The U-S Navy’s Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs reports a 2005 Riverside High School graduate and Oakland, Iowa native is serving as part of the Navy’s Information Warfare Community in Suffolk, Virginia. Ensign Chris Crowder is an information professional, a part of the Navy’s  central operational authority for intelligence, information operations,  electronic warfare, and space capabilities in addition to cyber and networks operations.

In a press release, Ensign Crowder said “Being a techie makes the job enjoyable.” The men and women who make up the U.S. Navy’s Information Warfare Community
team around the world are warriors who remain motivated and mission focused.
These warfighters direct cyberspace operations to deter and defeat  aggression while ensuring freedom of action in cyberspace.

Ensign Crowder

U.S. Navy’s Information Warfare Community is responsible for addressing cyber threats, key trends, and challenges across four main areas: integrated operations, optimized cyber workforce, technology innovation, and reforming development and execution of requirements, acquisition, and budgeting.

Crowder also said he is proud to be a part of the 94 officers, 186 enlisted sailors, and 194 civilians serving at a command that is at the forefront of technology innovation and cyber operations, helping to protect America from threats around the world.

Created in 2009, the Navy’s Information Warfare Community was established to
execute the full spectrum of cyber, electronic warfare, information operations and signal intelligence capabilities and missions across the cyber, electromagnetic and space domains.

Naval Network Warfare Command (NNWC), executes tactical-level command and control to Direct, Operate, Maintain and Secure Navy Communications and Network systems; and leverage Joint Space Capabilities for Navy and Joint Operations-as assigned by Commander, Fleet Cyber Command.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report 25-year old Nathan Allen Vicker, of Creston, was arrested at his residence Thursday night. Vicker was charged with domestic abuse assault. He was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting appearance before the Magistrate.

The Iowa State Patrol is launching a campaign with an Iowa-based convenience store chain designed to encourage young drivers to wear their seat belts. Mark Peterson, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says state troopers will be showing up in places like school parking lots and offering rewards to teen motorists who are buckled up. It’s part of the “I Got Caught” campaign.

“They’re going to be working with schools throughout Iowa,” Peterson says. “Obviously, they’re going to be looking for young adults who are wearing their seat belt.” Casey’s General Stores has donated ten-thousand coupons for a free fountain drink or a free slice of pizza. Peterson says studies find that teens are the least likely group to buckle up and the most likely group to die in a roadway crash.

“In Iowa, about half of the fatal crashes involve non-seat belt use and unfortunately, young adults are overrepresented in that group,” Peterson says. “Through a program such as this, a positive program, one that rewards the right kind of behavior, we hope it spreads and that we can get some of those kids that weren’t belting to start wearing that belt.”

During 2014 and 2015, Peterson says Iowa had 91 teens involved in fatal crashes as drivers or passengers. Of those fatalities, more than half of them were not wearing their seat belts. State troopers will -not- be pulling over young drivers as part of this promotion. They’ll only be working in conjunction with the schools this spring at school facilities or school-sponsored events, including prom and graduation.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report the emerald ash borer (EAB), which has already been confirmed in nearly one-third of Iowa’s counties, has been discovered in Decorah. The destructive pest, native to Asia, feeds on and eventually kills infested ash tree. Winneshiek County has been added to the growing list of 31counties in Iowa that have confirmed EAB infestations.

The discovery marks the second county in Iowa where EAB has been found this year. Last month EAB was found on the University of Iowa campus. The exotic pest was first detected in Iowa back in 2010 in Allamakee County. EAB has spread to 25 states where it is responsible for decimating tens of millions of ash trees.

A consulting arborist was drawn to the tree in Decorah after noticing evidence of EAB damage. Further investigation revealed distinctive S-shaped galleries and an EAB larva (immature beetle) underneath the bark of the infested tree. The collected larva was sent to the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory where it was confirmed positive for EAB.

EAB infested ash trees include thinning or dying branches in the upper canopy, evidence of woodpecker activity, S-shaped feeding galleries under dead or splitting bark, D-shaped exit holes and water sprouts (along the trunk and main branches). Federal quarantines are in place to restrict the movement of hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips and ash tree nursery stock out of Iowa into non-quarantined areas of other states.

The Iowa EAB Team urges Iowans to use locally sourced firewood, burning it in the same county where it was purchased. Firewood is not only a means of transportation for EAB, but other tree-killing pests as well. At this calendar date, the window for all preventive treatments remains closed. If a landowner is interested in protecting a valuable and healthy ash tree within 15 miles of a known infestation, he or she should have landscape and tree service companies bid on work, review the bids and treat beginning spring 2016 (early April to mid-May).

The State of Iowa will continue to track the movement of EAB on a county-by-county basis. Before a county can be officially recognized as infested, proof of a reproducing population is needed and an EAB must be collected by a member of the Iowa EAB Team and verified by USDA entomologists.

To learn more about EAB and other pests that are threatening Iowa’s tree population, please visit www.IowaTreePests.com.

The Iowa House has passed a bill that calls for holding school board elections in November, on the same day as city elections. Representative Guy Vander Linden, a Republican from Oskaloosa, says it will increase the number of voters choosing local school board members. “Currently across the state, on average, school board election turn-out is seven percent. In municipal elections, on average, it’s 20 percent,” Vander Linden says. “Approval of this bill will, in essence, triple turn-out for school board elections.”

