Police in Red Oak are investigating incidents of theft from two vehicles and vehicle vandalism. Authorities were called to the Red Coach Inn parking lot at around 8:15-a.m. today (Wednesday). On the scene, officers met with a man from Williamsburg, who reported that sometime after 7:30-p.m. Tuesday, someone broke the passenger side window out of his 2005 Chevy Tahoe, and stole a Dell laptop computer belonging to the University of Iowa. The victim said there was nothing of importance in the laptop or hard drive that would be of use to anyone.

While speaking with the victim, a man from Wellsburg approached officers and advised a blue tie down on his 2016 Ford pickup had been cut, and a Stanley roll-away toolbox containing a power strip, 50- and 25-foot extension cords, brochures, pens and paper were stolen. The pickup was in the stall adjacent to the Tahoe.

The loss from the break-in, vandalism and thefts amounted to about $4,400. The incidents remain under investigation.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Afton man reported early Tuesday morning that someone had stolen items from his property valued at about $21,450. The theft happened sometime between 5-and 6-a.m., Tuesday. Taken from the property in the 2700 block of Rose Drive in Afton, was a 2003 camo-colored Yamaha Grizzley, a 2004 black Harley Davidson, a Stevens 12-gauge shotgun, and a Ruger 1022.

(9-a.m. News)

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A Storm Lake man accused of keeping Iowa authorities from taking custody of his children has agreed to deal with prosecutors. Online court records show 33-year-old Scott Banks pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor child endangerment after prosecutors dropped kidnapping and perjury counts. The agreement includes a recommendation for a two-year suspended prison sentence and two years of probation. The judge is not bound by the agreement, however.

Court documents say Banks hid the two children from child welfare employees on Dec. 14, 2015, and lied while under oath at a court hearing that same day. The children were found later at the home of a relative who wasn’t aware of a court order regarding the children.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports 38-year old Brady Richert, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Richert was charged with OWI/1st offense and subsequently released on a $1,000 bond.

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

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Police in Creston said Tuesday, the drivers of two vehicles were cited following a collision Monday afternoon. 24-year old Christopher Mark Bolinger, of Creston, was cited for Failure to Provide proof of insurance, and 41-year old Christina Marie McCuen, of Des Moines, was cited for Failure to Yield upon left turn, after McCuen tried to turn left into a private drive off Highway 34. In the process, McCuen turned in front of Bolinger’s vehicle, while he was traveling east on the Highway. Bolinger was unable to stop in-time.

Damage from the collision amounted to $1,800.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Results from a monthly survey of business supply managers suggest economic conditions continue to improve in nine Midwest and Plains states.
The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Wednesday says the overall economic index for the region rose to 54.7 in January from 53.1 in December. It’s the highest figure since February 2015 and the third monthly increase in a row.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the increases point to an improving regional manufacturing economy. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Red Oak Police early this (Wednesday) morning, arrested a man on drug charges following  a traffic stop at the intersection of N. 5th and E. Corning Streets. 34-year old Samuel Jacob Whiteaker, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 2:25-a.m. on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – 2nd offense, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Pills, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving While Suspended. Whiteaker was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held a $2,000 cash bond.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was at the White House last (Tuesday) night to watch President Trump reveal his choice for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. Grassley says nominee 49-year-old Neil Gorsuch has a reputation as a “fair and consistent” federal circuit court judge. “A judge that is principled, a mainstream conservative,” Grassley says, “supremely qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.”

Gorsuch is a graduate of Harvard Law School and former President Obama was a classmate. Grassley is chairman of the Senate Committee that will hold a hearing on Gorsuch’s nomination. “He’s considered by other judges to be a very clear, concise writer of opinions, so we’re going to have to go through every one of those,” Grassley says, “and he’s going to have to answer a lot of questions.”

Grassley points to Gorsuch’s remarks last (Tuesday) night, indicating he’d interpret the law rather than make law as a justice. “Some people might call him a constitutionalist, a person that’s going to apply the law fairly,” Grassley says.

Key Democrats in the Senate immediately questioned whether Gorsuch would be an “independent” voice and accused him of a “demonstrated hostility toward women’s rights.” Grassley says those objections weren’t raised in 2006, when Gorsuch was nominated to be a circuit judge.   “He was unanimously confirmed by a voice vote.”

Iowa’s other U.S. Senator, Republican Joni Ernst, issued a written statement last (Tuesday) night. Ernst says Gorch is “well-respected” and “eminently-qualified.” A coalition of progressive groups that go by the name “Why Courts Matter Iowa” say Gorsuch would be Wall Street’s “best friend” and a “threat” to women’s rights and L-G-B-T rights.

(Radio Iowa)