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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a woman stabbed to death outside her home on the west side of Sioux City. She’s been identified as 24-year-old Kenia Alvarez-Flores. Police say she died at a hospital after being stabbed several times before 8 a.m. Sunday. Authorities have arrested and charged 20-year-old Melissa Camargo-Flores, of Dakota City, Nebraska. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press.

Court documents say Camargo-Flores admitted stabbing Alvarez-Flores and told investigators she’d been involved in a relationship with the victim’s boyfriend. Authorities say the two women were not related.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Johnston teacher accused of groping and making sexual comments to an anatomy class student has been given two years of probation. Court records say 34-year-old Dustin Mead entered an Alford plea to a harassment charge in a plea deal. He originally pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a school employee. The Alford plea means Mead acknowledges there’s enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict, but he says he didn’t commit the acts alleged.

Mead resigned from his teaching job at Johnston schools in April 2017 after a female student alleged he gave her grades she didn’t earn, made sexual comments and groped her during the 2015-2016 school year.
Mead’s lawyer, Guy Cook, told The Des Moines Register that Mead “maintains his innocence because he is innocent.”

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, Monday night, arrested a Cass County man on a drug charge. 19-year old Markus Joshua Bothwell, of Griswold, was arrested at the intersection of Elm and 2nd Streets, in Elliott, at around 8:35-p.m. Bothwell was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Ottumwa man in prison for robbery and burglary who once threatened to kill former President Barack Obama and a judge has now been indicted again on charges of mailing a death threat to a federal judge. Matthew James Howard, who is serving 13 years in prison, received an additional three years in September 2013 for writing letters threatening to kill Obama and a judge earlier that year.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — Teachers across the country are learning to pack wounds and apply tourniquets through a program started after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012. The aim of Stop the Bleed is to train educators in stopping blood loss so victims of school shootings can survive until help arrives. In five years, the program has trained some 125,000 people. Teachers say they can’t stop mass shootings, but they can be prepared to help their students if violence hits their school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers signed off on a bill Monday that will prevent Iowa students from being treated unfairly by school officials if their parents owe lunch money. Under the bill, Iowa schools would be prohibited from so-called “lunch shaming” tactics, including publicly identifying students whose parents owe money or throwing away meals that were already served. Schools would be allowed to accept private donations to pay off individual students’ debts. The bill goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A clerk for an Iowa Republican senator has been fired after a “sexual harassment” complaint was lodged against him. Secretary of the Senate Charlie Smithson confirmed Monday that Jake Dagel was terminated April 3 as Sen. Waylon Brown’s clerk after a “credible complaint of sexual harassment” was made against Dagel on the same day. Smithson says Dagel acknowledged “the conduct in question.” Smithson didn’t provide additional information, only noting the behavior was against chamber policy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A clerk for an Iowa Republican senator has been fired after a “sexual harassment” complaint was lodged against him. Secretary of the Senate Charlie Smithson confirmed Monday that Jake Dagel was fired April 3 as Sen. Waylon Brown’s clerk after a “credible complaint of sexual harassment” was made against Dagel on the same day. Smithson says Dagel acknowledged “the conduct in question.” Smithson didn’t provide additional information, only noting the behavior was against chamber policy.

The website Iowa Starting Line first reported about the firing on Friday. A former staffer for Senate Republicans was awarded $1.75 million last year after she said in a lawsuit she was fired in 2013 after reporting sexual misconduct in the office. The case drew attention to workplace misconduct at the statehouse. Last month, former Sen. Bill Dix resigned after video showed him kissing a Statehouse lobbyist.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers signed off on a bill Monday that will prevent Iowa students from being treated unfairly by school officials if their parents owe lunch money. Under the bill, Iowa schools would be prohibited from so-called “lunch shaming” tactics, including publicly identifying students whose parents owe money or throwing away meals that were already served. Schools would be allowed to accept private donations to pay off individual students’ debts.

Many students receive free meals through the federal school lunch program. However, Iowa schools aren’t required to serve meals to other students whose parents don’t qualify for free meals. School policies vary on whether those students still receive meals.

The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously and now goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released information about two recent accidents. On April 3rd, at approximately 7:54-a.m., Deputies in Cass County responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on 690th Street. A 2004 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 23-year old Ashley Michele Parr, of Des Moines, was traveling southbound on 690th when she lost control of the SUV on the icy surface. The vehicle entered the west ditch and hit a sign before rolling onto its top. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

On April 6th, 2018, at around 11:45-p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Jasper Road, approximately ½ mile east of 585th Street. A 2007 Ford Focus driven by 18-year old Chloe Kaitlyn Newbury, of Atlantic, was southbound on Jasper Road attempting to make a right turn on a 90 degree turn, when the vehicle rolled into the south ditch onto its roof. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $6,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports, that as the result of a traffic stop on March 28th, Deputies arrested 46-year old Jason Edward Pierce, of Council Bluffs, on felony charges that include Theft 1st Degree (C Felony), Theft 2nd Degree (D Felony); and Possession Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent (D Felony). He was also charged with Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent,Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Pierce was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $18,000 bond.

On March 29th, Cass County Deputies arrested 37-year old Michael Shayne Miller, of Clive, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Miller was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2,000 bond.

On March 31st, Deputies arrested 33-year old Stephanos Samuel Ono, of Omaha, on charges of OWI 3rd Offense (a class D Felony) and Driving While Barred. Ono was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $8,000 bond.

On April 1st, 42-year old Russell William Craig Lower, of Atlantic, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant from Polk County. Lower was taken to the Cass County Jail and later transferred to Polk County authorities.

On April 5th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 33-year old William Joseph Kyle, of Lafayette, LA, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Kyle was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $1,000 bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The owner of Younkers department stores has told the Nebraska Labor Department that it intends to close both Omaha stores. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the closings are expected to be permanent and affect nearly 360 employees.

Younkers parent company, Bon-Ton Stores Inc., has filed for bankruptcy protection as it struggles with debt and declining mall traffic. Bon-Ton’s notification of its intention to close the Omaha stores didn’t mention its other Iowa and Nebraska properties.

They are Younkers stores in Lincoln and Grand Island and one in Sioux City, Iowa. Bon-Ton also operates Herberger’s stores in Hastings, Kearney, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff.