Red Oak Police arrested a man from Polk County early this morning. Authorities say 30-year old Seth Allen Simmons, of Des Moines, was arrested at around 3:15-a.m. for Trespass, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and urinating in public. Simmons was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Sheriff’s Officials in Adams County say two Union County women were arrested on drug charges at around 1:25-a.m. today (Friday), following a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, Amber Dawn Miller, and passenger, Pamela Dea Claiser,both of Creston, weres found to be in possession of a glass smoking devices used to ingest methamphetamine. Miller also had a small baggie of marijuana

The women were brought to the Adams County Jail, where Miller and Claiser were each charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Miller was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Meth – 1st offense. Her cash bond was set at $1,300, while Claiser’s cash bond was set at $300.

Police in Red Oak Thursday night, arrested a man on two counts each of trespassing and theft in the 3rd degree. 36-year old Luke Daniel Rinehart, of Red Oak, was taken into custody a little after 11-p.m. in the 400 block of E. Joy Street. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where bond was set at $2,000. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Red Oak Police in making the arrest.

A lot of Iowans are calling the Iowa Department of Revenue asking about the status of their tax return. Victoria Daniels is spokeswoman for the agency. “A lot is an understatement,” Daniels said, laughing.More than half as many income tax refunds have been issued this year in Iowa compared to last year at this time. “It’s been crazy,” Daniels said. “People are upset, they’re frustrated, and sometimes they’re not very nice.”

The issue isn’t unique to Iowa. Many states are warning that income tax refunds may take several months. The reason refunds are taking longer involves new protections against fraud. “The incidents of tax refund fraud has just skyrocketed in the last five years or so,” Daniels said. “There’s been some (fraud), to some extent, for a long time, but just within the last five years, it’s just out of control.”

Another factor in the refund delay is a new federal law requiring the IRS to hold refunds until February 15 for people who claim certain tax credits. The federal agency conducts an additional review of those returns that are considered especially vulnerable to fraud. Daniels suggests taxpayers get used to waiting longer for their returns. “We’ve been telling taxpayers to allow at least eight weeks before the even think about seeing a return show up,” Daniels said.

And instead of calling the Iowa Department of Revenue to check on a return, Daniels wants Iowans to visit the agency’s website. “We have an app on our website called Where’s My Refund? You just need your social security number, the amount of your return, and the tax year you filed for, and that will give you the status of your refund,” Daniels said.

Iowa has issued just under $142 million in income tax refunds on 2016 returns as of March 24. “Comparatively to last year, that’s about 58-percent less — both in terms of dollars and number of checks that have been issued,” Daniels said. The Iowa Department of Revenue received more than 10,000 fake tax returns for the 2015 filing season, according to Daniels.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A fast-moving Iowa bill would eliminate the public’s right to access 911 calls involving emergencies in which people are injured, sealing key information about public safety. The House passed the measure this month, and a Senate committee approved it Thursday. The bill declares that 911 calls involving injured victims are medical records and exempt from Iowa’s open records law. Calls involving juveniles would all be confidential.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The long-time best friend of former lottery computer technician Eddie Tipton is poised to testify at trials in Iowa and Wisconsin about how Tipton created computer code that enabled him to predict winning numbers. Robert Rhodes, a Texas businessman who has known Tipton for decades, has reached a plea agreement to testify.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed into law a ban on local governments raising the minimum hourly wage and another law changing Iowa’s workers’ compensation system. Branstad signed the measures Thursday at a public event. The wage reversal is effective immediately and comes just days before the state’s most populous county was set to raise pay for some workers. The law restricting workers’ compensation will change benefits for on-the-job injuries in the state.

HOPKINTON, Iowa (AP) — Law enforcement officials in northeastern Iowa are on the lookout for some hot artifacts and antiques. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG report that someone broke into the Delaware County Historical Society’s building in Hopkinton on Wednesday night and stole several items dating back to the 1800s. The items include about 40 arrowheads, a silver tea set and Native American moccasins and a vest.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 43-year-old Winterset woman has been charged with child endangerment after police say she was found drunk at the West Des Moines preschool where she worked.

Other preschool workers called police on March 23 to report their suspicion that Angela Hircock was intoxicated. A responding officer said Hircock had bloodshot eyes, was unable to stand on her own and that her water bottle smelled strongly of alcohol. Prosecutors say she had a blood alcohol content of .37 — nearly five times the legal limit to drive.

The preschool director says Hircock was kept from children after workers suspected she was drunk. She’s been fired. She is free after posting $2,000 bail.