DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines intends to conduct a legal review of $844,000 in Polk County grants that aided nine area Catholic schools. On Wednesday Bishop Richard Pates told The Des Moines Register there is “a legitimate question of legality” regarding the publicly financed grants used to buy equipment for the nine Catholic schools and one Christian academy in 2012 and 2013. Iowa state officials say they won’t challenge Polk County’s decision to provide the grants.

Several Catholic school supporters formed a new Iowa corporation called Education for the 21st Century to apply for and receive the county grants. The county Board of Supervisors awarded the corporation a $400,000 grant in 2012 and a $444,000 grant in 2013. The group is now defunct.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines said a storm survey team may be sent to the Perry area, today (Thursday), where a tornado reportedly touched down three-miles north of town at around 2:30-p.m., Wednesday. Large trees were uprooted. The twister was one of seven reported across the State. One tornado was confirmed to have taken place two-miles northwest of Scranton, in Greene County. The rope-like twister was caught on video by employees of Scranton Manufacturing, and professional storm chasers. Other, unconfirmed tornadoes were observed near: New Providence and Hubbard, in Hardin County; near Paton, in Greene County; and two separate instances happened west and southwest of Chillicothe, in Wapello County.

In other areas, funnel clouds were observed near: Steamboat Rock, in Hardin County; 3 miles west of Adel, in Dallas County; near Harcourt,in Webster County, and near Gilbert, in Story County. There were no reports of injuries. The Weather Service said a preliminary assessment indicates the tornadoes were a weak EF-0, with wind speeds less than 73-miles per hour. The storms also brought heavy rain to parts of the area. 1.25-inches was reported to have fallen three-miles west of Oakland, at around 4-p.m., Wednesday.

The Creston Police Dept. reports a man from Adair County was arrested late Wednesday night on two Union County warrants for: Domestic Assault, and Violation of a Protection Order. 28-year old Spencer Leitzel, of Greenfield, was taken into custody in Creston at around 10:18-p.m. He was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

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

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The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved an order to temporarily close certain streets as necessary, for this Sunday’s “Welcome Home” event for Company K, 168^th Infantry Battalion, who left from Atlantic during World War II and whose remaining members never received a proper homecoming. The streets affected would be closed from 10-a.m. Until 3-p.m. Steve Livengood, who is heading-up American Legion Post #43’s celebration of those soldiers, in memorium, spoke during the Council meeting of the streets that needed to be closed for the event.  They include Chesnut Street from the Atlantic Depot to Poplar Street, including the intersection, for eastbound traffic at the intersection of 2^nd and Poplar Streets.

Poplar Street will remain open because it is a State Highway. The plan is for a walk featuring over 100 people, to start at the Rock Island Depot and move south to 2^nd Street. At 2^nd, the participants will turn west and move toward the intersection of 2^nd and Poplar, before moving into the Atlantic Bottling Company’s parking lot at the southeast corner of the intersection. From the parking lot, participants will individually cross Poplar Street and into the parking lot of the American Legion Memorial Building (The former Armory). Walkers will be carrying photos of those who served in Company K, 168^th Infantry Battalion.

The Council also approved an order to temporarily restrict parking on the east side of Palm Street from 7^th – to 10^th, on July 28^th. The restriction is necessary so driver of pickups and trailer coming to the Cass County Fair for the Tractor Pull event, have room to negotiate the turn onto the Fairground driveway. And, Mayor Dave Jones reminded residents the City is cracking down on fireworks usage in the City limits.  He says you cannot set-off fireworks on City Streets, alleys and other public property.

According to City Ordinance, it is not legal to set off fireworks within 300-feet of any public school buildings, assisted living facility, or hospital. Fireworks can only be shot-off on private property. Atlantic Police will crack down on issuing warnings and tickets to those who were warned last year about violating the ordinance. Violators will be subject to a $250 fine plus $85 in court costs. Anyone who was previously found guilty of violating the ordinance, may be subject to a $600 fine plus court costs if they are a repeat offender. The ordinance allows residents of Atlantic to set off fireworks from Noon until 10-p.m. July 2nd and 3rd. Displays are allowed on July 4th, from Noon until 11-p.m.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say four people suffered minor injuries in a fire at a Cedar Rapids apartment complex. Firetrucks were dispatched around 5:25 p.m. Wednesday to the 12-unit complex. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says firefighters used a ladder to rescue one person. The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes of firefighters’ arrival. The department says two of the injured were sent to a hospital and two declined hospitalization. The fire cause is being investigated.

Audubon Library Director Gail Richardson reports the library’s “Music in the Park” scheduled for today (Thursday), has been cancelled due to the illness of performer Michael Moncada. Next week’s performer (June 28th) is Chad Elliott.

