Providing day-care for the children of job-seeking veterans is the focus of the new “Warrior Care” program sponsored by the Atlantic chapter of Operation Barnabas.

In partnership with Zion Lutheran “Kids Come First” and the Ann Wickman Child Development Center, Warrior Care provides licensed day-care assistance for the children of reservists, National Guardsmen and recently discharged active-duty troops to support them in their job-search activities.

The program provides funding for military members’ children to attend a licensed day-care facility while they are seeking employment, said Rich Kanning, commander of the local Operation Barnabas chapter.

More information about the program can be obtained by contacting Rich Kanning, commander of the local Operation Barnabas chapter, at 243-6825, and the Cass County Veterans Office at 243-6662.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

(Information in the following story is from: Globe Gazette, http://www.globegazette.com/)

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) – An arraignment date is set for next month for a Northwood man charged in the death of a 30-year-old woman. The Globe Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1eY6AvE ) the arraignment will be Sept. 3 in Worth County District Court for 39-year-old Tyrone Washington. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the death of Justina Marie Smith.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate rose to 4.8 percent in July as total employment in the state dropped for the first time this year. Iowa Workforce Development reports that unemployment was up from 4.6 percent in June. Despite the increase, Iowa’s rate is far less than national rate for July of 7.4 percent.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – More than 1 million visitors attended the Iowa State Fair during its 11-day run that ended Sunday, but the number was a little smaller than last year. The fair reports that 1,047,246 people attended the event this year. That’s nearly 50,000 under last year’s attendance.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The troubled Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant continues to inch closer to restarting, but federal regulators say significant work remains to be done at the Nebraska plant. Later this month, the Omaha Public Power District will meet with Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials to explain the plan for continuing to improve Fort Calhoun – if the nuclear plant about 20 miles north of Omaha is allowed to restart.

Atlantic police report that Friday, August 16th, 28 year old Sean Bloomfield of Atlantic was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after he turned him in to local authorities.  He was booked at the Cass County jail.

Atlantic police also arrested 30 year old Jesse Swanson of Atlantic on Saturday, August 17th.  He was charged with first degree burglary and assault with injury.  He was booked at the Cass County jail.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20 year old Reece Joseph Blohm of Audubon at about 3:30 Saturday morning after a traffic stop on Highway 71 near 150th Street.  Blohm was charged with operating while intoxicated and possession of alcohol.  He was released after appearing before a magistrate.

Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a trailer and a mower after an early Monday morning theft.  Authorities say the theft occurred between 4:00 am and 5:00 am Monday when two white males wearing baseball caps and knee length shorts drove a dark-colored minivan with a bumper style trailer hitch to Dickel Duit at 2227 Highway 48.  They stole a black 2001 Midi Shoreliner trailer with a drop down gate and no license plates.  Then they loaded a 2009 yellow and white Cub Cadet LTX 1042 rider mower onto the trailer.  They drove south on Highway 48.  Anyone with information should contact Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 800-432-1001.

Police in Council Bluffs report that a 16 year old boy is in stable condition in an Omaha hospital after a traffic stop.  Captain Scott Milner reported in a news release that a motorcycle officer stopped the car Sunday night at about 6:45 in the area of North 31st and Avenue K.  The officer spoke to the driver and walked back to his bike when the driver got out of the car and began to walk away.  The officer approached the boy and told him to return to his vehicle and to put his hands behind his back.  When he refused both commands, the officer his taser, striking the teen in the upper torso.  He was handcuffed and taken into custody.  The driver was taken to the hospital a short time later after suffering an undetermined medical condition.    Due to the boys age, police say no other information will be released to the public.

*Updated with injured deputy’s name

Law enforcement officials are looking for an escapee from the Clarinda Correctional Facility, Rodney Eugene Long. Officers believe Long is the individual who shot a Taylor County deputy late Sunday, August 18, 2013 and subsequently led law enforcement on a 40 minute pursuit.

Rodney Eugene Long

Officials are urging the public to be cautious and observant. Long is considered armed and dangerous. If you see Long, do not approach him yourself but rather, contact authorities immediately. Long is described as a white male, 38 years old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 144 pounds. He has tattoos on his wrists.

Long escaped from the minimum custody lodge in the early morning hours of Friday, August 16, 2013. Personal items left in the stolen patrol vehicle indicate that Long is the individual that officials are searching for.

Sunday evening, at approximately11:25 PM, Taylor County deputies were dispatched to a “suspicious person” walking along Highway 2 just east of New Market. As the first deputy was exiting his vehicle to speak with the individual, he was met with gunfire and struck twice. As the deputy was taking cover, the suspect took the patrol vehicle and left the scene. A second Taylor County deputy arrived on scene, picked up the wounded deputy and began to pursue the suspect in the stolen patrol car.

A pursuit ensued for approximately 40 minutes through rural Taylor County. Officers from several different jurisdictions, including Missouri, responded to the area. Gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and officers during the course of the pursuit. The pursuit ended when the suspect rolled the stolen patrol vehicle several times on a rural Taylor County road. He was able to exit the vehicle and escape on foot. A manhunt, involving at least a dozen different law enforcement agencies from Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska, has been underway since moments after the crash.

As the search for the suspect in Taylor County continues, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) confirms the Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot late Sunday night is 33 year old Dan Wyckoff. Wyckoff, a two year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, remains hospitalized, but is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.