Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report the arrest today (Friday), of a Pottawattamie County man on theft charges. 21-year old Jimmy Joe Gappa, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail at around 8-a.m., on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd degree. Gappa’s bond was set at $5,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate has adjourned for the year, officially putting an end to the 2014 legislative session, 10 days past the anticipated April 22 end date. The House ended its session on Thursday morning. Both chambers worked through the night Wednesday to complete the state budget and other policy bills.

Senate adjournment was delayed when Democrats, as their last action, proposed a resolution that would give the Government Oversight Committee power to subpoena witnesses. Republicans objected, which required a return Friday morning to pass the resolution. The committee is investigating state settlement agreements and other issues in the executive branch of government.

The resolution passed by voice vote. The final resolution declaring the 2014 session over swiftly passed, ending the year for lawmakers.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says police officers can legally stop any vehicle that has a frame covering the county name on its license plate. The court ruled 5-2 on Friday that obscuring the county violates a law that requires motorists to “permit full view of all numerals and letters” on the plate. The decision backs undercover Davenport officers who used the issue to justify stopping a man who was under surveillance for suspected drug dealing.

Dissenting Justice Brent Appel says the ruling is a warning to thousands of motorists who have frames promoting sports teams and auto dealers. He says they need to check whether the frame covers the county name because police now “may stop the vehicle anywhere and at any time” without any sign of other criminal wrongdoing.

A relatively new restaurant in central Iowa has been selected as this year’s winner of “Iowa’s Best Burger” contest. The Brick City Grill in Ames is owned by Jason Mikkelsen.

Best Burger 2014 – Jason Mikkelsen

“We’ve only been open for almost a year now, so to get an honor like this so soon, it’s definitely a surprise,” Mikkelsen said. “But it makes all the hard work…it makes it worth it.” Prior to opening Brick City Grill, Mikkelsen spent 18 years working in several restaurants around Ames. The 36-year-old Creston native moved to Ames in 1996 to attend Iowa State University. He says the secret to a good burger is in the beef.

“We use a flat-top grill to sear in the flavor. All we use for seasoning is just a little salt and pepper,” Mikkelsen says. “We have a really good bun, it’s brioche bun that we toast.” Mikkelsen uses a proprietary blend of Iowa beef, delivered fresh to the restaurant. Brick City Grill has eight varieties of hamburgers and they’re far and away to most popular items on the restaurant’s menu.

“Oh yeah, by far, we go through probably three times more burger than we do everything else,” Mikkelsen says.

Best Burger 2014 – Brick City Pretzel Burger

This is the fifth year for the Best Burger contest, sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. Iowans submitted more than 9,600 nomination votes for 456 restaurants in February and March that selected the top 10 restaurants. Those 10 restaurants were then independently visited and judged based on the hamburger’s taste, appearance, and proper serving temperature (160 degrees).

(Radio Iowa)