Police in Council Bluffs are investigating recent incidents of copper theft. Three such incidents this past week resulted in combined $32,000 loss. Authorities say thieves took copper from a business and two empty houses. The theft were reported on Thursday. Glenco Electric reported copper tubing from two air-conditioning units, valued at $10,000, stolen from the 500 block of 10th Street sometime between Wednesday and Thursday. The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported copper wire and line, valued at $12,000, stolen from a vacant home in the 2800 block of Avenue E sometime between April 5 and Thursday. And, officials say Jean Edwards, of Council Bluffs, reported copper wire and pipe, valued at $10,000, stolen from a vacant home in the 2600 block of Eighth Avenue sometime between Wednesday and Thursday.

Back on April 1st, we told you that authorities in Council Bluffs were asking residents to keep an eye out for unusual activity in areas where homes or businesses are vacant or foreclosed, as those are the types of places where thieves target air conditioning units for their copper tubing, and the thefts are happening in broad daylight. Officials had said 34 air conditioning units were reported to have been damaged or stolen, most of them in a concentrated area, since January 1st.

No arrests have been made in connection with any of the incidents.

A district court judge Friday, sentenced a Glenwood man to life in prison for the 2011 death of his infant son. According to The Daily NonPareil, Judge Mark Eveloff handed down the life sentence against 36-year old Jason Curtis, and ruled out the possibility of parole. Curtis was convicted on a charge of 1st degree murder connected to the death of his 5-month-old son, Jackson Curtis, who died July 14, 2011, as a result of head injuries. The jury decided  the boy’s injuries were inflicted by his father. Their verdict was reached in February.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County say a Shenandoah woman has been indicted for the “Theft of funds of the United States by a bank employee.” The charge against 39-year old Tiffany Ann Stanley stems from an investigation into a robbery at the Great Western Bank in Riverton, on November 17th, 2012. The indictment handed down in U-S Federal Court for the Southern District of Iowa on March 27th, lists the amount of the theft at $25,716.40. Stanley  was arrested and later released, with orders to appear in court for her trial on June 10th.

The Omaha branch of the FBI assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office in conducting the investigation.

Democrats in the Iowa Senate have voted to hire 13 new state employees to inspect large livestock facilities and they warn that without them federal inspectors may step in. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants large-scale confinements inspected once every five years and the E-P-A is in discussions with the state over how many state inspectors it would take to do the job. Senator Dennis Black, a Democrat from Grinnell, says retaining jurisdiction at the state level is important.

“EPA barks once and then they bite and that was advised to me in a phone call. Whether it was intimidation, whether it was fact, anything else — I could care less,” Black says. “Bottom line is the EPA claims to have drawn the line in the sand and stated: ‘Iowa you will clean up your act. You will see to it that your waters are cleaner.'” Republican Governor Terry Branstad and Republicans in the Iowa House want to hire five new inspectors rather than 13.

This is one of hundreds of budget decisions that must be resolved before the 2013 legislative session concludes.

(Radio Iowa)

A key Republican Party insider expects three Iowa G-O-P office holders who’ve been mentioned as potential candidates for the U.S. Senate to decide against running. Doug Gross, a former chief of staff for Republican Governor Terry Branstad, talked politics during an appearance on this weekend’s “Iowa Press” program on Iowa Public Television. “I do not expect Steve King to run,” Gross says. “I know he was here last week indicating that he’s analyzing it and usually when I’ve worked with politicians over the years, when they’re analyzing something, they’re usually trying to figure out how not to do it — because usually their gut tells them when they’re going to do it.”

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey have confirmed they’re considering a run for the U.S. Senate, too, but Gross doesn’t think either will. “So I don’t think we know who the candidate’s going to be right now,” Gross says. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin announced in late January that he will not seek re-election in 2014. In early February, Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley announced he would run for the seat. “It’s the first time it’s been open in decades. It’ll be hotly competitive, very competitive in an off-year when Republicans have a very good chance of winning. I think we’ll have a good candidate, I just can’t tell you who it’s going to be yet,” Gross said, with a laugh. “…There are more people eligible to run for senate than those who happen to hold a particular office at a particular time.”

Gross ran for governor in 2002, losing to Democrat Tom Vilsack. His advice to whomever decides to run: be prepared to work hard. “Particularly as a Republican, you need to go to every county. I mean, it isn’t just Chuck Grassley’s schtick. As a Republican, you’ve got votes in every county and you need to go to every county and it’s a big state, so you really have to work it hard, so one thing I am concerned about is I’d like to see our candidates come forward this summer, no later than this summer because people need to get to know them it they’re going to have a good shot at winning,” Gross said. “One of the mistakes I think I made back in 2002 was getting in too late.”

