Two people were arrested overnight Friday into early this (Saturday) morning, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 22-year old Chiara Nicole Ethen, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop at around 2:33-a.m. today (Saturday). She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 8:45-p.m. Friday, 32-year old Kyle Gregory Wadley, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/drugged-1st offense. Wadley was also being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

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

LeCLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa say they have arrested a suspect in the armed robbery of a convenience store _ the ex-boyfriend of the clerk who was held at knifepoint. LeClaire police say officers were called Thursday night to a QC Mart for a robbery in progress. Arriving officers say the suspect had fled, but that the cashier identified him as her ex-boyfriend, who was arrested in Davenport on Friday.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Officials say heavy rainfall has overwhelmed Waterloo’s sewer system, letting untreated sewage reach rivers and streams. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says Waterloo Waste Management Services reported three locations where sewage escaped manholes and six more spots where workers bypassed sanitary sewer lines into street drains to prevent other spills. A city official says the untreated wastewater is heavily diluted, owing to the nearly 8 inches of rain in the past week.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old man already facing a murder charge has been accused of another shooting. Police have charged Jacob Heckethorn with attempted murder, saying he shot Clifford Collett Sr. on Aug. 16 in Ottumwa. Wapello County District Court records say Heckethorn already has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the original case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Enrollment is down at three of Iowa’s public universities, but officials say the decline is intentional at two of the schools. The Des Moines Register reports that overall enrollment at University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa dropped 2.2 percent this fall to about 79,600 students. The Iowa Board of Regents says the first two schools want more manageable enrollment levels as officials focus on retaining students and increasing graduation rates.

(Radio Iowa) — The Midwest U.S.-Japan Association is scheduled to meet in Omaha early next week and Iowa’s governor will be among six governors from the region to attend. Naoki Ito– the Consul-General of Japan who is based IN CHICAGO — will deliver opening remarks at the conference Monday morning.

“I”m really hoping that through this conference our partnership, our friendship will grow,” Ito says. Other speakers include Japan’s ambassador to the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s undersecretary for trade and the C-E-O of Kikkoman, the world’s largest producer of soy sauce. Ito, the Japanese official based in Chicago, says the conference will also feature government officials from Japanese provinces.

“So this is an opportunity to develop a two-way business (and) economic dialogue,” Ito says. The governors of Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin will be there. Governor Kim Reynolds is scheduled to attend the opening session on Monday.

According to federal data, Iowa exported a billion dollars worth of raw commodities and products to Japan last year. Japanese-owned companies based in Iowa employed six-thousand people in 2017 according to the International Trade Administration.

Bison are helping to sustain a diverse native prairie in northwestern Iowa. More than 200 bison roam the Nature Conservancy’s Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve in the Loess Hills. James Baker, a land steward with the conservancy, says the grazing bison give birds different options for habitat. Some birds prefer short grass, others would rather nest in tall grass.

“Different animals like different things,” Baker says, “and by having the bison here, we provide hopefully as many species as possible what they like.” Since the conservancy in Plymouth County introduced bison to the preserve in 2008, grazing has helped milkweeds thrive, attracting monarch butterflies. Baker says when bison graze, it opens up ground and provides space and sunlight for plants to grow.

“Without the bison or some grazer here, you’d have basically a nice level vegetation which would support some species but there’s a lot of species that would be left out,” Baker says. The conservancy hopes to open up more of the three-thousand-acre prairie to the bison in the future so they can graze on untouched areas, allowing more land to reap the benefits of year-round grazing. On one day each year in October, scientists catch the bison to get them up to date on vaccinations.

(By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio via Radio Iowa)

(Radio Iowa) — A former employee of the Food Bank of Iowa is accused of embezzling a lot of dough — about 35-thousand dollars from the non-profit.  Thirty-one-year-old Lauren Phillips of Bondurant has been charged with first degree theft as well as forgery and identity theft. Authorities say she created fake invoices and stole the identity of the Food Bank’s C-E-O.

Officials say the embezzling scheme started in August of last year and continued through this past May when Phillips handled accounting for the Food Bank.

The Food Bank of Iowa has a Des Moines-area warehouse that distributes food to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and schools in 55 Iowa counties. According to the organization’s website, one million pounds of food moves through its warehouse each month.

Cass County Health System (CCHS) is now scheduling appointments for their Fall Health Fair that includes low-cost blood screenings for people ages 18 and older. Held in Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, and Massena, the Fall Health Fair includes free blood pressure checks, low-cost blood screenings, flu vaccines, and Medicare Annual Wellness exams.

“We added some services to our usual blood screenings to make it more convenient for busy adults,” said Mitch Whiley, Director of Laboratory Services. “Not all adults will need all of these services, but you don’t have to sign up for all of these options to make an appointment.”

In Atlantic, the health fair is scheduled for 6:30 to 9:30 am from September 27^th through the 29th. Patients should use the Main Entrance at Cass County Health System to check-in for their health fair appointment. Screenings will be held in the clinics in Anita on October 1, Griswold on October 2, and Massena on October 3.

Appointments are needed and can be made by calling 712-250-8091. The cost for the blood profile is $35, and it includes the following: Lipid Panel (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL), Glucose, Complete Blood Count (CBC), Liver Function, Kidney Function, and Thyroid Screening. With the $35 blood profile, patients can also add these screenings for an additional fee: A1c $12, PSA $20, and Vitamin D $30.

Medicare Annual Wellness exams are also free. Flu shots and other vaccinations can be given during the Fall Health Fair; out-of-pocket cost will vary based on insurance coverage and vaccines needed.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman has been accused of stealing more than $51,000 from her employer in northern Iowa. Winnebago County court records say 49-year-old Amy Richter, of Titonka, is charged with theft and two counts of forgery.  She’s due in court for a hearing Monday.

A criminal complaint says that, between March 2017 and June 2018, Richter used company credit cards, payroll advances and forged checks to take the money from her employer, Eddy’s Glass & Door in Forest City.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Officials say heavy rainfall has overwhelmed Waterloo’s sewer system, letting untreated sewage reach rivers and streams. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says Waterloo Waste Management Services reported three locations where sewage escaped manholes and six more spots where workers bypassed sanitary sewer lines into street drains to relieve pressure and prevent other spills.
Service director Steve Hoambrecker says the untreated wastewater has been heavily diluted, owing to the nearly 8 inches of rain in the past week, “minimizing the sanitary concern.”

Rain runoff and groundwater are meant to go into storm sewers, while human waste and other contaminants are go into separate sanitary sewer lines. But cracks in sanitary mains and home footing tiles connected to sanitary lines let groundwater infiltrate the sanitary sewer system during heavy rain.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday, of 45-year old Michael John Kidder, from Clarinda. Kidder was arrested at the Page County Courthouse on a Page County warrant for Probation Violation. He was transported to the Page County Jail bond was set at $10,000, pending future court proceedings.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests. On Thursday, 23-year old Alfred James Hutchings, of Omaha, NE, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance-Marijuana 1^st and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,900. And, 39-year old Jacquelyn Renee Pratt, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance-2^nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. her bond was set at $2,300.

30-year old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested Thursday at the Mills County Jail for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $2,000. And, 41-year old Sean Joseph Cecil, of Leavenworth, KS, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations. He was also arrested at the Mills County Jail, where bond was set at $1,000.

On Wednesday, 55-year old Timothy John Digiacomo, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI 1^st Offense, with bond set at $1,000.