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

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Authorities in Montgomery County say a woman from Nebraska was arrested Sunday evening on drug & other charges. Red Oak Police stopped a vehicle driven by 22-year old Allison Aufenberg, of Omaha. Following an investigation. Aufenberg was arrested for possession of Marijuana and cited for Driving with a Suspended License, Failure to Provide Insurance, and expired registration. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person has been injured in a fire at a residence in Muscatine. The Muscatine Fire Department said in a news release Sunday that firefighters found flames coming from the building Sunday evening after being dispatched around 6:40 p.m. Sunday. The department says the flames were knocked down within minutes.

The injured person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. His or her name hasn’t been released. The blaze has displaced three people. Its cause is being investigated.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of an 18-year-old accused of stabbing to death two people in Sioux City over the weekend. Police say Tran Walker, of Sioux City, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He’s accused of killing 18-year-old Felipe Negron Jr. and an unnamed 17-year-old girl. They were found wounded around 1:15 a.m. Sunday and died later at a hospital.

Walker was arrested after being found at a grocery store around 2 a.m. Sunday. Police say Walker and the girl were once linked romantically.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old man is facing charges after two Sioux City teenagers died after being stabbed over the weekend. The Sioux City Journal reports that Sioux City Police arrested the 18-year-old not long after the victims were found in a neighborhood around 1:15 a.m.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Iowa brewers are toasting the recently approved federal tax changes, saying a tax break targeting their industry could spur expansion and more profits. Keg Creek Brewing is a large craft beer producer in southwest Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that Keg Creek is also one of the about 80 local breweries eligible for a tax break from President Trump’s tax plan. Now, breweries that produce fewer than 2 million barrels annually will be taxed $3.50 on the first 60,000 barrels made every year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has jumped into the national debate over immigration with an expansive enforcement bill that would require local governments to comply with federal immigration agents or risk losing state funds. The measure, scheduled for at least one vote this week in the Republican-controlled Legislature, has been framed as a ban on so-called sanctuary cities. But the bill’s scope is wide and raises questions about local government control. It could plunge Iowa into costly litigation.

OSAGE, Iowa (AP) — Mitchell County officials have appointed a Stacyville councilwoman to fill a vacant supervisor’s position. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Amanda Adams was appointed Friday to fill the vacant 3rd District Supervisor seat. The position became vacant earlier in the month, when County Treasurer Shannon Paulus resigned her position as supervisor to become treasurer.

No injuries were reported, but a home was lost during a house fire in Montgomery County, Sunday morning. According to reports, the blaze in Coburg broke out at around 8:30-a.m., at 109 Pine Street.The residents were able to escape safely.

More than two dozen firefighters from Red Oak, Essex, Stanton and Elliott battled the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

One person is dead following a tractor rollover and fire, in Pottawattamie County. The Sheriff’s Office told KETV in Omaha, that a 44-year old man was operating the tractor on a gravel road between Crescent and Underwood, when the tractor left the road. It then rolled over and caught fire. The accident happened at around 5-p.m, Saturday.

No other vehicles were involved. Authorities have not released the name of the victim.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The Audubon Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its annual Chamber Banquet and Awards Saturday, at St. Patrick’s Parish Center, in Audubon. The event featured not only dinner and awards, but an auction and entertainment. The dinner was catered by Jan’s Catering, and featured asiago chicken and pork loin as the main entree’.  During the awards portion of the event, the 2017 Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Tim Wahlert, who was born and raised in Audubon.

After graduating from the Audubon High School in 1975, Wahlert developed his skills in the work force and came to work for Davis & Wahlert, running heavy equipment. During that time, they completed development projects such as the Littlefield Recreation Area, and Lynn Avenue. His other occupations over the years include owner/operator of a semi, while working for Gene Fenton. In 1988, Tim Wahlert purchased at auction, his first D&H dozer, and started his own, small business in Audubon County. He’s a member of many area organizations and has served as President of the southwest Iowa District for the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), and President/Vice President for LICA in the State of Iowa. Since he began his own construction firm, Tim Walhert has instructed his daughters and grandchildren in how to run the equipment, and they have become part of his business, as he mentors them in soil conservation.

The 2017 Community Service Award was presented Saturday night in Audubon, to Matt Heller and Sara Slater, with the Thrivent Financial office for their Action Team Program. Officials say the community has benefited greatly from their support and contributions with their program, that began in 2014. Last year, Thrivent members led 107 action teams in Audubon County, which was $26,750 of seed money. The funds were used for things like providing food for fundraisers, educational outdoor equipment, and landscaping for The Children’s Nest and Friendship Home. Supplies were also purchased to make bags for local foster children. Many events and other projects were spurred-on by the seed money. Six of the Thrivent Action Teams last year helped with fundraisers in the county that raised over $55,450.

Officials say looking forward to 2018, there are 944 Action Teams and $248,500 in seed money available to members in Audubon County. Matt and Sara encourage more members to use the benefit throughout the year by promoting a positive change, and leading an Action Team. And, finally, the 2017 Junior Citizen of the Year Award was presented during the Audubon Chamber’s Program on Saturday, to McKenna Nielsen, who has maintained straight A’s in school, has held a place on the Honor Roll, and been very active in sports as well as community activities. She’s also active in 4-H, FFA and National Honor Society. McKenna works on a horse farm when she’s not feeding the homeless, helping to clean up the community by raking leaves, and playing bingo with nursing home residents, among other things.

She will be attending Morningside College this fall. McKenna Nielsen is the daughter of Randy and Melanie Larsen and the late Todd Nielsen. She has a sister, Kerrigan, and a brother, Hayden.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old man is facing charges after two Sioux City teenagers died after being stabbed over the weekend. The Sioux City Journal reports that Sioux City Police arrested the 18-year-old not long after the victims were found in a neighborhood around 1:15 a.m. Sunday. Police say that 18-year-old Felipe Negron Jr. and a 17-year-old girl from Sioux City were both found with knife wounds. They died later at an area hospital.

The suspect was found after he walked into a grocery store around 2 a.m. with apparent injuries. After police interviewed him, the man was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Iowa brewers are toasting the recently approved federal tax changes, saying a tax break targeting their industry could spur expansion and more profits.

Keg Creek Brewing is a large craft beer producer in southwest Iowa. Keg Creek is also one of the about 80 local breweries eligible for a tax break from President Donald Trump’s tax plan that went into effect this month, the Des Moines Register reported .

The new “Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act” approves a $3.50 barrel tax on the first 60,000 barrels made every year by breweries that produce fewer than 2 million barrels annually. Brewers saw a $7 barrel tax previously.

The Brewers Association found that Iowa produced about 61,000 barrels of craft beer in 2016, which means every ounce of state-brewed beer would benefit from the tax break. The Beer Institute said the cut should encourage $320 million in economic growth for the industry each year.

Keg Creek would have potentially saved around $5,200 with the tax break last year. This year, the brewers said they hope to increase production by 50 percent. “(These) breweries . if they’re not growing, they’re dying. It is a small-margin industry,” said John Bueltel, a co-founder of Keg Creek Brewing. “This tax has given us more money to continue that growth.”

J. Wilson, head of the Iowa Brewers Guild, said the tax break won’t turn a $5 pint into a $4 pint, but is a step toward permanent reform.

The tax is planned to sunset in 2019, which will restore the $7 barrel tax. Wilson said the tax break would see a real impact if it were extended beyond 2019. Wilson plans to lobby for a permanent cut. “This is one of those things where you’re excited but you’ve also got to be realistic and manage expectations,” said Wilson.