A new report shows the drought zone in Iowa has greatly expanded. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 70 percent of Iowa is abnormally dry or in some form of drought. A week ago, the report indicated about half of Iowa in those conditions. The area of extreme drought has expanded as well. All or parts of seven counties in south central and southeast Iowa are now in extreme drought.

Rain is falling in western Iowa this morning. More than three inches of rain falls, on average, in Iowa during the month of September. So far this month, there are significant sections of the state that have had NO rain.

(Radio Iowa)

An Army veteran from central Iowa has embarked on a journey to run across the state — from west to east — as a way of drawing attention to veteran suicide and P-T-S-D. Josh Jorgensen left Council Bluffs on Thursday and plans to spend ten days running the 330 miles to Burlington. Jorgenson, who’s from Adel, is a member of Team Fidelis, a national group that’s working to end the epidemic of veteran suicide.

Jorgensen says, “I found this to be a way to raise awareness for our organization and also to reach out to the veterans themselves who maybe don’t think there’s a finish line there, that are struggling at the moment.”

Jorgensen, who served in Iraq as a member of the 101st Airborne, says he’s been planning the run for more than a year but was thrown a curve ball when he was told he had to have open heart surgery six months ago. “I wasn’t going to let that be a barrier if it didn’t have to be,” he says. “When I got wheeled in to my operation, I told the doctor, ‘Hey, make sure I get off the table and I’ll do the rest.'”

While he knew he could postpone the run because of the surgery, he decided to go ahead with it as the cause is so important to him. To further challenge himself, Jorgensen is making the border-to-border run across Iowa while wearing a military-issued gas mask which covers his entire face. He says the mask helps him to start conversations about veteran suicide and P-T-S-D.

“We can create the awareness of the help that we’re trying to get for other veterans and the struggles they’re going through,” he says. He plans to run about 33 miles a day across Iowa and should reach the Mississippi River next weekend. (More info. at www.teamfidelis.org)

(Radio Iowa)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston report two men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 31-year old Joshua David Coulter, of Creston, was arrested at his residence, at around 5-a.m. Thursday. Coukter was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Revocation of Pre-trial Release, and additional charges of Interference with Official Acts, Domestic Abuse/1st offense, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Coulter was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a judge.

And, 21-year old Jacob Jack Davis, of Shannon City, was arrested at around 12:50-p.m. Thursday, in Creston, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 cash only bond.

Creston Police said also, a resident of the 600 block of S. Mulberry Street, in Creston, reported Thursday morning, that someone stole his 1991 Harley Davidson FX-STS. The theft occurred while the motorcycle was at the corner of Elm Street and Highway 34. The loss was estimated at $2,000.

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

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Grant, Ia. –The Grant United Methodist Church will hold its annual Fall Bazaar Sunday, Sept. 17.   The day’s events will begin at 10 a.m. with a worship service featuring an old-fashioned hymn sing led by Mary Grundman, granddaughter of long-term Grant pastor Rev. A. Breeling.

Following the service from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., the church will serve a home-cooked meal that includes:  ham balls, roast beef, mashed potatoes, Harvard beets, buttered corn, assorted salads, pies and desserts, and coffee, tea or lemonade. The dinner costs $9 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.  All money raised supports the Grant United Methodist Women and their work for mission projects and the Grant church.

This year’s auction will again include a quilt, handmade crafts and rugs, fresh garden produce, baked goods and more.

The Grant United Methodist Church, founded in 1855, is a multigenerational church focusing on concern for its neighbors and providing a center of worship for all ages.  Worship services are celebrated at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday.

The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources reports Iowa resident deer hunters who are interested in additional doe tags can now purchase them. If you have already purchased one doe tag, the cost of each additional doe tag is reduced to $13.00. The DNR says while thousands of doe tags are still available across the state, you’re encouraged to purchase as soon as possible to ensure you get the tags you want; eight of the 63 counties offering doe tags are sold out, and an additional 18 counties have less than 500.

You can check current quotas here: https://jc.activeoutdoorsolutions.com/iowadnr/app/locFindPage.do?licnYear=2017&lottery=5&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

or read more about Iowa deer hunting, here: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Deer-Hunting?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a home invasion and robbery. Authorities say at around 3:34-a.m. today (Friday), police responded to 3423 Ave C for a home invasion. The homeowner said he awoke to find an intruder in his home. When the homeowner went to confront the suspect, the suspect fled from the residence on a bicycle.

As of this time, authorities say it appears the suspect took the victim’s wallet. No injuries were reported from the encounter. Anyone with information regarding this burglary is urged to contact Council Bluffs Police at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).

The State Board of Education is moving ahead with a change that creates an exception in transfer rules for homeless students. The department’s Nicole Proesch says the change brings the state in line with federal regulations. “It’s another way of removing a barrier for a student who is experiencing homelessness, it to allow them to immediately enroll in athletics or other activities in the school district because they are in a homeless status,” Proesch says.

Students who do not meet exceptions to the transfer rule have to sit out 90 consecutive days before they can participate in activities.   Proesch says the new rules are part of the McKinney-Vento Act in the new federal education bill and will update what Iowa was using. “Before the rules that we had in place went on a case-by-case basis to kind of review maybe the reason for the homelessness,” Proesch explains. “What we’re looking to do is to kind of remove an extra barrier that a student who is homeless may have.”

She says the rules try to take some of the stress away from students. “There are several ways that a student can be considered a homeless student. A student can be an unaccompanied minor…. maybe not having a fixed place to say at night, “Proesch says.  Individual school districts will handle each case. “Schools and school districts have what they call a homeless schools liaison, and every district is required to have one under McKinney-Vento, ” Proesch says. “That individual is equipped with a homeless toolkit to be equipped with the right questions to ask each individual student or their families to determine whether or not they would qualify as a homeless student.”

The Board of Education approved the proposed rule change and there will be a public hearing will be held on October 31st, , from 9:00 a-m until 10:00 a-m in the State Board Room, Second Floor, Grimes State Office Building, East 14th Street and Grand Avenue, Des Moines. Any can give their opinion on the rules either orally or in writing at that time.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District report The Iowa Association for College Admissions Counseling, will sponsor a “College Fair” on Tuesday, Sept. 19th, from 2-until 3:15-p.m., at the Atlantic High School.

High School guidance counselor Craig Fredin, site coordinator for the event, says that about 60 representatives from post-secondary institutions will be present to speak about opportunities at their respective colleges, vocational and technical schools, as well as military service.

The IACAC has established 30 College Day/College Night programs throughout the state, to provide a supportive environment for students to obtain information and appropriate counseling that should prove helpful in their college selection process.

Students, parents or interested adults from Atlantic and the surrounding communities are invited to attend.