OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials have unveiled a blue 300-pound bronze statue of a troll that now sits below the popular Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge spanning the Missouri River from Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Omar the Troll — short for Omaha Metro Area River — was introduced during a news conference Wednesday. The 4-foot troll with a toothy grin now greets visitors from atop a concrete cottage set up on a mulched area by one of the bridge’s pillars.

The sculpture is the brainchild of tourism group Visit Omaha and has been in the works for three years. The idea behind his creation is to keep visitors excited about the riverfront bridge. Deborah Ward with Visit Omaha tells the Omaha World-Herald that “every bridge needs a troll.”

DES MOINES, IA— The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Donor Network launched a new organ, eye, and tissue donor registry on Wednesday, September 4th. The new registry makes it possible for Iowans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors when obtaining a hunting, fishing or fur harvester license. The new registry was created after Governor Kim Reynolds signed “Logan’s Law”, a bill named after 15-year-old Logan Luft. Logan, of Charles City, passed away in 2017 and saved many lives by becoming an organ and tissue donor. The Luft family worked with Representative Todd Prichard and Senator Waylon Brown to craft the bill, which passed unanimously in the Iowa House and Senate.

In addition to creating a new way for Iowans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors, “Logan’s Law” also requires donation education be included in all hunter education courses. Iowa Donor Network has developed new educational videos about the donation process that Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be incorporating into all hunter education courses. Links to the new videos are below.

Currently, 74% of adults in Iowa are registered organ, eye and tissue donors. Until now, the majority of Iowans registered to be organ, eye and tissue donors at the DMV or online at IowaDonorNetwork.org.  In the United States, there are more 113,000 people on the transplant waiting list and an average of 22 people die each day because there are not enough organs available. The new registry, through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will make it even easier for Iowans to register as donors and help Iowa Donor Network increase the donor registry and decrease the transplant waiting list.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says the U.S. Mexico Canada Trade Agreement “is in a good place” and key lawmakers from both parties are working on the final language that will be voted upon in the U.S. House. “I am thrilled with where we’re at from an agriculture perspective, also from a manufacturing perspective,” Axne says. “We’ve got a couple of other pieces we’re trying to work out.” Republicans have accused Democrats, including Axne, of foot-dragging, since President Trump and leaders in Canada and Mexico struck the agreement last fall. Axne says the Trump Administration first shared preliminary documents with House Democrats this summer.  “This has not been something that’s been up for a vote for months at all,” Axne says. “It actually was brought to the Democratic majority working task group in the House at the beginning of July, then they, of course, started working with Republicans, so both sides working on finalizing the agreement and it’s moving along really well.”

Axne says Democrats have questions about some details surrounding the patents for certain prescription medications. And Axne says Democrats want to ensure the new trade deal enforces fair labor standards in Mexico — in order to protect American workers. “If we don’t have that regulatory oversight…they will continue to undercut us with pricing, they will continue to undercut us with the ability to provide cheap labor in their own country and not in America,” Axne says, “and that means we’ll end up contributing to outsource more jobs out of this country.”

Axne says she’s been assured by the top Democrat in the House that a vote to ratify the deal will be taken this fall. “Apparently the talks are going well,” Axne says. “Both sides are coming together. They understand how important this is.” The U.S. House is scheduled to go back in session in a week. Mexico’s government has already ratified the new trade deal.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska woman was arrested following a traffic stop at around 10:20-p.m., Wednesday, in Council Bluffs. The driver, 31-year old Samantha Page Jay, of Omaha, was arrested on a hold from another (Unspecified) agency, and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports one person was arrested on kidnapping and other charges, Monday night. Authorities today (Thursday) said 28-year old Michael Brandstrom, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following an investigation that began at around 8:36-p.m. Monday, when officers were called to 1100 Marshall Ave. in Council Bluffs, for a missing 4 year old female. Officers arrived and after a short time located the juvenile when Michael Brandstrom brought her out of his apartment and turned her over to officers.

Michael Brandstrom

Brandstrom told police he found the girl her outside, and brought her to his apartment to keep her safe. As the investigation continued it was determined that Brandstrom had kept the juvenile in his apartment for over an hour without calling police. Detectives at the scene interviewed Brandstrom and found many concerning issues with his story. Brandstrom’s apartment was searched and a cell phone was examined. Detectives found several nude photos of the juvenile female on the phone.

At that time warrants, were applied for and issued for Brandstrom’s arrest on charges of Kidnapping 3rd and Lascivious Acts with a Child. After he was arrested, Brandstrom was transported to Pottawattamie County Jail. Officials say the investigation is still open and additional charges may be pending.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Meredith Corp. (MDP) on Thursday reported a loss of $13 million in its fiscal fourth quarter. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company said it had a loss of 72 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, came to 85 cents per share. The media and marketing company posted revenue of $785.6 million in the period.

Meredith Corp. expects full-year earnings to be $2.58 to $2.88 per share, with revenue in the range of $3 billion to $3.2 billion. Meredith Corp. shares have fallen 16% since the beginning of the year. The stock has declined 15% in the last 12 months.

The Creston Police Department reports 46-year old Alex Cellan, of Red Oak, was arrested Wednesday night. Cellan was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation on the original charge of Theft 2nd. Cellan was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting bond hearing.

Authorities said also, a Des Moines woman reported to the Creston Police Dept., Tuesday, that at a mailbox had been destroyed on property she manages at 107 N Maple Street. The incident happened sometime between 8-a.m. Sept. 1st and 8-a.m. Sept. 3rd. The loss was estimated at $250.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa woman accused of lying about killing her husband has entered a plea. Plymouth County District Court records say 35-year-old Becky Hebert, of rural Akron, entered a written Alford plea Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. Her sentencing has not been scheduled.

She’d originally been charged with second-degree murder for the Oct. 6, 2017, shooting death of 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert. The charge was dismissed just weeks later. Deputies reported that she said numerous times that she’d shot her husband — statements that they later concluded were lies.

No other arrests for the slaying have been reported.