Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

LEE COUNTY, Iowa — Yesterday (Sunday), authorities with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to rural Lee County in reference to a dead body that had been discovered. Deputies responded and confirmed what had been reported. It is the body of white female in her early to mid-20’s. Investigators say at this time, it does NOT appear that the body is that of a missing Brooklyn, IA woman, Mollie Tibbetts. Results of the autopsy and identification of the remains are pending.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — The reward for the safe return of a missing University of Iowa student has ballooned to $260,000. Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa said Sunday that relatives of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts believe she’s alive but has potentially been kidnapped. She went missing on July 18 from her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Investigators are being tight-lipped about the case, saying holding back basic details may help solve it. Crime Stoppers says it has relayed more than 200 anonymous tips to police.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A day after police in southeastern Iowa engaged in a deadly shootout that left one man dead and another seriously injured, authorities have not released the names of the suspects or officers involved. The Ottumwa Courier reports that the shootout happened after police received a report Friday afternoon of people with guns near Liberty Elementary in Ottumwa. One suspect was killed, another injured and two others were arrested. No one else was hurt.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — The future for a former casino barge remains uncertain as officials in southeastern Iowa talk of turning it into an event center, a boutique bed and breakfast or a floating mall with a restaurant. The Quad-City Times reports that a seven-member commission in Keokuk meets twice a month to discuss plans for the barge. City Administrator Cole O’Donnell says the barge could draw residents and visitors to the city’s river front.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Personnel from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals will conduct an inspection of the Iowa State Fair concession games as the fair kicks off. The inspections will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday. Staff from the Social & Charitable Gambling Unit will be checking the games to make sure they are appropriately licensed and conducted in a fair and honest manner.

LEE COUNTY, Iowa — Earlier today (Sunday), authorities with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to rural Lee County in reference to a dead body that had been discovered. Deputies responded and confirmed what had been reported.  It is the body of white female in her early to mid-20’s.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), as well as the DCI’s Crime Scene Team.  Investigators are keenly aware of the Mollie Tibbetts investigation and have no reason to believe that the decedent is that of Mollie Tibbetts.

Authorities said there will be no other comments or statements released at this time in reference to the Lee County death investigation or the Mollie Tibbetts investigation.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — The future for a former casino barge remains uncertain as officials in southeastern Iowa talk of turning it into an event center, a boutique bed and breakfast or a floating mall with a restaurant. A seven-member commission in Keokuk meets twice a month to discuss plans for the barge, the Quad-City Times reported .

City Administrator Cole O’Donnell said the barge could draw residents and visitors to  the city’s riverfront. Newt Marine Service transported the barge last year from Davenport to Keokuk for about $200,000. The city only paid $1 for the barge itself, O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell said a developer wouldn’t have to pay for the property itself, but would have to be able to repair and operate it. Water and power also need to be restored before commercial development can begin, he said. The barge previously belonged to the Rhythm City Casino. A crew recently cleaned up garbage and debris that fell during barge’s three-day trip downriver.

Keokuk Mayor Tom Richardson said the gambling barge is beautiful and intact, despite a recent storm that damaged some awnings.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — The reward for the safe return of a missing University of Iowa student has ballooned to $260,000. Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa said Sunday that relatives of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts believe she’s alive but has potentially been kidnapped. Spokesman Greg Willey says the family hopes the reward money will lead to her return.

Tibbetts went missing on July 18 from her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa.
Investigators are being tight-lipped about the case, saying holding back basic details may help solve it. That includes saying whether they believe Tibbetts returned home from a jog the evening she went missing.

Willey says Crime Stoppers will protect the anonymity of tipsters who call in or submit tips online . He says the organization has shared more than 200 anonymous tips with law enforcement since Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Personnel from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals will conduct an inspection of the Iowa State Fair concession games as the fair kicks off.

The inspections will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday. Staff from the Social & Charitable Gambling Unit will be checking the games to make sure they are appropriately licensed and conducted in a fair and honest manner.

State regulators make sure the object of each game is attainable and possible for the average person to perform. Inspectors also make sure that the rules of the game are clearly posted, the maximum base cost to play each game is not more than $5, and that all prizes are awarded in merchandise.

The Iowa State Fair starts Thursday and runs through Aug. 20.

