Officials with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation announced Wednesday they are willing to commit $1 million for a planned community center located at the Mills County Fairgrounds in Malvern. According to the Daily NonPareil, the 16,000-square-foot building to house the Mills County Extension and Outreach offices, and it will serve as a center for the county and region. The building, with a maximum seating capacity for 400 people, is the first climate-controlled facility on the fairgrounds.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked Iowa transportation officials for permission to build a temporary memorial tombstone that they say will honor hundreds of turkeys killed in a recent truck crash. Ankeny resident and PETA member Alex Moore says in a letter dated Tuesday that he wants to erect the 10-foot structure in remembrance of more than 500 turkeys killed in a crash April 12th in Sioux City. The truck transporting the animals overturned.

Moore says in the letter that the tombstone, which would be up for a month, would promote a meat-free diet as well as safe driving. The tombstone would be provided by PETA. The letter is addressed to Highway Division Director John Adam.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would end greyhound racing in Council Bluffs but permits racing to continue in Dubuque is scheduled to be considered this (Thursday) morning by a Senate subcommittee. A bill was introduced late Wednesday that would pay out $72 million to the industry over seven years. Mystique Casino in Dubuque would pay $7 million over seven years and Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs casino would pay $65 million over seven years. The bill would end live racing in Council Bluffs on December 31st, 2015.

The Iowa Greyhound Association would be allowed to negotiate a five-year lease to manage racing at the Dubuque track but Cedar Falls Democratic Senator Jeff Danielson says racing would end there too if it’s not profitable. He says the bill has broad bipartisan support.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House and Senate have approved an education budget that should let higher education officials freeze tuition for a second-straight year. The Des Moines Register reports both chambers approved a $986.1 budget last night and sent the measure to Governor Terry Branstad.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Floyd County officials have revoked the appointments of two members of its veterans affairs commission. The Floyd County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to remove Ron Munshower and Sandra Paul from the Floyd County Veterans Affairs Commission because of alleged violations to the state’s open meetings law. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports a former commissioner filed a complaint about Munshower and Paul in March to the Iowa Public Information Board.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Police in Marshalltown are investigating the use of a BB gun near an elementary school. Captain Brian Batterson with the Marshalltown Police Department tells KCCI an unidentified person shot a BB gun yesterday morning that hit the window of a street sweeper. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A principal says two middle school students in Burlington were suspended for writing song lyrics in class that included references to gangs and killing people. The Hawk Eye reports police were sent to Aldo Leopold Middle School April 7th after a teacher discovered two 13-year-old students’ lyrics. Local police say they took no action because a crime had not been committed.

Authorities in southwest Iowa are investigating the circumstances surrounding a death in Taylor County. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) says on Wednesday (April 23rd), the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call indicating a shooting had occurred. Authorities arrived on scene and identified the body of an adult male who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. The individual was transported to Heartland Medical Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri where he died.

An investigation into the shooting death is ongoing by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Identification of the individual is being withheld pending family notification. An autopsy is pending at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.

The communities of Guthrie Center, Missouri Valley and Villisca have received a portion of $80,000 in grants from “Keep Iowa Beautiful,” (KIB) as part of its 2014 Community Beautification Program. This is the fourth year of the grant program that provides a major boost for community beautification and enhancement in communities of 5,000 and under.

Gerry Schnepf, Executive Director of KIB says “In the four year history of the Beautification Grant Program $320,000 has been awarded to over 70 communities in Iowa.” Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp said the DNR is “Pleased that Governor Branstad has designated April as Keep Iowa Beautiful Month,” and that “The DNR is committed to helping Iowans build vibrant and beautiful communities.”

In the KJAN listening area, the Dora Taylor Community Trust in Guthrie Center received a grant amounting to $3,500 for a sign project. The City of Guthrie Center received $3,893 from KIB for trash receptacles. The City of Missouri Valley received a Keep Iowa Beautiful grant for $5,000 for the Second Street Pocket Park, and the City of Villisca received a grant amounting to $1,858, for the Lover’s Lane Trail Extension.

Funding and reimbursement is available for expenses incurred only after July 1, 2014 and the project must be completed by June 30, 2015. Funding is authorized by the Iowa Legislature from the Solid Waste Alternative Program (SWAP).

Recent vandalism at an eastern Iowa cemetery has drawn attention both for the ages of the headstones and the ages of the culprits. The vandalism at Oak Hill Cemetery in Central City happened on April 12th. Around 60 headstones were knocked over or torn out of the ground. Many of the headstones are so weather-worn that the engravings can no longer be read. Other have death dates from the mid 1800’s. Linn County Sheriff’s Deputies say three children, ages 6 and 7, have confessed to the crime. The damage is estimated at $3,000. The sheriff’s office reports the board of trustees for the cemetery is working with the parents of the children and no charges will be filed.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says one person was arrested and two accidents were investigated, Tuesday. 41-year old Larry Steven Hutchings, of Emerson, was arrested at around 5-p.m. Tuesday for Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300.

And no injuries were reported following accidents that happened early Tuesday morning and late Tuesday afternoon, in Mills County. Officials say a 2003 Jeep driven by Samantha Shatava, of Glenwood, was traveling south on 240th Street at around 1-a.m, when she swerved to miss a deer about one-half mile northeast of Glenwood. Her vehicle went into the ditch and hit an embankment.

Authorities said also, a 1998 Buick driven by Aaron Heard, of Glenwood, was traveling east on Elrod Avenue at around 3:45-p.m. , when the car went out of control on a curve. The vehicle rolled into the east ditch and came to rest on a small, portable fence. Heard was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office also investigated an incident of burglary and theft, Tuesday. Officials say the incident at Loess Hills Harley Davidson in Pacific Junction, was reported at around 9:15-a.m.