Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports the arrest on Friday (Dec. 18th), 57-year old Philip Eugene Mathis, of Audubon, on a federal warrant charging him with Possession of Child Pornography and Receipt of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Mathis was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later transferred into federal custody. The Audubon Police Department was assisted in their investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

And, on December 11th, 17-year old Nicholas Wilson, of Audubon, was arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Dissemination of Obscene Material. Wilson was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Last Monday (Dec. 14th), Audubon Police arrested 50-year old Darrin Paul Asmus, of Audubon, for Criminal Trespassing, Animal Neglect and Resisting Arrest. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. Asmus was transported to the Audubon County Jail.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City area gun stores are reporting a sharp increase in sales following a recent spate of home invasions. The Sioux City Journal reports that store owners attribute the rise to a combination of local, national and international events, including the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Another factor cited is the public pressure for tougher gun control measures.

Paul Barrett, the owner of Shooter’s Paradise, says he has seen a 30 percent rise in sales in the last month and a half, compared with the same period last year. Barrett says some customers have voiced concerns over a rash of car thefts and burglaries in Sioux City.

Three people were injured, with at least one seriously hurt, during a collision between a car and a pickup late Saturday morning on the west side of Wiota. The crash happened on Highway 83, at around 11:40-a.m., near the intersection with Northwest Drive.

LifeNet prepares to land on Hwy 6.

Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson,

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Ayers told KJAN News two people were in the white Dodge Ram pickup. One of the occupants suffered what Ayers described as “Walking wounded”-type injuries, while the other was more seriously injured. They were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. The other victim, a 20-year old male was in a maroon Buick Lesabre with Adair County plates. He was flown by LifeNet helicopter to a hospital in Omaha.

The collision, which was nearly head-on, appeared to happen in the westbound lane of the highway, just across the center line of the road. The accident caused the road to be blocked through 1-p.m.  Eastbound traffic was being diverted north at the intersection of Highway 6/71 east of Atlantic.

No other details are currently available early this (Saturday) afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol was in charge of the investigation.

Two people were seriously injured during a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning, in Wiota. A 20-year old male from Adair County was being transported by Lifenet to Omaha following the crash on Highway 83 near the intersection with Northwest Drive at around 11:40 am.  The vehicle involved were a maroon Buick lesabre and white Dodge Ram pickup. The driver of the pickup appeared to be an older female. The vehicle collided nearly head on in a portion of the westbound lane. Medivac ambulance, Anita fire and rescue and Wiota first responders were on scene along with the Cass County sheriff’s office and Iowa state patrol. No other details are currently available. Pictures will be posted soon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An official has terminated Iowa’s contract with a private company that was scheduled to help manage the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program. Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Janet Phipps released a report Friday night that terminates the Iowa Department of Human Services’ contract with WellCare of Iowa.

Phipps was selected by Governor Terry Branstad to review an administrative law judge’s recommendation that WellCare be dropped over allegations that it didn’t properly disclose information about fraud or mismanagement during its bid for a contract. WellCare officials have said they disagree with the judge’s ruling.

Phipps’ report upholds the state’s contracts with Amerigroup Iowa, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley. A spokesman for Branstad says the governor’s office is still reviewing the decision.