(Update) –Police in Council Bluffs report a woman who was the subject of a regional “Attempt to Locate” search, turned her self in to authorities early this (Wednesday) morning. Officials say through a joint investigation with the Clarinda Police Department, 23-year old Sara Billi-Kier, of Clarinda,  cooperated with law enforcement and turned herself and her 8 month old daughter Taliah, over to the Police Department in Clarinda just after 1-a.m.

The child was found to be unharmed and has since been taken into protective custody. Sara Kier was arrested and is being held in Clarinda on a warrant out of Council Bluffs.

Late Tuesday morning. the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page, that the Council Bluffs Police Department was asking for the public’s assistance in locating Kier and her daughter. Officials say Sara took Taliah without permission, during a supervised visitation in Council Bluffs on May 6th. The incident occurred when a Nebraska Boys Town Child Organization social worker in charge of the supervision, went to the restroom at a restaurant where the visitation too place.

Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Dave Dawson told the Daily NonPareil that Kier lost custody of her child after Kier tested positive for meth. Dawson said it’s not clear why the visitation took place in Council Bluffs, since none of the parties involved in the dispute are from there.

In a post on her Facebook page early this morning, Kier said she knows she made a mistake, and that people would not understand what she is going through. She intended to turn her daughter over to her grandmother before Kier turned herself in.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Because the Iowa Senate declined to agree to a number of contentious policy proposals, a multifaceted spending bill will likely move to a negotiating committee. Lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Senate rejected the version of the so-called standings bill yesterday that previously passed the Republican-majority House. The bill now moves back to the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voters have rejected a proposal that would have allowed casino gambling in south-central Iowa’s Warren County. The Des Moines Register reports that unofficial results show more than 60 percent of voters rejected the measure. Warren County Citizens for Good Jobs and Wild Rose Entertainment had proposed building a casino, hotel, events center and bowling alley in northwest Norwalk, near Iowa Highways 5 and 28.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A disaster proclamation for 15 Iowa counties due to storms and flooding has been issued by Gov. Terry Branstad. The proclamation is the third such proclamation in recent weeks and covers counties in south and southeast Iowa. Counties covered by the proclamation are Appanoose, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

CLARION, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says an Osage teenager is a cold-blooded killer who was not insane when he shot his mother multiple times and tried to rape her. Assistant Iowa Attorney General Denise Timmins said during her closing argument in Wright County District Court in Clarion that 14-year-old Noah Crooks waited for the right time to shoot 37-year-old Gretchen Crooks. Noah is charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in the March 24, 2012, killing of his mother. The teen is relying on an insanity defense. A jury will begin deliberations today.

Officials at Cass County Memorial Hospital announced today (Tuesday), that the west entrance and parking lot (along 10th Street) will reopen Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The area had been closed for construction since early April.

CEO Pat Markham says they “Appreciate everyone’s cooperation and patience with this temporary closure.” The west entrance door will be open from 5:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Weekend and holiday hours will be 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. Patients and visitors coming to the hospital cafeteria, Rehabilitation Services, Human Resources, Educational Services, and Public Relations will find the west entrance especially convenient.

Governor Terry Branstad’s office has announced that retired Brig. Gen. Jodi Tymeson is resigning her post as head of Department of Veterans Affairs to assume her new role as the Chief Operating Officer of the Iowa Veterans Home. Tymeson’s first day will be May 28th.

Tymeson served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1974-2007. While there, she graduated from officer candidate school and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1982. She served as platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander and troop command commander – responsible for 3,450 soldiers.

Tymeson was selected to attend the Army War College as a national security fellow at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, graduating in 1999. She is the first female promoted to brigadier general in the Iowa Army National Guard. She retired in 2007 with 33 years of service. Tymeson’s husband, John, is a retired brigadier general, following his 34 years of military service. He is a Vietnam veteran, and currently serves as chair of the board of directors at the Food Bank of Iowa.

Jodi Tymeson also served as a full-time 6th grade teacher at Cedar Heights Elementary in Cedar Falls from 1988-1992, and taught as a substitute teacher from 1993-1998. From 2001-2010, Tymeson served nearly 30,000 constituents as a state representative for Madison, Warren and Dallas Counties. She served as House Education Committee chair for four years, in addition to a number of other committee assignments.