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

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A day after police in southeastern Iowa engaged in a deadly shootout that left one man dead and another seriously injured, authorities have not released the names of the suspects or officers involved. The Ottumwa Courier reports that the shootout happened after police received a report Friday afternoon of people with guns near Liberty Elementary in Ottumwa. One suspect was killed, another injured and two others were arrested. No one else was hurt.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man who fatally hit a Des Moines motorcyclist in 2016 and fled the scene has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Television station KCCI reports that 67-year-old Jack Janda was sentenced in a Polk County courtroom Friday. He had earlier entered an Alford plea to vehicular homicide by reckless driving in the death of motorcyclist 57-year-old Joseph Davis of Des Moines.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A recent survey has found Iowa residents are struggling to find child care in communities that lack options or have few providers. The Telegraph Herald reports that researchers with the Center for American Progress, a Washington, D.C., think tank, last year surveyed U.S. Census tracts in 22 states. They say 24 percent of Iowa residents live in child care deserts, places where child care is scant. That figure jumped to 37 percent in rural areas.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The wife of a man being sought in a fatal Des Moines hit-and-run crash has been arrested in the case. Police say 31-year-old Jennifer McGilvrey, of Newton, was arrested Friday and charged with permitting an unauthorized person to operate a motor vehicle. Police say she allowed her husband, Anthony McGilvrey, to drive her sport utility vehicle on July 28 knowing that he wasn’t licensed to drive. Police say he then hit a bicyclist, identified as Darrel Ford, who later died.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Saturday, released a report on recent arrests and warrants served. Vandewater says on July 29th, 54-year old Mark Alan Jacobsen, of Exira, was arrested in Adair on charges of Interference with Official Acts, and 3rd Degree Harassment. Jacobsen was released later that same day on a $300 cash bond.

Also arrested July 29th, was 26-year old Heather Linn Armstrong, of Adel. She was taken into custody in Greenfield, on an Adair County Felony warrant for Probation Violation, after she failed to appear at her bond hearing in August, 2017. Armstrong was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On August 1st, 25-year old Dakota Eugene Brown, of Creston, was arrested on Union County warrants for Theft in the 1st Degree (a Felony), and Failure to Appear in Court on April 21st, 2017. His bond was $10,000. Brown was turned over to Union County authorities. Also arrested August 1st, was 26-year old Dalton James Cormeny, of Creston, who was taken into custody on a Felony Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or subsequent offense. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

28-year old Hannah Rose Mauldin, of Des Moines, was booked into the Adair County Jail August 1st, under a court order that requires her to serve 45 days, less time already served. On August second, 29-year old Tristan Raju Carter, of Stuart, was arrested and held in the Adair County Jail, under a warrant from Polk County for Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense. Carter was turned over to Polk County Deputies on August 3rd.

And, 32-year old Matthew James Hopes, of Adair, was arrested in Adair on August 3rd, on a Felony warrant out of Adair County for Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. Hopes was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A recent survey has found Iowa residents are struggling to find child care in communities that lack options or have few providers. Researchers with the Center for American Progress, a Washington, D.C., think tank, last year surveyed U.S. Census tracts in 22 states, the Telegraph Herald reported . They found that about half of the population that they studied lived in neighborhoods or communities that lacked child care services. Researchers said 24 percent of Iowa residents live in child care deserts, places where child care is scant. That figure jumped to 37 percent in rural areas.

Cascade and portions of Dubuque are located inside a child care desert, according to the study. Large parts of Clayton, Delaware and Jackson counties are also considered to be child care deserts. Mary Janssen is the regional director of Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral of Northeast Iowa. She said reasons for the shortfall are multifaceted. “We’ve seen a big group of providers in our area retire,” she said. “We also see providers that need health care benefits. They need things to support their family. We see providers that don’t want to deal with the regulations.”

About 42 percent of children nationally were cared for by a relative, including a parent, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. Another 7 percent were care for by a nonrelative in their home or a caretaker’s home.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The wife of a man being sought in a fatal Des Moines hit-and-run crash has been arrested in the case. Police say 31-year-old Jennifer McGilvrey, of Newton, was arrested Friday and charged with permitting an unauthorized person to operate a motor vehicle. Police say she allowed her husband, Anthony McGilvrey, to drive her sport utility vehicle on July 28 knowing that he wasn’t licensed to drive. Police say while driving that day, Anthony McGilvrey hit a bicyclist, identified as Darrel Ford, who later died.

An arrest warrant has been issued charging Anthony McGilvrey with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. He has yet to be found or turn himself in. Police say the red SUV he was driving was found Wednesday abandoned and hidden in a rural area east of Mitchellville.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man who fatally hit a Des Moines motorcyclist in 2016 and fled the scene has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Television station KCCI reports that 67-year-old Jack Janda was sentenced in a Polk County courtroom Friday. He had earlier entered an Alford plea to vehicular homicide by reckless driving in the death of motorcyclist 57-year-old Joseph Davis of Des Moines. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped charges of vehicular homicide by operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Police say Janda swerved his pickup around Davis’ motorcycle at the end of a construction zone, causing the bike to hit another vehicle.