Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — DuPont is announcing the opening of an ethanol plant that will make the fuel additive from cornstalks, leaves and cobs instead of the grain itself. The $225 million refinery in central Iowa is touted as the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, which is designed to make 30 million gallons annually once it’s in full production next year.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport police have arrested a man in connection with a Waterloo incident that resulted in officers shooting him as he drove away from a bar. Officers arrested 28-year-old Jovan Webb on Thursday, charging him with several offenses, including assault on a police officer and using a dangerous weapon.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A judge has postponed the trial of a Pittsburgh man charged with robbing and killing two sisters of an Iowa state lawmaker last year. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Allegheny County Judge Edward Borkowski criticized prosecutors and defense attorneys for not being prepared to try the case of 44-year-old Allen Wade starting Monday. Instead, jury selection will begin in late February. The women were the sisters of Democratic Iowa state Representative Mary Wolfe.

CHICAGO (AP) — By every measure, Marco Rubio’s bid for the Republican nomination has grown more robust in October. It was boosted again by his strong showing in Wednesday night’s debate. The campaign’s fundraising just finished its best month yet. In the hours around the debate, Rubio raised $750,000 online.

Children with heart conditions in southwest Iowa will soon be able to receive high-quality pediatric specialty care closer to home. Officials with the Cass County Health System say Children’s Hospital & Medical Center will offer a pediatric cardiology clinic quarterly at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, beginning Friday, Nov. 13th.

The new cardiac outreach clinic will be Children’s first in Iowa. Children’s cardiology team also provides outreach clinics in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and in the following Nebraska communities: Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk and North Platte. Pediatric cardiologist Robert Spicer, M.D., Children’s clinical service chief of Cardiology, will travel to Atlantic to see patients, along with a cardiology nurse and cardiac sonographer. The partnership between Children’s in Omaha and Cass County Health in Atlantic was designed to make care more convenient and accessible for area families.

Beyond the convenience and familiarity the visiting specialists provide families, outreach clinics allow Children’s the opportunity to foster better working relationships with referring doctors and hospitals. Children’s Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Heart Center offers the region’s largest and most comprehensive pediatric and adult congenital cardiac and cardiac surgical care, including expertise in pediatric heart transplantation and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Children’s could potentially see adults with ACHD at its Atlantic clinic, as well.

To make an appointment in Atlantic, please call 712-243-7590.

Adair County Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Kempf reports the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Agencies have added a Polaris Ranger UTV to the resources available to local responders and jurisdictions in Adair & Guthrie Counties. The Ranger is equipped with a Kimtek MedBed for the transport of injured or sick medical patients and a radio for communications with other responders and both dispatch centers in the counties. The equipment is transported on a 14-foot equipment trailer. The equipment has been used by local responders at least 10 days each month since it arrived in middle July.

Each year, local responders and government officials have times that they are in need of an off road vehicle, smaller vehicle. They need it for searches for missing individuals, inspection of crime scene, monitoring crowds and responding to medical issues at local events to name just a few.

Kempf said “Several of the Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS Departments have considered purchasing this type of equipment over the years. The cost for the equipment was too much for most departments. Having one set of equipment available to all department was a much more fiscal solution.”

The cost of the equipment totaled approximately $28,000.00. Many local entities helped in the financing of the equipment. Contributions to the cost were received from the Schildberg Foundation ($15,000.00), Guthrie County Community Foundation ($5,000.00) and West Central Coop (1,500.00). Guthrie County Emergency Management provided the radio valued at $2,000.00. The remaining $4,500.00 was paid for out of the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management budgets that are supported by the 14 towns and 2 counties.

Jeremy Cooper, Chairman of the Guthrie County Emergency Management Commission, said “This project would not have been possible without the cooperation of both the private and public sector’s working together in our counties” said, “That is what emergency management is about, everyone working together to plan for, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies.”

Kempf added “The jurisdictions and local responder departments can contact my office to reserve to equipment for use at community events. The equipment is always available 24/7/365 for use in emergency situation through the county dispatch centers.”

A truck driver from Nebraska was injured this (Friday) morning when the semi he was driving crashed into a ditch and rolled onto its side, in Crawford County. The Iowa State Patrol says 43-year old Christopher Evans, of Omaha, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to the Manning Regional Hospital by Crawford County Ambulance following the accident that happened at around 8:35-a.m. A report on his condition is not available.

The Patrol reports the crash occurred after Evans, who was driving a 1999 Peterbilt westbound on Highway 141, attempted to pass a non-contact, 2001 Case tractor pulling a wagon, and driven by 63-year old Ronald Halbur, of Manning. The tractor was attempting to turn south onto 370th Street and crossed the centerline of the road to merge into the left lane, when the semi went to pass on the left. When the semi entered the south ditch, the trailer hit the embankment off 370th and the semi ended-up on its left side on 370th.

Halbur wasn’t injured during the accident.

The “ReOpen 2nd Floor” Committee will host a Halloween trick or treat and open house on the second and third floors of Atlantic’s City Hall Saturday, October 31st, from 2:30 – until 4:00 p.m., and from 7:30 until – 9:00 p.m.  Children and adults are invited to wear costumes if they choose, pick a treat and tour portions of City Hall that have been closed to the public for nearly 40 years.

City Hall does not yet have an elevator so visitors should be aware that the only access to the second floor is by stairs. Visitors are not required to go to the second floor to receive a treat though. Saturday’s open house will be the last opportunity for voters to visit City Hall prior to the referendum next week that will determine if the classic auditorium on the second floor will be remodeled and used by the public again.

On Tuesday, November third, citizens of Atlantic will vote on the question of using Local Option Sales Tax to remodel the second and third floors of City Hall, making them available for the public to use again. The remodel project will update the electrical system, add heat and air conditioning to the second and third floors, install an elevator, remodel the former fire department apartments into a conference room, refurbish the classic auditorium that seats up to 300, add restrooms, a serving kitchen and a custodial closet.

The question on the ballot will be, “Shall the City of Atlantic, in Cass County, Iowa, issue its bonds, paid with local option sales tax (LOST) revenue in an amount not exceeding the amount of $875,000 for the purpose of paying for the cost of restoring the historic ballroom/theater and creating a multi-purpose facility on the second and third floors of City Hall?”

Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) is the 1% tax on sales that take place locally. L.O.S.T. is to be used for capital improvements, community development or parks and recreation. The City’s average income from L.O.S.T. for the past 10 years has been over $750,000 annually. If the issue is approved, $60,000 would be used each year to repay the $875,000 bond over 30 years. Only 8% of the fund would be needed to repay the bond, leaving 92% of the fund to continue being used for the same purposes it has been in the past. Local option sales tax cannot be increased higher than 1% according to state law so taxes will not be raised to pay for the project.

Potential events the facility might be used for include: meeting space for clubs and community groups, concerts, conferences, corporate meetings, City Council meetings when a large crowd will attend, dances, parties, theatrical productions, political gatherings, weddings and receptions, etc.

Answers to frequently asked questions, other information about the project and a photo gallery of the interior of the building can be found at www.reopen2ndfloor.com.