Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man found dead in the Des Moines River may have been in the water for up to two weeks. Des Moines police say an autopsy has been completed on the man, but his identification remains unknown. Authorities are asking the public for help identifying the man, who was wearing a dark swim suit when his body was discovered Sunday. Authorities say there is no indication of foul play.

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa nursing home lauded by the governor’s office as among the best in the state was cited seven weeks earlier for unsanitary conditions in its kitchen. The Woodland Terrace facility in Waverly was cited but not fined on May 13 for problems that included a food-preparation area that was littered with dust, debris and discarded food. A spokeswoman says the home contracted a dietary management firm and is disappointed with its performance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa securities agent has been extradited from Texas to face charges of stealing investment money. Fifty-five-year-old David William Johnson, of Keller, Texas, faces four counts of felony first-degree theft and one count of felony ongoing criminal conduct. Johnson is accused of misappropriating investment funds belonging to four Iowa residents. Documents say he engaged in theft for financial gain on a continuing basis, and each person lost more than $10,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch is criticizing Gov. Terry Branstad for refusing to negotiate the number, location, and details for a series of debates. Hatch, a Democratic state senator from Des Moines, says Branstad has said he’ll do three debates with Hatch and won’t negotiate further. Hatch says the take-it-or-leave-it attitude cheats Iowans opportunities to see the candidates face to face.

The State of Iowa is responding after learning of Tyson’s decision to close its plant in Cherokee. Governor Terry Branstad says “Workforce Development will send a team up there to work with the community. Obviously this is a disappointment, as I understand it, this is a chicken processing facility owned by Tyson and one of three they are closing throughout the nation.” In fact, the plant produces deli meats, hams, Canadian bacon, and hot dogs…but NOT chickens. The plant has been producing processed meats since 1965 when it first opened as Wilson Foods. It employees 450 people and will close on September 27th.

“We want to do all we can to try and help the workers who are gonna be displaced and to try to help the community to try to find new employment opportunities for them,” Branstad says. He says Workforce Development has a variety of options for those who will lose their jobs. “Looking at retraining and other placement opportunities,” Branstad says. “but also, Economic Development will be actively marketing looking for businesses to replace the one that’s being lost.”

A prepared statement released by Tyson says the Cherokee plant is being closed along with one in New York and another in New Mexico. The statement said the plans “have been struggling financially” and “it no longer makes business sense to keep them open.”

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce invite you to run in the “AtlanticFest Road Race” on August 9th Help kick off AtlanticFest 2014 by registering for the 5 mile run, 2 mile run, or 2 mile walk. All pre-registered runners and walkers will receive a dri- fit shirt. Over 100 awards given and a $5 all-you-can eat pancake breakfast.

Pick up a form at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or YMCA, or register online at www.atlanticiowa.com. For questions, please call the Atlantic Area Chamber at 712.243.3017.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man accused of stealing money from a bank has also been accused of robbing two motels. The Sioux City Journal reports 21-year-old Michael Dutcher faces at least two counts of felony first-degree robbery in connection to motel robberies in May and June. Dutcher is accused of using a gun at one motel and a knife at the other business.

Dutcher also faces robbery and theft charges in connection to a recent bank robbery in Holstein. Authorities say he took about $82,000 from the bank and threatened tellers with a gun.

Two people were injured when a pickup and an SUV collided this (Monday) morning, in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the drivers of both vehicles, 73-year old Max M. Johnston, of Creston, and 50-year old Diane L. Kiddy, of Winterset, were transported by Stuart Rescue to hospitals in Creston and Winterset, respectively, following the crash on the Stuart Road at 150th Street at around 9:20-a.m.

Officials say a 2002 Caterpillar grader operated by 35-year old Kevin Pickrell, of Greenfield, was traveling northbound working on the shoulder of the road. A county truck was about one-quarter of a mile behind the grader with a sign on the rear, warning about the slow moving vehicle ahead.

The 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by Johnston ran into the rear of the grader. Kiddy’s 2005 Jeep Liberty then ran into the rear of the pickup. Both the pickup and SUV came to rest on the road. The grader was not damaged.

