Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 7:40 p.m. CDT

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — The Clinton City Council is mulling a plan to refurbish one of the city’s most prominent structures: the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre. The Clinton Herald reports that the 1935 river boat, which was converted into a showboat in the 1960s, has received interior renovations and updates in recent years. But the exterior of the boat has begun to show signs of disrepair.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in central Iowa are investigating the death of a baby they say was left inside a sweltering car while his father lingered in a barber shop. Des Moines police say officers were called to a hospital just before 8 p.m. Saturday to investigate a suspicious child death. Responding officers say they learned that the 6-month-old infant had died after reportedly being left in a car. Detectives say they determined that the death had happened outside at a north Des Moines barbershop.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the bell tower that rises over the city of Jefferson, state officials have approved over $80,000 to help community members meet a decades-long goal of hearing the tower bells chime. Local leaders have been fundraising for a $440,000 project to add a four-octave, 47-bell carillon to the tower.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they pried open a car door to rescue a dog and cat left in a sweltering car in West Des Moines as temperatures soared into the 90s. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that witnesses called police after noticing the animals in the car around 11:30 a.m. Friday. Responding officers say the temperature inside the car was 125 degrees. Police arrested a 49-year-old woman and charged her with two counts of animal neglect.

The Cass County Memorial Hospital’s Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Monday evening in CCMH Conference Room #1.  During their 5-p.m. session, the Board will discuss: A community complaint with regard to water run-off; Selecting an Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and a CEO recruitment strategy.

Last Monday (June 6th), the Board Chairman Ned Brown announced CCHS CEO Todd Hudspeth was fired based on his “Actions and his judgment in several recent situations.” Their action followed word that Hudspeth had entered an Alford plea in connection with his check forgery case, in Buena Vista County. Hudspeth is set to appear in court August 1st for a “Plea taking” hearing.

(Update: the road was re-opened late Sunday afternoon thanks to quick work by the Cass County Secondary Roads Dept.)

A pavement blow-up on Highland Road (Highway G-30) in Cass County, about one and a half miles west of Atlantic, has created a dangerous situation that is requiring the road to be blocked-off. The Cass County Communications Center said they are aware of the situation, and a deputy will be posted at the scene until road crews can block the road off and make repairs.

(Photo’s courtesy Jessica Tye Shroyer)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the bell tower that rises over the city of Jefferson, state officials have approved over $80,000 to help community members meet a decades-long goal of hearing the tower bells chime. Of the 14 bells installed at the top of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, only a few work.

The tower already attracts visitors who can view the vast, rolling farmland that extends over five counties from the top. But local leaders have been fundraising for a $440,000 project to add a four-octave, 47-bell carillon to the tower.

The city, county, a local casino and private donors have contributed. But last week, Vision Iowa, a state-funded program, awarded the group an $87,100 grant to meet the fundraising goal.

The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will meet 7:30-a.m. Monday at City Hall, to conduct a Public Hearing on a conditional use permit application. The application, filed by Stefany Erickson, at 810 W. Mahogany, requests she be allowed to operate a home-based daycare center out of her home, which is located in an R-3 (High Density) Single-family, district.

The Board will also elect a Chair and Vice Chair. The meeting takes place in the City Council’s Chambers, at City Hall.

A man from Adair County was cited for failing to obey a traffic control device, following a collision Saturday afternoon, in Creston. The Creston Police Department reports 35-year old Christopher Lee Bolinger, of Greenfield, was traveling west on Townline Road at around 2-p.m., and did not notice the light had changed at the intersection with Lincoln Street, because he was talking to a passenger in the vehicle.

The 1999 Ford pickup Bolinger was driving went through the red light and was hit by a 2008 Chevy Impala, driven by 68-year old Judy Callahan, of Creston, as she was traveling north on Lincoln. Callahan had stopped at the red light and was continuing north when her light turned green, when the accident occurred.

The car struck the pickup on the left side, causing a total of $10,000 damage. No injuries were reported.