BREDA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the man whose remains were found last week in a burned house in Sac County, north of Breda. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says the man has been identified as 48-year-old Daniel Robert Mielk, who lived in the home alone. The State Medical Examiner’s Office determined the identity using dental records.

On Jan. 8 deputies and firefighters from Auburn responded to a rural home and found that it had been burned to the ground. Authorities later found human remains inside the house. The cause of death has been listed as smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. No foul play has been suspected.

The State Fire Marshal’s office is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Cass County Republican Auditor Dale Sunderman, Tuesday evening, announced that contrary to some reports, he WILL be seeking another term as Auditor. The primary election for the position will take place June 7th, 2016. Sunderman faces a challenge from Wendy Richter, who announced on Jan. 8th she intends to seek the seat held by Sunderman since 1984.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A legislative committee in Iowa plans to look into the jackpot-fixing scandal that started in the state and has spread to several other state lotteries. Rep. Bobby Kaufmann says the Iowa House government oversight committee will investigate how it was possible for an employee at the Multi-State Lottery Association to allegedly fix jackpots. He says lawmakers want to prevent it from happening again.

Kaufmann said lawmakers may seek documents and testimony from the Urbandale, Iowa-based lottery association, which runs the popular Powerball game and is governed by 37 lotteries in U.S. states and territories.

The alleged scheme didn’t affect Powerball, which uses balls instead of computers to draw numbers. That game is expected to set a world jackpot record in Wednesday’s drawing of $1.5 billion.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says it has taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Guthrie County’s youth.
Known as I-PLEDGE, the program is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws.

Due to a change in Iowa law, alternative nicotine and vapor products are now considered age-restricted products and will be part of the I-PLEDGE program’s compliance initiatives this year. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 93%. By participating in the program, the Guthrie Co Sheriff’s Office has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate even more this year.

I-PLEDGE places emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use and affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. Although not required to retake the training if currently certified, ABD encourages clerks to repeat the training after October 3rd, in order to familiarize themselves with the newly age-restricted products.

Guthrie Co Deputies and Reserve Officers will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishment as part of the I-PLEDGE program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter illegal sale will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative and vapor products to a minor include a $100 fine for a first offense, a $250 fine for a second offense and a $500 fine for a third and subsequent offenses. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the I-PLEDGE program.

Sheriff Marty Arganbright says “By partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division, we hope to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in our community. Moreover, we pledge to help keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Iowa’s youth.”

To take the I-PLEDGE training or search certification records go to www.iowaabd.com

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in solving the theft of vehicles from the parking lot of the Harrah’s Casino Hotel. Officials say Nicolas Craig and his wife, Rochelle, were in the process of moving from Virginia Beach, Virginia to the state of Washington. They stopped in Council Bluffs Monday evening and got a room at Harrah’s Casino Hotel. When they awoke this morning, they discovered their vehicles, a trailer and many of their personal belongings were missing.

The Craig’s had a red 2005 Ford F-350 crew cab pickup that was pulling an orange and grey tandem axle trailer, which had a blue 2003 Jeep Liberty on it. In the bed of the pickup, was a black 2008 Yamaha R6S Motorcycle.

Harrah’s Casino surveillance still photo images of missing vehicles & trailer.

The license plate information for each vehicle/trailer is listed below:
2005 Ford F-350 Washington Plate C95260E
2003 Jeep Liberty Washington Plate AKE6206
2008 Yamaha M/C Washington Plate 1D9964
2004 U Haul Trailer Louisiana Plate L832249

Nicholas Craig had just retired from the Navy and the Craig family was on their way home when the theft occurred. The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the communities help in locating the Craig’s possessions.

If you have any information about the theft, call 712 328-5737, and select Option 1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has told Iowa lawmakers he wants to invest more money in education and water quality initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year.  Branstad made the remarks during his 2016 Condition of the State speech to the Iowa General Assembly on Tuesday. He says he wants more money for schools and seeks to improve the state’s water supply. He is proposing a state general fund budget of roughly $7.4 billion for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.

Branstad stressed it would be a “tight” budget year and growing Medicaid costs put a strain on state finances. School funding could once again be a contentious debate in the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-majority House. Democrats want more funding for education, while Republicans are skeptical of spending increases.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The world’s largest lottery jackpot has grown to $1.5 billion because of continuing strong Powerball ticket sales. Lottery officials increased their estimate of the huge jackpot for the second day in a row Tuesday because of immense interest in the prize.

The record-breaking Powerball jackpot could grow yet more before Wednesday’s drawing if ticket sales continue to exceed expectations. Officials reassess the estimate daily. The odds of matching all six numbers to win the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
The $1.5 billion prize would be paid in annual payments over 29 years. Or the winner could opt for a lump-sum payment of $930 million.