Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Texas Governor Rick Perry will attend a conservative summit in Iowa next month. Jeff Marschner, a spokesman for the conservative group Citizens United, said yesterday that Perry will attend the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24th in Des Moines. The event is being sponsored by Citizens United and Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The future of the former Iowa Juvenile Home facility in Toledo remains murky, and questions about how the state will care for delinquent girls linger. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports supporters of the facility hope the state will decide soon what to do with it, but lawsuits related to the closure of the juvenile home complicate the situation. Bill Skow says it’s sad to see the facility set empty like a ghost town.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 22-year-old man is dead after police say he accidentally shot himself in the face inside a Des Moines apartment. KCCI reports the incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday. According to police reports, investigators believe Fabiano Aguiniga accidentally shot himself with a shotgun while five other people were in the apartment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Samantha Logic’s contested drive through traffic with less than 3 seconds remaining gave Number 23 Iowa a wild 100-98 win over Drake on Sunday in a game that saw the teams combine for 24 points in the last 65 seconds. Melissa Dixon hit 10 3-pointers and scored 31 points for the Hawkeyes.

A fire late Sunday afternoon in Harlan resulted in the destruction of the former St. Michael’s Catholic Church, despite the efforts of firefighters from Harlan and at least four other communities, to limit the damage. The blaze at the vacant building on 8th Street took several hours to bring under control, but no injuries were reported. Crews from Harlan, Denison, Kirkman, and elsewhere responded to the scene. Crews were called-out again Monday morning to deal with a rekindle of the flames. The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

Courtesy Jim Wolf and Rita Knights

Photo courtesy Jim Wolf and Rita Knights

Several arrests were made recently, in Audubon County. Sheriff Todd Johnson reported on Sunday, that 33-year old Joshua Lee Larsen, of Audubon, was arrested Friday evening and charged with Possession of Stolen Property. The charge stems from an ongoing investigation and a second search warrant executed at Larsen’s residence at 311 South Division Street, in Audubon. Larsen was booked into the Audubon County Jail, and later released after appearing before a magistrate. Audubon Police assisted in the execution of the search warrant and arrest. The incident remains under investigation.

Also arrested Friday, was 24-year old Rhiana Marie Christensen, of Cumberland. She was taken into custody at around 8-p.m. in Monona County, on an outstanding Audubon County bench warrant issued for Contempt, when she failed to appear for a court hearing. Christensen was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $1,500 cash bond.

28-year old Ryan Bryce Nichols, of Gray, was arrested at around 9-p.m. Friday for Driving while Suspended. The arrest stems from a traffic stop on Highway 71, near North Division Street. Nichols subsequently posted a cash bond and was released. A passenger in the vehicle, 29-year old Benjamin Daniel Jobe, of Audubon, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana. He was later released, after appearing before a magistrate. Audubon Police assisted in making both arrests.

And at around 2-a.m. Sunday (Dec. 21st), 25-year old Matthew Steven Randeris, of Hamlin, was arrested on a charge of OWI/2nd Offense, following a traffic stop in the 1900 block of Highway 44. Randeris was booked into the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before the magistrate.

A Red Oak man was arrested early this (Sunday) morning, on an OWI charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Kipp Michael Brower, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 2:25-a.m. on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Brower was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

A fire last August in Casey that destroyed the City Hall there, was likely caused by arson. And, while arson is suspected as the reason for the blaze, in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald, Ron Humphrey, Iowa’s  chief fire investigator said the damage was so extensive that the cause might never be officially determined.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — State and local Iowa officials have approved $3.1 million in incentives for an Omaha, Nebraska soybean processor to build a $90 million vegetable oil refinery in northwestern Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that an agreement approved Friday by the Woodbury County board will exempt Ag Processing Inc. of Omaha from $2.1 million in county property taxes through 2024. At a separate meeting in Des Moines, the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved another $1 million in loans and state tax credits for the project at AGP’s complex near Sergeant Bluff.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Sioux City are keeping an eye on winter weather to help determine when a new children’s museum under construction will be ready to open to the public. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Children’s Museum of Siouxland was scheduled to open by next summer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say the number of Iowans hospitalized for flu complications has more than doubled in recent weeks. The Des Moines Register reports that senior citizens in Iowa are being hit especially hard. A report released Friday by the Iowa Department of Public Health says more than half of Iowans being hospitalized for the flu are 65 or older.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Applications are now being accepted for the Citizen’s Police Academy in Dubuque. The Telegraph Herald reports that the annual program aims to give residents a better understanding of how police work.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say the number of Iowans hospitalized for flu complications has more than doubled in recent weeks. The Des Moines Register reports that senior citizens in Iowa are being hit especially hard. A report released Friday by the Iowa Department of Public Health says more than half of Iowans being hospitalized for the flu are 65 or older.

The latest report says that through Dec. 13, 65 Iowans were hospitalized for the flu at a set of hospitals monitored by the department. That was up from 50 the previous week, and 26 the week before that. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the department’s medical director, says the Type A H3N2 is the most common strain of the flu hitting the state.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of an Omaha man on a charge of OWI First Offense early Saturday (12/20/2014) morning.  22-year-old Dillon Jacob Fenn of Omaha was arrested in the 400 Block of East Washington Avenue on Saturday morning at 1:40am.  Fenn was booked into the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $1,000 bond.