DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have announced the year’s first confirmed death from West Nile virus in Iowa. The Iowa Public Health Department said in a news release Friday that an adult woman from southwest Iowa died earlier this month.

The state medical director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, says the West Nile virus threat remains until the state’s first hard frost. The virus is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes, which acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds.

Experts say most people who are infected have no symptoms or experience only mild, flu-like symptoms. The most vulnerable people are those who are at least 50 or have weakened immune systems.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s treasurer says Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to tap an emergency fund to address a budget shortfall is not compliant with state law. Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald sent a letter to Reynolds on Friday that says revenue tied to the state budget that ended in June did not drop below a certain legal threshold. Since revenue didn’t meet that threshold, Fitzgerald says funds can’t legally be transferred from the state’s economic emergency fund.

Reynolds announced recently that a shortfall to last year’s $7.2 billion budget wouldn’t trigger a special legislative session. She said she would instead transfer $13 million from the fund. Multiple messages left with the Republican governor were not immediately returned Friday.

Fitzgerald says he wants Reynolds to carefully review the budget numbers before she formally taps the fund.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, handed a one-point-two ($1.2) million dollar budget cut earlier this year, is putting out a call for volunteers to help spruce up Iowa’s state parks as the summer camping season winds down. Todd Coffelt, chief of the DNR’s State Parks Bureau, is organizing Iowa’s first State Park Volunteer Day tomorrow (Saturday).

The volunteer activities will take place in nearly three dozen of Iowa’s state parks.

Volunteers could also be removing invasive plants, making building repairs, and painting picnic tables. Iowans who want to help may need to bring tools and supplies.

Iowa’s State Park Volunteer Day is held in conjunction with National Public Lands Day – the nation’s largest one-day volunteer effort for public lands. For more information and to view a list of parks looking for volunteers, go to: www.iowadnr.gov/volunteerday.

Radio Iowa

The Adair County Auditor’s Office has announced that starting October 2nd they will offer Passport Photos.  Photos will be taken in the office and can be ready within a few minutes.  The cost is $10.  The photos can be used for new passport applications or renewal applications.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Thursday night of 36-year-old Gary O. Smith of Red Oak for Disorderly Conduct. He was arrested at 10:37pm in the 400 Block of North 7th Street in Red Oak. Smith was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Thursday night of a Red Oak man.  At 5:11pm Officers arrested 34-year-old Bryan David Sapp Jr. at 315 East Reed Street on a Montgomery County Warrant for Interference with Official Acts. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond or surety. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the arrest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s effort to cut a key Medicaid benefit could foreshadow other state-level efforts to change the safety net program after Congress repeatedly failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Federal health officials could decide as early as this week whether to back Iowa’s proposal. It would reduce retroactive payments for poor or disabled residents eligible for Medicaid. The plan was in the latest Republican effort to repeal the health care law, but it didn’t get a Senate floor vote.

Although the Trump administration has yet to approve any major proposed changes to state Medicaid programs, some experts predict that soon could change. Iowa says the reduction to retroactive pay would save more than $37 million annually — more than $9 million of that for the state.

Audubon Police, Wednesday, arrested 39-year old Christopher John Grogan, of Audubon, for Public Intoxication – 3rd or more offenses. Grogan was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held to appear before a magistrate.

Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall responded on Thursday to a report released by the State Auditor’s Office. Marshall stated that the Treasurer’s Office has been cooperating with the investigation for quite a while.

Marshall said that she will be reviewing the report with Cass County Board of Supervisors Chair Gaylord Schelling and is willing to reimburse any monies they determine were improperly disbursed in regards to her office.

Marshall also stated that any improprieties were unintentional mistakes.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office released details on multiple recent arrests Thursday.

61-year-old Bradley Alan Beaver of Adair turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for Theft 5th Degree. The charges stem from an insufficient check written to an Audubon County business on August 8th. Beaver appeared before the Magistrate, plead guilty, was fined, and released.

46-year-old Jacqueline Marie Phippen of Exira has been charged with 4 counts of aiding and abetting the Violation of a No Contact Order. The charges stem from the investigation into contact made between a defendant and victim in a Domestic Abuse investigation. Phippen was released following an appearance before the Magistrate on Thursday, September 28th. A preliminary hearing is set for October 12th.

Additional charges have been filed against 28-year-old Joseph Dean White of Exira. He has been charged with 15 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order. White was found to have made contact with a victim in a Domestic Abuse case while being held in the Audubon County Jail. During the investigation a search warrant was executed at his home at 311 West Washington Street in Exira. He was then additionally charged with Possession of Marijuana 3rd Offense within 1,000 feet of a park and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. White remains in the Audubon County Jail on $11,500 bond. The incident remains under investigation and additional charges are pending.