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.

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.

Why Courts Matter Iowa, part of a national group, says the move is to protest the Iowa senator’s comments that he will not hold hearings on any Supreme Court nominee made by President Barack Obama. Grassley is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Grassley said through a spokeswoman that he appreciated the effort but he had his own copy of the Constitution. He also defended the Senate committee’s work.

Officials with the Cass County Board of Health said Thursday (March 3rd), the Board met February 15th and unanimously voted to name Cass County Health Systems (CCHS) as the official public health agency. The change will go into effect on July, 1st, 2016. Cindy Kail, local site manager for UnityPoint at Home, noted that UnityPoint at Home is committed to a smooth transition of public health services and staff to CCHS.

The hospital leadership has offered to assume the employment of UnityPoint at Home employees currently providing public health services. Kail said, “UnityPoint at Home will continue to proudly serve the community with home care and hospice services, including nursing, therapy, home care aide, and homemaker services. This transition will allow us to focus our energies on continuing to be the premier home care and hospice agency in the area.”

The Board of Health will continue to subcontract with UnityPoint at Home for nursing, home care aide and homemaker services for residents of Cass County. UnityPoint at Home will be funded with the Local Public Health Services grant and a share of board health funds (county taxes) to support patients who lack insurance coverage for home care services.

The board of health will fund the CCHS public health agency with Local Public Health Services grant funding to support local board of health coordination, as well as disease outbreak and collaborative relationships on behalf of the board of health. In addition, CCHS will be funded with a share of board of health funds to support other public health services, such as immunization, breast/cervical cancer screening, family planning, maternal/child health, lead follow-up, family home visitation, volunteer services, and Children at Home.

Grants for those programs will be prepared by CCHS staff this spring for the transition to occur this summer.

(clarifies to read 1 count aggravated misdemeanor, 1 Class-D felony count)

A search warrant executed this (Thursday) morning at a home in Council Bluffs resulted in the arrest of a Douglas County, NE. Corrections officer on a felony sex charge. Authorities say the Department of Homeland Security received a tip in December of 2015 from NCMEC (National Center for Missing or Exploited Children) that led to the arrest of 36-year old Shawn Beu, of Council Bluffs.

Through a joint investigation with members of the Department of Homeland Security and the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, evidence obtained during the investigation was used to apply for an arrest warrant, and a search warrant for Beu’s home.

On the morning of March 3rd, members of both Agencies executed the search warrant on Beu’s home and subsequently arrested him on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor/1st offense, an aggravated misdemeanor, and a Class D felony charge sexual exploitation of minor.

Shawn Beu

Beu remains in Pottawattamie County Corrections with a $10,000 cash bond.