Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Friday), issued an update on an investigation into the July 19th, 2018 disappearance of 20-year old Mollie Tibbetts, from Brooklyn. Although Mollie has not been located, the investigation into her disappearance has not slowed. The public is encouraged to contact the following tip-lines if they believe they have information related to Mollie’s disappearance: 800-452-1111 or 515-223-1400. There is also a dedicated email to accept tips: tips@poweshiekcosheriff.com

Tibbetts was reported missing by her family.  She was last seen on July 18th at approximately 7:30 PM while running the city streets of Brooklyn. Her last known article of clothing is believed to be dark colored running shorts, a pink sports top and running shoes, color unknown.

Authorities said also, as of Thursday, August 2 – there were 390 people listed as missing on the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. Of those, 225 were listed as juveniles, a majority of which are runaway situations. Twenty-six of the individuals listed on the Clearinghouse are categorized as involuntary.  These 26 cases date back as far as 1976.

In 2017, 4,311 juveniles were reported missing to The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse.  This is an average of approximately 12 juveniles a day.  The vast majority of which are found or returned home within 24 hours. Typically these cases are runaway situations. The number of missing juveniles reported in recent weeks is in line with historical numbers. For additional information on missing persons in Iowa, please visit the Department of Public Safety’s website at: http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic/

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A local official in central Iowa is proposing turning a wind turbine blade into a sculpture that would be a new landmark for the community. The Newton Daily News reports that Bruce Showalter’s proposal to use the TPI Composites-made wind turbine blade aims to make Newton more appealing and distinguishable to visitors and passers-by. Showalter is the chairman of the Newton Hometown Pride Committee and housing director of Newton Housing Development Corporation. He proposed the idea to city council members during a Monday workshop.

Showalter says the project would cost an estimated $100,000. Councilwoman Evelyn George liked the idea, but voiced concerns about whether the blade would obstruct the view of businesses. Councilman Mark Hallam also enjoyed the concept of the project.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old Chase Zachary Stewart, of Malvern, was arrested Thursday evening. Stewart was taken into custody for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. His bond was set at $300. And, 46-year old Brian Robert Vanderpool, of Tabor, was arrested by Fremont County Deputies on Mills County warrants for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and Harassment in the 1st Degree. He was transferred to the custody of Mills County and held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Minden man was arrested Thursday afternoon on a valid Pottawattamie County arrest warrant for Harassment 1st Degree Sexting. 39-year old Michael David Hillis was being held without bond in the Pott. County Jail. Hillis also faces a charge of Interference with Official Acts, the bond for which is $300.

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports also, two men being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail were served with additional warrants Thursday. 26-year old Damian Daniel Blain, of Council Bluffs, who was being held in the jail on a 2nd Degree Theft charge, was presented with a warrant for Felony Theft in the 2nd degree, the bond for which is $5,000. He was returned to the custody of Corrections Staff. 43-year old Marcos Rafael Jarquin, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $10,000.

And, 23-year old Chance Hunter Adolf, of Papillion, NE., was arrested Thursday, for Probation Violation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Aug. 3, 2018 – A pavement repair project on eastbound Interstate 80/southbound I-29 in Council Bluffs, will require closing the roadway to traffic overnight beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4th, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office. The interstate and ramps are expected to open by 7 a.m. Sunday morning, Aug. 5th. Southbound I-29 traffic will be diverted to 24th Street. Eastbound I-80 traffic will be reduced to one lane and the eastbound I-80 on-ramp at 24th Street and the eastbound off-ramp at South Expressway will be closed at 7 p.m. as well. At 10 p.m., eastbound I-80 traffic will be diverted to 24th Street. Please follow the posted detours during the closure.

Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29 and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area as part of the Council Bluffs Interstate Improvement Program. This comprehensive interstate redesign, which will be delivered over the next eight-to-10 years, will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City has negotiated a settlement worth $7.5 million to the victim of a November 2016 crash involving a city bus. The Sioux City Journal reports that the City Council will vote Monday on the agreement with Chad and Rosanne Plante, of rural Hinton. The city’s legal department has recommended approval following mediation talks with the couple.

Chad Plante suffered two broken legs and a brain injury in the Nov. 15 crash. Authorities say a turning Sioux City Transit bus failed to yield at the intersection and struck Plante’s sport utility vehicle. The bus driver was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device. Plante spent several weeks in a coma and then had months of rehabilitation. He and his wife haven’t filed any litigation yet.

Documents say Sioux City will be responsible for paying nearly $211,000 and the city’s insurance will cover the rest.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 32-year old Ryan Michael Weis, of Creston, was arrested Thursday on a charge of OWI/2nd offense. Weis was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond. And, a Creston man residing in the 2800 block of New York Avenue, reported Thursday, that sometime between 1:30-a.m. and 12-p.m., someone broke the back window out of his rental vehicle, and took a small speaker out of the back seat area. The loss was estimated at $130.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says the number of H-I-V cases was down in 2017 — but was still the second most behind the record in 2016. The D-P-H’s Nicole Kolm-Valdivia says cases dropped by 12 to 125 in 2017. The numbers had increased by 10 percent in 2016 and she says it’s hard to tell exactly why the numbers have been up. “We have a lot of outreach and media efforts — and so we think those are working — and we think people may also have increase access to healthcare and are getting tested that way,” Kolm-Valdivia. “So, even though it can sometimes seem alarming that we are having more people who are being diagnosed, it can actually mean that there’s just more people who are aware of their status who can get into healthcare and access those services.”

Kolm-Valdivia says they want to continue letting people know about the importance of knowing your status. “The ultimate goal is for people who have H-I-V to get diagnosed soon after they acquire the virus,” Kolm-Valdivia. “Because we see that once people become virally suppressed — meaning the level of H-I-V in their blood is really low — they cannot sexually transmit the virus and their health outcomes are improved.”  She says the I-D-P-H is targeting the African-American and Latino populations because they have a disproportionate number of cases for their population size. “We do see that African-Americans make up about three percent of Iowa’s population, but about 30 percent of people who were diagnosed with H-I-V last year. Latinos are about six percent of the population in Iowa — but about 13 percent of people who are diagnosed,” according to Kolm-Valdivia. “And so we see a lot of different factors that are associated with those rates like higher rates of poverty, immigration, historical trauma, segregation, compounded by things like racism and homophobia, stigma.”

Men who have sex with other men continue to be the largest number of Iowans diagnosed with H-I-V at 56 percent. Kolm-Valdivia says the state has some tests sites they fund to do testing in this group. “They do specific outreach with populations such as men having sex with men to ensure that they are getting testing that they need as well as access to condoms and then pre-exposure prophylaxis– which is medication that can prevent H-I-V,” she says.

Kolm-Valdivia says all Iowans ages 15 to 64 should get tested for H-I-V at least once in their lives. People who do not use condoms during sex or inject drugs should be tested more frequently.  “We know there are over 400 Iowans which H-I-V who have not been diagnosed,” Kolm-Valdivia, “And so we recommend that everyone get tested and learn their status. And if they have H-I-V, get into medical care.”  Kolm-Valdivia says the treatment of H-I-V has advanced dramatically since the disease was first discovered. “H-I-V is treated much more like a chronic disease now. So, people go into their provider once or twice a year and are on medications and the side affects are minimal and the health outcomes are much improved — similar to someone who doesn’t have H-I-V,” Kolm-Valdivia explains.

Kolm-Valdivia says they recommend that health care providers ask patients about their sexual health or drug use to help assess their risk for H-I-V.