(Updated 11:30-a.m.) The National Weather Service in Des Moines reports there is a “Slight” risk for severe storms Saturday into Saturday night across the state and much of the region. Threats include hail and damaging winds over much of the state. There is a tornado threat across southwest Iowa. Locally heavy rain is anticipated at times as well.

Officials urge you to “Remain weather-ready Saturday into Saturday evening for the potential of storms in your area.” Monitor the latest forecast, and have a plan of action ready if severe weather threatens. Warmer temperatures are forecast by Monday and Tuesday.

CLERMONT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’ve found a home lab being used to make counterfeit cash in northeast Iowa. Fayette County deputies serving a search warrant at a Clermont residence say they found computers, printers, special paper and thousands of counterfeit bills in denominations of $5, $10, $20 and $50. They say they also found drug paraphernalia and prepaid credit cards.

Records say 33-year-old Jason Massman lives at the home and has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, falsifying public documents and with other crimes. The sheriff’s office says counterfeit cash has shown up recently in several Fayette County communities.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — Law officers across Iowa will start a two-week enforcement effort on the state’s highways today (Friday) as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Patrick Hoye, spokesman for the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says August and Labor Day weekend are among the deadliest times to travel Iowa’s roads. “It really is for traffic in the state of Iowa, one of the highest travel count days and months for the state,” Hoye says. “Unfortunately, because of the additional traffic, that means there are additional crashes and unfortunately, a lot of those are alcohol-related.”

Law officers will concentrate on several key problem areas. “They will be looking for violations such as impaired driving and not being buckled up and texting and driving,” Hoye says. “Those are all things that, over the course of history, we have found to be very dangerous activities.” He offers a few simple recommendations for motorists. “It really is imperative that if you’re going out and are going to be drinking that you have a plan before you leave the house,” Hoye says. “Whether it be having a designated driver, spending the night, or if you’re in a city that has Uber or Lyft, those are certainly the things that we want to do.”

Hoye says there were five traffic fatalities in Iowa over Labor Day weekend last year.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Two men have been found guilty of beating to death man at a Burlington apartment complex. Court records say Majestic Malone and Markell Price were convicted Tuesday of kidnapping and second-degree murder in the slaying of Edward Breuer on March 17. They had been charged with first-degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 30.

A third defendant, Stanley Baldwin, is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 27. Court records say he’s asking that his trial be moved out of Des Moines County. Court documents say Malone and Price forced Breuer inside an apartment after Baldwin accused Breuer of breaking into it. Neighbors in the same complex said Breuer had been visiting them earlier that evening.

The documents say Malone and Price carried Breuer back out of the apartment several minutes later and laid him face down in the dirt before Price poured a can of soda over Breuer’s head.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday, arrested 42-year old Alan Levern Walter, of Grant. Walter was arrested on an active Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and was being held on a $1,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Rep. Steve King’s recent insensitive comments about rape are the kind that have doomed other political candidates, but some fellow Iowa Republicans say they actually could help his re-election chances by reinforcing his credentials as a social conservative. Tuesday to a conservative group, he questioned whether there would be “any population of the world left” if not for births due to rape and incest. The congressman faces a tough GOP primary in his bid for a 10th term.

SUMNER, Iowa (AP) — A preliminary report from federal aviation safety officials says a crop duster involved in a fatal crash in northeastern Iowa hit power lines before going down on Aug. 9. The report from the National Transportation Safety Board released Thursday says a witness told investigators that the airplane flew “very low” over his home early that morning and that he was “amazed it cleared the trees.” The fiery crash near Sumner killed the pilot, 56-year-old David Baker, of Swedesburg.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest monthly survey of bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states indicates a shrinking rural economy, and three-quarters of bankers said President Donald Trump’s trade policies are having a negative effect on their local economies. The Rural Mainstreet survey released Thursday shows the its overall index falling from an already anemic 50.2 in July to 46.5 this month. Any score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

ALLISON, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa sheriff says improper employee payments uncovered by a state audit were errors caused by a misunderstanding of several policies. The audit report of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office released Thursday says the improper payments totaled more than $57,000.

Red Oak Police have arrested a man in connection with an incident that took place Wednesday. Authorities say 55-year old Allen Lee Glasgo, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 5:15-p.m. Thursday (today), on a charge of simple Assault.

Glasgo was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond, as of the latest report.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An official with the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency reports levee and drainage district repairs are underway in the northwest portion of the county that has been inundated with floodwaters since early March. River levels and conditions have improved to the point where damaged levees and drainage district protection structures can now begin to be assessed and emergency temporary repairs made.

Doug Reed, Director of Emergency Management for Pott. County, said Thursday “This is a big step in our collective road to recovery.”  Work has begun on several breach and damage locations that will help stem the inflow of water and allow other areas to drain. It will still be some time before other areas can be accessed but progress is being made in hopes that property and landowners can start realizing some long awaited relief.

Honey Creek S. Levy Breach 2 (All photos courtesy Doug Reed/Pott. County EMA)

Honey Creek Drainage Ditch Breach and Levee Breach

Work on HC Drainage Ditch

Work on Honey Creek Drainage Ditch

Reed was joined Thursday in a survey of the area by Iowa Senator Tom Shipley, Tim Wichman – Chairman of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Joyce Flinn – Director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, John Benson – Chief of Staff for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Katie Waters – Public Assistance Bureau Chief from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The H&P Drainage District has made temporary repairs to the banks of the Boyer River and the Honey Creek Levee/Drainage District began work today in multiple locations along the Honey Creek Drainage Ditch and the Honey Creek North Levee. Engineers for the Vanman Levee District were to begin assessing the major levee breaches at Desoto Bend Wildlife Refuge this week in order to get estimates and solicit contractors to construct temporary emergency repairs at two priority areas of damage on the Vanman Levee.

Repairs to portions of the Pigeon Creek Drainage District have been assessed with repairs started. Other areas along the Sac Drainage District and areas of the Pigeon Creek Levee are still inundated with floodwaters and still need to be assessed as soon as conditions allow.

Reed commented that, “although there is a lot of work to get done, progress is being made and each small project completion will have an impact in improving the conditions within the region. The temporary repairs being made are critical to stop the free flow of water throughout the region until the river levels drop and ground conditions improve to a point where detailed plans and more equipment can be employed to make permanent repairs in the overall system.”

Updates in progress will be made at the county flood website which can be found on the emergency management department page at www.pottcounty-ia.gov.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest monthly survey of bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states indicates a shrinking rural economy, and three-quarters of bankers said President Donald Trump’s trade policies are having a negative effect on their local economies.

The Rural Mainstreet survey released Thursday shows the its overall index falling from an already anemic 50.2 in July to 46.5 this month. Any score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says trade tensions “are driving growth lower for areas of the region with close ties to agriculture.” Goss also noted that despite negative consequences from tariffs, nearly 7 of 10 bank CEOS surveyed support either raising or continuing the Trump administration’s current tariffs.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.