New data indicates Iowans, in general, are earning more income — but the growth rate is modest. The Pew Charitable Trust released a “Fiscal 50” report on all the states, tracking a wide variety of data. The report shows Iowans’ personal income grew six-tenths of a percent in the past year. That’s about the national average.

The report shows Iowa has a greater share of its population in the workforce than most any other state. Nationally, about 78 percent of adults who’re under the age of 55 are working. In Iowa, 86 percent of the people in that “prime working age” category ARE working.

Like 32 other states, the Pew report found tax payments to the State of Iowa declined last year. However, the report found the State of Iowa has enough cash in reserve that the state could operate for 45 days on that cash reserve alone.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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

CAMANCHE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are identifying the person who shot and killed a 22-year-old man in eastern Iowa earlier this week. The Division of Criminal Investigation said Friday that 25-year-old Derick Carroll has been identified as the shooter who killed Nicholas Luskey in Camanche on Wednesday. A press release says that Carroll, of Clinton, has been cooperating with investigators and has not been charged in the shooting.

SANDYVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says more dogs have been removed from a Sandyville property in south-central Iowa where at least three dead dogs were found. Officials say 19 living dogs and three dead ones in various states of decomposition were found Wednesday and Thursday on the property. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and pursuing possible animal cruelty charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver is no longer president of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. The news comes seven months after he took the job. The Des Moines Register reports that Culver’s last day was Jan. 27. YMCA spokeswoman Ruth Comer declined to answer the Register’s questions about whether Culver elected to leave or was fired.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say it will close federal property where Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters have been camped beginning on Feb. 22 because of concerns about flooding. In a statement on Friday, the Corps says there has been a record snowfall and long periods of frigid temperatures at the mouth of the Cannonball River where the protesters have been camped.

Crews with the Lewis Fire Department and Griswold Fire/Rescue, were called to a report of smoke inside the home southeast of Lewis at 64848 600th Street early this (Saturday) morning. The call came in at around 1:45-a.m. from the Danny Kirchhoff residence. The caller indicated smoke was visible, but they did not see any flames. Medivac Ambulance was also dispatched. Heavier smoke was observed when authorities arrived on the scene.

According to Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, authorities determined the hot water on-demand system was to blame for the smoke. The home was ventilated and residents were back inside by around 2:40-a.m., which was at about the same time all emergency units were leaving the scene to return to their stations.

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department report a traffic stop late Friday night in the 400 block of N. Center Street, resulted in the arrest of two people. The K9 “Argo” was deployed and upon further investigation, 46-year old Ray Kalkas and 44-year old Michelle Kalkas, both of Imogene, were taken into custody a little after 10:15-p.m.

Ray Kalkas was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Michelle Kalkas was charged with Driving While Barred (Habitual Offender). Both were transported to the Shenandoah Police Department, where they were able to post a $3,000 bond.

The parents of a ten-year old Council Bluffs girl want more answers after their daughter’s scary experience with bullies on a city school bus this week. Rae-Ann Dabney says two other girls said they wanted to write on her face with a black magic marker. “I said ‘no’ and then they just grabbed me and held me down and colored on my face,” Dabney says. The girl says it was a very frightening experience.

“I was scared that they were going to draw inappropriate things on my face,” she says. The bullies did write a word on the girls face using the marker, in addition to a beard, mustache and other scribblings. “They put ‘loser’ on my head,” she says. School officials say the two girls lost their bus riding privileges for one day. Rae-Ann’s parents are outraged and say more should be done. They’ve filed a report with the police department.

RaeAnn Dabney

(Radio Iowa, with Thanks to WOWT-TV, Omaha)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Two longtime teachers who challenged their firings from the Iowa School for the Deaf will not be returning to their jobs. Judge David May has ruled that the Iowa Board of Regents, which governs the Council Bluffs-based school, had “just cause” to terminate 25-year teacher Tina Murdoch.

May’s ruling overturned an arbitrator’s decision that ordered Murdoch be reinstated. The regents had appealed that ruling, arguing Murdoch should be fired because of poor performance. Murdoch’s former colleague, Tricia Tighe, meanwhile, recently dropped a court appeal of her firing.

Attorney Raymond Aranza, who represented both teachers, says Tighe has found a teaching job in Arkansas and decided her firing is “not worth fighting over.” He says he’s disappointed in the decision that upheld Murdoch’s firing. Aranza says both teachers were popular with parents and students and that administrators unfairly second-guessed their teaching skills.

A suspect in a Council Bluffs burglary was injured, treated and then placed under arrest after he was shot at Thursday night by the alleged victim of the crime. Council Bluffs Police say 34-year old Adam Daewood, of Council Bluffs, faces 5th Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass charges, and was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Daewood

Authorities say just before 10-p.m., Thursday, Council Bluffs police officers were dispatched to a call of burglary at 908 2nd Avenue. A resident there reported that he had observed a male subject, later identified as Daewood, on his property, stealing
items. The resident, armed with a small caliber rifle, exited his home and confronted Daewood. During the encounter, the resident, identified as 59-year old Gauino Gutierrez, of Council Bluffs, fired two shots from his rifle in an attempt to scare away Daewood.

Neither round struck Daewood, but he did suffer a leg injury due to either bullet or concrete fragments ricocheting up and hitting him. All parties involved were interviewed by detectives and evidence, including the rifle, was seized. After investigators consulted with both County and City Attorney’s Offices, it was determined that Gutierrez would be issued a citation for Discharging a Firearm within City Limits, a simple misdemeanor. His initial court appearance has been set for February 14, 2017.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa authorities say at least 25 influenza-related deaths have occurred since Oct. 2, including 11 reported to the state last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health said in a news release Friday that all but one of the people who died had underlying conditions or contributing factors. The department says the deaths included 19 people 81 and older and two people 61 through 80.

There’s still time for a flu shot. The department medical director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, says the flu vaccine takes a few days to reach its maximum protection level, so waiting too much longer will mean diminished protection during the peak of the season.

Flu is a viral respiratory illness with symptoms that include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The last of the three defendants in a Council Bluffs slaying has pleaded guilty. The Daily Nonpareil reports 20-year-old Ben Lein pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday: two counts of robbery and two of criminal mischief. He’d previously been charged with murder among other crimes. He was sentenced to 12 to 20 years in prison.

Lein, Markis Davis and Wesley Correa-Carmenaty were charged with the slaying of Anthony Walker during a botched robbery in March 2016. Correa-Carmenaty is set to be sentenced May 1 after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder and two counts of robbery. Davis pleaded guilty in November to robbery and was sentenced to 25 years.