OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Economists say a business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states dropped over the past month but also say it still suggests that regional economic conditions continue to improve. A report released Friday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index slipped to 57.2 in November from 58.8 in October. The September figure was 58.2 in September.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the manufacturing sector has reported consistent growth over the past several months. 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.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday night, arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. 34-year old Jeremy Hobe Pieken, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street, at around 10:45-p.m. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

A traffic stop early this (Friday) morning in Adams County resulted in the arrest of two people on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports at around 12:15-a.m., Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 25, near the Adams/Taylor County line, on a vehicle with a non-working headlamp and with an expired registration. As Deputies approached the driver and passenger, they detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The driver, Mark Anthony Lopez, was placed under arrest for Driving Under Suspension, Failure to File for SR-22 Insurance, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense.His passenger, Malik Rashad Lambert, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted in their investigation by the Deputies with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ringgold County K9 Unit.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports also, the arrest Thursday, of Justin Lee Schafer and Janelle Blaisure. Justin Schafer was arrested at around 12:25-p.m. on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of Driving Under Suspension. Janelle Blaisure was arrested at around 7:35-p.m. on a similar charge,  following a traffic stop.

Republicans and Democrats say finding a long-term source of money for water quality efforts is a priority for the 2018 Iowa legislative session — and they expect quick action. It’s still a matter of debate, though, as to WHICH policy option will be pursued. Senate President Jack Whitver of Ankeny acknowledges the House passed one approach LAST year, while the Senate approved a different one.

“But at the end of session, we decided there were too many dollars on the line and too much policy to hammer out to do that at the last minute and just patch it together,” Whitver says, “and we decided we wanted to take time and make sure you’re going to do it right because that’s plan that’s going to be around for 20 or 30 or 40 years.”

House Republican Leader Chris Hagenow, of Windsor Heights, expects “hundreds of millions of dollars” to be dedicated to water quality projects over the next few decades.”We shouldn’t see this one bill that we have as the beginning and the end of our work on water quality,” Hagenow says. “I see this as a generational challenge.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines favors an approach that addresses pollution at the watershed level. “The problems with water are not evenly sprinkled across our state and we should be going after the areas that is most poisoning our water,” Petersen says. “We should be going after those areas first, I believe.”

House Democratic Leader Mark Smith of Marshalltown says it’s a mistake to make look solely at the quality of surface water. “We need to be focusing on good soil and retaining Iowa soil, which is our lifeblood here in this state,” Smith says. “By doing so, we will correct the water quality issues that we have in our state and many other issues as well.”

Addressing flood-prone areas of the state through water improvement projects is important, according to Smith. The legislative leaders made their comments Thursday during a forum sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. It represents 23 chambers of commerce in central Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Researchers at the University of Iowa are looking for Iowans who are serving as caretakers of a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The U-I College of Nursing is in year three of a four year study designed to support those caregivers. The study’s director, Diane Blyler, says participants need to commit just three months to the study.

“What we hope is that, by providing weekly feedback to people, we can identify challenging situations that we can help people with in their home – whether it’s challenges with eating or other day-to-day care,” Blyler says.

A total of 35 families have participated in the study so far and Blyler is hoping they can collect data from at last 25 more. Participants in the study fill out questionnaires and also use an iPAD, provided by the U-I, to record and share videos with a team of dementia care experts.

“And what we do is we try to come up with solutions or suggestions based on literature, as well as people’s expert clinical advice, on how to handle day-to-day challenges in the home,” Blyler says. “Maybe there’s a challenge with eating or maybe, in the video, we’ll see something like a rug on the floor that’s not secure and we’ll say ‘that might be a tripping hazard, you might want to move that or pick it up.'”

Each caregiver enrolled in the study will be paid $225. Iowans who are caring for a dementia patient in their home and want to participate in the study can contact Blyler by email ( diane-blyler@uiowa.edu ) or by calling 319-335-3488.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is preparing to show off its newest additions _ three African lion cubs. The two females and one male were born Nov. 14, and had their first physical on Nov. 20. Zoo officials say the cubs were part of a large litter of five cubs, but two others didn’t survive. The cubs don’t have names yet and have been spending time bonding with their mother, Neema.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged two people in the stabbing death last year of a Cedar Rapids man. Television station KGAN reports that 19-year-old Darius Alexander and 21-year-old Emily Young have been charged with first-degree murder, robber and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the Sept. 30, 2016, stabbing death of 18-year-old Christopher Arteberry Jr. Police say Arteberry was stabbed in the parking lot of a Cedar Rapids apartment complex and later found inside an apartment.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Law enforcement officials in northeastern Iowa have launched an investigation after a Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputy fired his gun at a fleeing vehicle last week. A news release Thursday from the sheriff’s office says deputies were helping Waterloo police in a chase on Nov. 22 when Deputy Joe Schmidt fired his service gun at the fleeing vehicle. Waterloo Police Capt. Dave Mohlis said Thursday that no one was injured in the shooting.

