BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — The reward for the safe return of a missing University of Iowa student has ballooned to $260,000. Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa said Sunday that relatives of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts believe she’s alive but has potentially been kidnapped. Spokesman Greg Willey says the family hopes the reward money will lead to her return.

Tibbetts went missing on July 18 from her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa.
Investigators are being tight-lipped about the case, saying holding back basic details may help solve it. That includes saying whether they believe Tibbetts returned home from a jog the evening she went missing.

Willey says Crime Stoppers will protect the anonymity of tipsters who call in or submit tips online . He says the organization has shared more than 200 anonymous tips with law enforcement since Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Personnel from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals will conduct an inspection of the Iowa State Fair concession games as the fair kicks off.

The inspections will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday. Staff from the Social & Charitable Gambling Unit will be checking the games to make sure they are appropriately licensed and conducted in a fair and honest manner.

State regulators make sure the object of each game is attainable and possible for the average person to perform. Inspectors also make sure that the rules of the game are clearly posted, the maximum base cost to play each game is not more than $5, and that all prizes are awarded in merchandise.

The Iowa State Fair starts Thursday and runs through Aug. 20.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A day after police in southeastern Iowa engaged in a deadly shootout that left one man dead and another seriously injured, authorities have not released the names of the suspects or officers involved. The Ottumwa Courier reports that the shootout happened after police received a report Friday afternoon of people with guns near Liberty Elementary in Ottumwa. One suspect was killed, another injured and two others were arrested. No one else was hurt.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man who fatally hit a Des Moines motorcyclist in 2016 and fled the scene has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Television station KCCI reports that 67-year-old Jack Janda was sentenced in a Polk County courtroom Friday. He had earlier entered an Alford plea to vehicular homicide by reckless driving in the death of motorcyclist 57-year-old Joseph Davis of Des Moines.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A recent survey has found Iowa residents are struggling to find child care in communities that lack options or have few providers. The Telegraph Herald reports that researchers with the Center for American Progress, a Washington, D.C., think tank, last year surveyed U.S. Census tracts in 22 states. They say 24 percent of Iowa residents live in child care deserts, places where child care is scant. That figure jumped to 37 percent in rural areas.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The wife of a man being sought in a fatal Des Moines hit-and-run crash has been arrested in the case. Police say 31-year-old Jennifer McGilvrey, of Newton, was arrested Friday and charged with permitting an unauthorized person to operate a motor vehicle. Police say she allowed her husband, Anthony McGilvrey, to drive her sport utility vehicle on July 28 knowing that he wasn’t licensed to drive. Police say he then hit a bicyclist, identified as Darrel Ford, who later died.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Saturday, released a report on recent arrests and warrants served. Vandewater says on July 29th, 54-year old Mark Alan Jacobsen, of Exira, was arrested in Adair on charges of Interference with Official Acts, and 3rd Degree Harassment. Jacobsen was released later that same day on a $300 cash bond.

Also arrested July 29th, was 26-year old Heather Linn Armstrong, of Adel. She was taken into custody in Greenfield, on an Adair County Felony warrant for Probation Violation, after she failed to appear at her bond hearing in August, 2017. Armstrong was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On August 1st, 25-year old Dakota Eugene Brown, of Creston, was arrested on Union County warrants for Theft in the 1st Degree (a Felony), and Failure to Appear in Court on April 21st, 2017. His bond was $10,000. Brown was turned over to Union County authorities. Also arrested August 1st, was 26-year old Dalton James Cormeny, of Creston, who was taken into custody on a Felony Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or subsequent offense. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

28-year old Hannah Rose Mauldin, of Des Moines, was booked into the Adair County Jail August 1st, under a court order that requires her to serve 45 days, less time already served. On August second, 29-year old Tristan Raju Carter, of Stuart, was arrested and held in the Adair County Jail, under a warrant from Polk County for Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense. Carter was turned over to Polk County Deputies on August 3rd.

And, 32-year old Matthew James Hopes, of Adair, was arrested in Adair on August 3rd, on a Felony warrant out of Adair County for Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. Hopes was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.