OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Rescue crews were called to the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, to help a boater who’d fallen overboard. WOWT-TV reports the man fell out of his craft just after 5 p.m. Saturday and was struggling in the water. Rescue crews searched the river and its banks but determined the man was able to get back into his boat before they arrived.  Crews were out on the same stretch of the river Thursday after a man threatened to jump from a pedestrian bridge. He climbed back over the railing.

THURMAN, Iowa (AP) – Most of the storm debris and downed trees have been cleared from tornado-ravaged Thurman. Volunteers have been working since last weekend’s storm to help the town of 229 get back to normal. The tornado ripped through the town, damaging most homes but causing only a few minor injuries. Mayor Rod Umphreys Jr. says most roads were clear and most debris removed after a hundred volunteers turned out Saturday.  The town has been inundated with volunteers since the storm, some coming from as far as Wisconsin and Montana.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some 220 members of the Iowa National Guard have returned home from Afghanistan. The 132nd Fighter Wing arrived in Des Moines late Saturday, after several flight delays.  Tina Claus, of Omaha, Neb., told the Des Moines Register that the wait was worth it to see her husband, Lt. Col. Brian Claus. She says their children, ages 11 and 7, had been looking forward to it all day, and they would have been there even if the wait extended into Sunday.  Fifty members of the unit were sent to Afghanistan in November. The rest deployed in February.  The 1,000-member unit has flown more than 8,000 combat missions. Congress is considering a proposal to cut the size of the unit and remove its 21 F-16 fighter jets in favor of unmanned drones.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Saturday morning, of 24 -year-old Megan Mae Rose Ross, of Red Oak. Ross was taken into custody on a possession of a controlled substance charge. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After decades of failed attempts, lawmakers say this could be the session they succeed in at least beginning to overhaul Iowa’s property tax system. With hopes of adjourning this week, legislators are running out of time, but they express optimism that Republicans and Democrats will reach a deal. Lawmakers have considered changing Iowa’s property tax system for at least 30 years, but the issue is a nightmare for politicians because in Iowa, farmland, businesses and residential property are all taxed differently. To tinker with one means shifting the burden onto the others. This year, though, veteran legislators have reached a bipartisan agreement to address the matter. Republican Rep. Stewart Iverson of Clarion speculates there is a 60 to 70 percent chance that lawmakers will get something done on property taxes.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

An Atlantic woman was killed during one of two separate crashes in Cass County, Saturday. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 84-year old Norma Jean Sothman of Atlantic died,  and 48-year old Julie Nash, of Walnut, was injured during one of the crashes, which took place 10:30-a.m., Saturday at the intersection of 4th and Poplar, in Atlantic. Officials say Sothman’s 2005 Buick LeSabre was westbound on 4th Street, when she stopped at the intersection before proceeding across the street and into the path of Nash’ northbound 2007 Toyota Tundra. The pickup hit the car broadside in the intersection. Sothman was wearing her seat belt, but Nash was not. Both women were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, where Sothman died from her injuries.

The second accident happened at around 12:25-p.m. Saturday, about 10-miles south of Atlantic, near the intersection of Highway 71 and Pella Road. Officials say a 2011 Buick Enclave SUV was traveling east on Pella Road at the same time a 1994 Olds Cutless was traveling west. The vehicles collided head-on at the crest of a hill, located about one-half mile east of Highway 71. The vehicles were driven by 51-year old Lori Johnson and 17-year old Bryce Wernimont, both of Atlantic. Neither driver suffered life-threatening injuries. Wernimont was transported by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, while Johnson was taken by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Both accidents remain under investigation.

More local and State news from KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson….

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