Creston Police, Thursday, arrested a man and a woman on separate charges. Authorities say 45-year-old Michael John Palmer, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. He later posted bond, and was released from the Union County Jail. And, 34-year-old April Marie Roberts, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday at 122 Manor Drive, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. She was cited at the scene, and released on a promise to appear in court.

A woman from Shenandoah faces charges after two children were found wandering the streets, Tuesday. According to Shenandoah Police, 21-year-old Callysta Deann Griffin was arrested late Tuesday morning on a child endangerment charge. She was taken into custody after authorities received a call at around 10:30-a.m., with regard to two toddlers seen in the middle of the 200 block of West Sheridan Avenue without an adult present.

Officers later located Griffin, the children’s parent, at her home several blocks away from where the children were found. Griffin was released from the Page County Jail on a $2,000 bond, and was ordered to report at a later date, in front of a judge.

(Radio Iowa) – The search committee for the next University of Iowa president met in a closed session, Wednesday, to discuss the four finalists. U-I Graduate College Dean, John Keller, is co-chairing the search committee and talked to members after they ended the closed session. “All of you have just been incredibly dedicated and devoted to this process….every day we have had there’s been 100 percent attendance. Everyone has been communicative, sharing their thoughts, their interactions with the candidates throughout the entire process,” Keller says.

He says they are scheduled to meet in another closed session today (Thursday) with the Board of Regents.”We’ll be sharing our thoughts, our committee’s comments that we heard today. Sandi and I will be sharing those. We’ll also be sharing the public feedback,” according to Keller.

The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet again on Friday to make a final selection from the four candidates. The finalists are Hari Osofsky, the Dean of the Penn State School of International Affairs; Barbara Wilson, an executive vice president at the University of Illinois, Wendy Hensel, senior vice president of academic affairs at Georgia State University, and Daniel Clay, dean of the University of Iowa College of Education. The new president will replace Bruce Harreld, who is retiring on May 16th.

(Radio Iowa) – A bipartisan coalition in the Iowa House has voted to ban any Iowa government, private business or venue open to the public from denying entry to people who have not had Covid shots. The debate, however, centered on an exemption in the bill for health care facilities, including hospitals. Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Fairfield, objects to the idea of letting hospitals ask whether patients, staff or visitors have had the Covid vaccine.

“It’s incredibly clear this is meant to be coercive,” Shipley says. “This is meant to create a dragnet, to get more people vaccinated, to force it on people.” Shipley was among five Republicans who voted against the bill. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says the health of frail Iowans could be jeopardized if facilities like nursing homes aren’t able to find out if visitors have had a Covid shot.

“I have done my best to listen to those who fear for their freedom legitimately and those in health care facilities who are just doing their damndest to figure this out, to navigate it, to take care of the people they are sworn to take care of,” Holt said.

A half dozen Democrats joined 52 Republicans to pass the bill to the Senate. The bill would forbid any Iowa government from issuing an I-D card with a person’s vaccination history. Governor Reynolds said earlier this month she wanted the legislature to pass a bill banning “vaccine passports.”