Gov. Branstad will begin the search for Tymeson’s replacement immediately.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that would require people convicted of certain aggravated misdemeanors to submit DNA samples now heads to the desk of Gov. Terry Branstad  for review. The Iowa House approved the Senate’s changes to the bill Tuesday on an 84 to 15 vote. The measure would require adults convicted of crimes like aggravated misdemeanor assault and theft to submit DNA samples to the federal DNA database.  Currently, only convicted felons and sexual offenders must submit samples.

The Senate changed the initial bill last week to exempt deferred judgment cases and misdemeanors related to hazardous waste, agricultural production and gambling. Traffic offenses are also exempt unless a person has three operating while intoxicated convictions in 12 years.  The Senate passed a similar bill last year, but it died in the House.

A ban on open burning in Mills County is scheduled to be lifted Wednesday afternoon. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports the Burn Ban, which was initiated in Mills County on April 8th, will end 4-p.m. Wednesday, because conditions are less conducive to field and grassland controlled burns, getting out of control. Once the ban is lifted, there will be no counties in Iowa which remain under such a ban.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Public school districts would be required to conduct background checks on all employees under a bill approved by the Iowa House. The measure that unanimously passed Tuesday requires districts to pre-screen job applicants to see if they are listed on the state sex offender registry and registries for child abuse and dependent adult abuse. That includes part-time and substitute employees.  Current law requires federal and state criminal checks for licensed teachers and state checks on bus drivers.

Under the measure, districts would recheck employees every five years after their hiring date.  Republican Rep.  Megan Hess of Spencer amended the bill to require businesses to conduct criminal history and abuse registry checks on motorized food vendors, such as ice cream truck drivers.  The bill returns to the Senate for review.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says trumpeter swans will be released at four locations in southwest Iowa as part of the DNR’s trumpeter swan relocation efforts to restore a wild free flying population to Iowa.

Four swans will be released at 10-a.m., May 8th, at the Mt. Ayr Wildlife Area’s Walnut Creek Lake, with the help from the Ringgold County Conservation Board. Four swans will be released at 2 p.m., May 8th, at Summit Lake, near Creston. The swans will be released near the boat ramp on the south side of Hwy. 25. Four swans will be released as well, beginning 10:30 a.m., May 9th, at Viking Lake State Park, near Stanton, with the help from the Montgomery County Conservation Board. The swans will be released near the restaurant/beach area. And, four swans will be released at 2:30 p.m., May 9th, at Lake Anita State Park, near Anita, with the help from the Cass County Conservation Board. The releases will occur rain or shine.

The public is invited to the releases. There will be a 20 minute presentation including an opportunity to see the swans up close. Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in North America. The all white birds can weigh up to 32 pounds and have an eight foot wingspan.

The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest on April 28th, of 28-year old Aaron McCutcheon. Officials say the Harlan man was taken into custody following an investigation into a domestic disturbance in the 1700 block of Lincoln Avenue. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree.

The H-PD says also, no injuries were reported following an accident Monday in the 1900 block of College Place. Vehicles driven by Gretchen Scofield and Matthew Gubbels, both of Harlan, collided as Gubbels’ 2003 Chrysler was backing out of a parking space. The damage was estimated at $1,500 altogether.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests over the past few days. Early Friday morning, 18-year old Dominique James Schlup, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving While Revoked following a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 34 and 350th Street. And, early Saturday morning, deputies arrested 25-year old William Joseph Seier, of Omaha, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense, following a traffic stop on Highway 59, about a mile north of Highway 34. Both men had their bonds set at $1,000.

Sheriff’s deputies also investigated reported incidents of: forgery, in Glenwood; a Theft in the 2nd degree, from a company in Council Bluffs, and, a report of Criminal Mischief in Malvern. There was also a non-injury accident which occurred Saturday.

Officials say Dru Little, of Glenwood, was traveling north on 220th Street about a mile south of Glenwood, when a deer ran onto the road. Little swerved to miss the animal, but ended-up striking the animal. The 1996 Saturn he was driving went out of control and rolled onto the passenger side into a ditch and came to rest on its wheels in a field.