(Radio Iowa) -The purchase of two Iowa casinos by a larger national gaming company is getting closer to reality after being approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says Reno, Nevada-based Eldorado Resorts merger with Caesars will give the company two more Iowa properties. “Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs and Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs. Eldorado currently owns two, Isle of Capri in Waterloo and Isle of Capri in Bettendorf. So, that will put Eldorado as the owner of four casinos in the state of Iowa,” Ohorilko says.

The merger will make the resulting company the largest in the country. “Very, very big deal with respect to gambling in the U-S. This is a large merger between two viable companies,” Ohorilko says. He says Iowa’s approval is one more step for the companies to complete the merger. “The way the process works is Eldorado needs to receive regulatory approval prior to the transaction closing,” Ohorilko says. “They are finishing those approvals up. It is our understanding there will be some more approvals in February –possibly some more that will creep into the second quarter.”

He says the process was made easier since Eldorado already has properties here. “Eldorado is very familiar with Iowa rules, Iowa regulations and just Iowa’s business in general. They are a familiar entity, a familiar brand, and that quite frankly was part of the reason things went so smooth in receiving those regulatory approvals here in this state,” according to Ohorilko. Company officials say they don’t expect any changes in personnel with the merger.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A suspect shot while struggling with Des Moines police officers has been charged with assault. Polk County court records say 34-year-old Ryan Matthews is charged with two counts of assault on an officer and one of harassment. Officers were sent Friday to an apartment to check a report about a domestic dispute involving a threat. The court records say Matthews charged Officer Charlie Negrete with a stick when he arrived at the apartment. Officer Alycia Peterson use a stun gun on Matthews, but he grabbed her.

(Radio Iowa) — Legislators are considering a bill that would prevent Iowa companies and government agencies from forcing employees to be “microchipped” and tracked like some pet owners are now doing with their dogs and cats. Proponents of the practice say it’s about convenience, letting people use the microchip in their hands to enter work spaces, and it’s about security, by keeping workers out of restricted areas. Critics say the chips could be used to track employees when they’re NOT at work. Charlie Wishman of the Iowa Federation of Labor supports a ban on such implants. “Microchipping people is kind of a bizarre requirement,” Wishman said. “I mean if you can’t make joining a union a condition of employment, implanting cybernetics in people seems like a bridge too far.”

Daniel Zeno of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says his group is pleased the bill applies to private businesses as well as cities, school districts, counties and state government. “We really care about that and so we think this is a good way to make sure that the government, in particular, doesn’t require people to have a chip implanted into them.” Representative Joe Mitchell of Wayland says no employee should be forced to get a chip implanted. “I think it’s creepy,” he says. “I think it’s a good bill.”

The bill has cleared its first hurdle in the Iowa House and is eligible for debate in a House committee. Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights supports the concept. “I do like the idea that people have a right to do what they want to do with their own bodies,” Konfrst said. “Body autonomy is really important and hope we extend this concept to other legislation this session.”

Seven states have a ban on inserting microchips in any human. Four states have banned employers from making the implants mandatory for workers. Sixteen years ago the federal government approved using implanted microchips for medical purposes. In 2017, many employees at a Wisconsin company VOLUNTARILY had microchips the size of a grain of rice implanted in their hands. The workers are able to swipe their hands on security pads — and even use the chips to pay for food in the company cafeteria.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman on a simple assault charge late Wednesday night. Authorities say 22-year old Alexis Cheyenne Straw, of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 11:27-p.m. in the 900 block of E. Corning Street. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail this (Thursday) morning, on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — New results from the Iowa Democratic caucuses show Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders nearly tied with almost all the votes counted. But the race remained too early to call early Thursday with 97% of precincts reporting. Party officials were scrambling to verify the remaining results three days after Iowans gathered at caucus sites across the state to begin choosing which Democrat will take on President Donald Trump in November. Buttigieg has a lead over Sanders of three state delegate equivalents out of 2,098 counted. The deadlocked contest gave both a burst of momentum as they seek to pull away from the crowded field.

MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the victim of a deadly shooting in western Iowa as a 16-year-old boy from Mapleton. The Iowa Department of Public Safety on Wednesday said Joseph Hopkins was killed in the shooting Friday night in Mapleton, about 40 miles southeast of Sioux City. Mapleton police and medical crews found Hopkins’ body after responding to a 911 call about a shooting. An autopsy conducted Monday by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Hopkins died of a single gunshot wound. Investigators haven’t made any arrests. Officials said they don’t think there is a danger to the public in connection with the shooting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Another robbery charge has been filed against two men suspected of killing two brothers and a teenage friend at a southeast Des Moines duplex. Emmanuel Totaye Jr. and Daishawn Gills already are charged with murder and robbery connected to last Thursday’s shootings. Police said in news release Wednesday that the two assaulted and robbed a juvenile at his home earlier on the day of the shootings. Totaye and Gills are accused of killing 19-year-old Devonte and 16-year-old Malachi Swanks and a friend, 15-year-old Thayne Wright.

The Atlantic City Council rolled through their agenda items Wednesday evening, during a regularly scheduled session. During Consent Agenda discussion, Councilman Dick Casady asked why a Class-C liquor license was needed for Iowa Western Community College, in Atlantic. Ann Pross, Director of  IWCC’s Cass County Center, said the license is for their annual “Jazz and Wine” scholarship fundraiser on Sunday, March 1st. Pross said last year, they raised $15,000 to award scholarships to Cass County students.

