Authorities are investigating a shooting incident in Montgomery County that left the victim in critical condition. According to Red Oak Police, the Montgomery County Communications Center received a call just before 10-p.m. Wednesday, with regard to a shooting at a residence in the 400 block of east Coolbaugh Street. When officers arrived, they found 28-year old Cody Allen Keith Tunnell, of Red Oak, had suffered a severe gunshot wound to the face.

Red Oak Fire and Rescue personnel performed treatment at the scene before transporting Tunnell to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. The man was later transferred by helicopter to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, where he was reported to be in stable but critical condition this (Thursday) morning.

The Iowa DCI was contacted to investigate the scene, and a search warrant was obtained. Following a thorough forensic examination and interviews with witnesses to the incident, preliminary evidence gathered indicates Tunnell’s injuries are possibly accidental. Authorities say Tunnell may have thought the weapon he was handling was properly unloaded.

The case will remains under investigation until authorities can speak with Tunnell about the incident.

A new report from the Iowa Policy Project (IPP) finds many work-support policies for low-income Iowa families are presenting barriers to those families moving out of poverty. IPP research director Peter Fisher says the “basic needs” cost of living for an Iowa family is two to three times higher than federal poverty guidelines. “Therein lies the problem, because most public benefit programs, including these work supports, are geared to the official federal poverty guidelines and most of them cut off benefits well before that self-sufficiency wage is reached,” Fisher says.

This is the last of three reports on “The Cost of Living in Iowa” issued by IPP this year. An earlier report stated 1 in 6 Iowa households do not earn enough to provide for a basic standard of living. Fisher says programs, such as Child Care Assistance, have “cliff effects.” Eligibility for the program vanishes when an family makes just 145-percent of the federal poverty level, which is very low, according to Fisher.

“That’s a huge penalty to take for someone who’s in a low-wage job, find they can work more hours or get an opportunity to get a better job, they can find themselves in a position of making their families worse off by earning more money because they would lose all of that child care assistance,” Fisher says. “We have one of the lowest eligibility ceilings in the country at 145-percent of poverty. Many states go to 200-percent of poverty or close to it.”

The IPP report recommends several reforms to Iowa’s work-support policies, such as raising the eligibility for the Child Care Assistance program to 200-percent of the poverty level and implementing a copay schedule that “eases people off the program” as their income rises.

(Radio Iowa)

Arizona Senator John McCain campaigned with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst, Wednesday. “Iowans are concerned about out national security, about the treatment of our veterans and the need to fix that,” McCain says. “I think they realize that Joni is exactly the kind of person with her experience and background, also in the legislature, that will make her hit the ground running when she gets to the United States Senate.”

McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, is among a dwindling number of senators with a military background. Ernst, a battalion commander in the Iowa National Guard, is one of a handful of 2014 candidates for the U.S. Senate who have run campaign ads featuring photos of themselves in their military uniforms. McCain says military experience isn’t required, but it’s an “enormous asset” for a member of the senate.

“Joni Ernst has served in a position of command. She understand what morale, efficiency, the capabilities of the men and women who are serving and, most of all, the hardships that men and women undergo as they are serving the country,” McCain says. McCain and Ernst met with veterans at an American Legion Post in Coralville Wednesday, where McCain referred to President Obama’s foreign policy as “feckless” and he called the present state of the Veterans Administration “unacceptable.”

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2009 death of his girlfriend. The state Department of Public Safety says 34-year-old Brian Davis of Shenandoah, Iowa was arrested Wednesday. He is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $1 million cash bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Three men have been arrested on suspicion of robbing a liquor store in Cedar Rapids. Police say two men entered Big Discount Liquor on Tuesday night with guns and demanded money. No injuries were reported and the men left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Architects and engineers have unveiled proposals to improve downtown Iowa City that could cost more than $10 million. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the plans were shown Tuesday inside of a hotel ballroom. During the open house, Iowa City residents and business community members studied the designs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials in two eastern Iowa counties are considering trail expansions that could one day be part of a trail stretching from the Waterloo area to Burlington. The Iowa City Press-Citizen says that Johnson County officials want to expand six miles of eastern Iowa’s Hoover Trail by 2016. The project is expected to cost at least $3 million.

Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation today (Wednesday) report 34-year old Brian Davis, of Shenandoah, was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Murder for the death of his girlfriend Holly Durben on July 18th, 2009.  Based on interviews of witnesses and crime scene evidence, investigators believe that Davis is responsible for Durben’s death.  Davis is currently being held at the Fremont County Jail on a 1-million dollar cash bond.

Brian Davis

Sheriff’s deputies in Fremont County responded to a 9-1-1 call on July 18 2009 at 9:36-a.m. The Call came from Brian Davis at 2492 Highway 59, south of Shenandoah.  When Deputy’s arrived they located 29 year old Holly Durben deceased in the bedroom of her residence, which she shared with her Davis.  The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance in the investigation from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

An autopsy was performed on Ms. Durben’s body at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, Iowa.  It was determined that Ms. Durben suffered a fatal gunshot to the head as well as other injuries.

Two people were arrested Tuesday on separate charges in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office says 42-year old Steven Dean Lundvall, of College Springs, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear. The arrest was made at his residence in College Springs. Lundvall was transported to the Page County Jail, where he posted bond and was released.

And, 49-year old Robin Charisse Welsch, of Clarinda, on a warrant for aiding and abetting violation of a no contact order. She was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Welsch posted bond and was released.

An elderly couple from Villisca have died following an accident involving a UTV, or Utility Terrain Vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol says 82-year-old Darrell Schrader and his wife, 80-year-old Delores Schrader were killed during the accident in rural Taylor County.

According to reports, the couple was found late Tuesday evening in a field at 1248 120th Street in Taylor County, southeast of Villisca, and about a quarter-mile from the couple’s residence. Authorities said the couple were ejected from the UTV as it rolled over, into a clover field.

The Polaris UTV was equipped with lap and shoulder belts, but they weren’t used. Authorities weren’t sure how long the couple had been in the field. The Patrol said family members had not been in contact with the Schraders since last week.

(RALSTON, Iowa) Oct. 29, 2014—West Central’s board of directors today announced their unanimous decision to name Milan Kucerak President and CEO-elect following Jeff Stroburg’s retirement at the end of the fiscal year.

Milan Kucerak President and CEO elect. West Central Cooperative.

Kucerak, who has served as the company’s Executive Vice President of Dairy and Animal Nutrition since 2006, will be the fourth President/CEO in the cooperative’s more than 80 year history.

“Kucerak has been a trusted manager and proven leader for the producers of this cooperative since he joined West Central in 2006,” said Chairwoman of the West Central board of directors, Sue Tronchetti. “He brings to the organization diverse management experience, a global perspective, and a strong accounting and financial background. “Kucerak is the right choice to lead West Central,” Tronchetti added. “We remain focused on serving our customers and stockholders and engaging our staff.”

She stated Kucerak’s introduction as President and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2015, is the result of the board’s long-term approach for developing leadership from within the company. Beginning Nov. 1, Jeff Stroburg and Milan Kucerak will begin an operational transition and leadership hand-off. As part of that change, Stroburg will devote his time to the unification study between West Central and Key Cooperative. President/ CEO-elect Kucerak will oversee daily cooperative operations, including executive team management.

Jeff Stroburg President and CEO. West Central Cooperative.

Of Stroburg’s retirement, Tronchetti stated, “In his 15 year tenure, this cooperative has grown to 27 locations in twelve counties, become one of the country’s 15 largest grain companies, and established itself as an innovative leader in the biofuels industry. We thank Jeff for his service and wish him well in the future.”

West Central® is a farmer-owned cooperative connecting producers of agricultural products to a global network of processors and end-users. The company manages for success by deliberately pursuing fresh ideas and recognizing value opportunities at every turn. Headquartered in Ralston, Iowa, West Central’s agronomy, animal nutrition and grain businesses span 12 Iowa counties with 27 locations. In 2013, the company was ranked #41 on the USDA’s list for largest farmer-owned cooperatives nationwide based on revenues and assets.

(Press Release)