Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines hospital says it’s taking action after learning of accusations that a former pharmacy technician there watered down powerful pain prescriptions of hospital patients. Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines says the pharmacy tech is no longer employed there. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that from late August to early October, more than 730 patients were given watered-down drugs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa department that processes unemployment checks will receive a $500,000 grant from the federal government to improve fraud detection and to modernize outdated computer systems. The U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday it is distributing more than $30 million in grants to 39 state agencies including Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa church is dropping its lawsuit against the state and the city of Des Moines over an antidiscrimination law that church officials believed could force them to abide by transgender bathroom rules. The Fort Des Moines Church of Christ filed a voluntarily dismissal Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa has filed a lawsuit against a contractor that it blames for shoddy construction work that damaged the historic Old Capitol building. UI hired Knutson Construction to restore and improve the campus icon after a 2001 fire destroyed parts of the building. In a lawsuit this month, the university says it discovered construction deficiencies, including a leaky roof and deteriorated wood siding.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports absentee voting is still available for the November 8 GENERAL ELECTION.  Absentee ballots may be voted in the Cass County Auditor’s office through Monday, November 7, 2016 at 5 pm.

IF VOTING AT THE COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE: the absentee voter may come to the CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE during the regular office hours of 8 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday, up through the day before the election and cast a ballot.  In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 9 AM to 5 PM.  A voter may register and vote and an absentee ballot on the same day.

IF VOTING BY MAIL: A written request may be mailed or hand delivered to the County Auditor’s office.  (Absentee request forms are available at the auditor’s office and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.state.ia.us).  A ballot along with instructions on how to complete the ballot will be mailed to the requester.  For the ballot to be counted the completed ballot then must be returned either by personal carrier to the office of County Auditor before close of polls on November 8 or returned by mail postmarked no later than November 7.  Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 PM on Friday, November 4.  All BALLOTS ARE TO BE RETURNED whether they are voted or not voted.  A postage paid return envelope is provided with each absentee ballot mailed out.

VOTER REGISTRATION: In order to vote in Iowa a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, under the person’s current name, and at the person’s current address.

The county election commissioner recommends that persons not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and are planning to vote in the November GENERAL ELECTION, pre-register in the office of the County Auditor as soon as possible.  You may register or re-register and vote absentee on the same day.  Last day to pre-register in the office of the County Auditor is Saturday, October 29, 2016.

The address for the Cass County Auditor / Election Commissioner is:

CASS COUNTY AUDITOR, COURTHOUSE, 5 W 7TH ST, ATLANTIC, IOWA 50022

(Phone:712-243-4570;   Email: auditor@casscoia.us)

The Adair County Auditor’s Office, Wednesday, issued a reminder to person voting in the County, that the electronic poll books they use on Election Day has the ability to scan the back of the voter’s driver’s license or the bar code on the voter registration card.  It is not required to present a driver’s license or voter registration card but it does speed up the process.  The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. on Election Day and close at 9:00 p.m.  Please contact the Auditor’s Office at 641-743-2546 if you are unsure where to vote.  Polling locations and sample ballots were published in the newspapers the week of October 24, 2016.

Absentee Voting continues to take place at the Adair County Courthouse Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  The Auditor’s office will be open on Saturday October 29, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday November 5, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

The Harlan Police Department, Wednesday, issued a report on arrests and incidents. Officials say on Oct. 12th, 28-year old Eric Brandt, of Harlan, was taken into custody when officers responded to the report of a domestic assault.  Brandt was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for an alleged assault on woman from Harlan.

On Oct. 13th, 39-year old Laura Traufler, of Vail, was taken into custody when officers were called to the 900 block of Farnam Street.  Traufler was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of a controlled substance, enhanced to a class D Felony because of past convictions for possession.

On Oct. 14th, 34-year old Michael Bruck, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Bruck was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with open container driver and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

On Oct. 15th, three male subjects were cited by Harlan Police, after officers were called several times about vehicles driving carelessly in the Veteran Auditorium parking lot.  29-year old Joseph Schwarte, of Westphalia, and 30-year old Steven Riley, of Harlan, were cited for careless driving.  Charges against other subjects are pending.

On Oct. 18th, 55-year old Curt Whiteley, of Harlan, was taken into custody when officers received a report of a man about to fall off his electric scooter.  Whiteley was located lying in the street at 11^th and Victoria.  He was taken to the Myrtue Medical ER and, once cleared medically, was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with intoxication in public and open container.That same day, 23-year old Brandon Allen, of Harlan, was arrested on an active warrant out of Cerro Gordo County for theft 3^rd degree.  Allen was transported to the Shelby County Jail to await extradition to Mason City.

On Oct. 20th, 50-year old George Hadfield, of Harlan, was taken into custody following a traffic stop.  Hadfield was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving under suspension.  He was also cited for failure to obey stop or yield sign, windshield obstruction, and failure to prove security against liability.  A passenger in the vehicle, 26-year old Kaleigh Turner, of Prairie City, was taken into custody on an active Cass County warrant.

And, last Friday, a Harlan man reported the theft of miscellaneous tools from a garage in the 2000 block of College Place.  The incident remains under investigation.

