DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend is telling employees to look nice for Governor Terry Branstad’s visit even though he’s coming on Casual Friday. Townsend told employees in an email that Branstad will visit the agency’s headquarters Friday and wants to meet as many employees as he has time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys for a former lottery worker accused of rigging a Hot Lotto game have rested their case in the man’s fraud trial. Des Moines television station KCCI reports the defense for 52-year-old Eddie Tipton presented testimony Thursday for about an hour before resting their case. Closing arguments are scheduled on Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s medical cannabis oil program has cost the state more than $100,000 to create and issue registration cards to about 50 people. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, Massachusetts-baesed MorphoTrust USA billed the state Transportation Department $115,000 for its work. Agency spokeswoman Melissa Spiegel said the cost was reasonable based on similar work on other cards.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Public Information Board has voted to further review whether authorities must release records detailing the mistaken killing of a woman by a Burlington police officer. The board voted Thursday to spend another month investigating complaints alleging authorities have repeatedly violated the open records law after the January shooting of Autumn Steele.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has issued another disaster proclamation in response to recent severe weather for Jefferson and Wayne counties in the southern half of the state. The areas were affected by severe storms and flooding toward the end of June.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidates are descending on Iowa for the first face-off of their 2016 primary, even as their contest remains dominated by the political influence of Hillary Rodham Clinton. All five Democratic candidates are on today’s (Friday’s) program for a dinnertime fundraiser sponsored by the state party in Cedar Rapids. The event is an opportunity for the challengers to confront Clinton before influential party activists in a crucial early voting state.

Three months into her campaign, Clinton has already built a vast campaign infrastructure, placing hundreds of staffers across the country. But the forum today comes amid signs that she has yet to win over her party’s most passionate supporters, who will form the base of her support in the general election.

Officials with the Denison Police Department report the arrest on Wednesday of Douglas Duane Myers, of Denison.

Douglas Duane Myers

Myers was taken into custody on charges that include Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Violation of a No Contact/Protection Order and Possession of Controlled Substances.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Budget concerns have led officials in western Iowa to announce a plan to shut down the region’s drug court. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that Fourth Judicial District drug court will shut down on Oct. 1st.

Drug court started in January 2000. It offers people who are convicted of drug felonies a chance to complete a rehabilitation program instead of going to jail. If they are successful, the charges can be wiped from their records.  District director Kip Shanks says there are about 40 offenders in the program, which is no longer accepting applications. Shanks says the program cost $250,000 a year to run, but funds allocated to his department for 2016 did not cover both drug court costs and employee raises.

The Audubon Police Department reports two people were arrested, Tuesday. 27-year old Ashlie Renee Kluver of Audubon, was taken into custody on charges that include: Driving While Revoked, Possession of Marijuana –2nd or subsequent offense; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment. Kluver was taken to the Audubon County Jail where she was being held pending an appearance before a magistrate. The incident remains under investigation.

And, 41-year old Kip Wylie Spencer of Audubon, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of  Burglary in the 1st Degree. Spencer was being held in the Audubon County Jail pending an appearance before a magistrate.

(12-p.m. News)