OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of business leaders suggests economic conditions continue to improve for nine Midwest and Plains states. A report released Wednesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 58.8 in October from 58.2 in September. The August figure was 57.5. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says national and regional indices indicate the manufacturing sector is expanding at a very healthy pace.

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.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of three private insurance companies that help run Iowa’s Medicaid program plans to withdraw in a month. The Iowa Department of Human Services announced Tuesday that AmeriHealth Caritas will end its Medicaid coverage at the end of November. The state agency also announced it would spend more money as part of new contracts with the remaining companies, Amerigroup and UnitedHealthcare. The move means about 215,000 Iowans will transfer to the remaining companies.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say slippery conditions from rain and snow likely caused a rock climber to fall to his death from the First Flatiron in Boulder. Carrie Haverfield, a spokeswoman for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, says investigators believe deteriorating weather conditions caused 31-year-old Erik Kleiber to fall about 430 feet from the iron-shaped rock formation Thursday. The Daily Camera reports it does not appear that the Boulder man was using any climbing equipment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The FBI credits a new computer algorithm for identifying more than 200 previously unknown bodies found in locations throughout the country since the 1970s. The new system is able to make matches from low-quality prints or even a single finger or thumb. The cases range from a Texas man found in the mid-1980s in Iowa to an 18-year-old runaway who was found shot to death in 1999 in Arizona. Many of those identified died in the desert after crossing the border from Mexico into the U.S.

NEW VIENNA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are blaming a manure runoff from a dairy farm for killing about 60,000 fish in eastern Iowa. The fish kill was reported Oct. 9 in two creeks in Dyersville. The farm is about 3 miles east of New Vienna. The Iowa Natural Resources Department has issued a notice of violation and is expected to seek restitution for the fish, including minnows, white suckers and creek chubs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of three private insurance companies that help run Iowa’s Medicaid program plans to withdraw in a month.

The Iowa Department of Human Services announced Tuesday that AmeriHealth Caritas will end its Medicaid coverage at the end of November. The state agency also announced it would spend more money as part of new contracts with the remaining companies, Amerigroup and UnitedHealthcare.

DHS described the additional spending as a 3.3 percent rate increase, but officials did not provide more specifics. Department director Jerry Foxhoven says the extra spending will be funded through existing agency dollars.

The move means about 215,000 Iowans enrolled in the health care program for poor and disabled people will transfer to the remaining companies. DHS then plans to hire another company to offer coverage beginning next summer.

The Harlan Police Department reports two recent arrests. On Sunday, 38-year old Christopher Thomas Hanshaw, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop at the intersection of Hwy 59 and Cyclone Ave.  Hanshaw was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, financial liability coverage, windshield requirements, and careless driving.

And, on Oct. 25th, 45-year old Larry Monroe Lange, of Harlan, was arrested following a report of disturbance in the 1400 block of 7th Street.  Lange was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault with bodily injury and trespass.

Last Saturday, 29-year old Charlie Bennett Hadfield, of Earling, was cited by Harlan Police, for possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Willow Street.

Harlan Police report also, that on Saturday, Larry Wingert, of Avoca, was driving a 1996 Ford F-150 pickup and pulling up to the Harlan Kwik Rx Pharmacy.  When Wingert tried to stop, his brakes failed, causing the vehicle to strike the front door of the business. No dollar amount of the damage was reported, and there no injuries reported.

An investigation into a reported underage drinking party in Page County resulted in three citations being issued. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports deputies responded at around 11:40-p.m. Saturday to a party at the corner of 5th and Washington Streets, in Yorktown. During the investigation of the underage drinking party, 20-year old Christopher Monaghan, 18-year old Haileigh Cavin, and 18-year old Emily Bahn were cited for Persons under legal age. Two Juvenile males were referred to Juvenile court for Persons under legal age. Their names are not being released at this time. More charges are pending at this time in regards to this incident.

The Atlantic Police Department reports one arrest and several accident investigations took place over the past few days. On Monday (10/30), 18-year old Travis Osborn, of Atlantic, was arrested for 5th Degree Theft and Public Intoxication. Osborn was booked into the Cass County Jail. At around 7:35-a.m. today (Tuesday) Atlantic Police responded to an accident at 7th and Linn Streets. Vehicles driven by Carter Hoffman, of Atlantic and Tina Olson, of Audubon, collided when Olson was slowing to turn right onto Linn Street from eastbound 7th Street. Her vehicle was struck from behind by Hoffman’s vehicle, causing $2,000 damage altogether. Olson complained of whiplash, but was otherwise uninjured. Hoffman was cited for Failure to Maintain Reasonable/Proper speed.

Two accidents happened Monday, in Atlantic, just minutes apart. At around 3:32-p.m., and accident at 10th and Mulberry Streets occurred when a vehicle driven by Danielle Young, of Atlantic, backed out of a private drive and struck a vehicle on the passenger door, as the vehicle – driven by Danielle Meek, of Atlantic – was traveling east on 10th Street. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,000. The second accident at around 3:34-p.m. happened at the west driveway entrance to the Wal-Mart Store. A vehicle driven Shirley Johnson, of Atlantic, was southbound in the entrance, with a vehicle driven by Hanna Layland, of Atlantic, directly behind her. Authorities say Layland looked at another vehicle and when she looked back, saw Johnson’s vehicle had slowed. Layland tried to turn left to avoid hitting Johnson’s vehicle, but struck it in the left rear corner, causing $2,100 damage altogether.

