Despite recent rains, nearly all the facilities in state parks and recreation areas in Iowa are open for the Labor Day weekend. All 101 camping sites with electrical hook-ups are claimed already at Rock Creek State Park, about six miles northwest of Grinnell.  The park’s lake has 15 miles of shoreline and a beach for swimmers. Boats are allowed on the lake, but there’s a “no wake” rule. It means a boat is to go no more than five miles an hour.

Last week nine inches of rain fell at the Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry. Three of the four camping areas within the park will reopen today (Friday) for Labor Day Weekend camping. There was brief flooding at George Wyth State Park near Waterloo last week, but the campground there is open.

In central Iowa, the Ledges State Park near Boone is open to campers, but Canyon Drive in the park is closed to vehicle traffic due to high water. Hikers are allowed in the canyon, but they’re advised to stay out of the water. Horseback riding trails in two state parks and two state forests are closed and won’t reopen until the trails have dried out and flood repairs are made.

(Radio Iowa)

The percentage of Iowans who are obese has increased, according to an annual report released Thursday. Iowa now has the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the nation at 32.1 percent. That’s up from 30.9 percent last year, when Iowa was 16th in the rankings compiled by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report shows adult obesity rates are above 30 percent in 25 states and are above 20 percent in all states. Louisiana has the highest adult obesity rate at 36.2 percent and Colorado has the lowest at 20.2 percent.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:20 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An angry white officer repeatedly yanked on the dreadlocks of a handcuffed black man who was arrested after a dangerous high-speed chase in Iowa, then twice hit him on the back of the head. Video obtained by The Associated Press shows the officer briefly assaulting 24-year-old Montavis Keller and calling him names after the April 19 chase. A prosecutor has concluded that no charges are warranted against officer Adam Wittmayer, who was disciplined by his department.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man has pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of minors in connection with improper contact with three girls. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 20-year-old Tyler Konigsmark, a former school bus attendant, pleaded guilty Thursday to the enticement charge and acknowledged that he used Snapchat and his mobile phone to request sexually explicit images of the girls, ages 12, 13 and 14. Konigsmark also admitted he twice had sex with the 12-year-old girl. He will be sentenced later.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Missouri judge has fined the state Highway Patrol $5,000 after finding that it violated open records law in responding to requests from the family of an Iowa man who drowned while in custody. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the judge ruled Wednesday that the state’s delays in turning over documents to Brandon Ellingson’s family amounted to a “purposeful violation.” Ellingson drowned in 2014 on the Lake of the Ozarks.

BLUE GRASS, Iowa (AP) — A construction work was killed when the driver of a speeding vehicle apparently lost control in a work zone near the southeast Iowa city of Blue Grass. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy saw the speeding vehicle but before he could catch up to it the vehicle entered a work zone. The driver tried to exit the highway but careened into the construction area and hit a worker. The worker was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital. The driver and a child in the vehicle were injured.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency Thursday evening reports Shelby EMA 911 has been notified of a Windstream fiber line being cut affecting 911 and long distance in Shelby, Iowa. If you have an emergency use your cell phone to call 911 or if you know of anyone that only has a Windstream landline we recommend you to notify and check on them periodically.

September 1st:

• Craig Eilts of Griswold (Winner)

A northwest Iowa man is under arrest in Lincoln, Nebraska, charged with child enticement using an electronic communication device. Authorities say 63-year-old Dennis Ray Ragan of Moville responded to an online ad he thought was posted by a 15-year-old girl. The “girl” was really an undercover investigator in the Nebraska Attorney General’s office.

Last month Ragan exchanged 170 emails with the person he thought was a teenager, and on the final day of August he drove to Lincoln, Nebraska, to have sex with her. That’s when he was arrested.

(Radio Iowa)

In the 2015-2016 academic year, more than 250 Iowa high schools adopted EverFi, a free, online financial literacy program. First Whitney Bank and Trust has partnered with leading education technology company EverFi, Inc., to bring this interactive, web-based financial management program to over 200 students since the program’s inception in 2013.

