The Union County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday, a man from Creston reported Wednesday afternoon, that someone had entered his storage unit in Creston, and took a tool box along with Craftsman tools. The incident, which happened sometime between June 16th and 19th, resulted in a loss of about $5,000.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri trooper who was convicted of a misdemeanor in the drowning death of a handcuffed Iowa man has lost another attempt to get his job back.

The Kansas City Star reports that the Missouri’s Department of Public Safety again revoked Anthony Piercy’s license to be an officer this week. Deputy director Kenny Jones wrote that “an individual in custody is entitled to safe treatment from his arresting officer.” Jones’ decision was in response to a judge reversing the initial revocation of Piercy’s license last month because the agency didn’t provide an adequate explanation.

Piercy was driving 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive, Iowa, for a breath test at the Lake of the Ozarks in 2014 when Ellingson fell off the boat and slipped out of an improperly secured life vest.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports, early Sunday morning, June 23rd, construction crews will be working on a portion of eastbound Interstate 80 eastbound/southbound I-29 from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m., which will require traffic to exit the interstate.

Traffic on the eastbound I-80 Express will be required to exit at the South Expressway (exit 49) and follow the detour. Southbound I-29/eastbound I-80 Local will be required to exit at 24th Street (exit 50) and follow the detour. The southbound I-29/eastbound I-80 on-ramp at 24th Street will also be closed during the roadway repairs.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A civil trial alleging former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad discriminated against an ex-state official because he’s gay has been moved 35 miles east to Newton.
An order entered by Judge Brad McCall on Thursday says attorneys for both sides agreed to move the trial to the Jasper County Courthouse. The trial began June 5 and is expected to last a month. The order says the same Polk County jury will continue to hear the case.

Former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey is suing Branstad , the state and two of Branstad’s former staff members. Godfrey alleges discrimination and retaliation based on sexual preference and political affiliation.

The order to change locations doesn’t say why but Godfrey’s lawyer, Roxanne Conlin, has complained about the air quality in the historic courthouse, which is under renovation.
Her son, JB Conlin, was arrested on June 10 on charges that he resisted an officer’s request to leave the courtroom, where he was attempting to test the air quality.

(Radio Iowa) — Three dozen flood victims in southwest Iowa have said they want to live TEMPORARILY in mobile homes provided by FEMA, but state officials suspect many more need to move into a FEMA trailer. Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Joyce Flinn says FEMA has had difficulty negotiating leases with the owners of mobile home parks in southwest Iowa. “Two units were installed in a commercial park in Glenwood and six other pads have been leased at that location,” Flinn says. “The problem that FEMA is running into with a lot of these pads or these locations is the electric is not up to standard, so they’re going to have to redo the electric before they can put units in there and be sure that they’re going to provide the support to the citizens that they need.”

FEMA has identified OTHER parking spots for its trailers in mobile home parks in Red Oak and Shenandoah, according to Flinn, but the trailers aren’t yet installed. Flinn says 333 Iowans are eligible to live in a FEMA trailer, but they’ve told FEMA they’re living in a “safe” situation — like a relative or friend’s home — so they are automatically disqualified from getting on the list for a FEMA trailer. Flinn says flood victims need to tell FEMA their “situation has changed” if they want to live in the temporary housing FEMA can provide. Larry Winum, president and C-E-O of the Glenwood State Bank, says there’s uncertainty about what federal help may be available to rebuild or buy-out flooded properties that are condemned. “Nobody knows what the guidelines are,” Winum says.

Southwest Iowans who were flooded out of their homes in March are still waiting for officials to determine if their homes can be rehabilitated — or are so damaged they must be destroyed. This past Monday, inspectors from the state Fire Marshal’s Office began to assess 150 structures in Pacific Junction.

SHELL ROCK, Iowa (AP) — Officials expect ground to be broken next month for a new rail car maintenance facility in eastern Iowa’s Butler County. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that TrinityRail plans to have the facility in full operation by the end of next year, providing more than 250 jobs on a capital investment of $60 million. It will occupy 230 acres (93 hectares) at Butler Logistics Park, 2 miles northwest of Shell Rock.

A company official says the community was chosen for the project because of Iowa’s pro-business climate, well-trained workforce and operational flexibility. The Iowa Economic Development Authority board awarded $3.45 million in tax credits and tax refunds to the company in May. TrinityRail is a division of Dallas-based Trinity Industries.

(Iowa DNR News) — As much as we love fireworks displays, drifting smoke can cause breathing problems for some. “If your family or friends suffer from asthma or respiratory difficulties, it’s important for them to stay upwind, a safe distance from fireworks smoke,” says Brian Hutchins, DNR air quality supervisor. “The elderly and children are also vulnerable to higher levels of smoke.” Sensitive people are most likely to have trouble breathing when air is stagnant. With no breeze, fine particles can be trapped near the ground and build to unhealthy levels.

Smoke contains fine particles and gases, which can be hard on the lungs. Fine particles in fireworks’ smoke are produced from black powder used to shoot fireworks skyward along with the metals that produce brilliant colors. Those unable to avoid areas of dense smoke should limit outdoor activity and contact their health care provider if they experience difficulty breathing.

In 2017, Fourth of July fireworks in Des Moines gave rise to fine particle levels that exceeded national standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Learn more about fine particles (PM2.5) and how fireworks displays can affect sensitive populations.

Finally, play it safe and dispose of your unused fireworks safely.