A report in the Daily NonPareil says police officers in Council Bluffs discovered human remains in a wooded area on the city’s southeast side, early Tuesday afternoon. Officers found the body of a man believed to be in his early 50’s, as they were chasing a shoplifting suspect near the Manawa Centre and Metro Crossing areas.

Authorities say the man was homeless. His skeletal remains were found in tent with it’s top blown-off. The tent was in a remote area popular among transients, near 35^th Avenue and the South Expressway. The man’s death was not considered suspicious.

Police were chasing a person who was suspected of shoplifting at Kohl’s in Council Bluffs. When the suspect ran into the woods an officer discovered the body. The suspect in shoplifting incident was not apprehended.

Authorities in Montgomery County say no injuries were reported following a three-vehicle, chain-reaction accident Tuesday evening, in Red Oak. Officials say two vehicles were stopped at the intersection of North Broadway and West Cherry Streets, facing south at the stop light, when a third vehicle failed to stop in time. The 1999 Mercury Villager van driven by 29-year old Joshua Kenkel, of Shenandoah, rear-ended a 2008 Chevy Aveo, driven by 52-year old Debra Johnson, of Red Oak. Johnson’s vehicle was shoved forward into the rear of a 2010 Toyota Prius, driven by 61-year old Jerrold Lamb, of Essex. The collisions occurred at around 6:45-p.m.

Damage from the accident amounted to $2,100. No citations were issued at the time of the investigation.

National Weather Service forecasters are predicting near normal temperatures and precipitation this spring. Meteorologist Miles Schumacher helped craft the outlook as part of the weather service’s Weather Whisper Spring 2013 newsletter. Schumacher notes this winter was slightly warmer and wetter than normal in Iowa. Many Iowans may feel the month of March has been especially cold, but Schumacher that’s only true when compared to March of 2012.

“Last year was 16-degrees above normal for March and we’re running about 7-degrees below normal right now,” Schumacher said. “So, it’s about 23-degrees colder this year than last year, so everyone thinks it’s record cold. Really, it’s colder than normal, but last year was so much warmer than normal that you kind of lose sight of where we really should be.” March of 2012 ranked as the warmest March in Iowa history. This winter brought above normal precipitation over the southeast half of the state, but northwest Iowa experienced mostly dry conditions. Schumacher believes there’s a decent chance for above normal rainfall over the next couple months.

“I don’t think this spring is going to be particularly dry and we may do fairly well,” Schumacher said. “I think we’re going to be short of precipitation this summer again, kind of an echo of last year’s drought. However, I don’t think it’ll be nearly as extensive as last year was.” The outlook does not offer predictions of severe weather, but Schumacher expects Iowans could see plenty of thunderstorms and tornadoes.

“It would probably be a safe bet to say we’ll have more than we had last year because last year was one of our lightest severe weather years in quite a while, so it’ll seem like a lot more at least,” Schumacher said.

(Radio Iowa)

A bid to let adults carry concealed weapons in Iowa schools was briefly discussed in the Iowa Senate Tuesday night. Republican Senator Mark Chelgren says the idea to arm teachers and principles is a natural response to the tragedy at a Connecticut elementary school. “I would expect, as I think I would do myself, to stand in front of those children, to protect them at all costs,” Chelgren said. “But I can tell you right now I also would expect the ability and the authorization to try to end that threat if at all possible.” Chelgren tried to attach his proposal to an education reform bill.

“I have no problem dying for the children of Iowa,” Chelgren said. “Neither do I think teachers or the employees of schools in this state do either, but I’d rather see that happen after the clip that they have is emptied into the bad guy.” A Democrat who makes decisions about what proposals may be voted upon during senate debate ruled Chelgren’s proposal was beyond the scope of the education reform bill.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest last week of 18-year old Christian Monreal Sempek, of Atlantic. Sempek was taken into custody on March 20th, on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. A juvenile female was also cited into Juvenile Court on the same charges.

A Cass County farmer selected as a winner in a seed company’s contest, has designated her winnings for two local organizations. Ruth Steffen, of Cumberland, was selected as a winner in America’s Farmers Grow Communities℠, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Grow Communities gives farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 donation to direct to their favorite local nonprofit organizations. To further support counties that have been declared disaster areas due to drought by the U.S.D.A. winning farmers in these counties were able to direct double the donation, a total of $5,000 to further support the community. Cass County was declared a disaster area by the USDA, giving Steffen, the opportunity to place two $2,500 donations. She selected Atlantic Food Pantry and Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department.

A ceremonial presentation of the checks will take place 6-p.m. Saturday, March 30th, at the Cumberland Fire Department (216 Main St.).

A new report on the condition of Iowa’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure finds the state will have to spend billions in the next 20 years just to keep up with needed repairs. Gregory DiLoreto, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, says investing in infrastructure is essential to support healthy, vibrant communities as well as long-term economic growth. “We grade 16 categories of infrastructure,” DeLoreto says. “That would include roads and bridges, transit and rail, drinking water, waste water, levees, dams, schools, parks and rec and so forth.”

He says spending on infrastructure is critical for categories from employment to exports. DeLoreto says the reverse is also true — without prioritizing infrastructure needs, deteriorating conditions can become a drag on the economy. “There is a direct link between our economic success in this country and our quality of life and our infrastructure,” DeLoreto says. “By making this investment, we can improve our economic conditions and we can retain and create jobs as well.”

He says Iowa’s infrastructure repair needs, when compared to other states, tend to be higher than many other states, even though our population is much lower. The report finds more than 52-hundred Iowa bridges are structurally deficient. “The state reports it has about $10-billion worth of needs in its drinking water and its waste water systems,” DeLoreto says. “About 46% of Iowa roads are in poor or mediocre condition and that costs your motorists about $380 a year in additional repair costs.”

That money could be better used to repair and maintain roads, he says, which would help to reduce congestion and improve conditions. While letter grades were not given for individual states, the report gave the nation’s infrastructure a D-plus, up slightly from a solid D in 2009.

(Radio Iowa)