Council Bluffs Police this past Saturday (October 28th) participated in their 15th “Operation Medicine Cabinet” (DEA sponsored) National Drug Take Back Event, as a result of which 353 people anonymously dropped off their unused, expired prescription or over the counter drugs. Combined, those drugs, comprised of miscellaneous pharmaceuticals, weighed 594 pounds.

Officials say to date, the Departments “Operation Medicine Cabinet” events have resulted in 5,540 pounds of miscellaneous pharmaceuticals being collected and over 3,075 individuals participating.

The Department credits success the events to the collaboration of several community
organizations, volunteers, and the Council Bluffs Recycling center.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new computer algorithm is helping the FBI identify bodies found years or even decades ago. The agency has looked at fingerprints from about 1,500 bodies and succeeded in making 204 matches to prints previously on record. The new system is able to make matches from low-quality prints or even a single finger or thumb. The unit is now urging local authorities to search through other old case files and send in smudged or partial prints that couldn’t previously be matched.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed a murder charge filed against an Akron woman at the request of prosecutors who want more time to investigate the case. The Sioux City Journal reports District Judge John Ackerman on Monday granted the request to dismiss a second-degree murder charge against Becky Hebert. She was arrested after the Oct. 6 shooting death of her husband, 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert. Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond sought more time to investigate medical reports and cell phone records.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Magazine publisher Meredith Corp. is suing the federal government claiming the Internal Revenue Service forced the company to overpay federal income tax by $12 million. The publisher of Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living and Family Circle asked the court to force the government to refund the money in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Des Moines, where the company is based.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County judge has dismissed a lawsuit that claimed members of the Iowa Board of Regents violated the state open-meeting law by gathering privately with the man they later chose as president of the University of Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports the judge Monday dismissed the lawsuit filed by former university employee Gerhild Krapf. Krapf alleged that five of the nine-member board inappropriately met with former business executive Bruce Harreld by holding multiple gatherings.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed a murder charge filed against an Akron woman at the request of prosecutors who want more time to investigate the case.

The Sioux City Journal reports District Judge John Ackerman on Monday granted the request to dismiss a second-degree murder charge against Becky Hebert. She was arrested after the Oct. 6 shooting death of her husband, 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert.

Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond sought more time to investigate medical and lab reports and cellphone records.

The attorney for the 34-year-old Hebert didn’t resist the motion.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by one of Iowa’s largest public workers unions that challenged the state’s new collective bargaining law.

The ruling Monday by District Court Chief Arthur Gamble concludes the law’s new classification for public safety workers is rational. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Iowa Council 61 argued in its lawsuit that the classification — which allowed some workers to keep bargaining over working conditions taken away for others — violated the state constitution.

AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan says in a statement the union is considering its legal options, including an appeal.

The decision comes after a separate judge dismissed a similar lawsuit filed by the state’s largest teachers union. Iowa State Education Association says it’s considering an appeal.

Three separate accidents were reported in Cass County over the past few days. The Sheriff’s Office says at around 8-p.m. last Friday, a two-vehicle accident occurred on I-80 eastbound at the 58.25 mm. A 2010 Honda CR-V owned and driven by 70-year old Linda Ustad Waters, of Sioux Falls, SD, was eastbound on I-80 on the inside lane when her vehicle was struck in the left rear by a 2015 International tractor/trailer driven by 74-year old Kenneth A. Cochran, of Wellsville, OH, that was in the outside lane. The collision resulted in Waters’ vehicle to spinning around and coming to rest in the median. No injuries were reported. Damage to Waters’ vehicle is estimated at $4,000; damage to Cochran’s vehicle is estimated at $800. Cochran was cited for Log Book Not Current.

At around 9:30-a.m. Saturday, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Marne Road approximately ¼ mile east of 590th Street. A 2003 GMC Sonoma pickup driven by 34-year old William Joseph Bullock, of Walnut, was eastbound on Marne Road when Bullock fell asleep and drove into the north ditch, striking a sign and coming to rest a the bottom of the embankment. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $1,000. Bullock was cited for No Valid Driver’s License.

And, at around 6:47-p.m. Saturday, a single-vehicle accident happened on Highway 71 at the I-80 underpass.  A 1995 Ford trailer driven by 69-year old Larry G. Neiswinger, of South Charleston, Ohio, was northbound on Highway 71 when the grain dump box on the trailer struck the overpass, causing the box to become separated from the truck and block the one of the northbound lanes of Highway 71. No injuries were reported. Damage to the trailer is estimated at $5,000; no damage was noted to the bridge.

A woman from Missouri and a man from Creston were arrested last week in Greenfield, after they entered a home and allegedly assault a sleeping woman and two men. Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports 23-year old Molly Mare Ueligger, of Grant City, MO., and 20-year old Paul Lee Albrechtsen, of Creston, were arrested at around 12:10-a.m. on Oct. 24th.

Both were charged with Burglary in the 1st Degree, a Class B felony, after they knowingly entered a residence where they were not welcome, and allegedly assault the occupants of the home. In addition, Ueligger was charged with Obstruction of Emergency Communications, after she allegedly took a cell from from one of the male victims, while he was being assaulted and trying to dial 9-1-1. Ueligger and Albrechtsen were being held in the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond, each. Albrechtsen subsequently posted bond on Oct. 26th.

Sheriff Vandewater reports also, 56-year old Rodney Gene Thompson, of Orient, was arrested Oct. 22nd, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, 3rd offense, and OWI/1st Offense. Thompson was taken into custody at around 2:25-a.m. following a traffic stop. He was released later that same day on a $5,000 bond. And, 42-year old Nicole Lee Glendenning, of Stuart, was arrested by Stuart Police at around 3-a.m. on Oct. 27th, for OWI. She was released later that same day on a $1,000 bond.