Investigators say a law officer acted appropriately in a shooting in western Iowa last week. Crawford County Attorney Roger Sailer has announced that Deputy Corey Utech has been cleared of any wrongdoing for his role in a shooting incident that occurred in Schleswig on March 9. Utech fired two shots, striking James Scott Champion two times in the torso, after Champion had fired a shotgun at officers. Sailer also stated that Champion will be charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A panel of state budget experts has maintained its earlier projection on Iowa’s revenue for the current fiscal year, and it continues to warn revenue is growing but at a slower rate. The three-member Revenue Estimating Conference said Wednesday it predicts the state will take in about $7.04 billion for the fiscal year that began last July. That’s the same figure the panel estimated in December, and it will allow Gov. Terry Branstad to keep his recommendations for the next state budget.

The panel expects the state to take in about $7.35 billion for the fiscal year that begins in July, a slight increase from their last projection. Members warned low commodity prices and other factors continue to slow the state’s economic growth. The panel made similar comments in December.

Authorities in Council Bluffs are investigating the deaths of two people found inside a home this (Wednesday) morning. KETV in Omaha reports one of the bodies, according to police, appears to have been shot. The incident was reported by a family member who found the victims at around 10 a.m. inside the home located near Langstrom and Grace streets.

No additional details have been released.

A woman from Nebraska who was arrested along with two other individuals Feb. 10th in Fremont County, was sentenced this week to 10-years in prison for a felony charge of Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine. The Fremont County Attorney’s Office says the sentence for 32-year old Stacey Dawn Budenholzer, of Omaha, was handed down on Monday. The woman will not be eligible for parole until she has served at least one-third of her sentence under Iowa’s mandatory minimum sentencing law for methamphetamine distributors.

Stacey Budenholzer

Also arrested during the Feb. 10th investigation, was 36-year old Thomas Knipe, of Tabor, and, 25-year old Alexia Law, of Union, Nebraska. Knipe and Law have pleaded Not Guilty to their charges. Jury trial for both is slated for May 17th.
The case was investigated by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the Shenandoah Police Department.

Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall is issuing a reminder to property owners in the county: The second-half tax payments for real estate and mobile homes, are due now. Marshall says you can go on-line to pay your taxes at www.iowatreasurers.org, or pay in-person by debit or credit card, at the Cass County Treasurer’s Office.

The deadline for payments without penalty is Thursday, March 31st,2016. Payments with a postmark of March 31st, 2016, will also be accepted without penalty.