IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 48-year-old man accused of abducting his 9-year-old stepdaughter in Solon will be returned to Johnson County to face domestic abuse, weapons and other charges. The abduction of Brianna Crane on Saturday prompted officials to issue an Amber Alert. The Iowa Public Safety Department says the girl was dropped off safely to law enforcement by a third party around 1:30 a.m. Sunday through an arranged meeting.

Her stepfather, Kenneth Johns, was arrested about 9:35 a.m. Sunday after holding officers at bay for about 2 1/2 hours at a residence in Davenport.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday morning (March 10th) in Greenfield, with regard to the Fiscal Year 2016 Adair County Budget. The 9:30-a.m. hearing takes places as part of the Adair County Board of Supervisor’s meeting, which begins at 9-a.m.

Following the hearing, the Board will act on a Resolution approving the FY 2016 Budget, and other budgetary matters, including the Capital Projects Plan for FY2016 and a Compensation Schedule Resolution.

w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested recently, and two thefts were investigated. Officials say 22-year old Christian Robert Edward Mills, of Creston, was arrested Sunday morning on OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Concealed Weapon, charges. Mills was later released from the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, 38-year old Sara Nicole Exline, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center Friday afternoon, on charges that include Driving While Suspended, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Meth, and Possession of Marijuana. Exline was later released on $2,000 bond.

Authorities said also, a Creston resident reported on March 5th that his Snap-On brand air hammer was stolen from 410 West Adams St. sometime between 5:10-p.m. March 4th, and 7:10-a.m. March 5th. The loss was estimated at $350. And, an Afton resident reported that his Snap-On 1/2-inch drive impact wrench was stolen from the same location (410 W. Adams St.), sometime between 5:15-p.m. March 4th and 8-a.m. March 5th. The loss was estimated at $450.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A San Francisco-bound jet has made an unscheduled stop in Sioux City to get help for an ailing crew member. JetBlue Airways says in a news release that Flight 415 from New York City made a priority landing at 7:25 p.m. Sunday because of a medical issue on board. Airline spokesman Morgan Johnston said Monday morning that it was his understanding that the first officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment and has already been discharged.

The flight of the Airbus A-321 carrying 159 passengers and six crew members originated at John F. Kennedy Airport. Johnston says another plane and crew were sent to Sioux City to carry the passengers on to San Francisco International. The plane was scheduled to land there by 4:35 a.m.

A traffic stop early this (Monday) morning in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a 21-year old man on alcohol and other charges. Red Oak Police say Steven Austin Ripley, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 3-a.m. near the intersection of West Bridge and Broadway Streets. Ripley was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for having an Open Container of alcohol as a driver, which is a $330 fine. Ripley was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment and Prevention Program warns, for many people, placing a few small bets on the NCAA Basketball Tournament can lead to gambling addiction. March is designated as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Eric Preuss says up to two-percent of the state’s adult population — or roughly 43,000 Iowans — have a gambling disorder. “We also know that 16-percent, approximately 369,000 Iowans, are at risk for developing a gambling disorder — meaning they’ve experienced in the past year at least one sign or symptom of a gambling disorder,” Preuss said. People with a gambling disorder can impact a lot of lives, according to Preuss.

“Although the percentage of Iowans with an actual gambling disorder is relatively low, almost one in five adult Iowans, around 18-percent, have said they are negatively or have been negatively affected by the gambling behavior of someone they know,” Preuss said. The Iowa Department of Public Health offers services to counter problem gambling — primarily through the 1-800-BETS-OFF hotline and the website: www.1800BETSOFF.org.
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“The department funds 10 problem gambling treatment programs that cover all 99 counties in the state of Iowa,” Preuss said. “Over 600 Iowans receive help each year with treatment services.” March was selected as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month because of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The FBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is wagered illegally each year on “March Madness.”

(Radio Iowa)

Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a reported assault in progress over the weekend say a Riverton woman was arrested for Domestic Abuse/3rd offense. 49-year old Linda Rene Mees was being held without bond in the Fremont County Jail.

Authorities say when deputies, assisted by Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol arrived at Mees’ home in Riverton on Sunday, they saw several items broken in the house, and a male occupant of the home advised Mees had spit on him, in addition to breaking the items.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa drivers will stay out of the fast lane for now, after lawmakers did not advance a bill that would have boosted the speed limit on interstate highways, bringing it in line with many nearby states. The bill sought to raise the speed limit on interstate highways to 75 miles per hour.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Since announcing his plan to explore running for president, Jeb Bush has courted high-dollar donors and delivered weighty speeches. This weekend, he was at a pizza restaurant in Iowa for some traditional “retail” politicking. The former Florida governor arrived in Cedar Rapids behind schedule on Saturday night, a sign as strong as any that he’s running for president. With his open-collared shirt coming untucked, Bush took questions for more than 30 minutes.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert after a hearing-impaired 9-year-old eastern Iowa girl was found. Captain Gary Kramer with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said that Brianna Crane was dropped off with law enforcement around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Then Davenport Police arrested the 48-year-old man suspected of taking the girl around 9:30 yesterday morning.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A pair of Iowa sisters in their 80s who were always close in life died on the same day earlier this year. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 84-year-old Roseanna Van Syoc and 87-year-old Erna Galbraith died within hours of each other on February 28th.