OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A report says a business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states has surged to its highest level in a dozen years. The report released Tuesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit 64.5 in April, compared with 62.1 in March. The February figure was 59.7.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says much of the recent manufacturing sector growth has been driven by exports. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The business with the only state license to manufacture marijuana for medical use is planning a news conference at the state capitol today (Tuesday), hoping to convince lawmakers to let more Iowans use cannabis products. Senators from both sides of the aisle favor the move, but House leaders are against changing the law which limits use to about 15 medical conditions. Senator Tom Greene, a Republican from Burlington who is a pharmacist, supports a law that would let cannabis oil, pills or creams be used as treatment whenever a doctor thinks it might be useful. “I think it behooves every one of us here in the Senate to contact our representatives who serve our same districts in the House and tell them that 80 percent of Iowans want us to move on medical cannabis,” Greene says.

Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, says there’s been a reduction in opioid overdose deaths in states that have legalized marijuana for broader medical use. “We’re raging incrementalists here, how we approach these issues, but at some point it’s time to step up and look around the country, see what’s working and take some votes around here on some of this stuff,” Bolkcom said.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says lawmakers should wait until an advisory board reviews the new state law and makes recommendations later this year. Cannabis products will be sold from five state-licensed “dispensaries” starting December 1st.

(Radio Iowa)

Republicans in the Iowa Senate have ratified a plan that will limit energy efficiency programs run by Iowa utilities, reducing annual charges on gas and electric bills in Iowa by an estimated 100-million dollars. Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, predicts many of the 20-thousand Iowans who work in the energy efficiency industry will lose their jobs if the governor signs the bill into law. “So this is a big economic issue and, unfortunately, the bill in front of us is bad for jobs, bad for clean energy jobs and bad for consumers,” Hogg says.

Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says an estimated 150-million dollars worth of rebates and energy efficiency incentives will STILL be handed out annually by Iowa electric and gas utilities. “You talk like the energy efficiency programs are going to completely go away, they’re not going to exist,” Breitbach says. “…They’re still going to pay them if they’ve got an older home to replace their windows with more energy efficient windows. They’re still going to save if they get insulation in their attic.”

The bill passed the House early Friday morning and Republican senators sent it to the governor last (Monday) night. Supporters say the energy efficiency programs utility companies run in Iowa will be more closely scrutinized. Critics predict utility rates will rise as efforts to reduce energy use are reduced. In mid-March, Governor Reynolds was asked if she supported the kind of changes in Iowa utility regulations that her fellow Republicans in the legislature were considering, but Reynolds said she wouldn’t comment until she saw the bill in its final form.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:38 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she never knew of or witnessed inappropriate behavior during her two-decade friendship with a former state agency director whom she abruptly fired after learning of sexual harassment allegations. The Republican governor said “absolutely not,” when asked Monday if she knew of any alleged inappropriate conduct over the years by Dave Jamison, the ex-director of the Iowa Finance Authority.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Supreme Court justice is being treated for a form of skin cancer. A court spokesman said Monday that Justice Daryl Hecht has been diagnosed with melanoma, considered the most serious type of skin cancer. Hecht has been treated in Sioux City and Rochester, Minnesota. The spokesman says Hecht will participate in the court’s decisions as his treatment allows.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Nearly a year after his death, a statue has been unveiled in downtown Council Bluffs to honor slain deputy Mark Burbridge. The Daily Nonpareil reports more than 200 people gathered Saturday to see the statue of a horse without a rider. Artists covered the horse in images important to Burbridge, including scenes with motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and a badge. Burbridge died May 1, 2017, during an attempted jail escape that left two other officers injured.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been given three life sentences after admitting that he fatally shot his parents and sister. Twenty-two-year-old Chase Nicholson pleaded guilty Monday in Des Moines to killing 58-year-old Mark Nicholson, 56-year-old Charla Nicholson and 24-year-old Tawni Nicholson. Their bodies were found in the family home in Bondurant on April 6 last year. Nicholson surrendered the next day in Neosho, Missouri. Nicholson claimed voices in his head told him to kill his family.

Atlantic Rising announced the 5th Annual Young Professionals Gala award recipients. The gala was held Friday, April 27th at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. The awards recognize the achievements of young professionals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and innovation in their profession and throughout the community.

The YP Public Servant of the Year was awarded to Anthony Smith, First Church of Christ. Anthony was awarded for his work throughout the community, not only through his church but also through Boy Scouts and helping to organize various clean-ups and other projects to help improve Atlantic.

YP Newcomer of the Year went to Zack Bandow, Atlantic Dental Center PC. Since moving to Atlantic, Zack and his wife have been involved with Atlantic Rising and taken the initiative to be involved in the community through various events.

The YP Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Amanda Graham, owner of The Picker’s Parlor. Amanda opened The Picker’s Parlor nearly three years ago and has quickly become a staple in the Atlantic area. Her store brings in customers from all over, including out of state, where they purchase items from local crafters, as well as refurbished furniture and antiques. Amanda has needed to expand to make room for more creative and unique items, as well as start estate sales. She gives back to the community whenever she gets a chance and encourages other entrepreneurs.

