(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is planning to raise the penalty against casinos for underage gambling and violations of the self-ban. During its meeting Thursday, members discussed raising the minimum penalty from one to three thousand dollars. Iowa Gaming Association president and CEO Wes Eherecke says the industry is concerned about how the amount is determined.

He says the current wording says a fine up to one-thousand dollars — but all fines have become one thousand. Eherecke says the industry would like to see some plan for fines that differentiates them based on the seriousness. He cites a recent case.

Commission members say one of the factors is inflation and the fine has not been changed in 32 years. They also agreed to look at some parameters so that the fines are based on the severity of the violation. Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the recent violations prompted them to take a look at the fines.

The have been 162 fines of one-thousand dollars by the Gaming Board in the last five years and 79 were for violations by minors and 24 for self-exclusion violations. Ohorilko says they will move forward with the rule process after the discussion Thursday.

The Racing and Gaming Commission met in West Des Moines.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday at 9:06 p.m. of 20-year-old Cody Alan Robertson of Creston on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Robertson was arrested at 302 North Pine Street in Creston. He was booked into the Union County Jail and later posted $1,000 bond.

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 29, 2022 – A project to set beams for the new Ashworth Road bridge over Interstate 80 in West Des Moines requires a complete closure of westbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of eastbound I-80 between Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) and Grand Prairie Parkway (exit 118) from 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

During these closures, traffic will follow a marked detour route using Grand Prairie Parkway, University Avenue, and Jordan Creek Parkway.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests and one accident.

On Tuesday, September 27th Deputies arrested 47-year-old Brent William Michael of Malvern for Driving While Barred. Michael was arrested on Main Street in Malvern at 10:48 p.m. Michael was booked into the Mills County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Early on the morning of Thursday, September 29th Richard James Linfor of Shenandoah was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The arrest occurred on Locust Street in Glenwood at 1:05 a.m. Linfor was booked into the Mills County Jail on $300 bond.

An accident was reported on Wednesday, September 28th at 11:30 a.m. A FedEx Van driven by 28-year-old Quan Dukes of Omaha, NE reported that he was approaching the stop sign at Pruden Avenue and Highway 275 and couldn’t see through gravel dust. He was unable to stop at the intersection before striking the trailer of a 2004 FRHT that was being operated by 60-year-old Curtis Cashatt of Glenwood. No injuries were reported but damage was caused to both the van and trailer.

The Creston Police Department reports three arrests on Wednesday, September 28th.

At 6:33 p.m. Officers arrested 36-year-old Kyle Wesley Kreb of Creston in the 500 block of South Maple Street. Kreb was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana 2nd Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Intent to Manufacture/Deliver Methamphetamine. Kreb was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

At 6:09 p.m. 38-year-old Amanda Olivia Jones of Creston at 302 North Pine Street. Jones was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 2nd Offense. Jones was taken to Union County Jail and held until posting $2,000 bond.

At 8:26 p.m. 58-year-old James Chandler Sash of Creston was arrested at 706 West Adams Street. Sash was charged with Indecent Exposure and taken to the Union County Jail. Bond was set at $1,000 cash or surety.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the early morning arrest of a man on an assault charge Thursday morning. At 12:04 a.m. Red Oak Police arrested 20-year-old Alec Jordan Jeffries of Red Oak in the 2400 block of North Broadway Street on a charge of Aggravated Assault. Jeffries was booked in to the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance in locating a missing/runaway juvenile.

Authorities say 16-year-old Izabella Benavidez is an Hispanic female, 5-feet 2-inches tall. She weighs 126-pounds, has  brown hair and brown eyes, as well as tattoos on each thigh that say “TRUST” & “NONE” and “999” on her middle finger.

Izabella was last seen in Des Moines near the Motel 6 by I-80 and NE 14th Street on September 3, 2022, she was wearing a red tank top, gray shorts and black Nike tennis shoes.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service have been following up on leads as they are reported. There have been possible sightings of Izabella in Omaha, Nebraska area, and it has been reported that she may be staying in homeless camps. The Marshals Service in Omaha is following up on the leads in that area but have not been successful in locating Izabella.

Izabella Benavidez

Izabella may be staying with friends that have been helping her avoid detection from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. If anyone sees or learns of Izabella’s location, please call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at (515)286-3333.

(Radio Iowa) – Northwest Iowa agencies began getting 9-1-1 calls at about seven this (Wednesday) morning about a large fire at the Casey’s along Highway 18 on the west side of Hull. The Hull Fire Department responded and found the roof area of the business engulfed by fire. Employees were inside when the fire started and also reported an explosion that occurred inside shortly after flames and smoke were seen.

All of the employees were able to safely evacuate the business and no one was injured. Fire departments from Sioux Center and Rock Valley assisted in putting the fire out. No damage estimates have been made and the fire remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials in 44 Iowa counties have now taken action to express concerns about the three proposed carbon pipelines. In the last week, the Adair and Floyd County Boards of Supervisors have sent letters to state regulators. Floyd County Supervisor Linda Tjaden says the proposed Summit and Navigator pipeline routes pass through Floyd County.

The letters express concern about training for emergency crews who’d have to respond to pipeline ruptures, as well as potential construction damage to land and drainage tiles. The letter about the Summit route also mentions it would pass through the Avenue of the Saints Development Park in Charles City and the pipeline could damage electrical, water and sewage utilities in the area.

The letter from the Floyd County supervisors also expresses concern about the use of eminent domain for a private purpose. State law allows pipeline developers to apply for eminent domain authority to gain access to properties where landowners have refused to grant voluntary easements.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors has sent the Iowa Utilities Board a letter, saying the board is not oppose to the purpose or construction of the pipeline, but is opposed to eminent domain being used as a way of achieving it. None of the three proposed pipeline routes run through Adair County, but there are nearby ethanol plants in Menlo and Corning. If those facilities are connected to a carbon capture pipeline in the future, the route would likely pass through Adair County.

Police in Red Oak, Wednesday, said four people were arrested Tuesday on separate charges. At around 9:37-a.m., Officers arrested 52-year-old Chadwick Zucco, of Red Oak, for Possession of slightly more than 25.2 grams of marijuana/3rd offense, a Class-D Felony. Zucco was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Two people were arrested at around 1:30-p.m. Tuesday, in Red Oak: 22-year-old Skyler Grace Nagunst and 23-year-old Andrew Michael Nagunst, both of Red Oak, were arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order/Contempt of Court. Skyler Nagunst was also charged with Aiding and Abetting in Violation of a No Contact Order. Their bonds were set at $300, each.

And, at around 4:30-p.m., Tuesday, 49-year-old Michelle Marie Burns, of Henderson, was arrested on an Assault charge. She was taken into custody at the Dollar General Store, in Red Oak. Burns was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Burns was arrested again on September 29th at 9:47 a.m. for striking an individual while in the Magistrate’s Office for the previous Assault charge. She was subsequently held for another Simple Assault charge and booked back into the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.