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

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A report says a business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states has surged again — a sign of continued improvement in regional economic conditions. The report released Monday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit 62.1 in March, compared with 59.7 in February. The January figure was 57.3. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says 20 percent of the survey participants reported rapidly expanding economic growth in their areas.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are trying to identify the body of a man found on a riverbank in southern Des Moines. Police say a pedestrian reported around noon Sunday that he’d spotted the body below a bridge over the Raccoon River. The body appears to have been at the spot for some time and showed no obvious signs of injury. A forensic examination has been ordered.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says part of this year’s “enhanced” anti-harassment training for lawmakers has emphasized that all 150 members of the House are in positions of authority. “The things you say to people, the way you handle yourself can be interpreted differently when you’re in that position,” she says. Legislators represent a wide range of occupations and personal experiences when they meet as a group in Des Moines. Upmeyer says the training has reviewed how legislators are perceived by others. “We have to remind them that you guys do have sort of an authority position when it comes to the employees and that’s something we’ve worked hard to make sure is clear,” Upmeyer says.

Upmeyer hired a human resources director for the legislature last fall, shortly after a fired staffer in the Iowa SENATE was awarded more than a million dollars to settle her sexual harassment lawsuit. Late last week, Upmeyer told reporters she “can only speak for the House.”

(Radio Iowa)

The mental health reform bill the governor signed into law last week may ease the way for Iowa psychiatrists to report potentially dangerous patients to the police. A court recently ruled mental health professionals could be sued if someone under their care ends up harming themselves or others. Emily Piper, a lobbyist who worked on the bill, says the new law spells out when a psychiatrist could be sued for not speaking up “We want those parameters to be really clear,” she says, “so that when you get into the position of making that professional judgement, you are not exposing if you did not believe those parameters were met.”

Under the new law, a psychiatrist who doesn’t report to police would be immune from a lawsuit unless a patient was threatening a clearly identifiable victim or victims. And reporting threats would still be voluntary. Piper says the law balances the safety and confidentiality concerns. “We think that it creates a better partnership between those mental health professionals and law enforcement in terms of somebody who is clearly exhibiting signs of either injuring themselves or others,” Piper says.

Other states have passed similar laws recently. Piper is a statehouse lobbyist for the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association, the Iowa Psychiatric Society and the Iowa Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — OneJet is discontinuing its nonstop flights between Omaha and Milwaukee. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the service will end April 12. A OneJet spokesman says the airline is in the process of upgrading its fleet from seven-seat jets to 30-seat jets and making adjustments to its service accordingly. The airline began offering the service in November. It offered two flights per weekday between Omaha and Milwaukee.

OneJet flies small jets to and from regional markets, such as Columbus, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lawmaker has closed an unusual chapter in her work life of regularly bringing her newborn baby to the state Capitol. Rep. Megan Jones, a Republican from the northwest Iowa city of Sioux Rapids, began bringing her daughter, Alma, to the statehouse just a few weeks after giving birth on Jan. 24. Alma was often spotted snoozing on her mother while in a baby carrier or observing legislative action from a portable bassinet in the Iowa House of Representatives.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa bison known for surviving a lightning strike has died. The Des Moines Register reports that the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge announced Sparky the bison’s death. He was 14 years old. Sparky was struck by lightning in July 2013. Biologist Karen Viste-Sparkman previously said she found Sparky afterward covered with burn marks, bloodied and wounded. The biologist said he lost weight and grew weak after the lightning strike. He was found dead Thursday.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University lecturer arrested last year for public intoxication during class has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. The Des Moines Register reports that 56-year-old Gordon Branch Knight has pleaded guilty to first-offense public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor. Knight had been charged with second-offense public intoxication, a serious misdemeanor with penalties of up to a year in jail.

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) — A memorial service has been held for an Iowa couple and their children who died at a Mexican resort. The service was held Saturday afternoon in the gymnasium at Southwestern Community College in Creston for 41-year-old Kevin Sharp and his wife, 38-year-old Amy Sharp, and their children, 12-year-old Sterling and 7-year-old Adrianna. A Mexican prosecutor says a gas leak in a water heater is suspected of killing them inside their rented condominium in Tulum. Their bodies were found March 23.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County responding to a possible domestic assault at around 8:12-p.m. Sunday, in Corning, arrested a man on a drug-related charge. Authorities say Deputies dispatched to the 600 block of 13th Street in Corning, ended-up arresting Phillip Eugene Currin Jr. of Corning, for Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense, a class D Felony. Currin was booked into the Adams County Jail on $5,000 Cash Only bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office’ K9 Unit was kept “Hopping” Easter weekend. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that at around 1:45-p.m. Saturday, deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit stopped to assist a motorist in the 500 Block of Main Street in Tabor. The occupants of the vehicle were found to be in possession of illegal substances and several items of drug paraphernalia.

The driver, 46-year old Wendy Sue Wood, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs. A passenger, 59-year old John Wesley Kalkas, also of Clarinda, was arrested for 3 counts of 2nd Offense Possession of a Controlled Substance, (Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Benzodiazepine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Kalkas

Esaias

Wood

Both were being held at the Fremont County Jail.  The Mills County K9 Unit assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

And, at around 12:45-p.m. Sunday, deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit stopped a vehicle on Hwy 275, near the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, for a traffic violation.  They discovered an open alcohol container and controlled substances inside the vehicle. The driver, 26-year old Dustin Esaias, of Clarinda, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 3rd or Subsequent Offense, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Open Container, and Speeding. Esaias is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $6,300 bond.

Red Oak Police report two arrests Sunday morning. 33-year old Jamie Lea Petersen, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 8:35-a.m., for OWI/1st offense. The charge was the result of a traffic stop that occurred March 14th. A specimen sent to the DCI Lab was returned, with evidence Petersen was operating a vehicle under the influence. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 10:36-a.m., 79-year old Ronald Walter Klinker, of Hastings (IA) was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was being held at the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.