DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Newly released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show Iowa continues a trend of slow population increase. The state has an estimated population of 3,090,416 people as of July 1 last year. That’s an increase of 15,377 – about a half a percent increase in a year.  The state’s population is up about 1.4 percent from the 2010 census.

Gary Krob, coordinator of the State Data Center Program which keeps track of Iowa’s census figures, says Iowa has seen 26 straight years of population increase. The state ranks 30th in total population and is 32nd in the nation in the percentage of population increase from 2010 to 2013.

Nebraska has grown faster showing a 2.3 percent increase from 2010 to 2013 and a 0.70 percent increase in a year.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to act on approving an Information Technology Services agreement and the purchase of vote tabulation equipment. Their action comes during the Board’s meeting scheduled for 9-a.m. Tuesday, at the Cass County Courthouse.

Approval of the IT Services agreement with Solutions would mean the arrangement would continue a contract already in place, and it would be effective Jan. 1 2014 through June 30, 2014. Approval of a new Unisyn Voting Solutions Precinct-based system is needed, according to Auditor Dale Sunderman, because the current voting equipment is out of date, is heavy and hard to move. The new equipment is certified by the United States Election Assistance Commission.

In other business, the Board will act on authorizing a $20,000 down payment for the newly purchased property at 707 Poplar Street. The funds will be derived from the Local Option Sales Tax Fund (LOST). The Supervisors will also act on approving a Resolution for a public hearing with regard to the vacating/closure of a portion of 644th Street in Section 14 of Grove Township.

Their meeting begins at 9-a.m., Tuesday.

An Atlantic man was arrested this (Monday) morning, on an assault charge. Atlantic Police report 24-year old John Chamberlin III was charged with assault. He was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on their most recent arrests. Officials say two Riverton residents were arrested Dec. 19th: 60-year old Frederick Lee Miles was arrested for Aggravated Assault/Domestic Assault, and, 48-year old Linda Rene Mees was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A former schoolteacher has left her $2.5 million estate to the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation.  The Daily Nonpareil says  Ann Cook died Dec. 16, 2012. She was 70.   Cook was a Council Bluffs resident who taught school across the Missouri River in Omaha from 1964 to 1997. After retirement she volunteered more time to the Friends of the Library organization.

Library Foundation President Steve Krohn says the money will help the organization’s efforts to supplement book collections, fund various programs and buy new technology. Cook’s attorney, Gary Faust, is a member of the foundation board, too. He says Cook “had a great deal of love for the library. She wanted to see it continue to prosper.”

Faust says Cook inherited much of her wealth and lived frugally.

(8-am News)