Two people were arrested over the weekend, in Creston. According to the police department, 48-year old Joel Alan Weeks, of Creston, was arrested Sunday afternoon for Driving While Barred. He was later released on $2,000 bond. And early Friday morning, 38-year old Sara Nicole Exline, of Afton, was arrested in Creston on a Union County warrant for Burglary in the 2nd degree. She was later released on $5,000 bond.

And the Creston P-D says a resident on north Walnut Street reported that sometime between Jan. 26th and 30th, someone entered his vehicle while it was parked at 401 N. Walnut. Taken from the vehicle was a black, Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun and a camouflage gun case. The loss was estimated at $320.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Family caregivers and their supporters from across Iowa will converge on the state Capitol today (Monday), releasing a new voter survey about the experiences around family caregiving. The group will urge lawmakers to make sure those who are taking care of family members are better prepared to do so.

Anthony Carroll, advocacy director with AARP Iowa, says there are a number of unexpected challenges facing people who end up in caregiving roles that need to be addressed, such as having to perform medical duties. “Things like handling injections, IVs, managing medications, and doing wound care,” Carroll says. “What we’re looking at is makings sure people are equipped to do those sometimes complicated and often challenging medical and nursing tasks.”

One proposal in the Legislature, known as the CARE Act, requires hospitals to provide instruction on medical tasks the family caregiver may need to perform at home. Proponents of the bill say it would also help reduce hospital re-admissions. In addition, the Act would have hospitals record the name of a family caregiver when a loved one is admitted and keep that person informed of major decisions, including if the patient will be transferred or discharged. Carroll says that engagement is vital, as two-thirds of Iowa’s long-term, home and community-based care is being provided by family members, many of whom are also working.

“Unpaid loved ones. Mostly children, sometimes spouses,” says Carroll. “Mostly women, but some men, who volunteer to spend time out of the love and kindness of their heart to assist loved ones.”

Statewide, AARP says there are more than a half-million family caregivers and that number is expected to rise as the population continues to age.

(Iowa News Service)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new report says a monthly economic survey index for nine Midwestern and Plains rose slightly in January. The survey report issued Monday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index climbed to 54.8 last month from 54.4 in December.  Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says growth for companies outside of energy and agriculture will more than offset expected declines in those sectors.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports Highway 6 between Council Bluffs and the Highway 48 turn-off to Griswold, remains closed early this (Monday) morning. The DOT closed the 48-mile stretch of road when blowing and drifting snow caused whiteout conditions and resulted in some vehicles becoming stuck on the pavement, in snow drifts.

The road will remain closed until crews can clear the drifts and remove vehicles currently stuck.