DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Veterinarians in Des Moines have confirmed several cases of kennel cough in dogs in the region. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that vets have seen a recent increase in the cases of the virus, commonly spread at dog kennels, parks, pet boarding businesses and grooming centers. The disease isn’t life-threatening, but causes inflammation of the windpipe and voice box, and the accompanying cough can last several weeks.

Veterinarian Dennis Woodriff says the Bordetella vaccine can reduce the risk of getting the illness, but “with so many strains, even vaccinated dogs can catch the highly contagious cough.”

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Police Department this (Wednesday) morning updated information about an accident that occurred Tuesday afternoon on the east side of town. Officials say vehicles driven by Sharon Petersen and Betty Pollock, both of Anita, collided at around 12:12-p.m. on 7th Street, near the north entrance to the Wal-Mart store.

The P-D says an eastbound vehicle driven by Petersen failed to stop at the light, and struck Pollock’s car as she was making a left turn onto westbound 7th Street from the entrance to the Wal-Mart/Dollar General frontage road. Both drivers were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, to be checked for possible injuries. Petersen was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Signal. Damage from the accident amounted to $8,000.

(8-a.m. News)

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) – A slain Rockwell City police officer has been buried in the community he served for eight years.

This photo of the law enforcement presence at the funeral is courtesy I80 K9/Cass Co. Deputy Kyle Quist

The Des Moines Register reports that the Tuesday funeral service for 37-year-old Jamie Buenting drew an estimated 800 to 1,000 police officers and firefighters from Iowa and surrounding states.They joined hundreds of others in the gym at South Central Calhoun Middle School. Buenting was buried in Rosehill Cemetery later in the day.

The hearse carrying the body of Officer Jamie Buenting (all photos in this series are courtesy of Brian Rink)

Buenting, a married father of two, was shot during a standoff early Friday in Rockwell City. Police arrested 32-year-old Corey Trott and charged him with first-degree murder in Buenting’s death. Buenting’s 7-year-old daughter, Kalie, read a note at her father’s funeral she penned after his death, asking God to make sure he “gets the best place in Heaven.”

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Authorities say two people were sent to the hospital following an accident Tuesday afternoon, in Atlantic. The names of the victims have not yet been released. The accident happened at around 12:15-p.m. on 7th Street, near the north entrance to the Wal-Mart store.

Witnesses told Atlantic Police an eastbound vehicle failed to stop at the light. The car struck another vehicle making a left turn onto westbound 7th Street from the entrance to the Wal-Mart/Dollar General frontage road. Both drivers were transported to the hospital.

Red Oak Police report the arrest this (Wednesday) morning of a man wanted on a warrant out of Mills County.  22-year-old Kenneth Justin Darnold, of Red Oak, was arrested for Theft in the 2nd degree. Darnold was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has returned from a trade trip to Japan and India. Branstad departed Sept. 6 and first went to Japan for the 2013 Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference in Tokyo. He continued on to India for a six-day trade trip, which featured stops in several cities to meet with business and government leaders. He plans to be back at the state Capitol on Wednesday.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo dog has been seized by authorities after it rushed into a home and attacked a woman and her dogs before being scared off by another resident. The Waterloo Courier reports a woman opened her door to let her dogs out when another dog described as a pit bull ran inside and lunged at her. After hearing the commotion, the woman’s boyfriend hit the dog with a rattan table before it ran off. Authorities say the attacking dog’s owner will be cited.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Marshalltown police say autopsy results are pending on the case of a man who was found dead in a home during the weekend. Police say in a news release that the 33-year-old’s body was found Sunday morning. Marshalltown police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are continuing to look into the case. Police say there is no risk to the public and no suspects are being sought in the death.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot is estimated at $400 million, making it the nation’s fifth-largest ever. There have been 11 drawings since August 10 without a winner. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175 million. That’s how many combinations are possible with the game’s five white balls and one red ball.

The Iowa Health Department Tuesday confirmed 13 cases of West Nile virus in the state and they say they’re investigating several more. Deputy State Epidemiologist, Ann Garvey, says the dry weather in August helped reduce mosquito populations but the disease carrying pests are still active. Garvey says most people don’t know they have the virus, but it can be dangerous to some. “About one in 150 will go on to have more serious symptoms like a very high fever, severe headache, encephalitis, meningitis more life threatening complications. People over the age of 50 , immune compromised individuals are the greatest risk for developing those more severe symptoms and illness.

Garvey says the 13 cases are typical for this time of year. She urges everyone to continue taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites. “Some of the best things you can do are wearing DEET or another insect repellent — make sure you are following the labels carefully — and that’s especially important in the peak mosquito hours during dusk and dawn,” Garvey explains. Changes in the weather also help. “And now that the temperatures are a bit cooler it’s a little easier for us to wear those long sleeves and pants — those will also help cut down on our mosquito bite exposures,” Garvey says.

Garvey says in most cases West Nile presents no symptoms; about 20 percent of the time people can develop mild, flu like symptoms. In extreme cases, especially in the elderly, the disease can be fatal. There have been no deaths reported in Iowa this year. There were 31 human cases reported in 2012, but no deaths. There were nine human cases of West Nile reported in 2011 with two deaths.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports Massena Mayor Pro-Tem Linda Reineke won a Special Election held Tuesday to fill the position of Mayor Until the end of 2013. Since no candidates had filed nomination papers for the election, all names on the ballots were write-ins. There were a total of 49 ballots cast.

Sunderman says Linda Reineke received 41 votes; Jackson Bissell 5; Dean Downer 1; Jesse Stoner 1 and Kevin McCunn 1 vote. Another vote to fill the position of Mayor full-time (a 2-year term) will be held during the November 5th City elections. The person who is elected will serve the term beginning January 1st, 2014.