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

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The Creston Police Department reports two arrests took place, Tuesday. 43-year old Kathryn West, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. She was released from the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond. And, 33-year old Noah Edge, of Creston, was arrested on a Daviess County, MO., warrant for Operating a vehicle without a valid license, and failure to wear a seat belt. Edge was being held in the Union County jail while awaiting extradition to Missouri.

Authorities said also, a Creston woman reported that sometime between 5-a.m. and 3-p.m. Monday, someone entered her home in the 800 block of N. Cherry Street, and stole two safes along with a class ring. The items were valued at $50.

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

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Fireworks will continue to be banned on the state capitol grounds in Des Moines. Earlier this year, legislature voted to let Iowans buy and set off consumer-grade fireworks to celebrate around the 4th of July and at year’s end, but the director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services has decided to retain the ban on bottle rockets, smoke bombs and other kinds of fireworks from the capitol grounds. Dave Heuton is the agency’s deputy director. “If someone is injured on state grounds shooting fireworks, it definitely exposes the state to some liability,” Heuton says. “It’s definitely a fire hazard…Then, just in general, the public safety issue.”

In addition to the capitol building itself, a number of state-owned buildings as well as parking lots and a parking ramp occupy several blocks in the City of Des Moines. Heuton says fireworks have never been allowed in those spaces. “Nor has an open flame or any of those things that could cause damage to property owned by the taxpayer,” Heuton says.

The ban on fireworks is included in new operating rules for the “capitol complex” that were approved by a legislative committee on Tuesday afternoon. The new rules, as expected, also allow pistols and revolvers to be carried inside the state capitol building by people who have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. However, guns will NOT be allowed inside the nearby State Historical Building or other state office buildings.

“The determination was made that the capitol building was the legislature’s intent, that only the capitol building would be covered by that law,” Heuton says. The new state gun law then-Governor Branstad approved in mid-April included a stipulation that guns be allowed inside the capitol. The new operating rules also will allow people with a concealed weapon permit to carry their pistol or revolver in the designated parking areas around the capitol building.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new lawsuit says Iowa’s privately run Medicaid program is violating federal laws and a U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring that disabled Americans have a right to live as independently as possible.

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by six Iowans named Gov. Kim Reynolds and the state Human Services Department director. It says the companies running Iowa’s Medicaid program have “engaged in a pattern and practice” of cutting payments to care providers without regard to whether those cuts ultimately will reduce services that people with disabilities rely on.

Reynolds’ spokeswoman Brenna Smith told The Des Moines Register on Tuesday that the governor’s office had not yet reviewed the lawsuit. A Human Services Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the legal matter.

Police in Red Oak report two people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday. At around 10:40-p.m., 19-year old Dawson Allen Squires, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 700 block of N. 3rd Street, for Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) on a $300 cash bond.

And, just before 9-p.m., Tuesday, a juvenile male was arrested in the 400 block of E. Hammond Street, for Simple Assault. The juvenile was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, cited into juvenile court and then released to his parents.

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

WILLIAMSON, Iowa – A road construction worker from Waterloo was killed in southern Iowa’s Lucas County, Tuesday afternoon, when she was struck by an SUV. The Iowa State Patrol says 48-year old Barbarella Ann Moore, who was working as a road construction flagger, died at around 3:30-p.m., when she was struck by a 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by 32-year old Brady Ryan Rasmus, of Chariton. The accident happened on Lucas County Road S-45, about 1/4 of a mile south of 570th Street.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University has sold former president Steven Leath’s airplane for $48,000 less than it paid three years ago. ISU said Tuesday that it’s sold the Cirrus for $450,000, despite Leath’s prediction that it would turn a profit. Leath pledged to unload the plane last year after an audit questioned dozens of flights he took for training.

NORTH ENGLISH, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a North English man in eastern Iowa over the weekend. The Iowa county Sheriff’s Office says in a news release Tuesday that Williamsburg Police Officer Blake Heller shot and killed 53-year-old Robin Blaylock on Saturday. The sheriff’s office says Heller serves as a part time officer for Williamsburg and the town of Marengo. He is also employed as a full time Iowa County Deputy Sheriff.