WOOLSTOCK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a pheasant hunter in north-central Iowa was accidentally shot when a dog stepped on shotgun trigger guard and the gun fired. The Iowa Natural Resources Department says the shooting occurred Wednesday near Woolstock in southwestern Wright County. The department says several pellets lodged in the back of William Rancourt, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, but he was able to walk soon after being wounded. He was taken to a hospital in Fort Dodge for treatment.

A vehicle whose driver lost control while pulling into a Council Bluffs strip mall, ended up striking a building, but the accident didn’t result in any injuries. Council Bluffs Police were notified at around 4:10-p.m., Thursday about the crash, which happened at 900 Woodbury Avenue, which is the site of a small strip mall and several businesses.

Officials learned 73-year old Mary Elizabeth Moore, of Council Bluffs, had been driving a 2015 Cadillac SRX and was pulling into a parking spot in front of a laundromat in the building complex, when her foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal.

Witnesses to the accident turned off the water and power to the building. The driver of the car was helped out of her vehicle through the passenger side door. A structural engineer was called to evaluate the damage, but a dollar amount was not immediately available.

The Red Oak Police Department reports no injuries occurred during a two-vehicle accident on Thursday. At 12:05pm Officers responded to the crash at the intersection of North 2nd Street and East Hammond Street. Officers determined that a 2000 Saturn SL driven by 54-year-old Norma Jean Demont of Red Oak was westbound on East Hammond Street and failed to stop at the stop sign with North 2nd Street. The Saturn struck a 2008 Ford Edge driven by 41-year-old John Arthur Gross of Red Oak.

Both vehicles sustained an estimated $1,200 damage. Demont was issued a written warning for Failure to Obey Stop Sign.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is preparing to show off its newest additions — three African lion cubs. The two females and one male were born Nov. 14, and had their first physical on Nov. 20.

Zoo officials say the cubs were part of a large litter of five cubs, but two others didn’t survive. The cubs don’t have names yet and have been spending time bonding with their mother, Neema. Officials say the cubs must go through a series of vaccinations over the coming months before zoo visitors will be allowed to see them.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the African lion as “vulnerable” and says populations are declining. Threats include loss of habitat because of human encroachment and poaching.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Thursday), voted unanimously to appoint a person to fill the full-time position of Cass County Attorney. Auditor Dale Sunderman said according to Iowa Code, it was one of two options they had available to them following the resignation in August (Effective January 1, 2018) of Attorney David Wiederstein. Applications are currently being sought for Cass County Attorney. Applicants must be a resident of Cass County 60 days prior to their appointment. The last day applications will be accepted is Dec. 27^th. A notice will be published Dec. 13^th that an appointment will be made January 2^nd. Members of the public have the right to file a petition calling for a special election, within 14 days of the notice being published.

In other business, the Board voted a Cooperative Agreement between Cass County and the Iowa Department of Transportation, for the maintenance of a section of the Buck Creek Road under Interstate 80. The terms of the agreement were originally spelled out in 1966, when the DOT told the County they could no longer maintain that portion of Buck Creek Road under I-80, and the road was closed to through traffic. Adjacent property owners were granted exclusive access to that portion of the road. Since then some of the property owners have passed away, and changes have been made to the signage, gates and so on. Cass County Engineer Charles Bechtold said the DOT wants to transfer the deed to the small stretch of road to the County. It would make the road road viable again to through traffic, but only on a Level-B status. The County would be responsible for gravel, maintenance signs and guardrails. The stipulations are that in the event the DOT determines the I-80 bridges are no longer needed, and there is a replacement with a new bridge or culvert or other improvements and Buck Creek Road is impacted by the construction, Buck Creek Road will be closed permanently. The DOT will reserve the right to close the road at any time.

And, the Cass County Supervisors voted three-to two, in favor of moving forward with an initial draft of an amended Ordinance regulating the Operation of All-Terrain Vehicles [ATV’s] and Utility Vehicles [UTV’s], in Cass County. Supervisors Frank Waters and Gaylord Schelling voted against. The Ordinance, as currently written, does not include an annual fee amount for Identification Stickers. The Iowa DNR currently requires an annual sticker for each ATV/UTV registration. Cass County Recorder Mary Ward said there would be no additional monetary value to the County if it charged for separate stickers, other than covering the costs of the materials. Before the final Ordinance is enacted, three readings will be held in subsequent meetings.