An Atlantic woman was arrested Friday on an assault charge. The Atlantic Police Department reports 30-year old Laura Madden was taken into custody for Simple Assault. Madden was booked into the Cass County Jail. On Saturday,50-year old Elvin Shrimpton, of Atlantic was arrested for Public Intoxication. That same day, 49-year old Eric Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication/2nd offense. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.  And on Sunday, 57-year old Jon Jordan, of Wiota, was cited for Urinating in Public.

In other news, the A-PD reports an accident Friday night caused $2,600 damage, but no one was injured. A vehicle driven by John Topham, of Griswold, was backing into a parking stall at the Cass County Fairgrounds, when Topham’s vehicle struck a vehicle behind it, owned by Sherry Warf, of Clarinda.  Damage from the mishap, which happened at around 8:04-p.m., amounted to $2,700.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday afternoon. In their report released today (Monday), authorities said an accident at 110th Street and Walnut Avenue had occurred at around 2:20-p.m., Thursday. A 2002 Chrysler 300-m driven by 47-year old Stacy Lynn Van Hal, of Creston, went out of control on the loose gravel, causing the car to enter the ditch. There was no report on damage to the vehicle. No citations were issued.

Joni Ernst, the Iowa Republican Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate, says it’s up to Bruce Braley, her Democratic opponent, to explain why he missed 78 percent of the hearings held by the House Veterans Affairs Committee when he served on the panel.  “I think he should have been attending those hearings, obviously,” Ernst told reporters this morning. “I heard in one account he had said that he had to skip a meeting to go to another meeting and he didn’t actually go to that other meeting…but that’s up for him. He has to justify why he wasn’t there at a time when he was failing our veterans.”

Ernst, a unit commander in the Iowa National Guard, returned to the campaign trail this morning (Monday) after two weeks of active duty. She spoke briefly at an early morning rally with about 150 veterans and National Guard soldiers and did not mention Braley by name or his attendance at VA hearings. The subject is now being pressed by a nearly two-and-a-half million dollar ad campaign against Braley. During a news conference, Ernst was asked if it was appropriate for the ad to accuse Braley of being AWOL — absent without leave — on veterans issues.

“That’s up to him to refute, but I think those are important issues and we need to focus on those,” Ernst said. “We’ve made a lot of promises to our veterans and we need to make sure that we are taking care of our veterans.” Ernst says V-A Hospitals should remain open, but she would support giving veterans vouchers or cards that they could use to obtain care at a local hospital or clinic, rather than forcing veterans to drive to a Veterans Affairs facility for care. According to Ernst, the problems with long wait times and substandard care have not cropped up at Iowa’s V-A facilities.

“I wish I could say that in every state out there, but unfortunately we have had many, many issues and we need elected officials that are willing to take on these problems head-on — not ignore them, not bury their heads in the sand,” Ernst said. “We need to address these issues head-on and find solutions.”

Ernst also says she opposes reducing the size of the U.S. active duty military force to pre-World War II levels.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowans who like to shop at stores where everything’s a dollar may soon see some changes. The Dollar Tree chain is buying rival Family Dollar for eight-and-a-half BILLION dollars. There are about 40 Dollar Trees in Iowa and around 20 Family Dollars. While the items at Dollar Tree all cost a buck or less, the Family Dollar stocks some items up to five-dollars, and higher.

The new Dollar Tree chain will become North America’s biggest discount retailer. Specifics on which stores will remain open haven’t been released.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Sheriff’s officials say no injuries were reported following an accident Sunday morning, in Anita. At around 6:45-a.m., a 2002 Buick LeSabre owned and driven by 62-year old Marcia Lynn Hockenberry, of Anita,  was traveling eastbound on Hillcrest Drive, when the car hit a parked 1990 Dodge pickup with an attached H&H Trailer. The truck and trailer, owned by James Calvin Dory, of Anita, sustained $3,100 damage altogether. The damage to Hockenberry’s car was estimated at $3,000.

In other news, the sheriff’s office says 34-year old Roger Dwayne Vincent, Jr.,  of Cumberland, was arrested Saturday on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Vincent was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.