The Des Moines Register reports a central Iowa couple who adopted nine former foster children has been charged with felony child endangerment causing bodily injury. Authorities in Ankeny gave the newspaper the files from 68 different reports of police calls to the home. State Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, has been criticizing the state agency in charge of investigating child abuse allegations and he didn’t let up last (Thursday) night. “This is the result of what happens when you cut government beyond the bone and that’s where we’re at right now with the Department of Human Service,” McCoy said. “And Terry Branstad and Kim Reynolds and the Republican legislature own it.” ‘

McCoy made his comments in a speech after receiving the Iowa Democratic Party’s 2017 “outstanding elected official” award at a party event last (Thursday) night. The Des Moines Register reports 55-year-old John Bell and his 57-year-old wife Joyce were booked into the Polk County Jail yesterday (Thursday) afternoon for abusing the children they’ve adopted over the years. All of the children — ranging in age from 16 to 38 — have disabilities.

The Des Moines Register reports two teenage boys who were still living in the home were removed by state officials after a mid-July police call at the residence. The Government Oversight Committees in both the Iowa House and Senate met in June to review the state’s child welfare system after cases in which two teenagers adopted out of the foster care system died and the parents who adopted them were charged. Also last month, a new director took over the Department of Human Services and launched a “top-to-bottom review” of the system.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday evening, arrested 70-year old Jerry Lynn Pontow, of Hastings (IA), on a charge of Indecent Exposure. The man was taken into custody a little before 7-p.m., following an incident at the Pilot Grove County Park in northern Montgomery County. Pontow was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Police in Red Oak, Thursday, arrested 27-year old Michael Todd Archer, of Red Oak, on a charge of Simple Assault. Archer was taken into custody at around 12:20-a.m. in the 1900 block of E. Summit Street, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rejected a measure to repeal parts of former President Barack Obama’s health care law, after a night of high suspense ended in a big defeat for President Donald Trump’s agenda. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona cast a key vote against the measure. Trump sent a Twitter post saying “3 Republicans and 48 Democrats’ let the American people down.’

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, issued a statement after Senate consideration of legislation to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Ernst stated in a Press Release, “As I’ve said throughout this debate, ObamaCare is not sustainable in Iowa and we have to act. Iowans in the individual market have seen their choices vanish and have seen massive rate increases.”

She said also, that “Throughout [her] 99 county tour, [she] hear[s] countless stories from Iowans facing these premium increases, as well as increases in other out of pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays that they simply cannot afford. We don’t have the option to sit back and do nothing; Iowans are demanding relief from ObamaCare.”

Ernst went on to say “I am disappointed that the Senate was unable to advance important changes to this flawed law. We must now continue to find ways to work on behalf of Iowans and the American people who have been negatively impacted by Obamacare to find affordable, patient-centered solutions that work for them.”

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trucking company linked to a recent deadly human smuggling case in Texas had long promoted itself as a family firm whose hard-working drivers helped keep the U.S. economy running. But according to public records and interviews with former drivers, Pyle Transportation was a cutthroat business that flouted laws. One of the company’s contract drivers is charged in the deaths of 10 immigrants found in a sweltering trailer in Texas. The firm says it knew nothing about the human smuggling operation.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Court records say an Iowa woman accused of trying to flush her newborn down a toilet and then leaving the baby for dead in a trash can intends to change her plea. A plea hearing is scheduled Aug. 11 in Iowa City for Ashley Hautzenrader, who’s already pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. The records don’t say how she’ll plead and to what charges. Police say the child was found alive in the trash.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drought conditions are increasing in several states, and extreme heat and weeks with little rain have begun to stress corn, soybeans, wheat and livestock in some areas. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says nearly 11 percent of the continental United States is in moderate drought or worse.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for escaping last year from a federal halfway house in western Iowa. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says 28-year-old Keith Wayne Page, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday to 16 months in prison for escape, to which he pleaded guilty in January. Officials say Page failed to return to CH Inc., a residential re-entry center in Council Bluffs, in early September.

The 2017 Cass County Fair King and Queen Contest was held on Thursday night at the Cass County Fairgrounds. 11 candidates competed for the title of Queen and 8 candidates vied for King.

2017 Cass County Fair Queen Mariah Murphy

Mariah Murphy, daughter of Doug and Kristi Murphy, was crowned the 2017 Cass County Fair Queen. Mariah is a member of the Benton Franklin 4-H club and the CAM FFA. Paige Henderson, Daughter of Mike and Beth Henderson was named Princess. Paige is a member of the Benton Franklin 4-H Club as well. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Sydney Steffen, Daughter of Andy and Jody Steffen.

