(Radio Iowa) Iowa casinos on the western side of the state now facing some competition from Nebraska, as the Warhorse Casino in Lincoln is now operating after approval from state regulators. Nebraska’s first casino is run by Ho-Chunk Incorporated, the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. C-E-O Lance Morgan says they are going to stop some of the money moving out of Nebraska into Iowa.

They started with slot machines in a building in Lincoln and will build that up and also plan to build a casino in Omaha and eventually South Sioux City. Morgan says he has no qualms about challenging Iowa for the gamblers — and knows it will be a competition.

He says they are starting with the Lincoln and Omaha facilities because they are in an area with one-point-three million people.

The temporary Warhorse Casino in Lincoln began operating Saturday.

(Radio Iowa) The State of Iowa has a more than one-point-nine BILLION dollar budget surplus. Governor Reynolds has announced the state has 830-million dollars in reserve funds and holds more than a BILLION dollars in its Taxpayer Relief Fund. Larger than expected corporate tax payments are triggering a corporate tax cut as well. In a written statement, Governor Reynolds said it shows tax cut critics were wrong and growth oriented policies and fiscal restraint are paying off. House Democratic Whip Lindsay James of Dubuque says instead of lowering costs for Iowans and investing in public schools, Reynolds is celebrating another huge handout to corporations. ANNOUNCER OUT: The last state fiscal year ended June 30th, however this is the week the books are officially closed. That’s so late-arriving payments or expenses are accounted for in the previous state budget.

(Radio Iowa) Iowa Lottery C-E-O, Matt Strawn, predicted it would be hard to match the last two fiscal years — which were the most profitable in the organization’s history. But he says the first two months of this fiscal year that started in July have far exceeded expectations.

Gross sales totaled nearly 78 million dollars in the two months and are around 32 percent ahead of budget projections.

Large jackpots in games are unpredictable, and Strawn says they are still remaining cautious about how the full year will go.

Strawn says they have been focusing on ways to improve revenue and that has included the lotto game category and more drawings.

He says along with the additional draw for Lotto America, the jackpot has exceeded 20 million dollars for the first time in a number of years. Lottery Chief Revenue Officer John Ross says they also have increased the number of stores selling Lottery products by adding 57 Walmart stores. Ross says the economy still remains a concern for the fiscal year ahead.

The two made their comments at today’s (Tuesday) Iowa Lottery Board meeting.

(Radio Iowa) A judge has struck down a state law that enhanced the penalty for trespassing at an ag-related business if the person took pictures or recorded video that was shared. Animal welfare groups had sued the state over the law aimed at those who’ve used undercover video of livestock confinements and dog breeding facilities to allege the animals were being mistreated. Two previous state laws with the same goals have been blocked by federal courts. Critics say the laws could be used to shield unsafe working conditions or animal neglect. Supporters of the law say farmers are being smeared and hurt financially by unfounded accusations. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was first to report that a federal judge ruled that private property rights are an important governmental interest, but taking photos and recording videos is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a number of recent arrests.

On September 18th 34-year-old Blake Tobin of Sidney was arrested for Probation Violation. He was later released on $5,000 surety bond.

On September 20th Deputies arrested 43-year-old Dewight Binau of Sidney on a charge of Public Intoxication and Violation of a No Contact Order. He was later released on his own recognizance.

On September 21st 37-year-old Zachary Anderson of Sidney was arrested for Probation Violation. Anderson was later released on $10,000 surety bond.

On September 22nd 23-year-old Jeremy Rhoades of Hamburg was arrested on 15 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order. He was held in the Fremont County Jail on $1,000 bond.

On September 26th 24-year-old Chase Carlson of Syracuse, NE was arrested on a charge of Theft 4th Degree. He was later released on $500 surety bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Thurman man following an investigation into a report of neglected animals on September 17th.

Deputies were called to a home in rural Thurman for a report of neglected animals. They discovered 8 puppies and one deceased puppy that were kept in neglectful conditions. The puppies were taken to a local vet clinic for treatment. The next day two more of the puppies had died and a third had to be euthanized due to illness.

The owner, 24-year-old Morgan Moe of Thurman, was arrested for 4 counts of Animal Neglect Resulting in Death and 5 counts of Animal Neglect, No serious injury. Moe was booked in to the Fremont County Jail and later released on his own recognizance after an initial appearance before a Magistrate.

A juvenile was arrested following a fire in a bathroom at Sidney High School on September 21st. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports they responded to the school at approximately 1:00 p.m. that day and located a fire inside a restroom. The building was evacuated and all students were accounted for.

The fire was contained by staff and Sidney Fire and Rescue worked to clear smoke from the building and classes were able  to resume a short while later. It was determined the fire was intentionally set.

On September 25th Deputies arrested a juvenile in connection with the fire. The juvenile was charged with 1st Degree Arson, a Class B Felony. Damage to the school was estimated at $8,500.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports no injuries occurred during a two-vehicle accident on September 21st.

At 2:28 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to Highway 71, south of Boston Road for a two-vehicle accident. After investigation it was determined that a 2010 Acura RDX with a trailer, being operated by Septhan White of Lanham, MD, was traveling south on Highway 71 and attempted to make a u-turn on the roadway. A 2022 Chevy Traverse operated by Cody Irlmeier of Exira was behind the Acura as it began it’s U-turn and tried to steer left to avoid collision. The Traverse did end up striking the front driver portion of the Acura with it’s front passenger side.

No injuries were reported at the time of the accident but the Traverse and Acura sustained approximately $3,500 damage each.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released details on a September 17th accident that claimed the life of a Lewis man. At approximately 3:53 a.m. on the morning of the 17th Emergency Responders were called to the area east of 590th and Yankton Road near Griswold for a single vehicle accident.

Deputies determined that a 2014 Chevy Impala was traveling east on Yankton Road, east of 590th and for unknown reasons lost control and entered the south ditch. The Impala continued in the grass ditch and eventually came to a rest in the embankment of a small creek. The operator of the vehicle, Levi Glover of Lewis, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle was transported to an area hospital for injuries sustained during the accident.

The vehicle sustained severe damage and was a total loss.