MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are planning to give an update on the search for a missing 20-year-old Iowa college student who vanished nearly two weeks ago. A news conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office in Montezuma, a community between Des Moines and Iowa City. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has said that Mollie Tibbetts was last seen jogging in her nearby hometown of Brooklyn on the evening of July 18. Her family reported her missing the next day after she didn’t show up to work. Since then, local, state and federal investigators have tried to determine what happened.

Thousands of volunteers have aided in the search for Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student who was home for the summer. Family members have said she was dog-sitting at a home where her longtime boyfriend, his brother and the brother’s fiancee live.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines officials say nearly 8,000 tickets have been issued to speeders in the first month of renewed operation of an Interstate 235 traffic camera. The Des Moines Register reports that the camera monitors eastbound lanes near Waveland Golf Course and was turned back on June 25. Citations hadn’t been issued since April 26 last year, upon an order from the Polk County District Court. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Muscatine took action to keep the cameras operating after the Iowa Transportation Department ordered some speed cameras turned off, saying the cameras didn’t make interstates safer.

This past April 27, however, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the department didn’t have authority over speed cameras. The Des Moines Police Department had reported an increase in speeding after the ticketing halted.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man who operated a western Iowa kennel and training facility where dog carcasses and dozens of malnourished dogs and puppies were found has pleaded not guilty. Pottawattamie County records say 35-year-old Dustin Young entered the written pleas Monday to four counts of serious misdemeanor animal neglect resulting in death. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 18. He also remains charged with 36 simple misdemeanor counts of animal neglect.

The dogs and carcasses were discovered in May at Young Gunz Kennel, about 2 miles southeast of Hancock. Officials said the inside of the business was covered in animal urine and feces, and there was no food or water for the dogs.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), gave County Engineer Charles Bechtold the authority to send a letter to the Chairperson of the Iowa Department of Transportation. In the letter, the Board states that it is unanimously opposed to the DOT’s proposal to move the District 4 Construction Office in Atlantic, to Council Bluffs. The proposed change would require legislative approval, and even then, wouldn’t result in the consolidation of offices until mid-2020, according to a DOT official. Bechtold said the letter, along with those from Regional Planning Authority 13, which covers Cass, Fremont, Montgomery and Page Counties, and ATURA Transportation Planning Affiliation (Covering Adair-Taylor-Union-Ringgold and Adams Counties, will be sent to DOT Chairperson Kathy Fehrman, in Des Moines. The current draft of the letter states, in-part:

“We (The Board of Supervisors) do not believe that such a move is truly in the best interests of the people in District 4 or the State of Iowa.” It also emphasized their “Serious concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of this change long before the legislature is asked to make an appropriation to accomplish this very expensive consolidation.”

The Board wants to point out also, that “Consolidating the current Atlantic offices with the Council Bluffs offices could make sense, if the new location were centrally located within the region it serves. However, Council Bluffs is on the most western edge of the District 4 region which includes a total of 17 counties in southwestern Iowa.” Atlantic is the central point for all those counties. Moving the office to Council Bluffs, officials say, would result in longer driving times and increased costs for those counties that utilize the services, and who are farther away. It would also have a negative economic impact in the Atlantic area.

Bechtold said about 40 families would be impacted by the move if it comes to fruition, and his office would face additional costs. Supervisors Steve Green and Steve Baier were in support of letting other State government officials know of the County’s displeasure in the potential move. Green said “I say send it, but c.c. The Governor and lets get that conversation started, because that’s where the power is ultimately gonna lie.” Baier agreed, and said the letter should also be sent to any state senators or representatives who reside in the District 4 region. He said he’s spoke with Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, and Senator Tom Shipley, of Nodaway, both of whom are opposed to the move and understand the impact it would have.

Green pointed out that four of the DOT’s District Engineers are living in Nebraska now, and working in Council Bluffs. He says those engineers don’t have to pay Iowa taxes, and decision maker is living in Omaha. He said “He doesn’t mind building a multi-million dollar building for an office space, because his taxes aren’t paying for it.” And, Green said the Engineers, should be centrally located. The DOT, Bechtold said, would be renting the Omni-Center for $50,000 per year until a permanent building can be built.

A call about a disturbance in the Garner Cemetery in Council Bluffs at around 12:45-a.m. today (Tuesday), resulted in the arrest of a woman for damaging a headstone and on drug charges. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old Desiree Dawn Ladd, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for assault with injury, in connection with minor injuries to a 22-year old Council Bluffs woman, as well as charges of OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (1.2 grams of marijuana, 2 full and 2 partial Alprazolam pills), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3 glass marijuana pipes), and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. The latter charge was with regard to $500 damage perpetrated on a headstone marking the grave of Ricky Albright.

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

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DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled for a Dubuque man who police say told officers he set his apartment ablaze so he could get arrested and have a bed and three meals a day while in custody. Dubuque County District Court records say 33-year-old Matthew Voseberg has pleaded not guilty to arson. His trial is set to begin Sept. 25th. Authorities say Voseberg was sitting on his apartment’s front porch when they arrived July 4. They say he told them he was in his apartment when he started thinking about where he could get “three hots and a cot.”

Another building resident told authorities that Voseberg warned her he’d set the fire and told her to get out. Authorities say the fire caused about $7,800 in damage.

The Creston Police Department report two arrests took place, Monday. Just before 3-p.m., 31-year old Christopher Colburn (whose address is unknown), was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on two Clarke County warrants for Probation Violation. Colburn was later transferred to the custody of Clarke County deputies. And, at around 5:15-p.m, Monday, 50-year old Jeffrey German, of Galesburg, IL., was arrested in the 800 block of W. Taylor Street, in Creston, for Indecent Exposure. German was later released from the jail on a $1,000 bond.

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

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Omaha area television news outlets are reporting water rescue crews were called to Carter Lake early this morning, to search for a vehicle that may have entered the west side of the lake. Authorities report Omaha Police officers saw headlights suddenly vanish near the lake sometime around 4:30-a.m. When they approached the area off Carter Lake Shore Drive, police didn’t find a vehicle, but they did find tire tracks leading up to the lake. No one actually saw a vehicle actually go into the water, and it’s not clear if a vehicle is in the lake, but crews are searching the area as if that was the case.

More information will be released if it becomes available.