DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The post office in the Fremont County town of Randolph may be headed for closure after the Postal Regulatory Commission voted 2 to 2 on an appeal by the city’s mayor to keep it open. A tie vote means the appeal loses and the closing moves forward. The Postal Service, on track to lose $14 billion by year’s end, wants to close thousands of post offices. Many are small rural operations like Randolph, a town of 170 people in southwest Iowa. Closures are likely to begin in late May or early June unless Congress passes a bill to shore up postal finances. The Senate begins debate on a bill Tuesday. Despite Mayor Vance Trively’s appeal, a commission order posted Thursday affirmed the closing. The estimated annual savings by closing Randolph’s post office is about $45,000.

Congressman Steve King released the following statement today (Friday) after visiting the areas affected by the tornadoes in Thurman and Creston.

Congressman King inspects tornado damage at a house in Thurman, IA

“Today I am reminded of how adversity calls upon the resiliency of Iowans,” said King. “Volunteers from across the state rallied together to help those affected in Southwest Iowa this last week. Several colleges sent volunteers to help clean up the damage and many other Midwestern states pitched in as well. I am thankful that no lives were lost, and more than ever I am aware of the extraordinary efforts that Iowans will offer when a neighbor is in need.”

King toured homes in Thurman that were damaged and also visited Creston’s Hospital as well as Southwestern Community College, both of which sustained damage in the storm.

Sheriff’s officials in  Montgomery County say a Stanton man was arrested this (Friday) morning, on forgery charges. 31-year old Joshua Mastin faces a charge of Theft in the 2nd degree, a Class-D felony offense. Additional charges are possible.

Mastin’s arrest was the result of an investigation that began in Clarinda, and involves locations in Villisca and Red Oak. Mastin was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Four area residents were arrested on drug charges Thursday, in Audubon County. The Sheriff’s Department says 43-year old Kevin Scott Lea and 28-year old Melody Lynn Orndorff, both of Audubon, along with 36-year old Karie Capel Palen and 44-year old Robert Lee Olwell, both of Atlantic, were taken into custody. The charges against those individuals were the result of an ongoing investigation and the execution of a search warrant at 203 Washington Street, in Audubon.

Lea was charges with Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Meth, Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Gathering where drugs are used, and Possession with the intent to deliver/marijuana. He was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $50,000 bond.  Orndorff was charged with Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Palen was charged with gathering where drugs are used, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was being held on $5,000 bond. Olwell was charged with gathering where drugs are used, and possession with the intent to deliver/Meth. His bond was set at $50,000.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in their investigation and in making the arrests, by the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Audubon Police Dept., and Iowa State Patrol.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The California-based Internet giant Google is considering making another $300 million investment in Council Bluffs that officials say could give the state and region a big boost. The new project, which would hinge on approval of state support, would bring Google’s investment in Iowa to about $900 million. It would create 35 jobs initially and 15 more later.  Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan says he’s encourage by the type of potential jobs more than the number of workers. He says Google offers high-tech positions that pay well, including current positions that pay more than $50,000 a year. State funding for the Council Bluffs project is being considered Friday by the state’s economic development board, which also is studying proposals that could bring $471 million in investment to Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An unusually divided Iowa Supreme Court has declined to weigh in on the debate over Iowa educational standards. The court upheld a district court judge’s dismissal of a 2008 lawsuit filed by 16 students and parents of students in Davenport, Des Moines and West Harrison schools. The lawsuit alleges Iowa’s schools are not adequately serving students by failing to establish standards. The court emphasizes it was not deciding whether basic education is a fundamental constitutional right. It also says the case doesn’t mean it won’t take future constitutional challenges to state education. The court says the case doesn’t prove state officials violated state law or the Constitution.  Justice Brent Appel disagrees. He says the court rushed to judgment and should have allowed the case to proceed further in the courts.