OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Local and Nebraska officials are trying to counter Iowa efforts to lure Woodmen of the World and its 400 headquarters jobs away from Omaha. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Iowa’s courtship of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society began last spring, after the insurer was denied a county property tax exemption that’s still under appeal.

Woodmen’s lawyers argued that Woodmen is a fraternal benefit organization exempt from federal taxes. Douglas County lawyers say Woodmen is primarily an insurance company, citing its $1.2 billion of gross revenue in 2013.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert is concerned about the potential loss of hundreds of jobs and a longtime corporate citizen. Woodmen spokeswoman Jill Regester says Iowa is attractive because of its favorable business incentives and laws.

A Shenandoah man was arrested Thursday on an assault charge. According to the Police report, 19-year-old Anthony Racine faces assault with a dangerous weapon and willful injury charges, based on an investigation into an incident that occurred at 812 South Avenue. Racine was being held in the Page County jail.

At that same residence, police arrested 31-year-old Kenneth Johnson on a Page County warrant. Johnson was also being held in the Page County jail. And, 27-year-old Kyle Campbell, of Shenandoah, was arrested Thursday for driving while suspended. Campbell received a citation and was subsequently released from custody.

An official with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund says the organization, on Thursday, donated $400 toward the Kiwanis bike helmet project. Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty said “Trevor had received a helmet from the program when he was in 3rd grade so this program has a special place in our hearts.”

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund was started to give back to the community Trevor loved by offering scholarships to graduating Atlantic High School students and support other things that meant alot to him.

An Adams County woman was arrested early this (Friday) morning, in Creston. Authorities say 22-year old Miranda Pedersen, of Corning, was arrested at around 2:30-a.m. on a charge of OWI/1st offense. Pedersen was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And Wednesday afternoon, Creston Police took a report of theft from the Creston Wal-Mart store. Officials say an unidentified man left the store without paying for a 50-inch tv and other items. The loss was estimated at $898.

The 7:06-a.m. Newscast with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City officer who was shot in the face by a man who later took his own life says she knew she was ready to return to work. Officer Jill Ohm said on Thursday that, “I believe I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing – my job. I wouldn’t have come back if I wasn’t ready to come back.” She returned to duty on Jan. 6th. Ohm also said at a news conference in Sioux City that her ordeal has made her more skeptical of people.

Ohm was shot Oct. 3 by 27-year-old Noah Ironshell after Ohm responded to a report about a suicidal person. Ironshell was found later in an abandoned home, suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He died Oct. 12 in an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital.

The Iowa West Foundation, headquartered in Council Bluffs, has announced that its board awarded more than $5.2 million in grants to close out 2014. Those grants will assist 22 nonprofit organizations and governmental entities with funding for projects and programs that directly impact southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

Among the list of award recipients is:  Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, community-based mentoring for children in Mills and Pottawattamie counties, $40,000; City of Council Bluffs, transformation of historic trolley building into a park shelter, $15,000; City of Council Bluffs, operating support to city arena, $100,000; City of Glenwood, lazy river feature for the Charles E. Lakin Aquatic Center, $50,000; Heartland Family Service, Children’s Center to address the behavioral health needs of children in our community, $100,000; Iowa JAG Inc., dropout prevention programs in Council Bluffs schools, $40,000; Iowa Newspaper Foundation, newspapers in southwest Iowa school libraries, $18,500; Iowa West Foundation Initiative, Iowa West Opportunity Scholarship Program for first-generation college students administered by the Iowa College Foundation, $400,000; Malvern Area Betterment Association, Main Street revitalization project in Malvern, $40,000; Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, CITIES program to support rural economic development, $665,000; Sons and Daughters of Imogene Inc., improvement to the baseball complex in Imogene, $10,000; City of Council Bluffs, support of events for 2015 LoessFest at River’s Edge Park, $175,000.