The mosquito spread West Nile virus is appearing in the area, and the threat for persons to become infected is spreading. According to the Daily NonPareil, human cases have been reported in Shelby County, and now a sentinel chicken in Council Bluffs tested positive for the virus, which means human are susceptible to coming down with the it.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa man has been accused of disciplining his 12-year-old son with a dog shock collar. Knoxville Police Chief Daniel Losada says 35-year-old Daniel Hardwick was arrested Thursday after the state Department of Human Services contacted authorities. The department says it’s not commenting on the investigation.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) — The Monona County auditor has been released on a promise to appear in court after her arrest on charges of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a statement that 27-year old Brooke Kuhlmann scheduled a methamphetamine buy and pickup from an undercover Iowa State Patrol officer yesterday who had seized a dealer’s cell phone the day before. Kuhlmann, a Democrat, is serving her second term as auditor.

LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Volunteers pulled out plenty of trash from the Cedar River last weekend during a 26th annual cleanup. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports about 30 people joined Saturday for the Cedar River Cleanup, which this year focused on a stretch of the river in southern Buchanan county and northern Benton County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Newark Mayor Cory Booker will not be making an appearance in Iowa next month. The University of Iowa’s website says that the Democratic candidate for Senate from New Jersey will be giving a lecture on the Iowa City campus on August 29th. But Booker campaign spokesman Kevin Griffis said yesterday that Booker will not give the speech.

Police in Council Bluffs late Monday evening identified the man who died in the fiery crash of a semi tractor trailer Sunday afternoon. Officials say the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny confirmed the victim of the crash was 54-year old Samil Meskic, of Jacksonville, FL. The ME’s office said Meskic died as the result of internal injuries, and not from the fire. All other aspects of the crash, including the cause, remain under investigation.

Authorities say Meskic was driving a 2005 Volvo semi northbound on Interstate 29 at around 3:30-p.m., Sunday, when for reasons unknown,  the rig crashed through the guardrail separating the north and southbound lanes of traffic on I-29 at Avenue G, before going airborne across Avenue G. The truck came to rest after hitting an embankment between the bridges, and burst into flames.

Firefighters contained the blaze and fuel spill in about 10 minutes. Meskic’s body was discovered after the flames were extinguished.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa residents are largely expressing support for a plan to expand low-income health care, although there are still questions about some of the details.  About 75 people attended a public hearing Monday in Des Moines on the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan.

Under the plan the state will accept federal dollars offered to states that expand Medicaid under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. That funding will be used to provide health coverage for as many as 150,000 low-income residents by putting some on a new state-run program and to pay the premiums for others to get private insurance on the new health care exchanges.

Attendees questioned how proposed health incentives would be structured in the plan and why transportation for non-emergency appointments is not covered. Another hearing on the health care expansion plan will be held 11:30-a.m. Tuesday, in the Looft Hall Auditorium at Iowa Western Community College (2700 College Road), in Council Bluffs.