“First Whitney Bank and Trust is very proud to have reached so many students with critical financial education. It’s a testament to our deep commitment to the Atlantic community,” Chip Hansen said. “It is critical that students understand important aspects of personal finance like what a credit score means and how to save for college, and this program is empowering them with the skills that will put them on a path to financial success.”

The 78 students reached through EverFi High School Financial Literacy course completed 340 individual modules of learning during the 2015-16 school year. Students’ knowledge of key financial topics rose by an average 22 percent based on pre- and post-assessment scores. Among the valuable topics covered were saving, banking, investing, renting versus owning, credit scores, taxes and insurance, and consumer fraud.

First Whitney Bank and Trust has partnered with EverFi, Inc. to bring the program to local students at no cost to the schools or the taxpayer. The eight-hour web-based program uses the latest in new media technology to bring complex financial concepts to life for today’s digital generation. The platform uniquely tracks the progress and performance of every student and provides students who successfully complete the course with certification in financial literacy, a valuable mark of distinction on college applications and resumes. In 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) highlighted EverFi’s schools-based financial education programs in a new report on Advancing K-12 Financial Education: A Guide for Policymakers.

“EverFi strives to help today’s generation prepare for a lifetime of challenging financial decisions”, said EverFi CEO and Founder, Tom Davidson. “We are grateful for our partnership with First Whitney Bank and Trust, which provides students with the critical skills they need to be savvy, responsible consumers.”

(Press Release)

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke has released the final list of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the November 8th General Election in Montgomery County.

The candidates are as follows (Rep=Republican)

County Auditor: (Rep) Stephanie Burke

County Sheriff: (Rep) Joseph Sampson

Board of Supervisors/District 2: (Rep) Mike Olson

Board of Supervisors/District 3: (Rep) Bryant Amos

Board of Supervisors/District 5: (Rep) Donna Robinson

Montgomery Co. Ag. Extension Council (elect 4): Mike Thomas; Karen Klocke; Kelli Bucy. No other candidate has filed.

Montgomery Co. Hospital Trustees (elect 2) – 6 year term: Roger J. Ehmke; James A. Robinson.

Montgomery Co. Soil & Water Commissioner (elect 3) – 4 year term: David Carbaugh; Gary Querry; Fred Hossle.

Frankfort Township Trustee (elect 2): Rodney Hart; Don Gohlinghorst.

Garfield Township Trustee (elect 2): Gary Querry; John Willms.

Grant Township Trustee (elect 2): John Sunberg; Dennis Carlson.

Lincoln Township Trustee (elect 2): Bryan Jenkins; None filed.

Pilot Grove Township Trustee (elect 2): Ron Adams; David W. Olson.

Red Oak Township Trustee (elect 2): Howard O. Olson; None filed.

Sherman Township Trustee (elect 2): Daniel L. Phelps; James E. Good.

Washington Township Trustee (elect 2): None filed; None filed.

West Township Trustee (elect 2): David L. Gohlinghorst; Larry Heuer.

Red Oak School Special Election (elect 1): Bret Blackman.

Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say a 15-year old male suffered non-life threatening injuries during a single-vehicle accident late Wednesday evening, north of Panora. The crash happened as the unidentified teen was traveling north on Highway 4, just past 180^th Street. The vehicle went out of control and rolled into a ditch. The teen was transported by ambulance to the Guthrie County Hospital. According to reports, he was on his way home from football practice when the crash occurred.

No other details are currently available.

A Glenwood man was being treated for a gunshot wound following an incident that happened Wednesday evening. Authorities say Glenwood Police responded at around 5:20-p.m. to 310 N. Vine Street, for a report a man was suffering from a gunshot wound. The unidentified subject was transported to the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha by LifeFlight, for treatment. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Dept. of Criminal Investigation and Glenwood Police.