Police in Red Oak say a woman distracted by a police and/or rescue situation happening nearby, backed into a parked vehicle, Thursday evening. 55-year old Wilma Dykes, of Red Oak, was backing up to park next to a legally parked 1998 Dodge Stratus, but wasn’t paying attention to how close she was. Her 2007 Kia Sorento collided with the Dodge, causing a total of $2,500 damage. The accident happened at around 7:25-p.m., near the intersection of Grimes and 6th Streets, in Red Oak. Dykes was cited by Police for Failure to have a Valid Driver’s license.

Police in Red Oak say three men were arrested Thursday, on assault charges. Officials say 34-year old Luke Daniel Rinehart, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6-p.m. on an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Aggravated Assault. Rinehart was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And at around 10-p.m., Thursday, Red Oak Police arrested 42-year old Roland Charles Chapin, Jr., and Roland Charles Chapin the 3rd, both of Red Oak. Chapin, Jr., faces a felony Assault charge, while Roland Chapin III faces a simple misdemeanor charge of Simple Assault. Both men were arrested at a location on Joy Street and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where Chapin, Jr.’s bond was set at $5,000, and Roland Chapin III’s bond was set at $300.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Republican straw poll, which has long been held in the college town of Ames, is moving. State GOP officials announced yesterday that the event would be held in Boone at the Central Iowa Expo on August 8th. They said earlier this year they would take bids to host the political gathering, in an effort to better manage costs.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Department of Transportation officials say they’re getting a good response from electronic signs that use sometimes snarky messages to promote driving safety. Dakin Schultz, a traffic planner for the state DOT in Sioux City, tells the Sioux City Journal the signs have been grabbing the attention of drivers across the state with messages including sassy wordplay and parodies of popular songs.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 28-year-old man was charged with possessing explosive devices after officers who broke up a fight at a Storm Lake residence found homemade bombs. The officers responded early Wednesday morning to a report about the fight and arrested three people on charges related to the melee. The officers report that they found bombs inside the residence and subsequently arrested Dion Caldwell.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a body found on an island in the Cedar River has been identified as a man who was reported missing about a week ago. Investigators found 25-year-old Matthew Hudson Junior dead on an island north of the Quaker Oats bridge yesterday.

The City of Red Oak, and a company connected to the outgoing chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party have reached a settlement in a dispute over a now-demolished church the company owned in the city. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Kirojen LLC of Lincoln purchased a tax lien for the abandoned church at a tax sale in 2012. J.L. Spray, the GOP chairman, was listed in Iowa state records as the company’s president. The city later described the church as dangerous, with a sagging roof and broken windows, and it wanted Spray to pay to have it demolished.

The Iowa Senate’s Democratic leader says he doesn’t “condone” but does sympathize with the decision an eastern Iowa superintendent has made. Davenport superintendent Art Tate announced this week that rather than cut staff, he will dip deeper into the district’s reserve funds and use more money than allowed by law to make up for a short-fall in state support. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal, of Council Bluffs, commented on the situation Thursday during his weekly news conference.

“I don’t condone lawbreaking, either by local superintendents or by House Republicans with the aid of Governor Branstad,” Gronstal said. “Here’s what Iowans need to know about this situation: this is simply the highest profile example of many discouraging events across our state.” A statement issued by the Iowa Department of Education indicated the superintendent could be charged with a misdemeanor and could lose his job if he follows through on his plan.

Tate argues the long-standing formula for distributing state aid to schools needs to be rewritten, to fix the advantage districts in more affluent areas have over districts like his. Tate has said he’s following the example of Republicans in the legislature who have failed to follow existing state law which requires school funding decisions to be made far in advance. Republicans balked at following the law and did not vote last year to set the amount of general state aid that should be forwarded to districts for the school year that begins in August.

Gronstal says there were NO meetings this week in the statehouse on the school funding subject and it’s time for Iowans to pester Republicans to make a decision. “We need to show school boards like the Davenport School Board and to show students like the Davenport students that the State of Iowa will stop eroding our reputation for great schools,” Gronstal said Thursday. Republicans have proposed a one-and-a-quarter percent increase in general state aid to district for the school year that begins this fall. Democrats propose a four percent increase. That’s a gulf of about 100-million dollars between the two parties.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Senate has passed a bill that would allow a person in Iowa to win money in fantasy sports contests. The Senate voted 32-16 to approve the bill Thursday. It now heads to the House, where lawmakers are considering a similar bill. Current law allows people in Iowa to participate in fantasy sports contests, but they can’t win prizes. This bill would allow winnings.

Fantasy sports contests typically let participants build teams online that compete against other user-generated teams. A similar bill failed in the Senate last year. Democratic Sen. Jeff Danielson, chairman of the state government committee, says the bill would align with laws in over 40 other states.

Some lawmakers expressed concern about the out-of-state companies running fantasy sports contests and the amount of money they may collect.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A woman from Ames has been promoted to become the first woman in a management position for the Iowa Army National Guard’s unit in Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports) Lt. Alishia Bauman was promoted to captain last month, making her the first female primary staff officer in the history of the Council Bluffs unit. Bauman began training earlier this week at Camp Dodge, north of Des Moines.

Maj. James Avrams, the officer in charge of the Council Bluffs armory, says Bauman proved she’s capable of taking on the new role throughout her seven years in the Guard. He says having Bauman in a managerial role “brings a different perspective to an army infantry battalion.” Bauman says the promotion has been both a thrill and an honor.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says an Atlantic man was arrested last weekend, on drug charges. In their report issued today (Thursday), officials said deputies arrested 50-year old Brian Keith Cable, Saturday, on Sheriff’s Office warrants for Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Cable was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $5000 bond.
On Wednesday (March 11th), deputies in Cass County arrested 23-year old Carly Jean Seddon, of Atlantic,  on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Possession of Marijuana. Seddon was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on her own recognizance. Also on Wednesday, 46-year old Carl Daniel Wiechmann,  of Griswold, was on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault 2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Wiechmann was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.And last Friday, March 6th, 37-year old Robert Lee Atkinson, of Adair, was arrested in Cass County, on a charge of Driving While Barred. Atkinson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2000 bond.

Police in Glenwood report 35-year old Kerri Thomas, of Glenwood was arrested Wednesday on an Assault charge. Thomas was being held in the Mills County Jail on $300 bond.

Authorities in southwest and western Iowa are searching for a couple from Prescott, who allegedly abducted their 14-year old son on Tuesday, from a foster care facility, in Council Bluffs.

Carolyn Cook

James Strohman

According to WOI-TV in Ames, 47-year-old Carolyn Cook and 55-year-old James Strohman went to visit Cook’s 14-year-old son Dakota, who was living at Children’s Square USA, a foster care unit in Council Bluffs. Dakota had been removed from Cook’s care by the DHS.

Cook also had her 14-year-old daughter Cheyenne with them during the visit, who still lives with her mother. Cook and Strohman were allowed to visit Dakota at 7:15-a.m., Tuesday, and was supposed to return him by 8:30-a.m., but they never returned.

Cheyenne

Dakota

Authorities in Adams and Pottawattamie County are looking at surveillance video from Children’s Square USA, Walmart and gas stations because they’re unsure what model and color of car the couple is driving. Officials also have not identified a license plate number.

Both law enforcement agencies are asking the public to be watchful for the couple and the teens. While they don’t believe the teens are in danger, but are concerned, because they claim the couple isn’t fit to care for them.