DEWITT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa are investigating after two bodies were found inside a home in DeWitt. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that deputies were sent to the home along Highway 30 for a welfare check after family members could not reach the two adults who lived there by phone. The sheriff’s office said deputies entered the home around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday and found the bodies of two adults inside.

(corrects timeline to 8:10-p.m. NOT a.m.)

Atlantic Police, Atlantic Fire and Rescue, Medivac Ambulance, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh McLaren all responded to an incident at the Atlantic Wal-Mart Store, Tuesday evening. Atlantic Police Lt. Paul Wood told KJAN News a written bomb threat forced the evacuation of the store. The threat was received at around 8:10-p.m.

A thorough search of the store netted no suspicious devices. By 8:45-p.m., the store was cleared and all units except the Atlantic Police had been released from the scene. The incident remains under investigation. Authorities will review video footage of the area inside the store where the threat was believed to be, along with other evidence.

The Atlantic School Board has their regular monthly meeting set to take place 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at the High School Media Center. During their session, the Board will act on approving various contracts and/or Letters of Assignment, and some resignations.

Resignations to come before the Board include: Washington Elementary Clerical Para-Educator, Denise Finnell; High School Cheer Leading Coach, Julie Hansen, and Link Center Para, Dawn Walton.

Contracts and/or Letters of Assignment to be approved include those for:

• Liz Reid, Middle School Extended Year
• Alan Jenkins, Head 7th Grade Football Coach
• Joe Brummer, Head Freshman Football Coach
• Faith McCunn, 8th Grade Volleyball Coach
• Michelle McLaren, Amber Knudsen, Lindsey Benning – TLC Model Educators
• Ashley Mosier and Jarrod O’Donnell – TLC Mentor
• Kelly Simonton – Daytime High School Custodian
• Eric Miller – from BA, Step 13 to BA+15, Step 13.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on recommendations from former Superintendent Michael Amstein, for 2017-18 salary increases.

Prior to his departing the District, Amstein recommended that the central office clerical staff and other district staff that are NOT included in either the certified or non-certified bargaining groups, receive a 2% salary increase for the upcoming school year, the cost of which was calculated at $5,386 altogether, including IPERS and FICA. The change would affect four clerical positions, two tech-support positions, two At-Risk Advocates, and one Grounds Maintenance position. The 2% increase is the same as the total package increase negotiated with the non-certified employees association.

Amstein also recommended a 2% salary increase for Supervisors and Administrators for 2017-18, which amounts to $10,255, includes IPERS and FICA, and is in line with what was recommended or negotiated for all other groups within the District. And, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving a recommendation from Food Services Director DeeAnn Schreiner for a 10-cent increase in lunch for 2017-18 at the High School and Middle School /Schuler (currently $2.70 & $2.65 respectively), and 15-cents for the Washington School (from $2.40 to $2.55). Adults would pay $3.65 for lunch, instead of the current $3.50.

Breakfast at all schools in the District would increase from $1.70 to $1.80, if approved. The increase is necessary to bring the District more in-line with the USDA’s minimum Weighted Average Price for lunch (currently $2.86). The District is serving breakfast and lunch during the summer until August 4th. Breakfast is served from 9-until 10-a.m., and lunch from 11-until 12:30-p.m.

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says the state tax code “does not align with today’s economy,” and she’s “open to all aspects” of tax reform in 2018. State tax revenues currently are running far below expectations, however, prompting plans for extraordinary measures to ensure the current year’s state budget doesn’t slip into a deficit.

“We’re going to put everything on the table and that means we take a look at holistically how we can do comprehensive tax reform,” Reynolds says. “…That is a priority. I believe that’s the next thing we need to do to make sure Iowa is competitive, so that we can encourage business and industry to expand and grow and locate in the state of Iowa.”  But Reynolds says any tax reforms must be “sustainable” and cannot endanger previous state funding promises to schools.

House Democratic Leader Mark Smith says the state’s in a financial quandary now because of “corporate tax giveaways” that have “slowed the state’s economy” rather than stimulate it. He says university students are being forced, instead to pay higher tuition and property owners are paying higher taxes.

(Radio Iowa)