(Radio Iowa) — The Senate’s Republican leader has promised a vote will be held next week on a disaster relief package and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican, says she’s encouraged by progress toward a final deal. “Hopefully it is a bipartisan one that we can actually get to the desk of the president,” Ernst says.

Congress has been deadlocked over disaster funding since December and Democrats now in majority control of the U.S. House are insisting Puerto Rico get additional aid to recover from 2017 hurricanes. Funding for this spring’s flooding in Iowa has been included in recent proposals. Ernst toured flood damage in Davenport and Buffalo, Iowa, this past weekend. “I was just reminded of the time that I spent mobilized as a National Guardsman in the Iowa floods of 2008 and 2011,” Ernst said. “Not knowing if these families are going to be able to get back into their homes, not knowing if those businesses will be able to return — the economic damage to those communities is significant and they need assistance.”

The Democratically-led House passed a disaster aid package last week. The Senate’s G-O-P leader wants to include provisions to ensure hemp farmers can buy federal crop insurance. President Trump is asking that the disaster aid package include extra money for border security to deal with a surge of immigrants at the southern border.

The DAV and RecruitMilitary will host an Omaha Veterans Job Fair at CHI Health Center tomorrow (Thursday, May 16) from 11-a.m. to 3-p.m. for veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, National Guard members and Reservists.  The free event features 30+ employers ready to hire this May during “Military Appreciation Month.”

Just last week, Google announced a new feature of its partnership with RecruitMilitary that provides “remote work” search options for those seeking flexible, remote work opportunities.  This feature is especially important to the underemployed and underutilized military spouse demographic that currently accounts for 25% unemployment among its 600,000 eligible work-force.  This is the highest unemployment rate of any demographic in the U.S.

RecruitMilitary is providing a solution to this staggering unemployment issue by working with Google to bring 8,000 remote jobs directly to military spouses and veterans through this week’s Omaha hiring event, as well as its mobile-friendly online job board.  For more information, or to register, go to: https://success.recruitmilitary.com/events/omaha-veterans-job-fair-may-16-2019

There were four arrests in Mills County, Tuesday. 34-year old Jeremiah Louis Roenfeld, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Barred.His bond was set at $2,000.  27-year old Michael Xavier Simpson, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). His bond was set at $10,000. 18-year old Sydnee Kay Wiese, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday for Possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $300. And, 22-year old Brennen Joseph Carter, of Carson, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond is $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Current and past attorneys general from both major political parties from several states are imploring Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to veto a measure that would force Iowa’s attorney general to seek permission to file out-of-state lawsuits. They think the move designed by Republicans to keep Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller from joining lawsuits against the Donald Trump administration violates basic checks and balances.

Iowa would be the only state with such limits on an attorney general. Reynolds is considering the measure passed in the final days of the legislative session. It would require the attorney general to get the permission of the governor, the Legislature or the state executive council, which includes the governor and other statewide elected officials, to file any out-of-state court action.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections reports 27-year old Dustyn Lowell Thomas, who was convicted of Robbery 1st Degree, left the Des Moines Residential Facility without permission last (Tuesday) night. Thomas is a white male, 6-feet tall. He weighs 171 pounds. Thompson was admitted to the work release facility on April 23, 2019.

Persons with information on Thompson’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Escapee Dustyn Thomas

Two people were arrested on separate charges Tuesday, in Pottawattamie County. The Sheriff’s Office reports that at around 2:45-p.m., 26-year old Dakota Lee Koehrsen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested after he turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant. After the warrant was confirmed, Koehrsen was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury, and on two-counts Violation of Probation. He was being held on a $1,000 bond associated with the assault charge.

And, 31-year old Mallory Alece McCabe, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 6:20-p.m. Tuesday, following a report of suspicious activity near a rural residence in the 14,500 block of Rosewood Road, near Avoca. McCabe was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $300.

There were also numerous prisoner transfers from jails in eastern Nebraska and elsewhere, to the Pott. County Jail, where those subjects were wanted on a variety of warrants.