In regular business, Council passed an Order to close select streets on June 13th, from 7-a.m. until 11:30-p.m., for the SHIFT ATL Block party. The affected streets include: Chestnut, from 7th to 6th, and 6th Street from Chestnut to Poplar. The event will include a beer garden, live music and smoke-off competition, with the proceeds benefiting SHIFT ATL by helping to accomplish their Atlantic revitalization initiatives.

The Council hear a report from Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, who recapped some key accomplishments of his department in 2019. Rasmussen also outlined his department goals for 2020. That includes, among other things:

The installation of second shelter around Lake #1 at the Schildberg Rec Area; Increasing the amounting of Nesting Boxes that can be offered within the wildlife refuge areas (In conjunction with the Iowa Bluebird Conservation Organization for some funding); removal of several Willow trees around the banks of the Schildberg Lakes, in order to increase the amount of recreational fishing opportunities; they will also get started on installing the raised box gardens at Mollett Park on East 3rd St. Place.

The Council then acted on passing a Resolution setting Feb. 19th as the date for a Public Hearing on approving “Fiscal Year 2021 Maximum Property Tax Dollars.” An advance look at the Maximum Tax Levy Rate was announced (& posted on the KJAN.Com News Page) earlier this week.

In other business, the Council set Feb. 19th as the date for a public hearing “On a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and to Borrow Money [in a principal amount] not to exceed $90,000. The final action item on the Council’s agenda, was action on passing a Resolution “Establishing the Allocation of Revenues from the City of Marne through Compensation for Specified Activities” (with regard to time and work performed by the Atlantic City Clerk and her Assistant). The Resolution set a schedule for how those funds are dispersed.

The Harlan Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Jan. 30th, 58-year old Danny Carl Thompson, of Irwin, was arrested following an investigation.  Thompson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with harassment.

On January 31st, 25-year old Kayley Jo Cooper, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Cooper was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while barred and no proof of insurance. And, 21-year old Jacob Michael Thill, of Mitchell, SD, was arrested.  Thill was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

On Monday, Feb. 3rd, 58-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Sioux City, was arrested in Harlan, following a call for service.  Mogensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication.

Harlan Police report also, 25-year old Kylie Sierra Kleffman, of Harlan, was cited Jan. 31st, for possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. The citations were the result of a traffic stop.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Board of Regents, Mike Richards, made a statement to the board today (Wednesday) on the investigation of the claims that members of the University of Iowa band were assaulted during the 2019 Iowa-Iowa State football game. “Following an investigation, it was determined there was not enough evidence available to substantiate the pursuit of any charges,” Richard says. Richards says they will continue working on the issue for the next football season.

“All three university presidents have agreed to work together to review and improve game management policies for games on each of our campuses prior to the start of the fall 2020 semester. These efforts are already underway. Richards says. He says each school has made a commitment to continue to make safety at our games a priority. University of Iowa athletic director Gary Barta got things started with a written statement that said there “inappropriate actions” toward band members and staff and said an investigation was underway.

Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard first said he did not know what the actions were. The two then released a joint statement saying there had been “rude and vulgar” behavior directed at both bands. University of Iowa president Bruce Harreld told the student newspaper that the two universities may have to stop the “Cy-Hawk” game altogether if safety can’t be guaranteed. The two sides eventually worked things out and conducted the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who returned recently from China are undergoing testing for the coronavirus. Department Medical Director, Kaitlin Pedati says the two are under voluntary home confinement while testing is done. “These individuals are isolated with Public Health Supervision and this testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We anticipate the results will likely come back to us in several days,” Pedati says.

She says they won’t release any more information on the identity of the two. “We always balance patient privacy and security with sharing information that is important to protecting the public’s health. We do that thoughtfully and in accordance with state and federal laws,” according to Pedati. “So, in this circumstance, we’re not going to be providing any additional information about the patients or their location to the public.”

Doctor Pedati says there is no confirmation that the two actually have the cornonavirus until the results come back. “There’s no recommended action that the general public needs to take at this time. Now, if that were to change, we would certainly adjust accordingly,” she says. Pedati says we are still in the flu season and everyone should continue to take precautions to avoid any kind of virus.

“We want Iowans to remember those good respiratory etiquette habits of covering your cough, washing your hands and truly staying home from work or school when you are ill — which we know is hard to do,” Pedati says. She says there is one group of people who should pay particular attention to their health. “We also want to reiterate that anybody who has traveled to China in the past 14 days and become sick with fever or breathing problems, should reach out to their health care provider and call ahead to let them now they are coming,” According to Pedati.

“And we’d like health care providers to be on the lookout for people with these symptoms who have traveled to China within the last 14 days.” Thousands of people have been infected in China and nearly 500 have died.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Buttigieg is clinging to a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in a new batch of votes released by the Iowa Democratic Party. The race remained too early to call with 75% of precincts reporting by Wednesday afternoon, almost two full days after the state hosted its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Much of the political world has already shifted its attention to New Hampshire, which votes on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s updated results show Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar trailing. Iowa officials attributed their delay to technical problems. The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of Iowa’s election, which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum.