Authorities say “Fremont County residents may notice emergency personnel go into action all at once this month, but don’t be alarmed. Several entities in Fremont County are teaming up for a mock disaster drill on an undisclosed date to test readiness in the county.

While organizers want to keep the date and location of the drill secret so it can be effective, the drill will simulate a tornado striking multiple communities in the county. It is asked that the public stay out of the way and allow first responders to do their job during the drill.”

Officials ask that you “Please do not call 9-1-1 to find out what’s going on, the dispatching center is going to be a huge help to us during this, and they are going to be very busy. We find communication during a mock disaster is always lacking in some form. We’re trying to build that, so that we can utilize cell phones, radios and other things to communicate. Stay back, and let us do our drill.”

Authorities say “Afterwards, we’ll find out how successful we were and what we’ve learned throughout the whole drill. Each entity that participates in the drill will be monitored by an evaluator that will observe the response and provide feedback on possible improvements.”

In addition, the “Public WILL NOT be allowed to enter disaster scenes. This is for your protection, the protection of our “Fake” patients, as well as our emergency personnel.” You are welcome to share this message, but officials ask that you NOT EDIT the content in any way.

In cooperation with the Governor of the state of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 19 Soldiers, two CH-47F Chinook helicopters, and two LUH-72 Lakota helicopters from the Iowa Army National Guard will deploy later this morning (Sept. 11th), to support response operations for Hurricane Irma.

The team is comprised as follows:

-Company A, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation, Security and Support (Waterloo);

-Company B, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion (Davenport);

-Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 67th Troop Command (Iowa City);

-Company C, 2-147th Aviation (Boone);

-Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division (Boone);

-Company D, 2-211th General Aviation Support Battalion (Davenport);

The aircraft and crew members will be utilized as follows: move supplies, equipment and people; support search and rescue operations; and provide situational awareness to response planning and operations. The two Chinook helicopters and one Lakota will be sourced from the Davenport Army Aviation Support Facility (“AASF”). A second Lakota will be sourced from the Waterloo AASF.

The state of Florida has requested support from Iowa. Support is provided under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (“EMAC”), an agreement executed previously between all 50 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia, to assist one another in times of crisis.  EMAC is a national, mutual aid and partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during Governor-declared or federally-declared emergencies. Once the conditions for providing assistance to a requesting state have been set, the terms constitute a legally binding contractual agreement that make affected states responsible for reimbursement.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Attorney General’s office has advised the Iowa Department of Public Health to halt implementation of a small section in the state’s new medical marijuana law amid legal concerns it could invite scrutiny from the federal government. The provision requires the state to license up to two “out-of-state” dispensaries before the end of the year. Those entities would have been expected to transport cannabis oil into Iowa, an unusual setup that is considered illegal under federal law.

BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — The funeral for an Iowa police officer attracted more than 500 people, including roughly 200 law enforcement officials. The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald reports that the funeral for 40-year-old Anamosa police officer Mitchell Kelchen was held Saturday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The fate of one of the oldest homes in Iowa City remains uncertain following the University of Iowa’s plan to purchase the property. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that university officials are seeking permission from the state Board of Regents to purchase the house and an adjacent apartment for $2.6 million. The building is a pre-Civil War house, which local historians say could’ve been built as early as the 1840s.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman has been stabbed to death and police have charged her sister with murder. Police say officers and fire department medics were called at 1:14 a.m. Sunday to an apartment building. They found a woman lying in a common area hallway who had multiple stab wounds. The woman, later identified as 30-year-old Des Moines resident Lakeisha McDuffy, died at a hospital. Police charged the victim’s sister, 31-year-old Chicago resident Ieisha McDuffy, with first-degree murder.

Officials with the Burlington Police Department said Sunday, that Officers and the Burlington Ambulance responded just before 6-a.m. today (Sunday), to the area of N. 5th and Iowa Streets in Burlington, following a report a man had been shot.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name was being withheld pending notification of family. An investigation is being conducted by Burlington Police with assistance from the Iowa Division Criminal Investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Burlington Police at 319-753-8370, or Crimestoppers at 319753-6835.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman has been stabbed to death and police have charged her sister with murder. Des Moines police say officers and fire department medics were called at 1:14 a.m. Sunday to an apartment building on the city’s southside. They found a woman lying in a common area hallway who had multiple stab wounds.

The woman, later identified as 30-year-old Lakeisha McDuffy, was taken to a hospital, where she died. Police charged the victim’s sister, 31-year-old Chicago resident Ieisha McDuffy, with first-degree murder. Police say she will be held in the Polk County Jail.

The sisters were visiting another relative’s home when the stabbing occurred. The stabbing was the 24th homicide in Des Moines this year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency has been advised to halt implementation of a small section in the state’s new medical marijuana law amid legal concerns it could invite scrutiny from the federal government.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office told the Department of Public Health this month to not proceed with a provision requiring the state to license up to two “out-of-state” dispensaries before the end of the year.

Those entities would have been expected to transport cannabis oil into Iowa from another state in order to sell it. That’s considered illegal under federal law because it involves moving the product between state lines.

The attorney general’s office said implementation should be on hold until the federal government provides further guidance on state medical marijuana programs.

The development isn’t expected to impact other provisions in the law that call for establishment of an in-state production system for cannabis oil before the end of 2018. Smoking marijuana in Iowa remains prohibited.

A person riding a motorcycle in northeastern Iowa’s Howard County was injured, Saturday afternoon, when the machine went out of control. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling north on 45th Street near Unity Avenue , northwest of Cresco, when the cycle left the paved surface of the road. The bike then came back on the road, out of control. It crossed the intersection of Unity Avenue and entered the north ditch. The accident happened at around 4:40-p.m.

The operater of the motorcycle, who was not identified in the report, was transported by Medlink helicopter to a hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The accident remains under investigation

A central Iowa woman was struck by a van and died from her injuries Saturday night, in Marshalltown. The Iowa State Patrol reports 40-year old Holly Elizabeth Boone, of Marshalltown, was walking on Iowa Avenue West just before 9-p.m., when she was hit by a 2002 Dodge Caravan driven by 85-year old Barbara Ann Miller, of Marshalltown.

Boone was transported by Marshall EMS to the Marshalltown Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol, with assistance from the Marshalltown Police Department.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man following a traffic stop at around 5:10-p.m., Saturday in the 2100 block of Highway 48. 62-year old Kevin Kay Fish, of Red Oak, was taken into custody for Driving with a suspended license. Fish was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump is nominating former Iowa Department of Transportation director Paul Trombino as administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. The Des Moines Register reports that Trombino, of Johnston, is currently president of McClure Engineering of Clive. He headed the Iowa DOT for five years before resigning last November. His appointment comes amid a promise by Trump to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, including roads and bridges.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Anonymous donors paid $4,000 to the Waterloo Police Department so an officer can keep a police dog after he leaves the force due to health reasons. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the Waterloo City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to give officer Tyler Brownell ownership of K-9 Jason, a Belgian Malinois. The city typically donates dogs to their handlers at the end of a dog’s service but Jason was only halfway through his career and had an estimated value of $4,000.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — If library officials in the eastern Iowa city of Marion have their way, the city will get a new library that can accommodate a burgeoning population and the public’s need for Internet access. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the proposed public library would be twice the size of the current one and include apartments and commercial space. The proposed library is estimated to cost between $12 million and $16 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags at state facilities flown at half-staff to honor those who died in the Sept 11 terrorist attacks 16 years ago. Flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Monday at the Iowa Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex. Flags also will be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.