The bill easily passed the House on a 61-to-36 vote and the majority leader in the state senate says he and his fellow Democrats have supported similar legislation in the past. But some House Democrats warn it will be too difficult for poll workers to figure out which ballot to hand a voter, since school district boundaries may be different from city council wards. Representative Mary Gaskill, a Democrat from Ottumwa, is the former Wapello County Auditor and she ran local elections.

“As we know, school districts and cities have different boundary lines,” Gaskill says. “…I cannot guarantee that people will be able to go to the precinct that they normally go to.” Vander Linden says it will require some work for county election officials. “The auditors who, by the way, have already been involved in writing this bill tell us that it can be done without a great deal of over-work on their part and they agree that it is well worth tripling turnout,” Vander Linden says.

The move will also save the costs of paying poll workers to conduct school board elections in September as well as municipal elections in November. Education groups oppose the move to consolidate school board elections with elections for mayors and city council spots.

(Radio Iowa)

The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment and Prevention Program is warning that 1 out of every 10 adult Iowans is “at risk” of becoming a problem gambler. Eric Preuss delivered a presentation Thursday before the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meeting in Altoona. “Although it’s estimated that 1.2 percent, or about 29,000, adult Iowans have a gambling disorder, it’s also estimated that 12.6 percent, or almost 295,000, are classified as at risk for developing a gambling disorder,” Preuss said.

Governor Branstad is due to sign a proclamation today (Friday) recognizing March as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Iowa. Preuss notes the percentage of Iowans with a gambling disorder is low, but their behavior has a wide reaching impact. “Almost 1 out of 7 adult Iowans, that’s 15-percent, have said they have been negatively affected by the gambling behavior of someone they know,” Preuss said.

The Iowa Gambling Treatment Program operates the 1-800-BETS-OFF hotline. There were over 6,300 calls placed to the hotline in fiscal year 2015 — the most calls since 2009. More than 600 Iowans a year enter an Iowa Gambling Treatment program. “The primary wagering method for folks who come into services is slots, with table games at number two, and lottery games is number three at 15-percent,” Preuss said.

March was selected as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month because of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The FBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is wagered illegally each year on “March Madness.”

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Council Bluffs say the body of a woman was found during a search of a home that was on fire there early this (Friday) morning. Council Bluffs Police and Fire crews were called to 2404 S. 11th Street at around 2:25-a.m., with regard to a house fire. While en route, officers were advised there was possibly someone still inside. Upon arrival, officers reported the house to be fully involved and they were unable to make entry. Council Bluffs Fire arrived on scene and took over the scene. While clearing the house, a deceased female was located in the southeast corner of the residence.

The woman’s name was being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The Council Bluffs Fire Investigator and the Criminal Investigations Division are investigating the incident.

Red Oak Police cited a teen late Thursday night on assault and other charges. Officials report 17-year old Siera Ann Bissell-Abraham, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11:45-p.m. for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. Bissell-Abraham was cited into juvenile court and then released to her parents.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge plans to seek the Democratic nomination to run against U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. Democrats in Iowa and Washington with knowledge of her plans but not authorized to discuss them say she’ll announce as early as Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An advocacy coalition in Iowa says it delivered thousands of petitions to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to protest his recent comments about the selection of a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. A coalition of organizations says it delivered 36,000 petition signatures Thursday to Grassley’s six regional offices around Iowa. They also delivered excerpts from the U.S. Constitution.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man accused in the killing of his former girlfriend, whose body was found in Linn County, has pleaded guilty. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 38-year-old Shaun Hogan pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of second-degree murder for the July 2014 death of 29-year-old Crystal Gaffney. Hogan had been scheduled to go on trial next week and faced a first-degree murder charge.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chris Kendrix hit five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, and Ryan Kreklow hit a late 3 to help seventh-seeded Missouri State beat Number 10 seed Drake 69-67 Thursday night in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Dominik Olejniczak led Drake with 18 points, on 9-of-13 shooting, and eight rebounds. Casey Schlatter had a career-high 11 assists in St. Louis.

A man from Council Bluffs was cited, and may face additional charges, following an accident Thursday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. Police in Council Bluffs say at around 3-p.m., the Pottawattamie County 911 Center received a call of a vehicle that had crashed into Mosquito Creek near Mall Drive. A man was seen fleeing the area. Council Bluffs Police officers, with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol were able to locate the driver, 52-year old Jeffery Gearhart, of Council Bluffs, near the crash scene.

An investigation revealed that Gearhart had started a new medication, possibly causing impairment. He’d been traveling east on Mall drive when he lost control of the 2005 Chevy Malibu he was driving, as it approached the bridge at Mosquito Creek. The vehicle rode up the southern guardrail and hit a sign before vaulting into Mosquito Creek. Authorities say the car appears to have floated down stream before coming to rest.

Vehicle as found

Gearhart wasn’t injured in the crash. he was checked for possible impairment and later cited for leaving the scene of a property damage crash, no insurance proof, no vehicle registration, and failure to maintain control of his vehicle. Additional charges may be filed in the future regarding impairment.