie County warrant. Andersen was booked into the jail on the warrant.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate has dropped slightly to 2.4 percent in October, the lowest in the state in more than 18 years. Iowa Workforce Development released the figures Friday, showing the unemployment rate had fallen from 2.5 percent in September. Iowa’s unemployment rate was the nation’s second lowest, behind only Hawaii’s 2.3 percent rate. Iowa’s rate was the lowest since March 2000. The national unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in October. There were an estimated 41,200 unemployed Iowa residents in October, and 1,647,100 people held jobs.

Following a job loss in September, businesses in Iowa returned to hiring in October and added 3,900 jobs. This monthly gain more than offset a loss of 2,100 jobs last month and leaves the state up 21,800 jobs compared to one year ago. Private sectors again were responsible for all of the gain this month. Government shed 1,000 jobs following another loss of 3,600 last month and now trails last year’s mark by 1,800 jobs. Much of this loss stems from the state government level (-1,300 jobs). Overall, seven of the ten private super sectors added jobs and only three lost jobs.

Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs in October in Iowa (+2,100). Arts, entertainment, and recreational industries provided most of the added employment (+1,300). Many of these gains were due to special events bolstering staff levels in amusement and recreational industries. Construction also continued expanding this month, adding 1,600 jobs. This is now the ninth-consecutive month of job growth for the construction sector. Manufacturing grew in October in both durable and nondurable goods factories and gained 1,100 jobs. The only losses for this super sector occurred in April and May when a combined 200 jobs were pared. On the other hand, retail trade continued its struggles this month, paring 500 jobs. The super sector was lifted by usual hiring in transportation, warehousing, and utilities. This has been true throughout 2018 with transportation, warehousing, and utilities gaining 4,500 jobs annually. All other super sector losses this month were small and limited to education and health services (-300), professional and business services (-200), and other services (-100).

Annually, Iowa remains up 21,800 jobs following the October hiring. Manufacturing is now up 9,000 jobs to lead all sectors. Durable goods factories have been responsible for a majority of that growth (+6,100). Construction projects have been strong in 2018 and continued well into the fall this year, leading to a gain of 6,300 jobs over last October. Losses are light annually and limited to other services (-1,800).

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is using a pesticide to eliminate fish from a Des Moines lake as part of a decade-long effort to improve the waterway. The Des Moines Register reports that rotenone was applied Tuesday to the south side of Easter Lake to remove common carp and gizzard shad. A department release says residents and animals should avoid contact with the water during treatment. It will take a couple days for the chemical to dissolve into flowing streams, and possibly weeks to dissolve in nearby ponds and the main lake. The release says public areas will be closed until further notice.

Mark Flammang is a DNR fisheries management biologist. He disputed concerns last month regarding studies that linked the pesticide to Parkinson’s Disease. Flammang says more research indicates rotenone is safe.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation report the Interstate 29 northbound on-ramp from Virginia Street in Sioux City, will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 18, weather permitting. The temporary closure is need to place an overhead sign truss. Motorists wanting to go onto northbound I-29 in Sioux City, will utilize Gordon Drive through Wesley Parkway to Interstate 29 north.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jennie-O-Turkey is recalling more than 91,000 pounds of raw turkey in an ongoing salmonella outbreak. The recall is the first tied to an outbreak the U.S. Department of Agriculture says is widespread. It has resulted in one death and 164 reported illnesses in 35 states. Regulators did not say how many of those people were exposed to Jennie-O products. They say additional products from other companies could be named as their investigation continues.

The products being recalled include 1-pound packages of raw, ground turkey and were sold nationwide. They had a use-by date of October, but could still be in freezers. Regulators say the product should be thrown away. Salmonella in food is estimated to be responsible for 1 million illnesses a year, with symptoms including vomiting and stomach cramps.

This image provided by Hormel Foods Corporation shows the production code information on the side of the sleeve of Jennie-O-Turkey that is being recalled. Jennie-O-Turkey is recalling more than 91,000 pounds of raw turkey in an ongoing salmonella outbreak. Regulators say additional products from other companies could be named as their investigation continues. The products being recalled include 1-pound packages of raw, ground turkey and were shipped to retailers nationwide. Regulators say the product should be thrown away and not eaten. (Hormel Foods Corporation via AP)

The Audubon County Engineer and Secondary Roads Department reports, Saturday morning Mortensen Construction plans to move a large crane across Pheasant Ave just south of 170th St in Audubon County. Crews hope to have the move completed by noon, and have the road back open. Because they have to place material, boards & crane mats and remove them before the road opens again however, it could vary the time frame for re-opening the road by a little bit.

Flagers will be present, and a detour set up to help traffic get around the work, but you should note the detour is on rock roads. Officials urge you to “Please plan ahead,” and if weather does not cooperate Saturday, the move will be postponed to Monday, instead.

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

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A woman is accused of stealing narcotic pain pills while working for a Council Bluffs assisted living facility. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 31-year-old Mandi Newsom has pleaded not guilty to theft and drug charges. Her trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 15th. Newsom is accused of stealing nearly 1,900 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills from January 2017 to August 2017.
Authorities say Newsom ordered an unusual number of pills from a pharmacy and made false records of their receipt while working at Bethany Heights Assisted Living. Authorities also allege she stole pills from a patient’s locked room.

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, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of stabbing to death his roommate in southeast Iowa has been ruled incompetent for trial. Washington County District Court records say 64-year-old Clarence Pedersen is charged with first-degree murder. The judge issued the ruling last week after Pedersen underwent psychiatric examination in October. The judge ordered Pedersen sent to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville for treatment.

Washington Police Department officers sent July 11 to check a call about a suspicious death at an apartment complex found the body of 70-year-old Ed Jones , who’d been stabbed in the upper torso. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says Pedersen acknowledged owning a knife that looked like the bloody one found at the crime scene. The department also says officers found a handwritten note among Pedersen’s belongings. It said: “Kill Ed.”