BOYDEN, Iowa (AP) – A former city clerk in northwest Iowa is accused of stealing from the city. Online court records say 53-year-old Beth Sipma is charged with theft in Sioux County. Authorities say more than $36,000 in improper and unsupported disbursements was discovered during a state audit requested by the city of Boyden. The report said nearly $31,000 of the total included payroll and reimbursement payments made to Sipma. Other disbursements included city credit card payments for more than $1,300 in airline tickets.

The audit said the city’s bank noted in April 2015 that Sipma received more than one electronic paycheck during several months. Sipma resigned after being asked about the payments, which she described as payroll advances.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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

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The next “Healthy U” session this month at the Cass County Memorial Hospital, will be presented by Dr. Mark Johnson, MD and focus on “Summer Safety.” The educational session will be held at noon on Thursday, June 30^th in Conference Room 2 at CCMH.  Dr. Johnson will cover a wide variety of topics geared towards helping seniors have a safe, healthy summer. Dr. Johnson has worked at Cass County Health System for 29 years, and since 2012 has worked exclusively in the Emergency Department.

Johnson says “Summer presents a number of potential risks for older adults,” said Dr. Johnson. “We will talk about things like heat stroke, dehydration, and insect bites, but I’ll also cover general information about what to keep on hand for basic first aid.”

Healthy U is a free educational series offered by Cass County Health System that focuses on a different health topic each month. All registered attendees receive a healthy boxed meal in addition to the educational program presented by medical professionals.

For more information, or to make a reservation for Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says she wants to be sure that any proposal that would block those on a terror watch list from buying a gun has safeguards to protect the person’s rights. “There are things that we will be discussing when it comes to Second Amendment rights, are there additional things that can be done,” Ernst says. “We do have to ensure that there is due process with any American citizen that is being denied their rights.”

Presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says he would ban those on the watch list from buying guns. Iowa’s other U-S Senator, Chuck Grassley says he would not because of concerns that the lists are not accurate. Ernst says she has some of the same concerns as Grassley. “There are many people who exist on these lists who shouldn’t be on these lists,” Ernst says, “mistaken names, maybe a typo. Many people have the same name across the nation. And so to deny them a right to purchase a firearm when they are not a criminal, just the average Joe out on the street — that’s wrong.”

Ernst says she voted against a measure last year to ban those on watch lists from obtaining guns for that very reason. “I did support another amendment that would block suspected terrorists from obtaining a gun for up to 72 hours. And during that time, the F-B-I is able to investigate the individual to either confirm or rule out the identity and the suspected connection to terrorism of that individual,” Ernst says. She says the measure she supported is better than simply instituting a ban.

“This one provides due process, it delays the transfer of the firearm. And if the F-B-I did find out something, then they would be able to put a motion into the court system to stop that transfer. That’s common sense,” according to Ernst. Ernst also reiterated what she said earlier this week, that she does not support an outright ban on Muslims into the U-S. She says she does favor properly vetting all those who are coming into the country to ensure they do not have terrorist ties.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Indiana man has been sentenced to life in prison under a federal “three strikes” law after he was convicted of robbing a Muscatine bank. Thomas Alexander Davis III was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Davenport.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque police officer has been ticketed after causing a minor two-vehicle crash. The Telegraph Herald reports that 32-year-old Officer Ann Dauderman was cited Wednesday with failure to maintain control of her squad vehicle. According to a crash report, Dauderman was westbound in her squad car just before 2 a.m. Wednesday when she turned and collided with a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old Dubuque man.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — A proposal to build a psychiatric hospital in the Quad Cities has been paused for the third time by a state board’s inability to gather its members for a meeting. The Des Moines Register reports that the $14 million project in Bettendorf would add 72 psychiatric beds to Iowa. But developers haven’t been able to have a hearing with the full Iowa Health Facilities Council, the body that allows such projects to move forward.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 33-year-old Davenport woman is being held in the Scott County Jail after police say she sexually abused a 13-year-old boy. The Quad-City Times reports that the woman is being held on $10,000 bail. She’s been charged with third-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child. Each charge is a felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports an Emerson man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on drug charges. 49-year old Scott Timothy Hall faces a Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia charge, following his arrest at around 3:30-p.m. His bond was set at $1,300. And, 43-year old Michael James Beveridge, of Omaha, was arrested late Tuesday night for: Possession of a controlled substance, interference with official acts, eluding, speeding, no proof of insurance, no valid drivers license, failure to use seat belts, and fraudulent use of registration. His bond was set at $4,400.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 22-year old Ebon Hackett, of Glenwood, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, after the 2003 Pontiac he was driving left the road and entered a yard at 57890 Hilman Road. The car hit a pine tree, spun around and came to rest next to a large cottonwood tree. The accident happened at around 9:40-a.m., Tuesday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A sweltering heat wave is expanding as temperatures in the Midwest and South approach near record-setting levels in the waning days of spring. The National Weather Service says the number of states under heat advisories nearly doubled Thursday to 12. The affected states are Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. A Heat Advisory remains in effect from 1-p.m until 7-p.m. today for southwest Iowa (counties along and south of I-80)

Temperatures are forecast in the 90s across much of those states, but the humidity is expected to make them feel much hotter. Heat indexes are expected to hit 115 degrees in central Oklahoma and northeastern Arkansas.

The weather service in Little Rock said on Twitter: “It’s DISGUSTING out there!” In central Kansas’ Salina, the thermometer hit 106 degrees on Wednesday, tying the record for that date. Some relief is expected this weekend as the humidity decreases.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of bankers suggests there’s been a slight improvement in the weak economic outlook for rural areas of 10 Western and Plains states.

A report issued Thursday on the Rural Mainstreet Index says it rose to 43.9 this month from 40.9 in May. Survey officials say any score below 50 on any of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the overall index has remained below growth neutral for 10 months. He says that over the past 12 months, farm prices are down 9.5 percent, grain prices are off 4 percent and livestock prices are down 15 percent.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Due to the heat advisory in effect for today, the Adair City Hall will be open until 8:00 p.m. If anyone needs a place to cool off, you’re welcome to come on in. If you know of neighbors or elderly persons who might need a place to go, please advise them to come to the Adair City Hall.