First-term Republican Senator Joni Ernst is pondering retirement — from the Iowa National Guard. “This will be breaking news, probably, to my chain of command,” Ernst said. Ernst made the announcement this morning (Friday) during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa Public Television. Ernst says it’s been “very hard” to balance her work as a senator, her obligation to the Guard and her desire to spend time with her husband and teenage daughter.

“I had drill last weekend, so spent a day on the road visiting a number of counties on Friday. Saturday and Sunday reported to drill to do my normal duties with Camp Dodge, so it is very difficult to do that,” Ernst said today. “And of course I have a wonderful family that I like to spend time with.”

Ernst enlisted in the Iowa National Guard in 1993. After her election last November, Guard leaders moved Ernst from command of a unit to a position at Iowa Guard headquarters in Johnston. She’s likely to retire within the next year and coordinate her exit with superiors, to ensure there is someone in place to take over her duties.

There is no prohibition against members of the Guard serving in the U.S. Senate. Half a dozen Guard members are currently serving in the House and the freshman Senator from Alaska is in the Marine Reserve.

(Radio Iowa)

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – Onawa officials plan to turn their little used municipal airport into a drag strip. City administrator Bradley Hansen told the Sioux City Journal that officials are hoping to have at least one racing date this year.

The Onawa City Council voted in April to close the airport, which is used primarily by private pilots, aerial sprayers and traveling doctors. Hansen says four of its five hangars are occupied. Its closure is scheduled for July 1.

Officials have not determined whether the drag strip would be funded privately or with local taxes.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Friday (Today), 50-year old Jeffrey Scott Gibler, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Thursday to serve 10-years (120 months) in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, and 5-years (60 months) consecutive in prison for carrying and possessing a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Gibler was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release following imprisonment, and to pay $200 towards the Crime Victims Fun. Gibler pled guilty to the charges on January 1st (2015). The charges were the result of an investigation by law enforcement of drug trafficking that occurred in Pottawattamie County.

Beginning as early as March of 2013, continuing through October of 2013, Gibler
conspired with others to distribute over approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa. Gibler was also found to have carried and possessed a .22-caliber revolver in relation to the methamphetamine distribution.

The investigation was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) – Omaha police say the 25-year-old son of a woman whose body was found in southeast Omaha has been arrested after turning himself in, saying he was involved in her death. The body of the woman, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero, was found Wednesday night in a ditch. Hours earlier, her 11-month-old son was found alive in a dumpster near a suburban Omaha apartment complex. Other than some bruises, he was uninjured.

Authorities continue to search for Marinero’s missing 5-year-old son, Josue Ramirez-Marinero. Police officials say they have reason to believe that Josue was thrown into the Elkhorn River. Police say Roberto Martinez-Marinero was arrested Thursday night after walking into the Douglas County Department of Corrections and telling jail staff that he was involved in the death of his mother.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce say they recently completed their most successful Total Resource Campaign (TRC). A four week fundraising campaign supported by the professional fundraising consulting firm YGM, and lead locally by Chamber staff, business professionals and dedicated volunteers.

This year’s campaign surpassed the announced goal of $82,000.00, by more than $10,000.00, resulting in the most successful in the history of the Total Resource Campaign in Atlantic.

The 2015 “Tell Your Story, Grow Your Community” Total Resource Campaign was a major success. Ouida Wymer, Chamber Executive Director, says the additional investments of Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce businesses allows the organization to continue to enhance great membership programs and community events.

A teenager from Cass County was honored Thursday afternoon as the winner of an art competition. Jessica Marshall, a Junior at the Griswold High School was recognized during a special ceremony held in the Griswold High School Auditorium. Iowa Republican Congressman David Young announced during the event that Marshall as the winner of a 3rd Congressional District Art Competition. Jessica says the sketch “Word Art: The Young Child,” was part of an assignment.

Jessica Marshall’s award winning sketch.

She says the assignment was to choose a picture and add a 10 word description. Instead, she chose the words first and then the photo, which depicted despair, sorrow, helplessness and vulnerability. She created a pencil sketch of the photo that incorporated the words she chose. The award came as a complete surprise to Marshall, because she thought one of her classmates was getting an award. The chance to submit art work for the contest was optional for students in the class.

Despite receiving the award, she says she doesn’t see herself making a career out of being an artist. Marshall has received other awards and honors, but the Congressional award was by far the most prominent she’s received, so far. Congressman David Young said he’s thrilled to recognize people in the 3rd District for their efforts, talents and contributions to society.

Young says Jessica’s work will be displayed alongside works from students in much larger districts from across the country, in a hallway between the U-S House Buildings and the Capitol in Washington, D-C. Every time a member of the U-S House prepares to vote, they’ll walk by Marshall’s art and those of other students.

In addition to winning the award, Jessica Marshall will take a round-trip trip for two to Washington, D.C., on June 24th, for a special awards ceremony to honor all the competition winners. She may also be eligible to receive a $1,500 art scholarship. High school students from all 16 counties in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District submitted artwork. Jessica had the highest score from the judges, making her the winner. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982, to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials have found emerald ash borders in Polk County, home of the state capitol in Des Moines. A news release from the Iowa Agriculture Department said Friday that the tree-killing pests were found in Urbandale and West Des Moines. The department says the confirmation brings to 22 the number of Iowa counties where the insects have been found.

The larva of an emerald ash borer cuts off an ash tree’s flow of nutrients when deposited below the bark. Once infected, trees typically die within five years. The insects are native to Asia and were first spotted in the U.S. in 2002, when they showed up in the Detroit area. They devastated ash trees in Michigan and have spread to at least 21 other states.

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say they have not found the 5-year-old son of a woman whose body was found in southeast Omaha and whose infant brother was found alive in a dumpster near a suburban Omaha apartment complex. Omaha police Lt. Darci Tierney said Friday that officers are still looking for Josue Ramirez-Marinero, who was the subject of an Amber alert issued Thursday. The vehicle he was believed to be traveling in was found Thursday afternoon in Omaha.

Josue’s little brother, 11-month-old Angel Ramirez-Marinero, was wearing only a diaper when he was found around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the body of his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero, was found Wednesday night. Her death has been ruled a homicide, but police have not released any details or reported any arrests.

Police were questioning a man who turned himself-in in connection with the case. Jusue Ramirez-Marinero’s father, Jose Ramirez, was taken into custody prior to Jusue’s disappearance, for being an illegal immigrant.

Mother Nature may be very busy on Mother’s Day. After a full week of stormy weather, forecasters say Iowans see a brief break from the clouds today (Friday), while the rains will return tomorrow. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service, says it appears likely much of the state may see severe weather on Sunday.

“It will probably start to get potentially bad early afternoon especially through the early evening,” Kotenberg says. “One of the things we’ll be working on today is to narrow it down to a more specific area. The southern part of the state has a little better chance than northern Iowa for severe weather, but we’re looking at a statewide threat, as of right now.”

While many Iowans may be traveling this weekend to celebrate the holiday, they may need to keep an umbrella handy, while some Iowans may need to retreat to the basement. “We could be looking at all modes of severe weather here in Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “We could see some hail, some damaging winds and maybe even a few tornadoes across the state. Stay tuned to the forecast the next couple of days as we try to pin it down a little more but it looks like it could be a pretty widespread severe weather threat for Sunday.”

Parts of Nebraska had tornadoes and severe flooding this week, while that state’s weekend forecast calls for up to eight inches of snow in the higher elevations of the Panhandle.  “It looks like we’ll get to miss out on the cold weather here in Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “It’ll be cooler, certainly. We’ll probably see temperatures drop down to the 40s and high temperatures in the 60s, maybe even the 50s, but no snow in the forecast here in Iowa. It’ll be cooler, but snow-free.”

The skies may start to clear on Monday, as the forecast calls for a return to calmer, more seasonable weather.

(Radio Iowa)

Official with AAA Travel are projecting 37.2 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 4.7 percent increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled last year and the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years. Kicking off the summer driving season, 33 million travelers will be driving to their destinations. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 21 to Monday, May 25.

Highlights from 2015 Memorial Day Travel Forecast: 

• The 2015 Memorial Day forecast is expected to mark the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years, since 2005.
• The 4.7 percent increase over Memorial Day 2014 is the highest forecast growth rate for any of the holidays tracked by AAA since Independence Day 2012.
• More than 88 percent of travelers (33 million) will travel by automobile, an increase of 5.3 percent over last Memorial Day.
• Holiday air travel is expected to increase 2.5 percent to 2.6 million leisure travelers.
• Travel by other modes of transportation including cruises, trains and buses, is expected to decrease 3.6 percent this Memorial Day, to 1.64 million.
• Travelers will encounter higher average daily car rental and lodging costs this year, while airfares are down slightly compared to Memorial Day 2014.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Colorado-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2015 Memorial Day Travel Forecast can be found here.