2017 Cass County Fair King Riley Smith

Riley Smith, son of Don and Amy Smith, was crowned the 2017 Cass County Fair King. Riley is a member of the Griswold Clubsters 4-H Club and the Griswold FFA.  Cody McCreedy, son of Marty and Shelby McCreedy, was named Prince. Cody is a member of the Cass County RAMS and the Atlantic FFA. Mr. Congeniality was awarded to Eric Plagman, son of Mike and Kristy Plagman. Eric is a member of the Benton-Franklin 4-H Club and the CAM FFA.

The night got started with the Little Miss and Little Mister contest which had 16 Miss Contestants and 5 Mister Contestants. After introductions a winner for each title was drawn from a bowl. Leah Ohms was named Little Miss and Cooper Andersen was named Little Mister.

Dennis and Karen Oathoudt were honored as this year’s Cass County 4-H Hall of Fame inductees.  The Benton-Franklin 4-H Club was honored as the banner club of the year and they will receive special seating at the bull ride event on Friday night. Senior recognition awards were also handed out before the crowning of the King and Queen.

All royalty winners received Atlantic Chamber Bucks from Deb Schuler and Lana Westphalen and Gift Certificates from Renew Ag Supply. The Prince received an engraved belt buckle courtesy of Kirchoff Land Improvements. The King received an engraved belt buckle as well courtesy of Marcellus Insurance.  The Princess was given a tiara courtesy of Hanson’s Fine Jewelry and a sash pin from the family of Arlene and Harold Wickey. The Queen received a tiara courtesy of Hanson’s Fine Jewelry, a sash pin in memory of Matthew Rogers by his family, and a trophy from Smith Heating and Plumbing, Inc. Flowers courtesy of Special Occasions were also given to the Princess and Queen.

2017 Cass County Fair Queen Candidates

2017 Cass County Fair King Candidates

KJAN will be bringing you a live broadcast of the Cass County Fair Queen and King contest tonight from the Cass County Fairgrounds. Tune in for the audio or video broadcast at 7:00pm. We’ll have the audio broadcast on AM 1220, FM 101.1, online at kjan.com, and on the KJAN mobile app. Live video coverage will be available on KJANTV. Just head over to the TV page and click play on the embedded video player just before the broadcast.  The Little Miss and Little Mister contest will lead off the night before the King and Queen Ceremony emceed by our very own Jim Field.

A special investigation by the state auditor’s office has concluded a deputy sheriff in Carroll County and a staffer in the sheriff’s office improperly split at least 128-thousand dollars’ worth of fees for gun safety classes. Starting January 1st of 2011, Iowans who proved they had completed a gun-handling course and met all other legal requirements automatically got a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The man who was Carroll County’s sheriff at the time asked Deputy Tom Fransen to start teaching the gun safety classes — but State Auditor Mary Mosiman says the fees for the classes “belong to the county.” The classes were taught in the courthouse in Carroll, county equipment was used, plus the sheriff’s office phone number was listed as the primary point of contact on the materials advertising the classes. Fransen and Shanna Balukoff — a clerk in the Carroll County sheriff’s office — split the fees that were collected over a five-and-a-half year period.

The auditors’ review says the two may have pocketed MORE than 128-thousand dollars in fees because not all receipts in the sheriff’s office were properly recorded. The auditors’ report has been forwarded to state and Carroll County prosecutors as well as the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trucking company linked to a recent deadly human smuggling case in Texas had long promoted itself as a family firm whose hard-working drivers helped keep the U.S. economy running.

But according to public records and interviews with former drivers, Pyle Transportation was a cutthroat business that flouted laws, yet managed to stay afloat despite financial troubles and tangles with the government.

One of the company’s contract drivers was charged Monday in the deaths of 10 immigrants found in a sweltering Pyle trailer in San Antonio. The firm says it knew nothing about the human smuggling operation.

Federal regulators have launched an investigation into the company’s safety record.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a suspect in the Sioux City stabbing death of a Nebraska man. Police say 29-year-old Daniel Levering, of Sioux City, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder in the Sunday stabbing and beating death of 36-year-old Vincent Walker, of Winnebago, Nebraska.

Police say Walker was washing his car when he was confronted late Sunday afternoon by three people. Police say the group then assaulted him, with one stabbing him and another hitting him repeatedly with a baseball bat. Walker later died at a Sioux City hospital.

Levering is being held on $1 million bond. His preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 7 in Woodbury County District Court.