OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of rural bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests the regional economy is growing. The overall index of the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet survey for December climbed back above growth neutral to hit 54.2, compared with 49.9 in November. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the surveys over the past several months indicate the regional economy is expanding outside of agriculture. The survey’s confidence index slumped to 44.3 from November’s 47.0, and Goss says tariffs, trade tensions and weak agriculture commodity prices harmed the economic outlook of bank CEOs.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

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

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FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A man has been imprisoned for setting fire to a vehicle in the parking garage of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. The Messenger reports that 22-year-old Terrell Adams had pleaded guilty to arson and criminal mischief. He was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison. Adams admitted at the sentencing hearing that he set fire to the vehicle of an acquaintance that was parked in the garage on Sept. 4. That fire led spread, damaging at least 10 vehicles and causing structural damage to the garage.

(Iowa News Service )DES MOINES, Iowa – When it comes to taking care of their health, research shows Iowans have cut down on smoking and improved their diets, but many still don’t get enough exercise to live the longest, healthiest lives. To encourage overall health improvement among the state’s residents, the American Heart Association of Iowa is changing its mission, from focusing primarily on cardiovascular issues to a more holistic approach. Executive Director Kayla Kovarna says the organization’s new mission is to be a “relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”  “This is the first time ever in our history that we have not called out cardiovascular diseases, which includes stroke, in our actual mission statement. And really, what we’re looking at is shifting gears and focusing on health improvement,” says Kovarna.

Kovarna believes Iowa communities could benefit significantly if more people had better access to a wider variety of exercise options, and more nutritious food choices – especially in areas of Des Moines, where there are several so-called “food deserts.” Des Moines recently implemented “Move DSM” – the first citywide, multi-modal vision for transportation. State AHA Government Relations Director Stacy Frelund hopes it will be a model for other communities to make biking and walking easier and more accessible. “A big part of this is safety, and really, some of that’s even lighting in certain areas, so that if kids are out and walking to friends’ houses or parks, that they can easily get there with the walkways and feel a lot more safe,” says Frelund.

Kovarna says getting kids and adults exercising more is critical, based on a new report that showed Iowa is now one of the top three states in the nation for a significant increase in obesity – 35 percent over the past 12 years.  “So here in Iowa, blood pressure is one that is definitely a health-risk factor that pops up; childhood obesity is another one. Those are big ones, that we really need to take a look at to move the needle,” says Kovarna. Iowa was the only state in the top seven with obesity gains not located in the southern half of the U.S..

DENISON, Iowa (AP) — The mayor of Denison has placed three of the city’s highest-ranking employees on paid administrative leave. Mayor Jared Beymer and other city officials haven’t explained why the action was taken Tuesday against City Manager Terry Crawford, Fire Chief Cory Snowgren and City Clerk Lisa Koch. Beymer says he can’t comment about the matter because it’s a “personnel investigation.”
Koch said Thursday that she, Snowgren and Crawford were surprised by the mayor’s action and so far haven’t been given reasons for being placed on leave.

Police in Red, Thursday, arrested a local man on an assault charge. 34-year old Billy Lyn Leeper, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 300 block of 1st Avenue, at around 9:40-p.m. Leeper was charged with Simple Assault and Public Intoxication, 3rd or subsequent offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:450 a.m. CST

(COUNCIL BLUFFS) – Police in Council Bluffs, Thursday night, arrested a man wanted in connection with an alleged attempted abduction late Sunday morning. At around 7:20-p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to the Pottawattamie County Jail on a report of a male wanting to turn himself in on a warrant. Officers arrived and located 37-year old Terrance L. Prine, Jr., who was arrested without incident and booked into the jail on the Kidnapping 3rd charge.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Before they arrested a farmhand in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, investigators scrutinized four other potential suspects during their five-week search. Newly unsealed search warrant documents show that those who drew police interest included a neighbor seen washing his SUV hours after Tibbetts vanished, a Nebraska man who ditched his vehicle in Iowa days later and an acquaintance who had recently erased his cellphone data. All have been ruled out as suspects.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Nate Boulton survived an ethics complaint Thursday that alleged he inappropriately touched a woman at a bar a year before he was elected. The Iowa Senate Committee on Ethics concluded its jurisdiction is limited to legislators’ actions while in office. Boulton plans to remain in the Senate although Democratic leader Janet Petersen has called on him to resign.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge is considering whether to order election officials to count 29 mailed absentee ballots that could change the outcome of an Iowa House race or dismiss a lawsuit challenging their validity. Judge Scott Beattie heard arguments Thursday in a case that could flip the winner of the race, in which incumbent Republican Michael Bergan leads Democrat Kayla Koether by nine votes in the northeast Iowa district..

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A $5 million bond has been set for a man charged with murder in the 1979 killing of a Cedar Rapids high school student. A judge set the bond for 64-year-old Jerry Lynn Burns on Thursday during his initial appearance in Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids. Police arrested Burns, of Manchester, on Wednesday, charging him with first-degree murder 39 years after the killing of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car parked at a shopping mall.

Police in Council Bluffs, Thursday night, arrested a man wanted in connection with an alleged attempted abduction late Sunday morning. At around 7:20-p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to the Pottawattamie County Jail on a report of a male wanting to turn himself in on a warrant. Officers arrived and located 37-year old Terrance L. Prine, Jr., who was arrested without incident and booked into the jail on the Kidnapping 3rd charge.

Bluffs Police originally stated that the alleged attempted abduction took place at approximately 11:10-a.m., Sunday, outside of the Burger King Restaurant, at 1529 W. Broadway. The suspect (Prine) grabbed a 27-year old female from Council Bluffs by the arm, and tried to get her to come with him, but the woman was able to get away. The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle. The female victim suffered a minor injury to her arm, but did not require medical attention.

Families with young children in Griswold and the surrounding area are being asked to complete a survey to gauge the need for child care in the area.  The survey can be accessed online at the link:  Child Care Center Survey for Families   http://www.quia.com/sv/891022.html

The survey may be answered anonymously as names are optional.  Although focused on families in the Griswold Community School District, anyone working or living in the Griswold area as well as anyone who would potentially utilize a child care center in Griswold as they commute to work should participate in the survey.  The survey will be used by a non-profit group in the community to determine the level of need in the area.  The non-profit was initiated with a gift of $65,000 from the Noble Center Church.

Since the first meeting of this group, the board of Griswold Communications has stepped forward to match the initial gift with another $65,000 to provide a financial foundation to make a child care center a reality.  Meetings have been held with current child care providers in the area and also with representatives of school, business, civic, governmental, and other community groups.

If anyone has questions or would like to complete a survey but does not have internet access, please contact Steve or Barb Baier at (712) 778-4452.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A farmer who owned an Iowa grain brokerage has pleaded guilty to falsely marketing $140 million dollars’ worth of corn, soybeans and wheat as “certified organic.”
Sixty-one-year-old Randy Constant of Chillicothe, Missouri, pleaded guilty to wire fraud Thursday under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Cedar Rapids.

Constant faces a potential prison sentence of 12 years or more, but that could be reduced at sentencing due to his ongoing cooperation. The deal calls for Constant to forfeit $128 million, but his lawyer says he’s broke.

Attorney Mark Weinhardt says Constant’s profit was a tiny fraction of the $140 million in total sales and mostly supported a sustainable fish production company that has failed. Weinhardt says Constant “accepts full responsibility” for falsely representing that grain he sold was organic.