NEW YORK (AP) — As the White House struggles to move past another self-imposed crisis, Democrats are fighting to ensure this one isn’t quickly forgotten. Fiery Democratic leaders from Vermont to New Jersey to Texas met President Donald Trump’s executive order to stop dividing immigrant families with deep skepticism, promising waves of protests, border visits and congressional oversight to shine new light on the Republican administration’s immigration tactics.

Iowa voters learned that another 2020 prospect, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, was canceling a weekend appearance in the leadoff presidential caucus state to attend a demonstration at a refugee tent city along the U.S-Mexico border.

In an interview, Castro said Trump’s new order is a valid remedy only if children are immediately and humanely reunited with their parents. Republicans have no hope of retaining the congressional majority this fall, Castro predicted, should they continue to adopt restrictive immigration measures. “The president may be signing an executive order backing down, which he never does, because he’s offended our sense of morality,” Castro said. “He’s crossed a line, whether he realizes he’s crossed it or not.”

Yet for all the outrage, the fallout from Trump’s policy to separate children from their parents at the border — and his subsequent reversal on Wednesday — highlighted a scattershot strategy from a Democratic Party still searching for new leadership and a consistent message as the Trump presidency stretches deeper into its second year.

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

NEW YORK (AP) — As the White House struggles to move past another self-imposed crisis, Democrats are fighting to ensure this one isn’t quickly forgotten. Democrats from Vermont to Texas met President Trump’s order to stop dividing immigrant families with skepticism, promising new waves of protests, border visits and congressional oversight. The fallout highlights a scattershot strategy from a Democratic Party still searching for new leadership and a consistent message amid Trump’s continued political stumbles.

SCRANTON, Iowa (AP) — At least a couple of tornadoes have been spotted in Iowa as storms rake the state, including one near the west-central Iowa town of Scranton. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that spotters captured video of a tornado Wednesday afternoon touching down in a rural area near Scranton. And the National Weather Service says law enforcement reported a tornado near Eldora in north-central Iowa. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man from Omaha, Nebraska, faces life in prison if he’s convicted of kidnapping and other charges after police say he held several people at gunpoint and beat some of them inside a Council Bluffs apartment. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 36-year-old Derrick West-Jones has been charged with six counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, domestic abuse and other drug and weapons counts.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has been injured in a fire at a northern Des Moines industrial park. The Des Moines Register says the fire broke out Wednesday at an area containing tanks of diesel and gasoline held by fuel and trucking company Keck Energy. Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Brian O’Keefe says a man injured was taken to a hospital. No other information about the man, including his name or medical condition, was released.

The Atlantic City Council is, for the most part, opposed to giving new and current local downtown businesses City-funded grants for improvements. City Administrator John Lund noted that the Council has pledged $100,000 from the EDR (Economic Development Revolving) Loan Fund to act as a source for business improvement loans in Atlantic.

The City is also in the early stages of exploring opportunities for downtown façade restoration, through a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). That form of grant requires matching funds from the City, based on whatever the grant amount is that’s applied for and received. There was also talk of a separate, “Simple” City-funded grant.

During their meeting Wednesday evening, Councilman Dick Casady said he was “Totally against it” (establishing a City-funded grant). He said “We give money away for tourism, to get people to come to Atlantic through the CPC (Community Promotion Commission) Program, and the beautification of Atlantic. But businesses, no. I can’t approve that.”

Councilperson Ashley Hayes said “A CDBG would have a similar affect as what the CPC does.” “It’s proven that when the façade for your business area looks nice, or returns to more of a historic view, people are more likely to want to come see it. So it would increase revenue in LOST [Local Option Sales Tax] more than likely, so I think it’s a good idea.”

Councilman Gerald Brink said (with regard to a City-funded grant) “It’s the financing of the whole situation that kind of worries me at the moment.” He said “It’s probably time that we do need to take a look at our store fronts downtown. I would not be opposed to sending this thing to committee, at least to look into it a little further.” But he said until all the financing options that are available are made known, I don’t think I’m ready to say yes or no.”

Councilperson Kathy Somers said she would be against the “Simple” grant, because “People in town get mad when one business gets a loan at low interest through CADCO or whatever, someplace. Competitors get mad so I don’t see that you could possibly be fair about giving out grants to businesses. There’s always going to be one competitor who feels they’ve been slighted.” Somers said she would rather go the CDBG route, with regard to the facades.

The CPC has a financing meeting set for June 27^th, with at least 33 business owners who plan to attend. A CDBG may be included as part of the discussion. The Council’s opinion Wednesday evening, according to the Mayor, was that a “Simple” grant from the City was a dead idea.