IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 65-year-old woman whose body was found inside an Iowa City home was a homicide victim. Police released the woman’s name Sunday: Joellen Browning. Emergency responders who were called to the house Friday morning found Browning dead inside. Police haven’t released other details about the case. No arrests have been reported.

Red Oak Police, Sunday, arrested 31-year old Nicholas John Henry Strait, of Red Oak. Strait was taken into custody at around 6:12-p.m. on a Carroll County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense, charge. Strait was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — This past weekend Iowa Democratic Party leaders ratified their new plan for conducting and tabulating the results of the 2020 Iowa Caucuses — and two of the party’s high-profile presidential candidates made a dozen campaign appearances in the state.

About 300 people gathered on the William Penn University campus in Oskaloosa to see Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders said Americans were swayed by Donald Trump’s false promises in 2016. “I understand that people in their frustration, in their pain, voted for Donald Trump,” Sanders said. “I would just ask people to check the record and see what if he did what he said he would do.” Later Sunday afternoon in Malcolm, Sanders joked he was nervous about coming back to Iowa because Trump said the noise from wind turbines causes cancer.

“I think it is not a healthy thing for this country that we have a president who is a pathological liar,” Sanders said, “who lies all of the time.” Former Texas Senator Beto O’Rourke told an audience in Iowa City there’s a basic fix to the nation’s thorny disagreements. “Resist the temptation to be divided by our differences by a president who excels at doing just that,” O’Rourke said, “who seeks to make us angry, keep us apart and make us afraid of one another.” O’Rourke says the nation’s democratic institutions need to be revived and he called for passage of a new Voting Rights Act.

“In every county in every state, without exception, same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration,” O’Rourke said, “so that when you turn 18, you are ready to vote.” O’Rourke and Sanders are raising millions from tens of thousands of donors, putting them at the top of the campaigning fundraising leaderboard with California Senator Kamala Harris. As for who’ll be the leader next February on Caucus Night, Iowa Democratic Party officials for the first time will release a raw vote total and have “virtual” Caucuses beforehand for people who can’t attend the Caucus Night precinct meetings. The Iowa Democratic Party state central committee approved those details during its meeting on Saturday.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in West Des Moines are investigating the death of a woman there. The Des Moines Register reports that police were called late Friday night to an area west of Interstate 35 near a busy retail district for reports of a woman lying in the road. Arriving officers found the woman, identified the woman as 18-year-old Sakira Kezia Tamara Bonner of Des Moines. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Marshalltown group is delivering cards and letters to dozens of local businesses to raise awareness of human trafficking. The Times-Republican reports that the group Labor and Sex Trafficking Watch has joined with the Marshalltown Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in the new effort. The cards are aimed at helping train employees working with the public to recognize signs of human trafficking and provide guidance on what to do when human trafficking is suspected.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Less than two months into his second White House bid, no other declared candidate in the crowded Democratic field currently has amassed so many advantages as Bernie Sanders. He has a $28 million war chest, a loyal and enthusiastic voter base, and a clearly defined set of policy objectives. That puts Sanders on markedly different footing than during his first White House run, creating new challenges for a candidate whose supporters relish his role as an underdog and an outsider.

Three juveniles were taken into custody at around 6:50-p.m. Saturday, following an incident that took place in the 600 block of E. 9th Street, in Villisca. The youth, two of whom are 11-years old, the third 12-years old, were charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree. The were later released to their guardians. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted in the incident by deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities in Ringgold County report a pursuit that began in Missouri late Saturday night, resulted in the arrest of a man from Mount Ayr. A little after 11-p.m., Worth County, Missouri authorities requested assistance from Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office with a vehicle pursuit that had entered Ringgold County on Highway 169 south of Redding, Iowa.

A-J Miller (Ringgold Co. Sheriff’s Dept. photo)

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was also requested to assist with the pursuit. The Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist as well. The pursuit ended one mile north of Delphos, Iowa at the intersection of 255th Street and 170th Avenue.

The suspected driver, 42-year old A-J Miller, of Mount Ayr,  was taken into custody following a brief foot chase after entering the ditch at the above location. The K9 “Heky” was deployed and alerted to a substance (methamphetamine) found in the mud where Miller was taken into custody. Heky was also deployed for a K9 sniff of the vehicle where he also alerted verifying the presence of drug paraphernalia.

Miller faces charges that include: (Felony) Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to deliver/methamphetamine; Felony Eluding, and a felony charge of Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. He was being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:10 a.m. CDT

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in West Des Moines are investigating the death of a woman there. The Des Moines Register reports that police were called late Friday night to an area west of Interstate 35 near a busy retail district for reports of a woman lying in the road. Arriving officers found the woman, identified the woman as 18-year-old Sakira Kezia Tamara Bonner of Des Moines. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Marshalltown group is delivering cards and letters to dozens of local businesses to raise awareness of human trafficking. The Times-Republican reports that the group Labor and Sex Trafficking Watch has joined with the Marshalltown Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in the new effort. The cards are aimed at helping train employees working with the public to recognize signs of human trafficking and provide guidance on what to do when human trafficking is suspected.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa couple is appealing a judge’s order to pay a lawyer $2.18 million more for representing them in talks that resulted in a $7.5 million settlement with Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that Chad and Rosanne Plante, of Hinton, filed notice of the appeal earlier this week. District Judge Nancy Whittenburg ruled last month that attorney Stan Munger’s contingency fee contract with the Plantes was “reasonable and valid.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A 7-mile nature trail east of Cedar Rapids has been closed for repair following flood damage. The city of Cedar Rapids says in a news release that the Sac and Fox Trail is expected to be closed for several weeks because of the severity of the damage. The crushed rock trail follows Indian Creek and the Cedar River.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday said on March 29^th – James Rasmussen, of Guthrie Center, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. Rasmussen had previously been arrested for Sex Abuse 3^rd Degree, Enticing a Minor Under Age 13, and (3) counts of Dissemination of Obscene Material to Minors in December of 2018. It is alleged Rasmussen violated his No Contact Order by contacting the victim in his previously alleged crime.

