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

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Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department say two men were arrested early this (Wednesday) morning for failing to obey the orders of a police officer. According to the police report, at around 1:25-a.m., an officer was conducting a traffic stop on the 3500 block of John Street. When the vehicle came to a stop the driver, later identified as 38-year old Gary Boro, of Omaha, exited the vehicle and allegedly moved in an aggressive manner toward the officer. The officer then called for assistance.

(Updated 9:55-a.m.)

A man from Nebraska was arrested following an attempted traffic stop and pursuit this (Wednesday) morning, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say just before 2-a.m., Bluffs Police Officers pulled over  a 2001 Chevy Tahoe in the area of N. 8th St. and Ave F. Officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle and identified him as 38-year old Moreice Stewart, of Omaha. Stewart had valid warrants for his arrest issued out of Douglas County, NE. When the officer was returning to his patrol car Stewart accelerated away from the traffic stop and headed east out of Council Bluffs on Highway 6.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies pursued Stewart and deployed stop sticks at 270th and Highway 6. After Stewart’s vehicle went into a ditch, he fled on foot into a cornfield. Following a foot pursuit, Deputies took Stewart into custody and transported him to the Pottawattamie County jail.

He faces Pott. County charges that include: Fugitive from Justice (with regard to the Nebraska warrant); Felony Eluding; OWI/1st Offense; Reckless Driving and Interference with Official Acts. Bluffs Police also charged Stewart with Fraudulent use of Plates, No Registration, Equipment violation and Eluding.

Iowa City’s Kinnick Stadium will be playing host to an “away game tailgate” event for veterans again this season. Gary Boseneiler, Director of Johnson County Veterans Affairs, says this marks the third year for the event. “The first year we had 300 veterans and family members attend and last year I had 500 sign in. I’m anticipating about the same this year,” Boseneiler says.

The event is scheduled for October 15 and will begin at 10:30 a.m., about 30 minutes before the kickoff between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Indiana. A light tailgating lunch is free (first-come, first-serve) to veterans and their family members who can watch the game on TVs at Kinnick Stadium. Boseneiler says, judging from the first two years, plenty of vets from outside the Iowa City area will attend. “Folks from all across the state and even a few who come across the border,” Boseneiler said.

The tailgate event takes place inside the press box at Kinnick. Parking is available on the west side of the stadium. “You can park for free right outside the stadium and student veteran volunteers will help escort people from the parking lot upstairs to the area where the food and TVs will be,” Boseneiler said.

As of right now, it’s unclear what channel the game will be on. The possibilities include ABC, ESPN2, or ESPN-U. Boseneiler warns, if the Iowa-Purdue game is televised by ESPN-U, that channel is NOT part of the cable package at Kinnick Stadium — so attendees would be able to watch the game.

Anyone who has questions or would like more information can contact Gary Boseneiler at 319-356-6049 or by email: gbosenei@co.johnson.ia.us

(Radio Iowa)

A leader in Iowa’s evangelical Christian community was part of a national telecast billed as “An Honest Discussion About A Difficult Election.” Bob Vander Plaats  — the president and C-E-O of The Family Leader — says he will not endorse Donald Trump, but plans to vote for him.

However, Vander Plaats told the audience that as the father of a profoundly disabled 23-year-old son, he was shaken to his “core” when Trump publicly mocked a disabled reporter.

Vander Plaats says it’s time for Christians to focus on their own faith and steer the country toward a spiritual “revival.” Vander Plaats and three others spoke on last (Tuesday) night’s panel. Two are pastors in Orlando and Washington, D.C. and both said they’d vote for Trump because of policy reasons. The third worked in former President George W. Bush’s White House and told the audience a President Trump would endanger the republic, so he’s voting for a third party candidate.

Vander Plaats and the others agreed that many Christians are struggling with how or even why to vote this year. The event was held in a Florida church and organizers said “thousands” were watching live on the internet or their smart phones.

(Radio Iowa)

County officials in central Iowa who’re acting to raise the local minimum wage are getting criticized for the lower, “starter” wage for teenagers. Polk County Supervisors have voted twice to eventually raise the minimum wage to ten-75 ($10.75) an hour by 2019 — for adults. The county’s ordinance allows businesses to pay workers under the age of 18 a base wage that’s 15 percent below that. Sixteen-year old Alexa Rodriguez says that’s not fair because she does the same work her older colleagues do.

“When there’s a spill in the aisle or when it comes to providing good customer service, I’m able to do all of those,” she says. Des Moines resident Ashley Parker says she had to go to work at the age of 15 to support herself. “I was working many nights and every single weekend because my mom who struggled with addiction wasn’t working,” she says, “and my father refused to help me.” Polk County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith says the two-tiered wage proposal is the recommendation from a task force and is the result of plenty of compromise.

“Is it everything we wanted? Absolutely not,” Hockensmith said at Tuesday’s board meeting. “Is it a good start? We think it is.” Michelle Hurd of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association says with that starting wage, employers can afford to hire teenagers. “It is in the best interest of youth in our state to provide young people with first time job experiences,” Hurd says.

