NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of helping to fatally beat a Decorah resident has told a jury that he was defending himself and didn’t intend for the other man to die. Nineteen-year-old Dalton Adam is charged with first-degree murder in the July 2018 attack on 46-year-old David Hansen.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Adam said during his testimony Thursday in New Hampton, where the trial has been moved, that Hansen punched him after punching his friend Jacob Seelinger. Prosecutors say Hansen confronted the pair as they damaged property outside his home. He died Aug. 30 last year. Hansen was the boyfriend of Seelinger’s mother.

Adam testified that he punched back and knocked down Hansen, who cracked his head on concrete. Adam acknowledged that he and Seelinger kicked and punched Hansen as he lay helpless. Seelinger’s been convicted of second-degree murder has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison.

A Council Bluffs man held in the Pottawattamie County Jail, was served with a warrant, Thursday afternoon. 30-year old David John Kauai, of Council Bluffs, was presented with the warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree (for larceny ranging from $1,500 to $10,000). The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office said also Kauai has a non-extraditable warrant out of Adams County. After being read the warrant, Kauai was returned to the custody of Corrections Staff.

(Radio Iowa) — The Easton Valley School District, with schools in Preston and Miles, has cancelled classes for today (Friday) after a threat on social media last night. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department reported the school district administration notified them about a threat posted on social media posted by a Easton Valley student. The Sheriff’s Department reported they were able to identify the student through their Snapchat information and input from other concerned citizens.

Officers went to the student’s home and took the student into custody along with other evidence. The suspect was taken to the Jackson County Regional Health Center.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report says an October survey of business supply managers suggests a bump occurred in economic growth for nine Midwest and Plains states. The report issued Friday says the Mid-America Business Conditions index rebounded to 52.6, compared with 49.1 in September. The August figure was 49.3. The index had remained above growth neutral for 32 straight months. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says trade disagreements and the global economic slowdown have slowed regional growth.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The proposal to end Sioux City’s ban on pit bulls has been delayed. The third and final vote on the proposal was expected to be held at the coming Monday meeting. It’s been put off until animal control chapters of the city code have been reviewed and revised. A date for the third vote hasn’t been set.

The proposal would remove the ban adopted in September 2008. It came after pit bulls or mixes accounted for a high number of dogs in the city that had been declared vicious or at risk. The current ordinance describes a pit bull as an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog that looks like or has characteristics of being one of those breeds.

City staff research says animal control regulations across the country are moving away from breed specific provisions.