At around 5:50-a.m. Saturday, a vehicle driven by Kasey Juhl, of Atlantic, was traveling south in the 1300 block of Chestnut Street, when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle hit a light pole, snapping it off. Juhl then left the scene of the accident. No injuries were reported. Damage amounted to $14,000. Juhl was cited for reckless driving, operating a vehicle without a registration card or plate, and driving or towing an unsafe vehicle.

And, at around 9-a.m. Friday, vehicles driven by Roger Denison, and Crystal Schelle, both of Atlantic, collided at 11th and Chestnut Streets. The accident happened as Denison was traveling north on Chestnut and Schelle was traveling east on 11th. The A-PD says she proceeded through the intersection after failing to yield, and was struck by Denison’s vehicle. Damage amounted to $4,500. Schelle was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones has announced the City of Atlantic has officially launched SeeClickFix, an app you can download to your mobile device to report issues such as debris in the road, junk piling up, or other eyesores and/or other matters, like pot holes. The program allows you to report issues that are routed instantly to the appropriate City personnel. You can then track the progress of your submission and receive feedback directly from City staff.

If you have not yet downloaded the SeeClickFix mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store, you may do so at any time. You can also access the program directly from the City’s Website (coming soon). After you have SeeClickFix, comment or vote on an issue today! Don’t forget to share the news with your friends and neighbors.

Two people from Nebraska were arrested over the weekend in Mills County. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 25-year old Taylor Joseph Hopkins, of Omaha, was arrested at around 10:37-p.m. Saturday for OWI/1st offense, following an accident investigation. Officials say Hopkins was traveling north on 221st Street when he came to a sharp corner. He told authorities he thought his 1998 Lexus was sliding in the turn before it went out of control, entered the west ditch and rolled over near Green Hill Farms. The car came to rest on its top. Hopkins denied being injured and refused medical treatment. Authorities say speed and alcohol impairment were the reasons for the crash. Hopkins admitted he had some mixed drinks earlier in the day, while attending a wedding. He was transported to the Mills County Jail where he was charged with OWI and Failure to Maintain Control. His bond was set at $1,000.

And, 20-year old Carolina Gallegos, of Omaha, was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. Sunday, of Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) and PCS in a Correctional Facility. She was being held in the Mills County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors continued today (Tuesday) with discussion about a possible ATV/UTV Ordinance. Their focus today was whether or not a fee should be assessed to register the machines, how much of a fee might be set, and what the money would be used for. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources requires new All Terrain and Utility Terrain Vehicle owners to register their machines with the County Recorder’s Office in the County where they are purchased, and the registration must be renewed annually. Both cost $17.75.

Cass County Recorder Mary Ward spoke with the Supervisors about whether they wanted an additional registration fee to be added specifically for the County. She says currently, Cass County only receives $1.25 out of the $17.75 for each registration that is processed and sticker that is handed out. Ward said some counties don’t have a special/additional fee, they just make sure the ATV/UTV owner/operator has a current registration sticker. Of those counties that do charge an additional fee to process the registration, it’s usually as much as $25.

Those fees are usually for producing another sticker and the time it takes to process them. Ward said they haven’t sold as many ATV/UTV stickers for the DNR as they used to. Part of that reason may be that people are paying online for their stickers. She said if the Board elected to impose another fee, it wouldn’t need to be anything more than $10. Cass County Auditor Dale Sundermen said the reason for a separate fee and registration would be so the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has ATV/UTV information on-hand for a variety of reasons, including making sure the machine is current on its license and registration, and that the operator is legally entitled to use it. That includes being insured.

No action was taken on an Ordinance during today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting. In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a piece of equipment that mounts to a dump truck, and uses a hydraulic conveyor to place gravel on the county road shoulders where needed, to firm up the shoulders. It would make it safer for combines and other implements to move further off the side of the road, without risking a rollover accident. The device costs $18,500. Engineer Charles Bechtold said the device lays down the new material, and would replace an auger-driven machine that isn’t very accurate, and is problematic. The costs will come from the Secondary Roads budget.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Organizers of a holiday donation drive in central Iowa say that after more than 60 years, this will be the charity’s final event because younger volunteers haven’t stepped up to take on the huge task. The Messenger reports that Operation Christmas in Fort Dodge is run by Church Women United. Program co-chair Ruth Reed says the group collects winter clothing, household items, Christmas decorations, personal hygiene products, toys, food and other gifts. The items are then given to needy families around Christmas time.

In recent years, about 500 families have been helped each year. Reed says she can’t continue running the operation, noting she’s now 81. The group will begin accepting donations on Nov. 14 and start taking applications from families on Nov. 27. Donations will be delivered Dec. 15.