Hardin County, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DCI Thursday, said officers in Ackley shot at a man during an incident that occurred at around 4-a.m., Thursday. After the Hardin County 9-1-1 center received a call about a person having a mental crisis in Ackley, a Hardin County Deputy and an Eldora Police Officer responded to the scene.

When law enforcement made contact with 22-year-old Cristian Alejandro Larios, of Ackley, he was brandishing a knife. A taser was deployed when Larios refused to cooperate, became combative, and assaulted law enforcement with the knife. Two officers then discharged their service weapons as Larios retreated into the basement of a home. The man was not struck by the discharged weapons.

Shortly thereafter, he was taken into custody. Larios was transported to the Hardin County Jail and charged with attempted murder. Authorities have not yet released the names of the officers involved in the shooting.

In addition to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and Ackley Police, Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The State Board of Education today (Thursday) approved the permanent rules for state-funded Education Savings Accounts for private school expenses. Board attorney Thomas Mayes says they replace the emergency rules created to get the program going, and there are a few changes. “The first would allow the director, allow the Department to consider income reductions after the filing of the previous year’s tax returns. Sometimes things happen,” he says. He says the permanent rules also clarifies who can provide services.

“The emergency rules say ‘an approved provider that has a license or a credential issued the State of Iowa.’ The proposal is to clarify that the credential or license must be relevant to the service being provided,” Mayes says. “I think that is a common sense clarification, add some greater accountability for approved provider, some greater assurances for parents that if somebody hangs out their shingle as an approved provider, they’re actually providing and have the authorization to provide what they say they’re providing.” Mayes was asked about the appeal process to the Board of Ed.

He says it won’t be “everybody that has an ax to grind will immediately get on the agenda, he says it will be the same process for any other appeal. The issue will first be heard by an administrative law judge just like any other appeal. The state announced earlier that they’d received some 29-thousand applications for the program. The latest update as of July 26th shows nearly 18-thousand-500 have been approved, and the others are in the process of being reviewed.

(Radio Iowa) – It appears cyberhackers may have hit a hospital in southeast Iowa. The Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield is alerting patients that private information may have been compromised. The health center discovered that on May 30th, suspicious activity was detected on its network between April 24th and 25th.

JCHC has no evidence of any identity theft or fraud in connection with this incident, and has set up a dedicated assistance line to help answer any questions clients may have. JCHC also notified state and federal regulators, as required. Under U.S. law consumers are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureau

(Radio Iowa) – Court records show two southeast Iowa women have been accused of breaking into a home and assaulting a man two weeks ago. The Ottumwa Police Department says 43-year-old Emily Schlotter forced open a locked door at a residence in Ottumwa while accompanied by 19-year-old Haylee Beck. Once inside, the two women confronted a man inside the home over a family member’s ashes.

Authorities allege Schlotter hit the man with a baseball bat. Beck allegedly struck the man with her hands. The pair were arrested a week later and they each face a charge of first-degree burglary, a Class B felony. Schlotter and Beck are currently free after posting bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two recent arrests. Wednesday afternoon, 37-year-old Holly Renee Donehoo, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Violation of Probation. Donehoo was transported to the Adams County Jail, where he bond was set at $500.

And, at around 3:30 this (Thursday) morning, 20-year-old Garrett Neal Thomson, of Golden, Colorado, was arrested at the Casey’s Store on W. Taylor Street. Thomson was charged with Operating While Under the Influence/1st Offense. He was taken to Union County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, passed a handful of items on their agenda during their meeting, Wednesday. The Council approved an order to close selected streets for AtlanticFest on August 12th. The same request is made every year, and was always granted.

The Council passed a Resolution approving State Auditor Rob Sand’s outline “Best practices” for local governments, on how to financially, legally support, non-profit groups and organizations. The City of Atlantic has many non-profit beneficiaries, each of which will need resolutions and agreements to be approved by the Council.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the Council approved Economic Development Agreements with CADCO (Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation) and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. The formal agreements specify the City agrees to make a payment of $47,700 to CADCO for the purpose of economic development, and $92,000 for the Chamber, of which $47,700 was budgeted for operations, and $45,000 for community promotion.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution “Adjusting [the] season 2023 benefits for Sunnyside Pool Employees.” And, they passed a Resolution “Consenting to the Issuance of Solid Waste Facilities Revenue Capital Loan Notes, with regard to a 28-E Agreement for the Cass County Environmental Agency (Landfill).

They passed the second reading of an Ordinance repealing permitted truck parking. The Ordinance states trucks may not park on lots leased to Murphy Construction, north of the railroad trucks. When asked by Councilman Pat McCurdy where semi’s are going to park, City Administrator John Lund says they can always park at Wal-Mart as many truckers currently do.

And, the Council approved an MOU (Memorandum Of Understanding) between the City and Iowa Department of Revenue, with regard to the State Offset Program. City Clerk Barb Barrick explained the City has participated in the program for a few years.

The MOU, she said, “Doesn’t preclude us from assessing against property taxes or anything. It’s just another avenue to collect delinquent debt.”