More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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

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Iowa Republican U-S Senator Joni Ernst, Wednesday, announced the kick-off of her 99 county tour of Iowa for 2016. For her first stop of the tour, Ernst will return to the Montgomery County Courthouse in her hometown of Red Oak to host a town meeting. The event, which takes place 8-a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7th, is open to the public.

Authorities in Fremont County say an investigation Wednesday into the delivery of illegal narcotics resulted an arrest. 21-year old Bubba Dwain Mitchell, of Emerson, was arrested for the Delivery of a Simulated Controlled Substance (meth).

Mitchell was apprehended by deputies after Mitchell conducted an illegal exchange of approx 50 grams of simulated substance. He was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $100,000 cash only bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A trailer filled with construction supplies burst into flames in downtown Fort Dodge, causing smoke to fill the air around the city’s municipal building. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports the fire was reported just before noon Tuesday in a 16-foot-long trailer outside the municipal building. The trailer contained tools and supplies for workers rebuilding the structure’s front steps.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A man has been found guilty of fatally stabbing a Davenport woman and injuring her husband in 2014. The Quad-City Times reports a jury in Scott County returned a guilty verdict Wednesday in the trial of 49-year-old Gary Fortune on charges including first-degree murder and attempted murder.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz says a Washington Post cartoon depicting his 5- and 7-year-old daughters as monkeys is inappropriate and that children of candidates should be off-limits in campaigns. Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cruz said he has thick skin but the cartoon “ticks me off.” Cruz said he appreciates the newspaper withdrawing the cartoon.

UPPERCO, Md. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson said Wednesday morning he is moving toward a major shake-up of his struggling campaign, with less than six weeks to go until early voting begins in Iowa to select party nominees. Yet by Wednesday evening, he tried to steer away from that message, announcing that all is well in the Carson camp.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A company contesting its terminated contract to help oversee Iowa’s Medicaid program has filed a lawsuit against the state.

WellCare of Iowa filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Polk County District Court against the state Department of Human Services. The company wants the agency to reverse its decision to terminate WellCare’s contract to help manage the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program.

A state official on Friday affirmed an administrative law judge’s recommendation to terminate WellCare’s contract over how the company disclosed information on fraud convictions of former executives. The judge also said the company had improper communication with state officials.

WellCare says it properly disclosed information. It also says the findings should not have affected the company’s selection for a state contract.

DHS says it does not comment on pending litigation.

A vehicle became stuck aside railroad tracks in Red Oak on Wednesday.  The Red Oak Police department responded to a call of a vehicle stuck at 10:36am today alongside the railroad tracks on the south side of the 600 Block of West Coolbaugh Street.  Upon arrival officers found a blue 1984 Dodge truck and its driver Alvin Smith of Hastings sitting about 500 feet south of the 600 block of Coolbaugh Street.  The vehicle had traveled along the railway and then slid down the embankment into a ditch and became immobile.

The Red Oak Fire Department assisted with getting Smith out of the vehicle and the truck was removed by a tow service.  Smith told officers that a train was blocking the roadway so he tried to drive down railway property to get to the next road when he became stuck.

Smith was cited for Trespassing on BNSF property and then released.  Red Oak Police were also assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

There are several reports of vehicles in the ditches, median and minor collisions this afternoon in the KJAN listening area. Most of the accidents appear to be happening along Interstate 80 in Cass and Adair Counties. The Iowa DOT’s road conditions website at 511ia.org shows roads in and around Atlantic are partially covered with snow, ice and slush. I-80 from about Highway 173 in Cass County to Highway 25 in Adair County is also slushy. Slow down, and allow extra travel time to reach your destination.

Roads in blue are partially covered in snow and slush. Bridges and overpasses may be icy. (Image as of 2:30-p.m. 12/23)

You’re invited to join Cass County Conservation Staff at Atlantic’s Schildberg Recreation Area on Saturday, January 9th 2016, for “Sioree with the Swans.” Conservation staff will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the last one being presented at 2:00 p.m. There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions.

Hot chocolate, cookies, grilled hotdogs, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care). The Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, on the north side of Highway 83.

IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE PARK…the program will be held at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available. This event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

Officials with the Cass County Conservation Board say the sponsors of the Trumpeter Swan arrival contest have determined the official arrival of the swans at the Schildberg Recreation Area, as November 22nd  On that day 18 Trumpeter Swans were at the Rec Area, and they stayed more than twenty-four hours. The winner of the contest is Todd Rocker.

He will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board. The Cass County Conservation Board thanks to all who participated in the contest.