The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors say two county roads near Oakland are in such bad shape, they agreed on Monday that repairs on County Roads G42 and M16 should be moved up by three years. The Omaha World-Herald reports the request came from County Engineer John Rasmussen, who wants the 8.5-mile project done next year.

Police in Red Oak report a traffic stop early this (Wednesday) morning at the intersection of Highways 34 and 48 resulted in the driver of a vehicle being arrested on drug charges. 30-year old David Ray Sturgis, of Red Oak, was taken into custody shortly after midnight. Sturgis faces charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a felony Possession of Contraband charge, and Driving While Suspended.

He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center in $5,000 bond.

A Council Bluffs elementary school student swapped a loaded round of ammunition for playing cards Friday on a school bus, prompting concern among parents and school officials. Titan Hill Intermediate School Principal Kent Stopak told the Daily NonPareil, the trade happened on a school bus. The child receiving the round of ammunition told his parents when he got home, and the parents reached out to the school Monday morning.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people have been arrested in connection to a lockdown at a community college campus in Fort Dodge. The Fort Dodge Police Department says the three people each face one count of aiding and abetting second-degree robbery. Court records do not indicate formal charges have been filed. Authorities are looking for a fourth suspect. No shots and no injuries were reported.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An employee union is asking a court to overturn a ruling that bans state workers from wearing pins critical of Gov. Terry Branstad. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees recently filed a motion asking the Polk County District Court to intervene in a ruling issued by the Public Employment Relations Board. The board ruled in October that the pins worn by employees at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center represent “special circumstances” that interfere with prison decorum.

DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) — Residents and officials in Dunkerton are discussing whether they should retain their tiny police department following the chief’s resignation in August. Police Chief Tim Schultz resigned amid an investigation into the alleged misuse of a city credit card. His departure left Dunkerton with only one full-time officer. The job opening has raised the question whether Dunkerton should contract with the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s office for protection.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say the number of human cases of West Nile virus in Iowa is down compared to last year. Iowa Department of Public Health officials say the state had 15 human cases of the mosquito-borne disease as of Oct. 31. There were a total of 44 human cases in the state in 2013.

Agencies that distribute food to the hungry are gearing up for what they anticipate will be a very busy winter ahead. Brian Barks, spokesman for the Omaha-based Food Bank for the Heartland, says this is the time of year when food drives pick up, but it’s also the season when food is needed the most, as more people in the region are requesting help. “This time last year, we were on pace to distribute almost 15-million pounds of food,” Barks says. “This year, we are on pace to distribute in excess of 16-million pounds of food.”

While donations have thankfully been more plentiful, Barks says the demand for food is even greater. “In Nebraska and western Iowa, approximately 217,000 people are at risk for hunger,” Barks says, “88,000 are children under the age of 18.” The food bank supplies food items to 285 pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens in 93 counties across western Iowa and Nebraska. A donation of just five-dollars, Barks says, can provide 15 meals.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – State officials say the number of human cases of West Nile virus is down compared to last year. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, state epidemiologist and medical director for the Iowa Department of Public Health, says the state had 15 human cases of the mosquito-borne disease as of Oct. 31. There were a total of 44 human cases in the state in 2013.

Quinlisk says the drop is connected to the weather. Total rainfall numbers were below average in May and July and just above average in June, August and September.The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports of the cases this year, eight people were hospitalized. There were no reported deaths.

No injuries were reported following a collision Monday afternoon, in Creston. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says vehicles driven by 22-year old Garrett Schneider and 56-year old Patricia Kralik, both of Creston, collided at around 4:45-p.m., when Kralik failed to yield at the intersection of Maple and Summit Streets.

Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. Kralik was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

No injuries were reported following a rollover accident this (Tuesday) morning, about two-miles south of Stanton. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a pickup driven by 18-year old Jacob Baker, of New Market, was traveling north on O Avenue at around 8:10-a.m., when the vehicle began to slide on the icy roadway. The 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup entered the west ditch and rolled onto its top, causing an estimated $6,500 in damage. No citations were issued.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by crews from the Stanton Fire and Rescue Department and Bates Towing.

Congress returns to work this week after a long recess. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s confident he and his colleagues will tackle several issues in the short time remaining before year’s end, items ranging from the federal budget to funding fights against Ebola and ISIS. Grassley, a Republican, says he hopes for cooperation between Congress and the White House.  “I think that President Obama should work with Congress,” Grassley says. “We can do things without him but it’s a lot easier to do things with him.”

Grassley hopes President Obama was genuine in his post-election speech about wanting to accomplish a series of goals in doing the work of the American people, preaching cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government. Grassley says, “What would he gain by vetoing bills that he might not like us to pass, whereas, if he would work with us and find consensus, he could sign bills and we could be very productive.”

When January arrives, Republicans will hold a majority of seats in both the U-S House and, for the first time in eight years, the Senate. Democratic Senator Harry Reid will no longer be the majority leader, which Grassley says clears a path for progress. “At least the Republican Congress is going to be able to move the ball down the court,” Grassley says. “Reid stood in opposition to it as evidenced by 380 bills passing the House of Representatives not being considered in the Senate.”

The lame duck session of Congress opens tomorrow (Wednesday) after a six-week break for the elections. Grassley says the priorities include a budget bill that will carry the federal government beyond the temporary spending measure which expires December 11th, as well as considering nominees for a new Attorney General and several judicial posts.

(Radio Iowa)

Celebrating 50 years of business, Schuler Manufacturing hosted an Atlantic Area Ambassadors visit last week. The family owned business was started back in 1964 by Dorland Schuler.

Pictured: Dorland Schuler, Jordan Schuler, Don Schuler, Gerald Brink, Pat McCurdy, Chip Hansen, Rich Perry, Nedra Perry, Crystal Christensen, Ouida Wymer, Tammy Waters, Sara Nelson, Renee Wilson, Dr. Mitch Peerbolte, Janet Cappel, Diane Gipple, Carole Schuler, JoAnn Runyan, Sue Muri, Keith Leonard, Dolly Bergmann, Arlene Drennan, Russel Joyce, Don Johnson, Scott Steffens, Joanne Mueller.

Schuler Mtg. specializes in the production of feed mixers, feed wagons and other contracted manufacturing services. The Ambassadors toured Schuler’s facility and learned about the production of Schuler products, learning about Schuler products used across the Midwest and throughout the world.