DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation in two Iowa counties suffering recent severe weather and flooding. The proclamation covers Hamilton County in central Iowa and O’Brien County in northwestern Iowa. The only state resources currently requested with the proclamation is the activation of the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant and Disaster Case Management programs.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The money can be used for such things as home and car repairs, temporary housing expenses or replacement of clothing or food.

Disaster Case Management offers case managers to work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource.

The Democratic ticket for governor and lieutenant governor is Hubbell-Hart. Fred Hubbell, the Democratic nominee for governor, has chosen state Senator Rita Hart as his running mate.  “I decided this is a challenge that is really important,” Hart told Radio Iowa. “It’s important for the state of Iowa and I needed to step up and answer the call.” Hart is a farmer and former teacher from the small eastern Iowa town of Wheatland. Delegates at the Iowa Democratic Party state convention are expected to ratify Hubbell’s pick for his lieutenant governor running mate later today (Saturday).

“My background as a teacher, as a farmer, as a mother, as a volunteer gives me the experiences and the background that will benefit me in this position,” Hart says. “My experience as a legislator has given me some background there that will be helpful and I think my interest in a lot of issues that are important to the people of the state of Iowa will always help me to do a good job on their behalf.”  Hart and her husband have been operating his family’s century farm near Wheatland since 1986. They are the parents of five children. Hart, who is 62 years old, taught school for more than 20 years in the Calamus-Wheatland and Bennett school districts. She’s been a state senator since January of 2013, representing all of Clinton County as well as northern and eastern parts of Scott County. Hart’s bid for reelection to the state senate has ended as she emerges at the Democratic Party’s nominee for lieutenant governor. “We’re ready to get started and roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Hart says.

She pledges to “fight tooth and nail” alongside Hubbell in the top-of-the-ticket race. “And hen I believe in something, I’m all in,” Hart says. Hart grew up near Charles City. She holds an associates degree from North Iowa Area Community College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a masters from the University of Iowa. Lieutenant governors in Iowa were independently elected until 1990. That’s the year a constitutional change took effect and party nominees for governor began choosing a lieutenant governor as a running mate, in the same way the president and vice president run together as a team. In the past seven gubernatorial elections, Republicans and Democrats have presented voters with “gender balanced” tickets. Iowa Republican Party state convention delegates will formally nominate Adam Gregg as Governor Kim Reynolds’ running mate later today as well.

(Radio Iowa)

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 Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver of a Buick Lesabre was injured during a single-vehicle accident that occurred today (Saturday) at around 1:25-a.m. Authorities say Kevin Cruth, of Clearmont, MO, was southbound on Colt Avenue, when he failed to stop at the intersection with 300th Street. The car traveled through the intersection and came to rest in the south ditch. Cruth was transported to CRHC in Clarinda by New Market EMS, for possible serious injuries. The accident remains under investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted at the scene by New Market First Responders and Clarinda EMS.

A man from Red Oak and formerly of Oakland, was arrested Friday night on drug charges. 30-year old Kirk Kencaid Kinser was picked up in Pottawattamie County by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and transported to the Montgomery County Jail where he was held on a $2,000 cash only bond, on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. A short time later, Red Oak Police arrested Kinser for Possession with the Intent to Deliver over 5 grams of Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony. Kinser was being held on the latter charge without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

A German Luftwaffe officer was in Iowa this week as part of a military reserve exchange program. Lieutenant Julia Renke, a personnel officer from Germany’s Air Force, visited Sioux City’s 185th Air Refueling Wing. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know American units, as kind of an ambassador between both countries,” Renke said. “It gives you an inside look, which you wouldn’t get in different ways. So, this exchange program between Germany and America is just a special experience.”

photo (courtesy Iowa National Guard) — 1st Lieutenant Josh Thomas, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard & 1st Lieutenant Julia Renke, 73 Tactical Air Wing, Rostock Laage/German Air Forc

Renke took flights on aircraft housed at both the 185th in Sioux City and at the 132nd Wing in Des Moines. “I got to ride on a Black Hawk (helicopter) and I got to go on the KC-135 on a mission,” Renke said. “We saw some F-16s getting refueled, which was amazing for me to get to experience.”

As part of the Defense Military Reserve Exchange Program, 1st Lieutenant Joshua Thomas — Sustainment Services Flight Commander with the 185th — will visit German bases in September. It’ll be his first trip overseas. “I’m very excited to go to Germany for two weeks…and learn their military programs and how both the reserves and active duty units work over there,” Thomas said.

Another officer from Germany and the 132nd Guard unit in Des Moines are also been taking part in the exchange program.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Health insurance company Medica says it will offer insurance plans statewide in Iowa again next year through the Affordable Care Act exchange. The Minnesota-based company also says it will expand insurance offering for many Iowans.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Michigan man accused of ordering drugs online and having them shipped to a friend in Dubuque _ who then died of an overdose _ has pleaded guilty. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 28-year-old Jay Rickert pleaded guilty Thursday in Cedar Rapids’ federal court to willfully causing the distribution of a controlled substance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled for the first time that workers under union contract with the state may sue for wrongful discharge if they’re fired for retaliation or other improper reasons. The decision came Friday in a lawsuit filed in 2015 by former Iowa Workforce Development judge Susan Ackerman. Her claims include that former IWD Director Teresa Wahlert and other agency leaders defamed her, caused her emotional distress and breached her contract.

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — The trial of an Iowa father charged in the death of his infant son will be moved from Chickasaw County to Henry County. The Courier reports that a judge on Thursday ordered the change of venue after defense attorneys for 28-year-old Zachary Paul Koehn argued he couldn’t get a fair trial in Chickasaw County because of pretrial publicity. The trial will be held in the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant, about 50 miles south of Iowa City. Koehn’s trial is set for Oct. 29.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Health insurance company Medica says it will offer insurance plans statewide in Iowa again next year through the Affordable Care Act exchange. The Minnesota-based company also says it will expand insurance offering for many Iowans.

Geoff Bartsch, the company’s general manager of family and individual business says the company is excited to stay in the market and to expand product choices.
Medica was the only statewide carrier in Iowa last year. Bartsch says this year the company will offer more choices and more network options in some areas of the state.

Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield has said it also plans to return to the Iowa individual market in 2019. Friday is the deadline for companies planning to offer ACA policies next year to file plans.

KOSCIUSKO, Miss. (AP) — A couple linked to a string of robberies and carjackings in Florida and other crimes in Arkansas, Iowa and Illinois has been found in Mississippi after a car wreck. Kosciusko police thought they were responding to a simple accident Wednesday night but found it was more than that.

Chief Herbert Drew tells The Clarion Ledger there was no tag on the car. Further investigation found the car had been stolen in Arkansas. Then, Drew says, police began getting related alerts to look out for suspects Lessie Earl Proctor and Annastasia Coenen. Coenen was hurt in the wreck and taken to an area hospital.

Authorities found Proctor early Thursday. He faces charges including possession of stolen property and weapon possession by a felon. Drew says Coenen has not been charged.

A Holy Cross woman is facing charges for driving drunk with her children riding ON the car. Dubuque County Sheriff’s deputies went to a parking lot in Holy Cross on Monday night after witnesses reported a woman was driving in and out of the lot with children on the trunk of her car.

The arrest report shows 36-year-old Casey Keeley admitted to letting her kids ride on the trunk and a breath test placed her blood alcohol content at 0.121. She’s charged with second-offense OWI, two counts of child endangerment, and driving with a suspended license.

(Radio Iowa)