The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a robbery that occurred early this (Tuesday) morning. Authorities say at around 2:45-a.m., officers responded to an incident at Sapp Brothers Truck Stop (2608. S. 24th Street). Employees at the business reported a man was detained outside the truck stop after allegedly shoplifting items from inside the store. After being confronted about the theft, the suspect returned the items but refused to go back into the store. He then allegedly pulled a knife on the employee, before getting into a vehicle and leaving the scene.

No injuries were reported. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for the public’s help in solving an incident of arson/criminal mischief that took place late Monday night. Officials say Bluffs Police and Fire Department personnel were called to 1010 3rd Avenue at around 10:25-p.m., with regard to a dumpster on fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames quickly, resulting in minimal damage to the dumpster.

During the investigation, an unidentified suspect began throwing rocks at police and fire department vehicles and personnel working the scene. Despite an extensive search of the area by authorities, they were unable to locate or identify the suspect. No injuries were reported, but one civilian vehicle, one police vehicle and two fire department vehicles, sustained minor damage.

Anyone with information about the incident, should call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Iowa egg and poultry producers are preparing for a possible return of avian influenza this fall as migrating wild waterfowl are again flying over. The bird flu wiped out 34-million chickens and turkeys on 77 Iowa farms this spring. Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Poultry and Egg Association, says experts’ predictions about the fall migration are varied. “Some scientists would argue that birds that travel north in the spring might linger more as they move north, and in the fall, birds really just want to get moving south,” Olson says. “We’re optimistic that will be helpful.”

The U-S-D-A is preparing to handle an outbreak on more than 500 farms this fall, which is twice the scale of the spring outbreak.  “The USDA is taking this seriously,” Olson says. “Clearly, as they’ve modeled out this, it’s important for them to plan resources to react to what they’re calling a ‘worst case’ scenario. It could also be the case that we’ll have very few, if any, infections this fall. The disease is very unpredictable.”

Last month, Ames-based Harris Vaccines received conditional federal approval for its avian influenza vaccine, which is reported to be up to 95-percent effective. The U-S-D-A has hired around 200 of a planned 350 additional veterinarians, animal health technicians and other workers should a bird flu emergency occur. Olson says those are very positive moves.

“While there hasn’t been a decision to utilize vaccine, those types of planning steps need to happen in advance of that need,” he says. “The USDA is trying to be proactive, coupled with the good work of our farmers, we’re in the best position possible, but, make no mistake about it, our industry is on pins and needles.” If there’s another avian influenza outbreak this fall on the scale of last spring, Olson says it would be devastating to the industry.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak arrested a man on drug charges late Monday night. 43-year old Brett Alan Rea, of Red Oak, was taken into custody following the execution of a search warrant at 211 N. 2nd Street, in Red Oak, at around 11:10-p.m.  Rea faces two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held at the Montgomery County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Red Oak Police in conducting the search, and arrest.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A board that oversees a children’s health insurance program in Iowa says it’s waiting for more information from state officials over the board’s legal authority as the program’s services are switched to private care. Mary Mincer Hansen, chairwoman of the board that oversees the hawk-i program, told members she wants more information from the state Department of Human Services as Medicaid services are turned over to several national health providers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Rep. John Kooiker, an Iowa lawmaker elected to fill a seat left open by the death of Rep. Dwayne Alons, will not seek re-election in 2016. Kooiker says in a statement released yesterday that he wants to spend more time with his nine grandchildren. Kooiker, a Republican from the northwest community of Boyden, was elected earlier this year in a special election following the November 2014 death of Alons.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) — A Rock Island man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend wants a judge to reconsider his 45-year sentence. Attorneys for Timothy J. McVay filed a motion yesterday calling the sentence excessive. The 40-year-old McVay was convicted in July of first-degree murder and concealment in the death of 29-year-old Carrie Olson, 29, of Davenport, Iowa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa City artists have collaborated to produce a comic book that will be sold by one of the genre’s largest publishers in stores across the country.The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the comic book “Saints” started its three-year, 36-issue run this month with Image Comics.

Governor Terry Branstad is defending the way his Department of Human Services estimated the amount of savings the state would get from hiring four private companies to manage the Medicaid program. The chairman of the Iowa Senate Oversight Committee has asked Branstad to turn over the documents used to make that estimate. Reporters asked the governor about that request during his weekly news conference.

First of all, I don’t have any,” Branstad says. “This is the information that the Department…of Human Services has done forever. Michael, I don’t know if you have any more on this.” Michael Bousselot is Branstad’s chief of staff and he says the department worked with actuaries “who have been under contract for many years” to come up with a “prudent” savings estimate.