Project Art Church will hold a community fund raiser on Sunday, November 6^th from noon to 3 p.m. at Project Art Church, 201 E. Fourth Street, Malvern, Iowa. Funds generated from this event will support installation of a heating and cooling system in the upper level of the historic 1874 church turned art studio and gallery. Improvements to Project Art Church will support year-round use for events such as weddings, live music, private events space, and increased tourism opportunities. This event will help Project Art Church create a more sustainable livelihood and increase traffic from an outside audience to support area businesses.

Zack Jones purchased the 142-year-old, former Presbyterian Church in 2012. Since then, he’s transformed it into a living space, available through Airbnb rental, a working studio and a gallery; but most importantly it has provided a creative hub in the heart of Malvern, spurring on community growth, vision and revitalization for this small, rural community.

The event will feature both a silent and live auction of Jones’ original work as well as donated pieces from several regional artists and regional tourism packages beginning at 1 pm. A free will donation lunch will begin at noon, with food provided by Classic Café and smoked salmon from Mulholland’s Grocery. Musical entertainment will include performances by George and Clay McGargill, Joe and Alanna, B Side 3 and Repeat O’Fender.

For more information, contact Zack Jones at (480) 628-9234 or zjpaintings@gmail.com.

Home sales and prices are on the rise across the state. Over the first nine months of this year, the number of homes sold in Iowa rose 4.3 percent compared to the same period last year. The Iowa Association of Realtors also reports 3,853 homes were sold last month — a 7.5 percent increase over September 2015. The median sale price for a home in Iowa last month was $149,645. That compares to $139,900 one year ago.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, met Tuesday evening, to discuss the prospects and costs for improvements and/or possible additions to the District’s facilities. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said Jerry Purdy, with the Design Alliance Architect firm, was on-hand to go over the current status of the District’s buildings, with regard to space needs, and went over a scenario for construction in all of the buildings to address those needs. He also went over the cost projection for the options the Board is considering. (Click on the left side of the audio bars to listen)

Amstein says the Board needed the information to prioritize and put together a Capital Improvements Plan for the Districts. He says if the renovation option was selected, there would be several improvements made to the District’s buildings.

Snyder and Associates Engineers, who conducted the Athletic Facilities study for the District, were also at Tuesday’s meeting. They provided an overview of the various options and costs associated with the baseball/softball complex, the Trojan Bowl, the possibility of another gymnasium at the high school that would provide training rooms, additional lockers and storage space

At their next regular meeting, the Atlantic School Board will examine all the information available and try to put together a feasible plan to address the need for space, as well as how to pay for the projects.

A woman from Audubon County was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year old Ashlie Renee Kluver, of Gray, was taken into custody at around midnight, and brought to the Audubon County Jail, where she was being held on $2,000 bond.

Kluver had been placed on probation following her plea of guilty in Oct. 2015, to charges of Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and Child Endangerment. She’s scheduled to appear in District Court on Thursday, Nov. 10th.

A Carroll County man died, following an ATV accident Monday evening, west of Gray, in northwestern Audubon County. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 75-year old Merlin Borkowski, of rural Manning, was transported to the Manning Hospital by Manning Rescue, where he later died from his injuries. Authorities say Borkowski was traveling west on 110th Street at around 5:20-p.m., west of Eagle Avenue, when for reasons unknown, he abruptly swerved into the north ditch. He was ejected from the 4-wheeler as it rolled over.

(Updated w/additional details 1-p.m.)

Two Creston Police Department vehicles were damaged during a pursuit late Tuesday night. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Creston Police Officer Samuel Abell, of Johnston, activated his SUV’s lights and sirens in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop at around 11:17-p.m., Tuesday, after the driver of a 1999 Chevy Blazer failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Jefferson and Sumner Streets, in Creston. The driver of the Blazer, 24-year old Casey Ray Welcher, of Creston, attempted to elude the officer by taking off at a high rate of speed. The pursuit went through the southwest side of Creston before eventually heading south on High and Dry road. Officers continued to pursue the SUV, which was traveling in excess of 95-miles per hour.

The SUV turned west onto 205th Street. By that time, a Police car driven 44-year old Creston Police Officer Eric Shawler, of Creston, was also in pursuit of the Blazer.

Casey Welcher (Photo courtesy Creston P-D)

The Blazer went out of control due to Welcher’s erratic driving and high speed. The vehicle partially entered the south ditch, where Welcher over-corrected, causing the SUV to shoot across 205th Street and enter the north ditch.

When the Blazer came out of the ditch and onto the shoulder, it traveled east on 205th, in the direction of both officers’ vehicles. Officer Abell swerved to miss the Blazer, but was unable to avoid a collision. The 2017 Ford Explorer he was driving was struck on the right rear, causing the Explorer to lose control and skid into the path of the 2013 Dodge Charger being driven by Officer Shawler, who was attempting to stop to also avoid a collision with the Blazer.

The Blazer hit the Explorer again and entered the north ditch, where it came to rest. Welcher tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended minutes later. No injuries were reported. The Police Department Explorer sustained $2,500 damage. The Charger sustained $8,000 damage, while the Blazer sustained disabling damage that amunted to $500.

Welcher was arrested for: Attempted Murder; Eluding; Criminal Mischief in the 1st degree; Driving While Barred, and OWI 3rd offense. He was also cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance, failure to obey stop and yield right right of way, signs, as well as for speeding. Welcher was being held on $100,000 cash bond only, in the Union County Jail.