The Omaha World-Herald reports a Council Bluffs woman was arrested Wednesday night after being accused of neglecting her 6-month-old son. 19-year-old Kuira Lawton faces a felony suspicion of abandonment of a dependent person charge, after allegedly allowing her infant to be watched by the woman’s ex-boyfriend, 21-year old Rodney Weatherwax, who is known to allegedly have anger, drug and physical abuse issues.

According to the arrest affidavit, Lawton would often leave the infant with Weatherwax when she went to work or out with friends. Weatherwax was arrested Dec. 19th and later charged with child endangerment, abandonment of a dependent person and two counts of assault with intent to cause willful injury, all felonies. He remains in Pottawattamie County Jail with his bail set at $200,000.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope is reporting three recent arrests. The Sheriff says on Tuesday, an investigation in Farragut into reported animal neglect resulted in the arrest on a warrant, of Melanie Finchman, of Farragut. The woman was taken into custody on two counts of animal neglect resulting in death or serious injury. She was being held in the Fremont County jail.

On Thursday, deputies in Fremont County arrested a Thurman man on a warrant for Domestic Abuse/Assault. Scott McCart was taken into custody Thursday evening without incident, and brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held without bond.

And, an investigation into reported criminal mischief at the County Line Bar on Highway 59 in Fremont County, resulted in the arrest of a Shenandoah man. Tyler Nothwehr was arrested on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. He was being held in the Fremont County jail on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — The Muscatine County attorney says a deputy acted lawfully and with reasonable intent when he shot a man who is accused of stealing a vehicle and hitting a police car. County Attorney Alan Ostergren announced Thursday that deputy Eddie Cardenas’s actions were reasonable based upon the threat of the suspect’s actions. The deputy opened fire on 41-year-old Timothy Seefeldt, who was arrested and taken to a hospital.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Broadcast television viewers in New Hampshire should recognize Hillary Clinton’s stance on gun control by now. One of every four political advertisements she’s airing in the state is about tougher gun laws. But in Iowa, only 1 in 17 of Clinton’s spots features her stance on gun control. That’s according to an Associated Press analysis of Clinton’s campaign ads.

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) — Chris Christie says that if wins the White House he’ll invite the leaders of six U.S. allies to “vent” about President Barack Obama. The New Jersey Governor is one of nearly half a dozen GOP candidates fighting to emerge from New Hampshire’s February 9th primary as an establishment alternative to Donald Trump.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Peter Jok scored a career-high 29 points and Number 9 Iowa shook off pesky Rutgers in the second half in posting a harder-than-expected 90-76 victory Thursday night. Jarrod Uthoff and Anthony Clemmons added 20 points apiece as the Hawkeyes won their eighth straight game.

Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson spoke to a large crowd during an event in Atlantic Thursday night. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, talked about coming from a broken family that was held together by the fortitude of his mother, the loss of a campaign staffer during a crash on Interstate 80 in Cass County, terrorism, and how to fix the economy. Carson spoke about the “Income Gap” Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders often speak of. He said taxing the rich more will not solve the problem.

He said one of the keys to getting the nation back on track is controlling the amount of government regulations.

Republican Ben Carson at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic (Ric Hanson/photo)

Carson proposed looking at regulations in terms of cost versus benefits. As an example, he said Clean Energy may lower the earth’s temperature by a slight margin over 85-years, but it will cost billions of dollars and millions of jobs. Carson said policies cannot be “ideologically driven.” Instead, we should want policies driven by evidence.

On the topic of terrorism, Carson said ISIS is an “Existentialist threat,” and that “We have to destroy the Jihadists, we can’t simply contain them, because they’re not going away.” He suggested the way to do that is to consult with military experts and find out what it is they need to take terrorist’s land away from them, and then give the military what they need, instead of tying their hands. He also said we “Have to take their oil,” which is their source of income.

