Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) — The manager of a fertilizer plant in southern Iowa says an employee has died following an explosion at the facility. Bill Clem, plant manager of Green Valley Chemical in Creston, says the explosion yesterday morning killed an employee and injured at least two people. Lee Freeman with the Creston Fire Department says officials responded to a medical call from the plant around 11 a.m. Thursday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines Water Works board has voted unanimously to sue three northern Iowa counties, holding them responsible for the high nitrate levels the in rivers the utility uses for source water. The five-member board says it will file a notice of intent to sue Calhoun, Buena Vista and Sac counties, who oversee 10 drainage districts.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says he’s praying over whether to run for president in 2016 as he hires a senior adviser, plans a trip to Iowa in a couple weeks and expects to form an organization to raise and spend money. Walker says today that his hiring of experienced presidential adviser Rick Wiley doesn’t mean he’s decided to enter the race yet.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines Water Works board has voted unanimously to sue three northern Iowa counties, holding them responsible for the high nitrate levels the in rivers the utility uses for source water.

The five-member board says it will file a notice of intent to sue Calhoun, Buena Vista and Sac counties because they oversee 10 drainage districts that were designed to move water out of farm fields downstream. The suit will allege with water the drainage districts move contaminants like nitrate that Water Works must remove when the levels exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits.

A notice of intent will be Friday which informs the county supervisors and state officials that a lawsuit will be filed in 60 days. The process is laid out in the federal Clean Water Act.

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) – The manager of a fertilizer plant in southern Iowa says an employee has died following an explosion at the facility. Bill Clem, plant manager of Green Valley Chemical in Creston, says the explosion Thursday morning killed an employee and injured at least two people. He called those injuries non-life-threatening, but he did not elaborate. He also would not say if the injured are employees. Clem said he could not immediately provide any further details about the circumstances of the explosion.

Lee Freeman with the Creston Fire Department says officials responded to a medical call from the plant around 11 a.m. He says there was a report of an explosion, but he did not have additional information.
A website for the plant says it produces agricultural fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia.

DES MOINES – The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) say it is continuing to build and sustain a more culturally vibrant Iowa by awarding more than $1.3 million for projects in six communities designated Iowa Great Places. The DCA approved an Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board recommendation to designate and award funding to five communities as Iowa’s newest Great Places: Sixth Avenue Corridor (Des Moines), Grinnell, Linn County, Manning and the Raccoon River Valley Trail (Waukee).

Iowa Great Places funding will advance the vision of Manning, to offer increased recreational, transportation, and social opportunities. Great Places support coincides with other major initiatives in Manning involving the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Drake University and the Iowa Restaurant Association. Manning’s proposal will reinforce its unique sense of place while encouraging creativity and highlighting its most historic attractions.

Plans call for bronze statues and sculptural elements to be placed throughout the community and the creation of a new park around the historic Milwaukee Trestle Bridge. Additionally, a Park/Hospital trail connector will improve pedestrian access from a regional hospital to the community’s historic Main Street, supporting the community’s economic development goals. All of the projects are supported by multiple local and regional vision plans and partnerships with Iowa State University and Trees Forever.

Dawn Rohe (Roy), with the City of Manning, said “The Manning community is very grateful for the Iowa Great Places designation and funding. Not only will it help fund three public art projects, two trail segments, and the new trestle park, it will help showcase some of the developments that make Manning one of the great places of Iowa.”

This year, the board reviewed applications from nearly a dozen Iowa communities requesting approximately $3 million. Common themes identified across the communities awarded funding include an emphasis on creating livable, walkable communities, revitalizing downtowns and urban neighborhoods, and capitalizing on outdoor recreational corridors.

Officials with the Cass County Health System have announced the first baby born in the New Year, belongs to a couple identified as “Keisha” & “Rick.” The little girl and her proud parents of “Lily Lynn” were celebrated by the CCMH OB Department,  were celebrated by going home with a stash of diapers and Lily’s very own 2015 baby blanket.