337 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF IOWA, THE EASTERN ONE-THIRD OF NEBRASKA, AND MUCH OF THE UPPER MIDWEST.

HERE IN WESTERN IOWA, AIR TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S. WITH DEWPOINT TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S, IT’LL FEEL MORE THAN 105 TO 115-DEGREES.

EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD LEAD TO SEVERE HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES AND POSSIBLY DEATH IF PROPER ACTION IS NOT TAKEN.

Areas in dark red are under an Excessive Heat Watch. Orange areas have a Heat Advisory. Purple areas have an Excessive Heat Warning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. DO NOT LEAVE PETS AND/OR CHILDREN IN UNATTENDED VEHICLES.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors the bookkeeper for an Iowa credit union has admitted to embezzling nearly $2.5 million from her employer over 37 years, an act that forced the credit union into insolvency. Linda Lee Clark of Corydon faces 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and must pay restitution after pleading guilty Friday to embezzlement from the SCICAP (SIGH-cap) Credit Union in Chariton.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents is approving a $250 tuition increase for tens of thousands of students at Iowa’s public universities in the upcoming school year. The board cut its $300 proposed increase for students from Iowa by $50 after the earlier plan was criticized as too high. But regents said they needed to keep most of the increase in tact to offset lower than requested funding levels approved by lawmakers.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The director of Iowa’s renewable energy research center is resigning after 3 ½ years on the job. Iowa Energy Center director Mark Petri submitted his resignation last month and is stepping down effective July 29. Lawmakers created the Iowa Energy Center in 1990 to encourage the use of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa dog breeder, fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for maintaining unsanitary and unsafe conditions for animals has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements in an effort to avoid paying the fines. Court documents show 61-year-old Gary Felts entered an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to one count of false statements.

In an update to our earlier report, the Page County Sheriff’s Office said Monday, 43-year old Brandee Lee Greve, of Clarinda, was arrested Sunday on Felony 1st Degree Arson and  Attempted Murder charges, in connection with a camper fire at 3160 Oak Avenue, south of College Springs. Greve was being held in the Page County Jail on $100,000 bond, pending additional court proceedings.The incident remains under investigation by the Page County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Brandee Greve

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was notified about a camper on fire at around 4:25-a.m. Sunday. The occupant of the camper made it out prior to Sheriff’s Office personnel arriving.  College Springs fire and rescue, Clarinda Fire, and Clarinda Rescue assisted at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa dog breeder, fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for maintaining unsanitary and unsafe conditions for animals has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements in an effort to avoid paying the fines. Court documents show 61-year-old Gary Felts entered the plea July 13. He faces up to five years in prison.

The USDA fined Felts nearly $19,000 in 2012 after inspectors found repeated Animal Welfare Act violations over a five-year period at his kennels in Kingsley. Felts never paid the fine and he was ordered to file yearly financial disclosure statements and negotiate payments. Prosecutors say he failed to disclose bank accounts and a $25,000 workers’ compensation settlement.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents is approving a $250 tuition increase for tens of thousands of undergraduate students at Iowa’s public universities in the upcoming school year. The board Monday cut its $300 proposed increase for students from Iowa by $50 after the earlier plan was criticized as too high and coming too close to the year.

But regents said they needed to keep most of the increase in tact to offset lower than requested state funding levels approved by lawmakers. Board president Bruce Rastetter says the $50-per-student cut will raise $2.2 million less than the earlier plan would have for Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.

That means the increase will still generate about $19 million in new revenue for the schools.

Authorities in Page County along with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, are investigating a weekend camper fire incident. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says his office was notified at around 4:25-a.m. Sunday, that a camper was on fire at 3610 Oak Avenue, about 1.5-miles south of College Springs. The occupant of the camper made it out prior to Sheriff’s Office personnel arriving on the scene.  College Springs fire and rescue, Clarinda Fire, and Clarinda Rescue assisted at the scene

And, Sheriff Palmer says a man from rural Coin was arrested Sunday night, after he turned himself-in on a Page County warrant for Possession/depiction of a Minor in a sex act. The charge against 20-year old Tyler Eugene Lorimor stems from an investigation of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation that is more than a year old.  Lorimor posted bond and was released pending further court appearances.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports two recent arrests. 47-year old Candra Kaye Grant, of Adair, turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office this (Monday) morning, on a warrant for Disorderly Conduct and Simple Assault. The charges stem from an incident that took place in Exira, July 3rd. Grant was released from custody and will appear before a magistrate on August 22nd.

And, 24-year old Tyler Lee Carter, of Audubon, was arrested Friday night for OWI/2nd offense, Child Endangerment, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. The charges were the result of a traffic stop in Audubon. Audubon Police assisted in conducting the arrest. Carter was later released after appearing before a magistrate. The incident remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report four recent arrests. This (Monday) morning, 38-year old Angie Lea Dabney, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on at the Sarpy County, NE., jail, on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $10,000.

On Sunday, deputies arrested 25-year old Gregory Allen Linkenhoker II, of Pacific Junction, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $1,600. And, 27-year old Steven Richard Smith, of Emerson, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And on Saturday, 27-year old Michael Alan Auffart, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was also being held without bond, in the Mills County Jail.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Audubon County man was arrested Saturday on OWI/1st offense and Driving While Revoked, charges. 44-year old Brian Nielsen Hoffman, of Exira, was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Last Friday, 25-year old Jade Michael Nicholson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Possession of Marijuana/3rd or subsequent offense, charge. Nicholson was later released on $2,000 bond.

And, on July 14th, 47-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena, turned himself in to the Cass County Jail on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Assault Causing Injury. Ranney was booked at the Cass County Jail where he pled to Simple Assault and was released to authorities in Adair County.

Lightning, heavy rain and winds caused problems throughout southwest Iowa early this (Monday) morning. Anywhere from three-to six-inches of rain fell from Villisca to Clarinda, causing street flooding in the low lying areas of both communities.

Photos from the Montgomery County EMA’s Facebook page.

Lightning also sparked a house fire in Clarinda just before the rain and wind blew in. Powerlines fell, knocking out power to residences, as well. Trees also fell during the thunderstorm event.

In Adams County, winds damaged an area from 183rd and Hickory in Quincy, to Lake Icaria. Numerous trees were down and two campers were flipped over at the Lake Icaria Campgrounds. The event that caused the damage began at around 12:45-a.m.

Bedford has golf ball-sized hail early Monday morning, and 5/2-inches of rain. Corning reported 3.1-inches of rain. In Union County, Creston had a little more than 2.8-inches of rain overnight, while Red Oak had nearly 3.4-inches. New Market, in Taylor County, had more than 3.75-inches of rain.

You can check out the other rainfall reports on the kjan.com Weather page. There were no reports of injuries.