“Our office does not administer or oversee the Medicaid projections,” Bousselot says. “Rather that is handled by the Department of Human Services.” Bousselot promised to “work with” legislators and reporters who’ve asked for any Department of Human Services documents used to make the savings estimate. Democrats in the legislature and advocates for the 560-thousand Medicaid patients in Iowa as well as Iowa hospitals and health care providers have been raising concerns about Branstad’s decision to hire managed care companies to run the state’s Medicaid program.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Terry Branstad is not confirming he told a lawyer in “The Family Leader” organization to “call off your attack dogs.” The Christian conservative group has been criticizing Branstad for not fully “defunding” Planned Parenthood in Iowa. “I was leaving a restaurant and had a conversation with an old friend,” Branstad says. “And I’m not going to comment on a private conversation with an old friend.”

The Family Leader sent out an email last Friday to report on the conversation. The email said Branstad asked the group to stop criticizing him for not taking executive action to cancel Medicaid contracts that reimburse Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings and tests for Medicaid patients. Branstad says the courts have ruled against states that have tried to do that, including the ruling this weekend striking down Governor Bobby Jindal’s attempt to “defund” Planned Parenthood in Louisiana.

“Listen, I’m pro-life and I want to do what we realistically can do, but I also feel an obligation to act within the law,” Branstad says. As for what Branstad may have said to Chuck Hurley, who is The Family Leader’s chief counsel, the governor’s not talking. And he’s not revealing which Des Moines-area restaurant the conversation took place either.

“There are some things that are private, even in my life,” Branstad told reporters this morning. The Family Leader’s Friday afternoon email message encouraged supporters to call and email Branstad, to “keep up the pressure” until he “defunds” Planned Parenthood in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

State officials are fielding complaints from Iowans who say they can’t get the five-cent deposit back on their empty cans and bottles. Stores that sell beverages in containers that are subject to the deposit law must accept the empties and pay back the deposit — or send customers to a local redemption center. But redemption centers are cutting back hours and some have closed. Bill Blum, of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says stores can’t tell customers “no” if there’s no redemption center to take their cans and bottles.

“That’s where local law enforcement is supposed to come in,” Blum says. “That kind of violation is a simple misdemeanor, a minimum $65 fine for every violation.” But Blum says police tell him they’re reluctant to file charges in these cases. “If you don’t want to cite these stores, at least go and talk to them and get them straight on the law so people can get their money back,” Blum says.

An interim statehouse committee is studying possible changes to Iowa’s “bottle bill” which went into effect in 1979. Retailers complain the empty cans and bottles are a health hazard in their stores. Redemption centers complain that the penny-per-container handling fee hasn’t been raised in 36 years. Iowa is one of 10 states that have a “bottle bill” that calls for refundable deposits on cans and bottles.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors met Monday evening, and approved a 5-year plan for improvements throughout the parks system. Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm went through and rated the priorities the Board had discussed during their special meeting October 7th, and as we’ve mentioned previously, the number one priority is the Schildberg Recreation Area.

The Campground project at Schildberg is tops on the list. It includes installation of water and electric loops and hook-ups, as well as a dump station, with restrooms and showers. It’s hoped a Vision Iowa grant will pay for a majority of the costs associated with those improvements. Applications for the Vision Iowa Grant are due in by July 2016 for the Nov. 2016 grant cycle.

Also included among the major projects is: The replacement of a damaged section of trail with concrete, around Lake #3 at Schildberg: Development of the west side of the Rec Area with a restroom, running water and drinkable water access. The plan also includes an ADA compliant boat access ramp for Lake #2. Further down the list of major improvements over the next five-years, according to the plan, is asphalting or paving the gravel road on Iowa Avenue into the Rec Area, and a multi-purpose shelter complete with vending machines, and, a playground area.

Other major projects, not associated with the Schildberg Rec Area, include: the Trail connecting the Bull Creek Pathway and East Ridge Park; A master plan for swimming pool renovations; and Multipurpose Activity Center/Closed All-weather shelter.

In other business, Roger Herring said grading for the Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park is complete, as well as installation of piers for the footings needed to support the new shelter, once it’s built, the concrete slab, and a service walkway. Herring said construction of the new shelter structure is expected to begin November 7th, weather permitting. And, progress is finally being made on the boat ramp for the East Nishnabotna River, next the City of Atlantic’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The final pour of the whole ramp is set for this Wednesday, weather permitting. Once it’s cured, the ramp will be slipped into place and anchored. Afterward, landscaping will get underway and a gravel parking lot will be installed. The Iowa DNR is covering half the cost of the cement for the project, or $20,000. And, with regard to the Nishna Valley Connector Trail project, Roger Herring said the bridge and completion of the trail to just west of KJAN, will bring a positive economic impact to the community, especially as it expands eastward through the AMU Well fields.

He says AMU is in the discussion phase of improving their trails system, including the possibility of paving the current, gravel trail around the well heads.