Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

BELMOND, Iowa (AP) — Weather officials say multiple tornadoes have touched ground in northern Iowa, causing damage to homes and businesses. The National Weather Service says spotters reported yesterday at least two tornados on the ground alongside one another near Hampton in Franklin County. Another tornado was reported near Belmond in nearby Wright County.

BELMOND, Iowa (AP) — The owner of a restaurant in northern Iowa says a tornado has “demolished” part of his business. Duwayne Abel, owner of Cattleman’s Steaks and Provisions in Belmond, says a tornado swooped in yesterday through his business’ parking lot. He says the south side of the building is “pretty much demolished.” Abel says no one was in the restaurant when the tornado hit.

BELMOND, Iowa (AP) — Alliant Energy says more than 1,200 customers in northern Iowa are without power due to severe weather affecting the region. The company says crews are working to restore power in the Belmond area in Wright County after severe weather damaged transmission and distribution lines. Alliant spokesman Justin Foss says it may take several hours for power to be restored.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say a suspicious package that was destroyed in Iowa City was an electronic art piece. Iowa City officials said yesterday that the package that was destroyed by a bomb squad Sunday evening was a piece created by artist Russell Jaffe. The Johnson County bomb squad used a water cannon to destroy the item.

A Pottawattamie County man was arrested today (Wednesday) on an outstanding Audubon County warrant. According to the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, 25 year old Zachary Alan White, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail and transported to the Audubon County Jail. White was charged with eluding and driving while barred.

The charges stem from a pursuit by law enforcement in Audubon County on March 20th, 2013. The pursuit continued through Cass County and ended in Pottawattamie County where he was taken into custody. White is being held in the Audubon County Jail and will appear before the magistrate on Thursday, June 13th.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved increasing the fee for new or renewed licenses for concealed weapons permits. Sheriff Darby McLaren requested the $10 increase to help cover the cost of a laminating machine that will create a photo ID/permit, which will replace the current, paper permit for concealed weapon licenses. McLaren said he based the increase on what other area counties are charging for a similar service, and the service was based on demand. He said a lot of people have requested the laminated permits since the state law was changed to allow those types of permits to be issued in that form. 

McLaren said the new permits can also be used as a second form of identification, when it’s required. The Cass County Emergency Management Agency will use the machine to create IDs for firefighters at no charge. Part of the cost for the lamination machine will be absorbed by the EMA, the other part will be paid for by the increased license fee.

Currently concealed license fees run $50 and the license is good for 5-years. With the increase, anyone renewing or wishing to receive a permit for such weapons, will have to pay $60. And, if your current permit is in need of replacement due to age or damage, you can get a laminated version for the $10 fee, as well.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors approved the full-time appointment ofCathy Downy, of Atlantic, to the Veteran’s Affairs Commission, effective July 1^st. Her term will expire in three-years. Downy was serving in an interim capacity on the Commission, since Jerry Putnam resigned from the post in March, 2012.