(Update to our 7-a.m. post)

A fire in a mobile home this (Friday) morning in eastern Cass County, has claimed the life of a Massena resident. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the victim is believed to be 53-year old Bruce Allen Neumann. The State Medical Examiner is performing an autopsy to confirm the positive identity of the victim.

Massena Fire Chief Drew Williams told KJAN News a call about the fire at 208 Pine Street came in just before 1-a.m. Williams said when firefighters arrived, the home was already fully engulfed in flames. The structure was a complete loss. Crews were on the scene until about 5:30-a.m. when the flames were brought under control, but a Massena Fire Dept. grass truck was dispatched again at around 8:50-a.m. to put out some remaining hot spots.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Massena Fire crews were assisted at the scene by Cumberland Fire, Medivac Ambulance, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff Office, and Cass County Emergency Management, as well as the Cass County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

A licensed mental health counselor from Omaha who has three offices in southwest Iowa is accused of having sex with a client. According to online documents, in 2012 Amy Jo Murphy began counseling a couple at her clinic in Corning. After the couple divorced, the counseling continued for one spouse and the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science accuses Murphy of starting a romantic relationship with that client.

State regulators accuse Murphy of engaging in unethical conduct, for having “improper sexual contact” with a client. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Science has scheduled a hearing in February on this case.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The sign up period to get benefits under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul kicks off Saturday. The second enrollment period to get benefits starts Nov. 15 and runs through Feb. 15. A poorly functioning website and public confusion caused problems during the first enrollment period, but officials are hopeful things will run more smoothly this time.

Just over 29,000 people signed up for health insurance in Iowa using the federal insurance marketplace during the first enrollment period.  The health care law was designed to reduce the number of people without health insurance, both through an expansion of Medicaid and with new health care marketplaces where people can shop for private coverage and apply for government aid to pay premiums.

Flames that engulfed a home just south of Red Oak Thursday night could be seen up to a mile away. According to fire officials, the two-story structure owned by Duane Barkman, sustained an estimated $60,000 damage, but no one was hurt. .

According to Red Oak Fire Chief James Blount, the blaze at 2359 Highway 48 was reported at around 6:30 p.m. The first crews to arrive saw flames shooting from the roof on the north side of the home, prompting a call for mutual aid from Elliott, Essex and Stanton.

Efforts by firefighters kept the flames from spreading to the main portion of the house. The damage was primarily contained to an attached garage and living area. An investigation into the cause of the blaze was underway, but Blount said it did not appear to be suspicious.