Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 20-year-old Des Moines man suffered a head injury after four masked men broke into his home. The Register reports that the home invasion and robbery happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday just west of Drake University. Police say several electronic items were stolen.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport music producer has announced plans to bring about 30 bands to the city for an inaugural three-day music festival. The Quad-City Times reports that Sean Moeller intends to bring bands that he thinks will have breakthroughs in 2016 to perform at the Daytrotter Downs festival. Moeller says he named the festival after the Quad-City Downs, a former racetrack in East Moline, Illinois. The festival is scheduled to kick off February 18th at the Adler Theater in Davenport.

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) — A judge is ordering the city of West Branch to pay nearly $500,000 in tax rebates to a manufacturer of wind turbines. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles ruled Thursday that the city breached an agreement with Acciona Windpower when it refused to reimburse part of its property taxes in 2013 and 2014.

GRANGER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a body found in a pond in central Iowa belongs to a 17-year-old boy who had been reported missing Sunday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says a body discovered Thursday in Granger was identified as Sam Kemp of Des Moines. An autopsy has been scheduled.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal officials called for a two-month delay in Iowa’s switch to a private Medicaid program but signaled the state likely will get approval to make the change. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday ordered a halt until March 1 of plans to hand over management of the $4.2 billion health care program for 560,000 poor and disabled residents to for-profit insurance companies.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad had planned to make the switch beginning Jan. 1. Branstad surprised the medical community and lawmakers last January with the plan he says will save $47 million in the first six months. Federal regulators told state officials Iowa needs more time but that approval is anticipated once the state is ready for a seamless transition that will not disrupt care.

2 arrests were reported on Thursday by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.  At 1:45pm Thursday Sheriff’s Officials arrested 34-year-old Paul Earl Lemburg II of Red Oak on a valid warrant for Violation of Probation on an original charge of 3rd Degree Theft.  Lemburg was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

Also on Thursday Sheriff’s Officials arrested 45-year-old Thomas Shawn Johnson of Council Bluffs on a valid warrant for Probation Violation on an original charge of 3rd Degree Burglary.  Johnson was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five people were arrested over nearly the past two weeks. On Tuesday, 28-year old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, and 37-year old Daisha Rasmussen, of Atlantic, was arrested on three counts of Child Endangerment.

On Monday, officers arrested 28-year old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication/3rd offense.

On Dec. 7th, 21-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. And, 24-year old Heri Pena, of Waukesha, WI., was arrested for Probation Violation. All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. On Wednesday, deputies arrested 22-year old Rocky James Runyon, of Hastings, for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. That same day 29-year old Brandon Scot Feller, of Hastings, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $300. And, on Tuesday, Mills County deputies arrested 34-year old William Randel Cody, of Malvern, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, a Glenwood man was injured during an accident early Wednesday afternoon. Officials say Donald Hall was transported to a hospital in Council Bluffs, after his 2000 Dodge was struck from behind by a 1999 semi. Officials say Hall was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 12:25-p.m, and had begun to slow down when a grain hauler truck entered the highway from a farm drive.

Another vehicle in front of Hall also began to slow for the grain hauler truck. The semi, driven by Clifton Kopischke, of Mankato, MN,  was behind Hall and saw the vehicles in front of him begin to slow. Kopischke said he reached down, but could not get semi slowed because the trailer he was hauling was empty. Following the collision, both vehicles pulled off onto the shoulder of Highway 34.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has charged three men with multiple hunting violations for events that took place on January 10, 2015 in Cass and Audubon Counties.

The DNR says 27-year old Dustin Hansen,  of Adair, was charged with shooting a pistol over a public roadway, reckless use of a firearm, two counts of illegal attempt to take – use of motor vehicle, illegal attempt to take – use two-way communications, two counts of illegal take – use of motor vehicle and two counts illegal take – use of two way communication. He was also charged with violating one-way traffic designation and stopping, standing, parking on interstate right of way all in Cass County. Hansen was also charged with no migratory bird fee from a separate incident.

41-year old Donald Kinzie, of Stuart, was charged with two counts illegal take of deer – use of motor vehicle, two counts illegal take of deer – use of two-way communications, three counts trespassing while deer hunting, illegal attempt to take deer – use of motor vehicle, illegal attempt to take deer – use of two way communications and reckless use of a firearm causing property damage all in Cass County.

And 39-year old Bradley Wendt, of Denison, was charged with two counts illegal take of deer – use of motor vehicle, two counts illegal take of deer – use of two-way communications, three counts trespass while deer hunting, illegal attempt to take deer – use of motor vehicle, illegal attempt to take deer – use of two-way communications and reckless use of a firearm causing property damage all in Cass County.

One of the trespassing charges for Kinzie and Wendt occurred in Audubon County. Officials began the investigation after receiving calls from the public. The alleged activity resulted in the individuals killing two buck deer.

Charges were filed December 9, 2015. Their initial court appearance date is set for January 7, 2016 in both Cass and Audubon counties.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Bankers expect economic activity to remain slow in rural parts of 10 Western and Plains states over the next few months. The region’s economic index declined again in December to 41.5 from November’s 43.7. Any score below 50 on one of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the monthly survey of rural bankers released Thursday. He says the current low energy and crop prices are slowing the economy. The strong U.S. dollar and a slower pace of manufacturing are also factors. The bankers aren’t very optimistic. The confidence index remained in negative territory even though it improved slightly to 39.8 in December from November’s 38.9.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Police in Council Bluffs are warning area residents about a new scam that’s going around. The scam begins with motorists finding notes left on their vehicles that are in parking lots. The note says a guy named “Dave” saw the vehicle hit and damage his vehicle. “Dave” then instructs the person to contact him within the hour or he will notify police. The note also states “Dave” took photos of the person’s vehicle and license plates.

When drivers call “Dave,” he asks them to pay a certain amount of money to “keep insurance out of it”.  Police say in no instance was damage found on the potential victim’s vehicle, and no proof of an accident was ever given by “Dave.” Authorities say  this is a scam.

If you ARE in an accident in Council Bluffs, call the non-emergency dispatch number at (712)-328-5737, and file a report with police.

December 25th is a week from tomorrow and for many Iowans, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a blanket of white covering everything outside. Meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you -may- be in luck, but there will be a lot of ups and downs over the coming week.  Donavon says, “In general, we’re going to be warming back up after this little cool-down that we’re going to have for the next several days until at least Saturday.”

The first day of winter is December 22nd, that’s next Tuesday, and seasonally-appropriate weather may be arriving almost immediately. “Really, the thing we’re watching for next week is a big storm system that will be coming out of the southwest and likely will impact at least portions of the Central Plains either on the 23rd or 24th,” he says. Many tens of thousands of Iowans have travel plans for next week’s holidays and rain versus ice versus snow will make a big difference for them.

“Exact timing and how much cold air we get wrapped into this, we’ll see if we can produce some snow across Iowa but right now, it’s really uncertain.” While much of Iowa will see high temperatures only in the 20s and 30s today, some areas may see highs near 50 by Sunday, with the shift back to very cold weather and potential snow arriving by the middle of next week.

(Radio Iowa)