On the home front, Carson suggested Americans be trained how to respond to terrorist situations. He said also we should be offering free courses for Americans on how to use their guns, not restricting who can legally purchase them. Carson was also in favor of term limits for Congress, and justices on the Supreme Court. When asked about Government Transparency, Carson said there needs to be a more open dialogue between the Executive and Legislative branches of government, and that those talks are public.

After he answered questions from the audience, Carson spoke briefly with the media. When asked about the low standing in the polls leading up to Iowa caucuses, Carson said Town Hall meetings are the way to get his message out.He said also “I’m not a politician…all I have to do is tell the truth.” Carson said his campaign team has pulled together even more over the loss of Brayden Joplin following the crash on I-80, and he never considered pulling out of the race, because the reason he got into the race still exists. And that is Our country is moving rapidly in the wrong direction, and if we continue down the same path, and if we continue doing the same thing, and we continue putting the same kind of people with the same kind of promises in, we’re gonna get the same results.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. On Wednesday, deputies arrested 33-year old Juan Manuel Anaya Mendez, of Atlantic, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Anaya Mendez was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on $5,000 bond the following day. Also arrested Wednesday was 47-year old Dana Lee Charles, of Atlantic. Charles was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear. She was being held in the Cass County Jail, pending serving jail sentence.

Today (Thursday) Cass County deputies arrested 36-year old Heather Marie Christensen, of Atlantic, on District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Christensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $50,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some House lawmakers have advanced legislation that would reinforce Iowa gun owners’ access to weapons during times of emergency in the state.  A divided three-member panel from the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill Thursday, and it now heads to the full committee. It needs approval there before a full House vote.

The bill would specify that neither the governor nor state officials can prohibit or curtail lawful gun possession during a public disorder or disaster emergency proclamation. Current law allows state officials to do so, though critics of the bill say such a situation would be rare. They called the bill unnecessary.

Rep. Matt Windschitl, a Missouri Valley Republican, says the bill protects Second Amendment rights. He has introduced several bills this session that focus on expanding gun rights.

The Marne Community Club is hosting their annual Chili Contest on Sunday, January 31st. At the same time, the Annual Men’s Pie Baking Contest will be held. Judging for both contests will be “peoples’ choice.”

Anyone interested in entering the Chili Contest should bring a gallon crock pot of chili to the Marne Community Center by 6:00 p.m. on the day of the contest. The same goes for entering the Men’s Pie Contest. There are no fees for entering. Trophies for both chili and pie winners are on display at the Marne Community Center, and the 1st place winners’ names will be added to their respective trophy.

Everyone is welcome to join the fun, either as a participant or a judge! Come to Marne and share a meal. The main course will be, of course, chili. Please bring a potluck salad to share. Pie for dessert! Beverages will be provided.

(Press Release)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A survey shows some bankers had a dire view of the rural economy in their 10 Western and Plains states. A report released today (Thursday) says January’s Rural Mainstreet Index plunged to 34.8 from 41.5 in December. It’s the lowest overall index figure since August 2009. Survey officials say any score below 50 on any of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the monthly survey of rural bankers and says it’s the fifth straight month for a decline. He again blames lower prices for agriculture and energy commodities and downturns in manufacturing.

The farmland and ranchland price index dropped to 23.9 in January from December’s 28.8. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Officials with the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign have announced actress Jamie Lee Curtis will stump for the Democrat candidate during stops in Iowa, beginning this Sunday. Curtis will discuss what’s at stake for Iowa women in the upcoming election, and highlight Mrs. Clinton’s “Lifelong record of fighting and delivering real results for women and girls, both at home and around the world.”

Curtis will hold a campaign organizing event 1-p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24th, at the Hillary for Iowa Office at 1851 Madison Avenue, in Council Bluffs. A similar event takes place 4-p.m. Sunday at Clinton’s campaign office in Carroll (223 W. 6th St.).

Other events featuring Jamie Lee Curtis are scheduled to occur in Waukee, Ames, Newton and Des Moines. The events are free, but reservations are required. You may do so by going to Mrs. Clinton’s website (https://www.hillaryclinton.com/events/) and selecting the event location you wish to attend.