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

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An Atlantic civic organization is holding an event February 3^rd to raise funds for the Christmas Box Program, that was previously organized by the Atlantic Jaycees. Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith said the upcoming event is being hosted by “Atlantic Rising” as part of their community service projects. Atlantic Rising was formerly the Young Professionals of Atlantic. Their mission, according to Smith, is to connect, engage and attract young leaders into the community, and take steps to volunteer and help the community and surrounding area.

As part of that mission, their “Trivia Night Fundraiser” takes place Saturday, February 3^rd at 7-pm., at The Venue. Atlantic Rising is encouraging people of all ages to join them in supporting the Christmas Box Program.This past year, the Christmas Box Program served over 50 families during the holidays. In years past, the program has reached over 100 families yearly in the area. You can register teams of six-to 10-people for $150. You may also register as an individual for $25. You will then be assigned a team. For more information or to register a team, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, call the Chamber at 712-249-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. All of the profits from registrations fees will go directly to the Christmas Box Program. Atlantic Rising has partnered with Olsen Fuel Supply to provide pizzas for teams who are interested. Upon registration, people can order their pizzas and they will be waiting for you at your table. You can order a large, single-topping pizza for $10 or a large Supreme Pizza for $12, no limit. Complimentary popcorn will also be available all night as well as a cash bar. As an added fundraiser, Atlantic Rising will be selling raffle tickets for $1 or 6 for $5. Items will be raffled off throughout the evening. All sales will go towards the Christmas Box Program.

Another service project Atlantic Rising is in charge of, takes place in late March. They’ll handle the Easter Egg Hunt March 31^st, in the Atlantic City Park. There are about 15,000 eggs that will be filled with candy. Smith said on average, about 500 kids participate in the event, and the eggs are generally found within about 10-minutes. She recommends parents bring their kids early, as they start at 10:30-a.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man who was severely injured when three Des Moines teenagers stole his car in 2013 has died. Joan Namachemo told The Des Moines Register that her husband, 41-year-old Mike Wasike, died Monday after years spent in care centers. Wasike was driving home in February 2013 when the teens stood in the middle of a street, forcing him to stop. As Wasike got out of his car, one of the teens struck him in the head with a handgun before stealing the vehicle. The injury left Wasike unable to speak, feed himself or walk.

The three teenagers were convicted on charges related to the attack and remain in prison. Wasike moved from Kenya to Des Moines in 2009 and worked as a credit analyst at Wells Fargo before the attack.

Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies, acting on tips from the public and law enforcement sources, arrested two people Tuesday following an incident at the Shenandoah Orschlen Farm and Home Store. Deputies arrested 24-year old Elizabeth Ann Harvey, of Clarinda, and 46-year old Robert Shelton White, Omaha, at an address in Clarinda. Both were arrested for Theft 3^rd, Degree and Assault on a Police Officer. White and Harvey were being held at the Fremont County Jail, without bond, waiting for initial appearance with a magistrate.

Elizabeth Ann Harvey

Surveillance still frame image

Robert Shelton White

Authorities say on Tuesday, authorities in Fremont County received a report of a theft and assault that occurred at the Orschlen Farm and Home Store, located in Shenandoah. A male and female were observed attempting to steal items from the store by an off-duty Page County deputy.  The deputy identified himself and the male engaged in a physical confrontation with the deputy and was able to escape with stolen items, with the help of the female.

The Sheriff’s Department had posted still frame images of the suspects on their social media page and asked for the public’s help late Tuesday in identifying the suspects. The Clarinda Police Department, Page County Sheriff’s Office, Shenandoah Police Department, and Nebraska Law Enforcement Authorities assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:05 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge has granted a temporary injunction that will allow a conservative Christian student group to be reinstated at the University of Iowa. The group sued after the state’s flagship university in Iowa City revoked the group’s campus registration in November, citing the group’s denial of a leadership position to a gay student.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A Bettendorf counselor has been charged with a felony after police say she engaged in unwanted kissing and touching of an adult who was her patient. The Quad-City Times reports that 45-year-old Aracely Schutters was arrested Monday and charged with sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. An arrest affidavit says the incident happened Dec. 4 when Schutters invited the patient to her home via text messages to talk about the patient’s problems.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The daughter of the late heavy metal band Slipknot’s bassist Paul Gray has won a settlement in a lawsuit against a doctor and other health care providers for the loss of her father’s companionship and support. A document filed Monday in the Iowa court case says it’s settled.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are sending a voluntary water quality bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds that doesn’t require comprehensive monitoring of water pollution. The Republican-controlled House voted 59-41 Tuesday for the legislation, which already passed in the GOP-majority Senate. Iowa has faced water pollution issues for years, and research shows it’s tied in part to farm runoff. It’s estimated that effectively addressing the issue will cost billions of dollars. The bill generates $282 million over 12 years.

