JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — (UPDATED) Dozens of students were sent to hospitals Thursday after a building with high levels of carbon monoxide was evacuated at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in suburban Des Moines, officials said. An overnight security officer detected a strong odor a little before 6 a.m., academy director Judy Bradshaw said. The officer contacted 911 and then used an intercom system to evacuate the 86 students, most of them sleeping. Nearly 60 students with elevated blood levels of carbon monoxide were sent to six hospitals, and Bradshaw said other students who’d been exposed but displayed no symptoms were also taken to hospitals as a precaution. The unnamed security officer was taken as well.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include vomiting, headaches and dizziness, and high exposure can lead to death. Johnson-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department Chief Jim Clark said at a news conference that his firefighters found the highest level of carbon monoxide in the building basement. There were lower levels in the upper floors where students lived and attended classes during their training to become Iowa law enforcement officers. The academy sits on the grounds of Camp Dodge in Johnston.

Three ambulances carried a total of nine people with the highest carbon monoxide blood figures or severest symptoms to hospitals, Clark said. Because of the sheer number of students affected, he said, many were taken to hospitals in Des Moines Area Regional Transit buses. It’s unclear so far how many — if any — of the students will remain in the hospitals. Also unclear is what caused the carbon monoxide buildup. Bradshaw said that, to her knowledge, the building didn’t have carbon monoxide monitors. The building has been aired out but won’t be used until the problem’s been found and fixed, she said. The Iowa National Guard has arranged for classrooms and barracks space for students next week. Bradshaw canceled classes for Thursday and Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of students, staffers and others have rallied in protest of racist notes and robocalls at Drake University in Des Moines. A police-estimated crowd of 3,500 cheered Wednesday when student speakers said racists aren’t welcome. Several people carried signs condemning the racist acts; others handed out blue buttons that read “Do Better.”

University officials say racist notes were left under the dorm doors of two minority students in the past week, warning them to leave. And officials report that about 250 Drake phones received 75-second robocalls Monday that said African-Americans should be “expelled” to Africa.

A university spokesman says police reports will be filed about the racist notes. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says the person or people responsible could be charged with harassment. Any students involved also could face university discipline.

MAURICE, Iowa (AP) — Residents and officials have gathered to celebrate the opening of a new airport in northwest Iowa that’s expected to fuel area business and development. The grand opening of the $32 million Sioux County Regional Airport on Wednesday marked the culmination of a nearly 20-year effort. It features a 5,500-foot  runway that can handle business jets. There’s also a parallel taxiway, a terminal, several hangars, fueling systems, safety approach lighting, a weather station and other features.

The airport replaces airports in Orange City and Sioux Center that were limited by their shorter runway lengths. It sits about a mile from Maurice. Construction began in 2015 at a 493-acre site that was previously farmland. The project was funded by a mix of federal, state and local funding and private sources.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, provided the School Board with an update on capital projects and district needs for the future. Barber said the “catwalk” between the Middle School and Washington Elementary is finally finished after being closed due to an accident earlier this year, involving a truck. With regard to capitol projects, the first priority is to continue with the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement cycle. The tentative plan calls for replacing two, large units above the high school gym and a medium-size unit for the office. The price would fall between $55-thousand and $130-thousand dollars, so cost estimates, according to Barber, would be a requirement.

He said also, Transportation Director Dave Eckles has applied for a diesel replacement grant for one of the District’s buses. The bus fleet, he says, is in good shape right now, so they can wait another year or so for their next purchase. Additional grant dollars may be available through Volkswagen in the future to purchase a bus. An audit by a roofing company and the district’s insurance company, Barber says, and an analysis of the district’s roofs show they are in good condition, but administrators feel that it will be important to begin a cycle of having a roof project each year. That he said, can wait for another year. Barber said also, the high school track needs to be repaired.

In future meetings, District Technology Director Roger Warne will be presenting to the Board his thoughts on a technology plan that includes achieving goals for implementation and costs associated with, a three-year cycle. Barber said also, they are looking at options to continue the transition to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting on a continuous cycle until all the lights are converted to the energy and cost-saving lights.

And finally, Superintendent Barber said he has inquired about the cost of replacing the parking lots, with the high school parking lot a priority, since it continues to deteriorate. He says the best approach appears to be to remove and replace the surface, to the base can be improved that would ensure a long-lasting, concrete parking lot. Discussion about those projects are expected to begin in December. Those talks would include the current budget for PPEL (The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education, and the projected costs to each of the Capitol Projects.

Two people were arrested in Creston recently. Authorities say 26-year old Jonathan Dakotah Davor Vert was arrested a little before 3-a.m. today (Thursday), for Domestic Assault. Vert was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate. And, at around 3:35-p.m. Wednesday, 29-year old Steven Mathew Behlers, of Creston, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Behlers was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.