The string of armed robberies in Council Bluffs continued on Tuesday.  Bluffs Police report that on Tuesday night at about 10:30, an armed robber entered the Walgreens store on West Broadway,  The store clerk was about to help another customer when the suspect approached her and demanded money.  As he grabbed money from the cash drawer, the man saw another store employee carrying a money drawer and grabbed money from that as well.  The suspect displayed a gun during the robbery.  Police say that the suspect fits the description of the man who robbed four stores in the Bluffs on Sunday, and that he continues to be as reckless and brazen about his robbery spree.  Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.  Anyone with information should call the Crimestoppers hotline at 712-328-7867.

The Red Oak Police Department reports two traffic related arrests on Tuesday, June 24th.

The first arrest took place at around 4:00pm as Red Oak Police officers located a wanted male for failure to appear on original charges of driving without a valid license in Nodaway County, MO.  Jeremy Navarrette of Red Oak was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center where he posted $149 cash bond.

The second arrest took place at 4:43pm as officers stopped a vehicle for speeding.  During the traffic stop it was discovered that the driver 25-year-old Zachary Dean Fuller of Red Oak was a barred driver with 9 current license withdrawals in effect.  Fuller was taken into custody for the aggravated misdemeanor of Driving While Barred and was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $2,000 bond.

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS), Tuesday, approved more than $2.5 million in federal AmeriCorps Grants and Education Awards, $16,000 in federal Volunteer Generation Fund Grants, and $279,000 in state funded RSVP Grants, that together will leverage and support approximately 10,000 community volunteers and 110 AmeriCorps State members who will provide direct support to thousands of local nonprofits, schools and communities throughout Iowa. All of the projects operate as public private partnerships that together leverage over $3 million in other funding. Tusday’s award brings the total AmeriCorps State, RSVP, and VGF program funding announced this year for Iowa to over $14 million.

RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to improving and protecting the environment, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents and life experience to work to make a difference.

A state appropriation of more than $279,000, which is used to leverage additional federal and local funding, is coordinated by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service for RSVP projects. Grants were approved to the following entities:

Carroll County RSVP, $7,467.97, and the Connections Area Agency on Aging in Council Bluffs, $14,450.68.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee intends to question under oath a number of current and former top state government administrators about confidential settlement agreements. Committee chairwoman Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, says she’s determined to find out who authorized payments for secrecy to former state workers.

More than 320 state workers have entered settlement agreements since Gov. Terry Branstad returned as governor in 2011. Some were asked to sign confidentiality agreements and were paid to keep quiet. No one has ever taken responsibility for authorizing the agreements. Subpoenaed to testify Wednesday are former Iowa Department of Administrative Services attorney Ryan Lamb and the agency’s fired director, Mike Carroll.

Also called are the department’s former chief operating officer, Doug Woodley, who resigned last month, and current director Janet Phipps.