An animal shelter in Omaha-Council Bluffs will be getting in more than a dozen dogs that were left without homes when Hurricane Maria plowed through the Caribbean in September. Pam Wiese, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Humane Society, says the canines are coming from the island of Saint Croix and they need new families in Iowa and Nebraska to love them.

“We sent a couple of staff members, one a veterinarian and one a behaviorist, to St. Croix to help out in an emergency response shelter they had set up to help with the hurricane dogs and other animals that were left homeless,” Wiese says. “They’re now winding down their response operation on the island and they want to relocate those animals to improve their chances of finding homes.” Wiese says hundreds of dogs from the U-S Virgin Islands were flown into Florida late last week.

“They are being dispersed to various shelters across the country who have said that they have room,” she says. “I think that we’ll be getting about 15 dogs in from St. Croix.” The animals will be fully checked over for any potential medical issues.

“We’ll get them treated for whatever ailments they have and make them available for adoption,” she says, “so they’ll all get second chances.” Shelters in Florida, Texas and Missouri (Kansas City) are also taking in dogs that survived the storm and are now in need of “forever” homes.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Karla James – Omaha)

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports two people were arrested this past week, on Theft charges. On Tuesday, 62-year old Ronald Allen Siedelmann, of Audubon, was arrested for Theft in the 5^th degree.  Siedelmann was cited and released on promise to appear in court

And, on Thursday, Audubon Police arrested 37-year old Angel Marie Siepker, of Audubon.  She was charged with Felony Theft in the 2^nd degree, Fraud, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.  The Iowa State Lottery assisted in the investigation.  Siepker appeared before a magistrate and was released on promise to appear in court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Unregulated sales of cannabis oil have been ramping up in Iowa even as state officials work to set up a tightly regulated distribution system. The Des Moines Register reports that several Iowa businesses are openly selling the oils, known as cannabidiol, despite warnings from the state that it’s illegal to do so in unregulated stores. The regulatory system won’t go into effect until next year.

The new system will have one state-licensed production facility and up to five authorized dispensaries. Only patients with state permits certifying conditions such as epilepsy, cancer or Parkinson’s will be allowed to buy the products. Carroll police recently seized cannabidiol products from two businesses.

Police Chief Brad Burke acknowledges the law is confusing. He says his agency conferred with the Iowa attorney general’s office before making the seizures.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in north-central Iowa say no children where hurt when a window of their moving school bus was shot out. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the incident happened in Forest City on Friday morning, when the window shattered after being hit by a shot from a pellet gun.

A statement from the Forest City School District said all children were safe and that no injuries resulted from the shooting or flying glass. Police say they know who is responsible for the shooting and believe it was an isolated incident.

Police did not name who they think is responsible and did not announce any arrests, but said a criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new report says Iowa’s controversial shift to privately managed Medicaid will save the state 80 percent less money this year than originally predicted.

The Des Moines Register reported Saturday that a quarterly report prepared by Iowa Department of Human Services staff members says the state now stands to save $47.1 million this fiscal year by having private companies manage the $4 billion program.

Former Gov. Terry Branstad, who ordered the privatization that began in 2016, had declared the move would save the state $232 million in fiscal year 2018.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican who succeeded Branstad and supports the shift to privately run Medicaid, says Reynolds’ new Medicaid director believes his staff miscalculated the 2018 savings estimate.