BLAIR, Neb. (AP) — The former Dana College campus in Blair will be renamed for the couple donating it to an organization planning to offer housing and programs to low-income elderly, young people aging out of foster care and others. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the 151-acre campus will be called the Frank and Jane Krejci Life and Learning Center. The organization is Angels Share, which is a resource and support for service organizations.

Frank Krejci is an Omaha developer who bought the Dana campus for $3.5 million in 2013. The campus has been closed since 2010 after an accreditation body refused to approve the college’s sale to for-profit investors. Midland University announced in 2013 plans to reopen the campus but dropped them after officials learned the costs were prohibitive compared to other growth options.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health said today (Friday), that the spread and severity of influenza is building in Iowa. The department said there have been four new influenza-related deaths: an elderly (81+ years of age) female and older adult (61 to 80 years of age) female in Southeast Iowa; an elderly female in Northeast Iowa; and an elderly male in Northwest Iowa.

Since October 2017, a total of six influenza-related deaths have been reported:

Northeast (one death)
Northwest (two deaths)
Southeast (two deaths)
Eastern (one death)
The average age of the influenza-related deaths is 86. Three individuals had underlying conditions or contributing factors reported.

State Epidemiologist and IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk said “These deaths are a sad reminder that influenza hits the very young, very old and those with weakened immune systems especially hard. While it’s important that these individuals get the flu vaccine, it’s equally important that young and healthy Iowans be vaccinated so they don’t spread the flu to others who may be at higher risk.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends anyone over 6 months of age receive a flu vaccination. Quinlisk says if you have not received a flu shot yet, it’s not too late. Go get vaccinated today.

Because influenza is not a “reportable” disease in Iowa, doctors are not required to notify IDPH each time a case is diagnosed; however, IDPH conducts influenza surveillance that helps identify what strains of flu are circulating, how widespread illness is, and in what regions of the state illness is occurring. While cases of influenza are not reportable, influenza-related deaths are reported to IDPH. Influenza can be prevented or its severity diminished with the flu vaccine. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. It comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days.

If flu symptoms start, call your health care provider right away – especially if you are at high risk of complications and serious disease. If you start on anti-viral medications within a day or two of when your symptoms start, your risk of serious disease, hospitalization and even death can be reduced.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 4-year-old child has been found safe inside a sport utility that had been stolen in Sioux City. Sioux City station KTIV reports that the owner told police that the child was inside the running SUV when it was taken early Friday morning near Briar Cliff University. The vehicle was soon found abandoned, and the child was returned home.

No arrest has been reported. The child’s name hasn’t been released.

LARCHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Water from frozen water pipes that burst has damaged a casino resort in northwest Iowa. Subzero temperatures outside froze the fire system pipes at the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood. The water released last Saturday damaged 18 of the hotel’s 97 rooms, a meeting room and the men’s portion of the spa.

General Manager Sharon Haselhoff told the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on Thursday the repair costs could run between $500,000 and $1 million. Haselhoff isn’t sure when the repairs will be finished but says everything at the resort casino is back in operation, including the fire suppression system and the spa. The casino opened in 2011.

A female from Creston reported to Police today (Friday), that sometime between 4:30-and 7-p.m. Thursday, someone stole a Series 1, black, Apple Smart Watch from her locker, at school. The watch was valued at $250. No arrests have been reported.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from eastern Iowa was arrested Thursday night on theft and burglary charges, following a traffic stop and pursuit. Authorities say 40-year old Zac Bratzel, of Marion, was arrested near 255th St. and Pecan Ave. in Guthrie County. He faces multiple charges related to two vehicle pursuits, a motor vehicle theft and burglary from Guthrie Center REC, along with drug charges. Bratzel was being held at the Guthrie County Jail awaiting an appearance before the Guthrie County Magistrate.

The incident leading to his arrest began when Bratzel fled from a Guthrie County Sheriff’s deputy following an attempted traffic stop west of Guthrie Center on Highway 44. The deputy tried to stop Bratzel’s vehicle, which was clocked at 109 MPH. The deputy pursued Bratzel into Guthrie Center and lost sight of the fleeing vehicle. At approximately 10-p.m, Thursday, a Guthrie Center citizen reported a vehicle theft in progress from Guthrie Center REC.

Law enforcement responded to the area and located the stolen REC vehicle as it was fleeing the scene south of Guthrie Center on gravel roads. After a short pursuit, the stolen vehicle pulled over and Bratzel was taken into custody without further incident.  The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Panora Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol. All criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

Police in Council Bluffs say a convenience store was robbed today (Friday), at around 3-a.m.  Officers were dispatched to the Kwik Shop at 1749 W. Broadway for a reported robbery. Upon arrival officers made contact with the victim. The victim said he was returning to the store after taking out the trash, when the suspect approached the victim and displayed a handgun ordering the victim back into the store. Once inside the store the suspect then demanded money. The victim gave the suspect the money out of the register. There were no injuries reported.

The suspect left the store and fled west and then south. The victim told officers that he noticed a red Chevy truck pass the store a short time prior to the robbery. While officers were checking the area for the suspect they located a red Chevy truck. The truck had no plates and when officers investigated further they located the suspect hiding on the floor of the truck attempting to hide under a coat. The suspect’s name was not immediately released. He was was transported to the Criminal Investigation Division for further questioning. Inside the truck, officers located under a seat, a firearm matching the description given by the victim.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say the water tower in the Waterloo suburb of Evansdale is functioning again after a suspected ice blockage melted. Officials also lifted the boil order after tests showed Thursday that the water was safe for consumption. Residents and businesses lost water service for a time Monday, regaining it at lower pressure when well water was redirected into the system, bypassing the tower.

Water plant and system manager Mike Ellison suspects that ice had blocked a standpipe. Mayor Doug Faas says the rising temperature let the tower cure itself. The National Weather Service says the temperature at the Waterloo airport got down to 20 below zero (minus 29 Celsius) Monday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With Powerball and Mega Millions lottery games offering huge jackpots, some winners will also soon face enormous tax bills. Lowered federal income tax rates offer some relief, as the top rate would drop from 39.6 percent to 37 percent. But in most states, those changes are offset by limits on deducting state tax from federal taxes.

As Steven Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Tax Policy Center, puts it, “The new tax bill will not give any benefit to most lottery winners.” There are exceptions, as 10 states don’t tax lottery winnings. But in the others, the newly rich won’t get much of a break. The jackpot in tonight’s (Friday night’s) Mega Millions drawing is $445 million. The Powerball game’s top prize has reached $550 million for Saturday night’s drawing.