Gross formally announced his candidacy on March 4th of that year, just three months before the primary. Gross went on to narrowly win the primary with nearly 36 percent. Bob Vander Plaats — in the first of his three runs for governor — got just over 32 percent and former state Representative Steve Sukup got nearly 32 percent. Vilsack lost in November to Democrat Tom Vilsack.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say several people at a medical clinic in West Des Moines were affected by fumes from a chemical spill. Workers in protective suits were called yesterday morning to help with the cleanup at Lakeview Family Medicine and Urgent Care. Officials say the people were not seriously injured but were checked as a precaution. The building was evacuated, but most employees and patients returned later.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Unlike ordinary drivers, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled this week that licensed truckers will not be given a break if they’re caught driving with a blood-alcohol concentration barely over the legal limit. The court ruled yesterday that the Department of Transportation can suspend commercial drivers’ licenses without considering the margin of error of breath tests.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Four Girl Scout camps in eastern Iowa will remain open, but with some changes. The council for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois voted Thursday to adopt a plan that calls for developing Camp Conestoga in New Liberty as a resident camp. Camps L-Kee-Ta, Little Cloud and Tihigwa will become outdoor program centers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines area developer has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for defrauding banks out of $2.9 million. John Kline received the 30-month prison sentence yesterday as part of a plea agreement.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday, of an Atlantic man on a Department of Natural Resources warrant. 42-year old Donald Lee Klindt, was taken into custody on a warrant for Theft 2^nd Degree and Obstruction of Justice. Klindt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on $7000 bond.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones today (Friday), backed-off his earlier comments the City Council would be entering into a closed session during their meeting next Wednesday to discuss matters pertaining to City Administrator Doug Harris. Jones said the revelation during last week’s meeting that the Council would be in violation of Iowa’s Open Record’s Laws, by not consulting with Harris and asking if he wanted the meeting, caused him to rethink how personnel matters should be discussed.

Jones said “After the April 3^rd meeting I consulted with the City Attorney, and it was determined that closed-session discussions over personnel matters should be limited to annual performance evaluations or disciplinary matters. The City Attorney thought is was appropriate for him and the Mayor to personally discuss with (Harris) the employment issue, and that a statement could be placed in the personnel file. There will be no need for a public or closed discussion on the matter.” Jones went on to say he admits “To having a had differing opinions with Doug Harris…in some areas of City business and philosophy.” He said “Doug and I have had discussions regarding our differences. Those discussions have been civil and constructive. In addition, we have since covered the issue that was to be discussed at the April 3^rd meeting, and look forward to an effective working relationship moving forward.”

Jones also admitted that there was an unannounced, unpublished meeting of the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee on March 28^th, nearly a week prior to the April 3^rd meeting. He said the meeting was held to discuss if there was any reason for proceeding with any further action concerning a personnel matter. Jones said “There was no decisions were made…to get rid of anybody at all.” He said “The topic was, we got some issues we need to discuss among the committee…the whole idea was to get it in front of the Council and see what’s goin’ on and have things come out…”

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports it has blocked access to traffic entering northbound Antique Country Drive (exit 83) near Casey from eastbound Interstate 80. The Antique Country Drive bridge over I-80 was struck on April 8th by an excavator being hauled by a truck. The incident caused significant damage and safety concerns on this portion of the bridge.

An emergency letting will be held April 16 for bridge repair work.

The Clarinda Police Department today (Friday), released a backlog of reports on arrests and incidents dating back to Nov., 2012. In the most recent activity: Officials say 22-year old Thomas Engstrand, of Braddyville, was arrested on Monday, for Driving Under the Influence, drug-related/1st offense. He was held in the Page County Jail until his initial appearance in court on April 16th. And, 43-year old Teresa Lynn Snyder, of Clarinda, was arrested Monday on a similar charge. Snyder was released on her own recognizance, and is scheduled to appear in court April 29th.

Last Sunday, Clarinda Police arrested 24-year old Brett Joseph Geer, of Clarinda, on a 1st offense DUI/Alcohol, charge. Geer was released on his own recognizance and appeared before the magistrate on Wednesday. And, last Saturday, officers in Clarinda arrested 28-year old Bradley Duane Ott, of Clarinda, on a 1st offense, DUI/Drugs charge. He’s scheduled to make his initial appearance in court on April 23rd.