The Polk County minimum wage ordinance gets its third and final reading next week. Officials in three other Iowa counties have passed ordinances to raise the minimum wage at the local level.

(Radio Iowa)

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — A three-judge federal appeals court panel is set to hear a dispute over the $3.8 billion four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is being asked to keep a temporary stop of construction in place while the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe appeals a lower-court ruling from September that didn’t block the pipeline.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University pilots have flown President Steven Leath and his wife to and from the North Carolina city where they own a home and business on several occasions, at a cost of thousands in university donations. An Associated Press review also found the university plane flew Leath’s brother and sister-in-law to and from an NCAA basketball tournament game. The university says all flights have had legitimate business purposes.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of the three women who filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the West Des Moines police chief has agreed to a $30,000 settlement. The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/2db5jIh) the city council approved the settlement with former animal control officer Carol Gass on Monday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — In the wake of recent flooding, some Cedar Rapids property owners have shown interest in moving quickly on flood buyouts. Cedar Rapids television station KGAN reports that the city’s Flood Control Committee heard recommendations Tuesday morning to buy the Best Western Hotel and Cooper’s Mill Restaurant, both located just hundreds of feet from the Cedar River that overran its banks last week. The city has a signed purchase agreement with the owners for more than $5 million.

(Update 4-a.m. 10/5 – Traffic flow in the left lane is no longer restricted according to 511ia.org)

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports traffic is restricted to the left lane on eastbound Interstate 80 due to a truck carrying an oversize load on U.S. 169 under I-80 that hit both I-80 bridges at exit 110. The Iowa DOT has placed a weight restriction of 80,000 pounds and a 20,000-pound axle weight limit for the eastbound I-80 bridge at exit 110. Oversized loads will be routed around the eastbound I-80 bridge using the entrance and exit ramps at exit 110.

Motorists should expect traffic delays in the area. The Iowa DOT’s bridge inspectors are in the process of evaluating the damage. The right lane of the eastbound I-80 bridge will remain closed until that inspection is completed and the bridge is deemed safe.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department Tuesday afternoon, released a report on recent arrests. On Monday, 28-year old Eric Brandt, of Griswold, was taken into custody when officers were called to the 1600 block of 8^th Street for a subject who might be suicidal.  Brandt was taken to Myrtue Medical Center for evaluation.  While at the Myrtue Medical emergency room Brandt allegedly became aggressive and officers were called to assist.  When Brandt was medically cleared by the emergency room staff, he was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and assault. Brandt was later transferred early Tuesday morning to the custody of Pottawattamie County Deputies, for transport to the Pott. County Jail under authority of a warrant for Failure to Appear in Court.

On Sunday, three subjects were arrested in Harlan after officers were called to investigate the theft of a purse from the 1000 block of 7^th Street.  As a result of the investigation a search warrant was served on a residence in the 1300 block of Hawkeye Avenue.  29-year old’s Bryan Schuemann and Jackie Thielen, along with 21-year old Julia Comstock, all of Harlan, were taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail.  Schuemann was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Comstock was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property theft 4^th, and prohibited acts penalties.  Thielen was charged with theft 4^th possession of stolen property.

And, 48-year old Demetrius Moungo, of Harlan, was taken into custody Sunday, following a traffic stop.  Moungo was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and failure to have a valid driver’s license.

Saturday, Harlan Police arrested 51-year old Amy Jo Ross, of Harlan, after officers were called to the 500 block of Market Street for an intoxicated female.  Ross was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with intoxication in public. Also arrested Saturday, was 48-year old Lisa Giles,of Harlan, following a traffic stop.  Giles was cited for driving under suspension, given a court date and released.

State tax collections increased just one percent over the past three months, far short of the more than seven percent revenue growth that was projected. Legislative Services Bureau analyst Jeff Robinson says it’s too early to detect a big trend, though.
“Yes, the fiscal year is behind estimates at the moment, but that often happens and the year turns out differently than those first three months look,” Robinson says. The state fiscal year started July 1st. During July, August and September, Iowans HAVE paid about four percent more in income taxes to the state.

“But it’s growing kind of at a muted level compared to normal non-recession years,” Robinson says. “Part of that is refund issues.” The State of Iowa has paid a higher-than-normal amount of income tax refunds in the past three months. State sales tax collections have grown more than three percent in the past three months, but Robinson cautions some of that growth came from accounting transactions that aren’t related to actual retail sales. The three-member panel of financial experts who set the official prediction for state tax collections will meet October 13th.

“It’ll be interesting,” Robinson says. “I think people should pay attention to what happens.” The total amount of state spending is based on the predictions from the three-member Revenue Estimating Conference. In the fall of 2009, former Governor Chet Culver enacted a 10 percent across-the-board cut in the state budget based on the group’s decision to dramatically lower its estimate of future state tax collections. Current Governor Terry Branstad has said if state spending plans have to be changed, he will call legislators back into special session to make selected budget cuts.

(Radio Iowa)