The YPA Business Leader of the Year was awarded to Kate Hoffmann, owner of the Atlantic Animal Health Clinic along with her husband. Kate and her husband bought the clinic over 4 years ago where she retained much of the previous clientele and built even more relationships with new clients and their pets. Kate has a full staff and recently hired a new veterinarian who will start with her in July of this year. On top of her busy schedule at the clinic and with her family, Kate serves on the Chamber board and is involved in Rotary. She advocates for Atlantic and the needs here to help keep the community growing.

The final award of the afternoon was YP Choice Workplace of the Year. This was awarded to Nishna Valley Family YMCA. The YMCA employs over 130 people, ranging from high school students to retired individuals. They help their employees to achieve their career goals and to best serve the many YMCA members. They are also one of the main attractions for young professionals to choose Atlantic and accept jobs in the area. As such, they also provide many activities and events for kids, families, and adults to enjoy and build relationships with others in the community.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has identified a man  who died in an officer-involved shooting Sunday, in Moorland. Authorities say he was 26-year old Joshua Lee Ewing, of Carroll.  An autopsy is scheduled with the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for Tuesday, May 1st, 2018. The Iowa State Trooper has been identified as Trooper Justin Parman.

An investigation into the incident is on-going, with the final report pending autopsy and laboratory information.  Upon completion, all information will be forwarded to the Webster County Attorney’s Office for review.

Original Press Release from the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety:

On April 29, 2018, an Iowa State Trooper responded to a motorist assist in the 2300 block of Carter Avenue, in rural Moorland, Iowa, just west of Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Upon arrival, the Trooper encountered a male and female involved in a dispute and the male subject pointed and fired a handgun at the Trooper.   The male subject and the ISP Trooper exchanged several rounds at each other and the male subject was subsequently shot and killed.  The Trooper was not injured.  The initial investigation revealed the male suspect had fired several shots into his own vehicle prior to the Trooper arriving.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Nearly a year after his death, a statue has been unveiled in downtown Council Bluffs to honor slain deputy Mark Burbridge. The Daily Nonpareil reports more than 200 people gathered Saturday to see the statue of a horse without a rider. Several artists painted the statue after consulting with Burbridge’s family and friends.

In a Saturday, April 28, 2018 photo, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Pattee, right, and his son, Aiden, 7, view the Horses of Honor Pottawattamie County public art exhibit dedicated to the late Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge during an unveiling ceremony outside the Squirrel Cage Jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Joe Shearer/The Daily Nonpareil via AP)

The horse is covered in images important to Burbridge, including scenes with motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and a badge. Sheriff’s office Sgt. Jason LeMaster says the statue at the historic Squirrel Cage Jail offers a way to “see who he was through the drawings.”

The Horses of Honor project memorializes officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Burbridge died May 1, 2017, during an attempted jail escape that left two other officers injured.

Wesley Correa-Carmenaty was convicted in the shootings and is serving a life sentence.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she never knew of or witnessed inappropriate behavior during her two-decade friendship with a former state agency director whom she abruptly fired after learning of sexual harassment allegations.

The Republican governor said “absolutely not,” when asked Monday if she knew of any alleged inappropriate conduct over the years by Dave Jamison, the ex-director of the Iowa Finance Authority. Reynolds fired Jamison on March 24, shortly after learning of allegations against him by two people.

Reynolds made the remarks days after ordering an independent investigation into the workplace culture at the agency, where a female employee alleges Jamison made crude sexual comments to female subordinates over the years. Jamison hasn’t spoken publicly about the allegations.

Jamison has been a political ally of Reynolds, dating back to when the two worked together as county treasurers. Reynolds says Jamison has been a family friend.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report 52-year old James Patrick Hiatt, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested on I-29 Saturday morning near mile marker 41 southbound. His arrest stems from an attempted traffic stop. A Mills County Deputy tried to pull over a vehicle at around 12:50-a.m. Saturday, but the vehicle continued south on Interstate 29 in excess of 100-miles per hour.

Fremont County Deputies joined in the pursuit and were able to deploy stop-sticks near the Bartlett exit. After the vehicle hit the devices, Hiatt lost control and wrecked into a field just south of exit 24. He then tried to flee on foot, but the Mills County K9 “Zehn” chased him down and held him until deputies could catch up.

Hiat faces numerous charges, including: Eluding; OWI/1st offense; Interference with Official Acts; No Valid Driver’s License; Speeding, Reckless Driving; Striking Fixtures Upon a Highway, and Depositing or Throwing Litter on Highway. His bond was set at $5,300.

And, today (Monday), 30-year old Matthew Richard Sears, of Gretna, NE., was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation. Sears was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, where his bond was set at $20,000.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has once again donated funds to both Washington Elementary and Schuler Elementary libraries.  Fund spokesperson and Trevor’s mom, Melanie Petty, said “Reading is one of the best things you can do with your child when they are young.  Once they are able to read on their own, encourage them to read a little every day.  Trevor loved to read and we feel blessed that we can help out our libraries by putting new books into their circulation to keep the kids motivated to read.”

Pictured: Grant Petty and Janice Dickerson (photo submitted)

Information about the 10th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament will be available very soon.  The tournament which is always held the second Saturday in August is the funds only fundraiser for the year.  Please consider taking part this year by golfing, purchasing merchandise or coming to the club house and bidding on one of our many silent auction items.  It is a great day and all monies raised are given back to the community.