James Rasmussen

Upon being contacted by a Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputy, Rasmussen resisted arrest and was forcibly arrested. He subsequently incurred a new charge of Interference with Official Acts.

The following day, Rasmussen appeared before the Guthrie County Magistrate and pled guilty to the Interference with Official Acts charge. Rasmussen pled not guilty to the No Contact Order Violation and was held on a $200.00 bond, which he later posted and was released.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports that on April 1^st Bryan Bartley, of Guthrie Center, was arrested on a Probation Revocation warrant.  Bartley was held on $5,000 cash or surety bond by the Guthrie County Magistrate. The original charge was Operating While Intoxicated. That same day, Paul Palmer, Jr., of Des Moines was booked into the Guthrie County Jail on a Probation Revocation. The original charge was Willful Injury – Serious Injury. Palmer must serve 40 days before he is eligible for release.

On April 3^rd Jason Pflatzgraff, of Guthrie Center, turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a two-day mittimus for Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense. On April 4th, a juvenile male from Casey was referred to juvenile court services following a traffic stop on Highway 25 south of Guthrie Center, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending at this time.

On April 5^th, Matthew Johnson, of Fontanelle, was transported to the Guthrie County Jail from the prison in Rockwell City for a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 8^th. The original charge was Theft 2^nd Degree.

Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Community Foundation, has announce that grants totaling $116,841.19 were awarded Friday to Cass County nonprofit agencies that had submitted applications to the Cass County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline. The following are received grant funds from the Cass County Community Foundation Advisory Board:

• Anita Child Care Center – $1,000 to Replace Equipment and Furnishings
• Anita Health and Wellness Center – $1,500 forWeight Room Heat
• Anita Shooting Complex – $1,000 for Parking Lot Improvements
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center – $8,000 to make Safety Repairs for a Parking Lot
• Atlantic Rock Island Society (ARISE) – $10,000 to Replace Rock Island Depot Windows
• Atlantic Soccer Association – $8,000 to purchase Goals for the Soccer Complex
• Atlantic Youth Sports Organization – $6,000 for Focus 2019.
• Cass County Health System Foundation – $4,000 for the OB Bundle.
• Cass County Historical Society – $5,341.19 for Building Renovations.
• Cumberland Public Library – $4,000 for New Windows and Computer Equipment.
• Cumberland Youth Fitness Program – $5,000 for Exercise Equipment.
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library – $5,000 to build a Meeting Room.
• Friends of the Outdoor Classroom – $4,000 for Wetlands Enhancement.
• Griswold Rescue Department – $5,000 for Vacuum Splint Kits.
• Griswold Volunteer Fire Department – $3,000 for Equipment.
• Griswold Youth Sports – $5,000 for Infield Leveling.
• Lewis Public Library – $2,000 for a Fire Proof Book Drop.
• Marne Firefighter and Rescue Association – $6,000 for PPE Equipment.
• Massena Fire and Rescue – $4,000 for Equipment.
• Massena Public Library – $1,000 for Book Shelves and Furniture.
• Nishna Valley Family YMCA – $19,000 for the North Gym Air Handler Replacement.
• Nishna Valley Trails – $9,000 for the Schildberg Shelter and Informational Gazebo.
  

  Nonprofit representatives receiving grant awards (left to right): 1st row: Nicholas Hunt, Cass County Community Foundation Advisory Board Chair; Kathryn Russell, Anita Health and Wellness Center; Marla Anstey, Friends of the Outdoor Classroom; Darby McLaren, Atlantic Youth Sports Organization; 2nd row: Kristi Burg; Anita Child Care Center; Linda Eilts, Massena Public Library; Anieta Gregory, Cass County Historical Society; 3rd row: Dianna Williams, Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center; Dawn Marnin and Brett Altman, Cass County Health System Foundation; Katherine Becker, Cumberland Youth Fitness Program; Faith Beebe, Friends of the Griswold Public Library and Lewis Public Library; 4th row: Steve Livengood and Bob Boots, Atlantic Rock Island Society (ARISE); Dave Chase, Nishna Valley Trails; Mark Andersen, Atlantic Soccer Association; Dan Haynes, Nishna Valley Family YMCA; 5th row: Roland Landsness, Cass County Community Foundation Advisory Board Secretary/Treasurer. (photo submitted)

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible. During brief check distribution activities, Hunt commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Cass County. The Cass County Community Foundation, as an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation and member of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. Created in 2004, the County Endowment Fund Program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations and affiliate community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

Beyond the County Endowment Fund Program, the Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a permanently endowed fund helps your neighbors today AND you help build a stronger community tomorrow. Not only that, you may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal tax benefits for which you may qualify.

The Cass County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes grants to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations. “This has grown from an annual event to twice a year, with one grant cycle in the spring and another in the fall,” said Nick Hunt. Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic; Vice Chair, Gary Maas of Anita; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic; Royal Bierbaum of Griswold; John Curry of Massena; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in West Des Moines are investigating the death of a woman. Police were called late Friday night to an area west of Interstate 35 near a busy retail district for reports of a woman lying in the road. Police say as officers were en route to the area, other reports of gunshots from the same area were reported. Arriving officers found the woman, who was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died. Station KCCI reports that police have identified the woman as 18-year-old Sakira Kezia Tamara Bonner, of Des Moines.

Her cause of death has not been released, but police are calling her death a homicide. No arrests have been reported.