OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Experts want home cooks to remember food safety on Thanksgiving. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says following a few simple steps can help keep everyone safe over the holiday. The traditional main course at Thanksgiving, turkey, can contain salmonella and campylobacter bacteria that can cause illness if the bird isn’t cooked correctly.

The USDA recommends not washing the turkey because doing so can spray bacteria up to three feet away. As long as the turkey is cooked to the correct 165-degree temperature, any bacteria will be eliminated. When thawing a turkey, either use the refrigerator, cold water or the microwave. The USDA says thawing in the refrigerator is safest.

Make sure to check the turkey with a meat thermometer when cooking, and use or freeze any leftovers within four days.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman Wednesday afternoon following an investigation into a report of a vehicle driving in an unsafe manner on Highway 48, south of Red Oak. Officers also saw the vehicle operating in an unsafe manner and stopped the vehicle in the 300 block of S. Broadway Street. Upon further investigation, Police arrested 22-year old Clara Jane Heitshusen, of Farragut, for OWI/1st Offense. She was also cited for Operating a vehicle without registration.

Heitshusen was taken into custody at around 4:45-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where her cash bond was set at $1,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at3 :30 a.m. CST

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Businesses are cheering a court decision that blocks a sweeping new overtime rule from the Obama administration. Many companies and nonprofits already raised salaries or directed employees to stick to a strict 40-hour workweek in anticipation that it would take effect Dec. 1. The rule faces an uncertain future under Donald Trump, who has spoken out against Obama-backed government regulation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — For years, Iowa’s divided Legislature shielded the state from a wave of laws that restricted abortion access around the country. But a new Republican majority will take control in January, meaning nearly a dozen abortion-related bills could soon be on the table. Democrats will be unable to block them by vote for the first time in a decade.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Burlington authorities say one man has been killed and another wounded in related shootings. Police say a man who died later was shot during a confrontation Tuesday morning. No arrests have been reported. Officers responding to the area soon heard several shots coming from about a block away. A man wounded in that shooting turned up later at a West Burlington hospital and was flown to an Iowa City hospital.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama got the holiday mood started at the White House with the traditional pardoning of the national Thanksgiving turkey. The light-hearted ceremony in the Rose Garden on Wednesday afternoon featured Iowa-raised turkeys Tater and Tot, and the president’s nephews, who filled in for the first daughters.

One person suffered possible/minor injuries during a single-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon, in Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the driver of the vehicle, 32-year-old Gwen Marie Vanderhoof, of Elliott, was transported to the Montgomery County Hospital by Red Oak Rescue.

The accident happened at around 2:40-p.m., in the 1600 block of 200th Street. Authorities say Vanderhooof was driving a 2001 Dodge Stratus westbound on 200th street, when she attempted to pull to the shoulder of the road because her vehicle began to smoke.  The woman was traveling too fast and lost control on the gravel shoulder. Her car went over a driveway and struck a culvert before continuing over another driveway and finally coming to rest.  The vehicle erupted into flames, which were extinguished by crews from the Red Oak Fire Department.  The car, valued at around $3,000, was a complete loss.

An investigation into an incident Wednesday in Villisca, resulted in a woman taken into custody for Criminal Mischief. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year-old Brianna J. Nethery, of Villisca, was arrested at around 1:23-p.m. for  Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree for an incident that allegedly occurred at 102 E. 6th Street, in Villisca.  Nethery was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where her bond was set at $300.

A state audit of the 99 Clerk of Court offices in Iowa shows some issues with having enough oversight of the fines and other funds that come into the offices. The annual audit shows the funds are often handled by one person and there needs to be adequate checks on their work — especially when cash is involved. Deputy State Auditor Andy Nielsen says the administrators are working to improve the situation.

“They’ve been doing a good job of reducing the number of comments each year. Some of the comments are going to be there due to the fact that some of the clerks offices are very small and there are not enough people there to have an adequate segregation of duties,” according the Nielsen. Nielsen says it’s a matter of proper accounting techniques. “That’s the difficulty when there’s just one or two people there. People leave for lunch, people are on vacation, etcetera. The judicial branch has done a good job of having an internal auditor take a look at some of the conciliation’s and those type of things. And that’s what you relay upon,” Nielsen says. One other thing the audit found was some disparity in the rate of pay used when community service is used in the place of paying a fine.