The “Field of Dreams” baseball diamond near Dyersville that was the set for a 1987 movie has been vandalized. A vehicle left tire ruts in both the infield and outfield. Dyersville Police say it appears the damage was caused by a single vehicle, making one pass through the field. It happened sometime Monday night.

Field of Dreams officials say they will work on repairing the damage before opening day, which is April 1st.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Harlan Police Department say no injuries were reported following two separate accidents over the past week. On Jan. 17th, a 2002 Toyota 4Runner driven by Jean Louis Kanioka Lunga, of Harlan, was traveling north in the 600 block of 12th Street, when the SUV went out of control due to slick road conditions. The vehicle left the roadway to the east and hit a light pole, causing functional damage to both the vehicle and light pole.

And, last Saturday, a 2013 Ford F-350 pickup driven by Michael Christopher Butler, of Harlan, was traveling west on Market Street, when it was hit by a 2016 Jeep Cherokee traveling south on 7th Street. The driver of the Jeep was identified as Nancy Joann Carlson, of Moorhead. Harlan Police say the accident happened when Carlson stopped at the stop sign, but then proceeded into the intersection with Market Street.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the University of Iowa to temporarily reinstate a conservative Christian group as a registered student organization, saying the university is denying the group its freedom of speech rights.

Business Leaders in Christ sued after the university in Iowa City revoked its campus registration in November, citing the group’s denial of a leadership position to a gay student who wouldn’t affirm a statement of faith rejecting homosexuality. The university says it respects religious rights but doesn’t tolerate discrimination.

In a temporary injunction order issued Tuesday, Judge Stephanie Rose says the university policy isn’t enforced uniformly. She cited the Imam Mahdi group which requires members to be Muslim and to respect its religious rules and practices.

Rose says the Christian group would suffer First Amendment freedom loss without a 90-day injunction.

The Government Oversight Committee in the Iowa House will ask a group of paid state commissioners why they missed the alleged misuse of tax dollars by the now-fired director of the Iowa Communications Network. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says it’s a disappointing situation.

“Any commission like the commission that is in place has a fiduciary responsibility and I’m disappointed that somebody wasn’t looking through those budgets…line by line,” Upmeyer says. “…On occasion, you have to do that.”

The Iowa Communications Network is a state-owned system that provides high-speed voice, video and data service for state government, schools and some hospitals. An audit released last week indicated nearly 380-thousand dollars was misspent at the network, equipment was delivered to the now-fired director’s home in Marion and he hired people he knew who had no experience for jobs at the network. The five-member commission — each paid between 14-thousand and 20-thousand dollars a year — will be called to testify before the House Oversight Committee.

“I have no doubt that other commissioners on other boards throughout the state are going to be looking closer at budgets as they move forward,” Upmeyer says. “It certainly is a wake up call for all of them because there is a responsibility when you agree to sit on one of those boards.” And Upmeyer says selling the Iowa Communications Network is also on the table.

The fiber optic lines were buried in the 1990s. Upmeyer says it may be time for the state to get as much as possible from selling the fiber, although she cautions private sector networks are likely newer and faster.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are sending a voluntary water quality bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds that doesn’t require comprehensive monitoring of water pollution. The Republican-controlled House voted 59-41 Tuesday for the legislation, which passed in the GOP-majority Senate last session and remained alive in the two-year legislative calendar. The bill would create a fund that redistributes tax money currently going to Iowa’s state budget. It also takes money from an existing infrastructure fund.

Iowa has faced water pollution issues for years, and research shows it’s tied in part to farm runoff. A state-supported water quality initiative, known as the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, estimates effectively addressing the issue would cost billions of dollars. The bill is expected to generate $282 million over 12 years. Reynolds and other Republicans who back the bill say it’s a first step.