Police in Creston arrested a man early this (Wednesday) morning for theft of a motor vehicle. 18-year-old Hunter Patterson, of Creston, was arrested at around 6:15-a.m. in the 300 block of N Vine, for Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5000 bond.

And, at around 12:30-p.m. Tuesday, 61-year old Kathy Irene Beemer, of Greenfield, was arrested in Taylor County, on a Union County warrant for Operating [a vehicle] without Owners Consent.  Beemer was transported to Union County Jail, posted a $2,000 cash bond, and was released.

Updated: Police in Newton have charged a man with first-degree murder, following a stabbing that took place Tuesday night at an apartment in Newton. Authorities today (Wednesday) said 33-year old Shane Romine Borrego, of Newton, allegedly stabbed 41-year old Randall Clark Mikesell, Jr., of Newton, after the men got into an altercation over property. Newton Police responded to the incident at around 7:19 p.m., Tuesday, in the 900 block of North 6th Avenue East.

Upon arrival, they found Mikesell Jr. unresponsive, laying on the ground and bleeding from his torso. He died at the scene.

Police in Red Oak early this (Wednesday) morning arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. 36-year-old Joshua Andrew Fink, of Stanton was arrested at around 1:22-a.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

Red Oak Police report also, a two-vehicle, non-injury accident occurred Tuesday, in the 1300 block of N. 1st Street. Authorities say a 2014 Dodge van owned by Nishna Productions and driven by Katherine Biggs, was backing out of a parking spot at the Nishna Productions House at 100 E. Oak, when Biggs failed to see a legally parked 2018 Ford Fusion, owned by Randy Meek. When the van struck the car, the Fusion sustained $2,900 damage. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers are close to giving legal recognition in Iowa to the so-called “smart contracts” used for digital currency, like Bitcoin. Representative Jeff Shipley of Fairfield says a Des Moines-based software company and some Iowa real estate agents are interested in conducting financial transactions using these computer-generated agreements.

“Iowans who are on the cutting edge of, I guess, cryptofinance or the emerging technological implications of this,” Shipley says. “…This bill ensures Iowans have access to world-leading contracting technologies and making sure that Iowa Code reflects the reality of 2021.” Representative Liz Bennett of Cedar Rapids says other states have passed similar legislation about cryptocurrency or virtual money that is being used to buy things.

“The way a smart contract works is basically like a soda machine,” Bennett says. “You put your coin in — or your Bitcoin. It drops down. It hits a lever. It causes other things to happen within the machine and boop! The arm goes up and gives you your Dr. Pepper. And what’s really important to note is that without any of those mechanical conditions being fulfilled, we’re not able to reach the end of the contract or the point where you get your Dr. Pepper.” Representative Steven Hansen of Sioux City says it is cutting edge stuff — but he notes there are concerns about fraud and tax avoidance.

“There’s going to come a time when the state treasurer and others are going to raise the red flag on companies like Bitcoin,” Hansen says, “and we’re going to have to step in and start regulating them more aggressively.” The House had a 15 minute debate of the concepts behind the bill before passing it unanimously. Earlier this month, the Senate approved the proposal without any debate. Senators will have to accept a minor change the House made in the bill before it can be sent to the governor.