The rate is supposed to be the state minimum wage, but in some cases a higher rate of pay had been assigned. “There is a statutory rate that’s supposed to be supplied, and sometimes that gets lost in the shuffle,” Nielsen says. “And we’re just asking that they try to keep that consistent with what the law requires.” If someone was credited with a rate that was higher than the state minimum wage of seven-dollars, 25 cents and hour, they could do less community service to pay off a fine than someone who had their time figured at the proper rate.

“You want to make sure that people are being treated consistently by applying the same hourly rate,” Nielsen says. The audit has a grid at the back of the report that checks off areas where each county needs to improve. “I know the number of check marks in the back are down fairly substantially from the prior year, which is a good trend,” Nielsen says. “Over the last few years they have continued to identify and take care of those issue. From our standpoint — and the standpoint of the taxpayers — that’s a good thing.”

You can see the full audit report on the State Auditor’s website.

(Radio Iowa)

The leader of the union that represents the largest group of state employees is sharply critical of the contract offer made today (Wednesday) by representatives of Governor Terry Branstad. Danny Homan is president of AFSCME Council 61. “This is a clear indication to me that this governor is going to try and hurt the people that work for the state,” Homan says. Employees in the executive branch who are covered by an AFSCME contract would NOT get a pay raise in the next two years under today’s initial offer.

Management’s initial offer to the 600 members of the State Police Officers Council was for a one-percent pay raise. “The message Terry Branstad is sending to me right now is that State Troopers are worth more in this state than correctional officers who guard our most violent criminals in our prison,” Homan says, “that state troopers are more important than the folks that work in a Mental Health Institute and become punching bags for folks that are mentally ill.”

The Branstad Administration is not offering health insurance as a benefit to either bargaining unit. The governor has indicated he’ll ask legislators to consider a “master” agreement on health care benefits for union workers at ALL levels of government. That would include state workers, as well as those employed by cities, counties and school districts.

Homan says union workers provide “necessary services” and some deal with the state’s most vulnerable and violent people, but he concedes Republicans at the statehouse may try to change labor laws like Wisconsin Republicans did in 2011. “Will we become Wisconsin? If we do, shame on us. Take a look at what’s happened in Wisconsin, like 35th or 36th in job growth. We’re already last in the nation in mental health care,” Homan says. “…Is this what the citizens of Iowa want? I hope not.”

Janet Phipps, the director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, is Governor Branstad’s lead negotiator on union contracts. “It appears it’s going to be a tight budget year.” And Phipps says that’s one reason for the offer of “zero” when it comes to pay raises for workers covered by AFSCME’s contract.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former top-ranked female administrator for the University of Iowa athletic department has taken her lawsuit against the school from state to federal court. Jane Meyer filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday accusing the school, athletic director Gary Barta and the Iowa Board of Regents of violating her First Amendment and Title IX rights.

Meyer says that discovery and deposition testimony in her state-level case led her to believe that Barta’s decision to remove her from the athletic department was made only after Meyer had presented Barta a memo in which she complained about gender equity, equal pay and retaliation against her and others.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says it is pleased to announce that Atlantic has been recognized as a Neighborhood Champion for the third year in a row by American Express. Ouida Hargens, Atlantic Area Chamber Executive Director, says
“We’re excited to partner with all of the Atlantic Area business to create shopping incentives and activities to celebrate Small Business Saturday.”

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support our community. American Express created the Neighborhood Champion Program to help rally communities around Small Business Saturday and is working alongside numerous business organizations to support local Small Business Saturday celebrations throughout the country.

Hargens says “American Express recognizes communities that have strong participation. The on-going Shop Local Passport Program, the Holiday Ice Skating Rink and overall community support all helped Atlantic achieve this national recognition. It’s a great opportunity for Atlantic to receive national recognition and support the vibrant character of our community.”

You’re invited to enjoy Atlantic and show your community pride this Saturday, November 26th, by shopping small businesses and be sure to take advantage of the first ever Holiday Skating Rink. Receive double stamps on your Shop Local Passport and a Shop, Scratch & Win ticket. Visit www.christmasinatlantic.com for a list of participating businesses and a full schedule of activities.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests took place, Tuesday. 50-year old Carl Galvan, of Glenwood, was arrested for violating the terms of a No Contact Order. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 48-year old Cynthia Devault, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. Her bond was set at $300.