(Updated) Firefighters from Anita responded to a semi-trailer fire on Interstate 80. The call about the Old Dominion Freight line semi at the 63.75 mile marker eastbound went out at around 8:57-a.m.   The driver of the truck was out and safe. The semi and trailer are on the shoulder of the road. Both lanes are open.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management.

A traffic stop early Wednesday morning at Highway 59 and Frank Kearney Street, in Oakland, resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year-old Tiffani Michelle Jerdon, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:45-a.m., for OWI/1st offense.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Two people were arrested on drug charges Wednesday afternoon, in Creston. Authorities says 21-year-old Demarco K Collins, of Dekalb, IL, and 20-year-old Devin J. Lacy, of Riverdale, IL, were arrested at 804 W. Taylor Street, in Creston. Both were charged with Possession for Controlled Substance/1st Offense. They were cited and each released on a Promise to Appear in court.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reports a man from Carroll who possessed a gun after a previous attempted burglary conviction in 2019, was sentenced Tuesday in Sioux City, to more than 2 years in federal prison. Officials say 19-year-old Buomkuoth Lol received the prison term after an August 24, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. At the guilty plea, Lol admitted on May 8, 2020 he possessed a gun and .40 caliber ammunition.  Lol admitted to knowing he was prohibited from possessing guns after being convicted of attempted burglary in Buena Vista County on November 5, 2019.

Lol was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system. Lol is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (as of 10-a.m. Thursday) reports 1,708 new positive COVID-19 cases since Wednesday. The IDPH said there have been 51 additional deaths since 10-a.m. Wednesday, for a total to-date, of 4,445. Long-Term Care facility deaths are up to 1,829.  In southwest Iowa, one additional death was reported in each of Cass, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Shelby and Union Counties.

The health department reports 309,277 total Positive cases, and 271,950 total recoveries since the pandemic began. Positivity rates continue to decline in Iowa. The 14-day Positivity rate declined from 11.6% Wednesday to 11.3% today. The 7-day positivity rate is holding steady at 8.5%. State data shows 1,435,643 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. Iowa Department of Public Health hospitalization data does not appear to have updated in the last 24 hours on the state’s website.

The number of long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 outbreaks remain at 71. The state reports 1,934 positive cases and 1,075 recoveries among residents and staff within those facilities.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,147 cases; {+14}; 43 deaths
• Adair, 691; {+3}; 20
• Adams, 297; {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 416; {+0}; 8
• Guthrie, 1,035 {+5}; 24
• Harrison County, 1,570; {+17}; 62
• Madison County, 1,214; {+11}; 9
• Mills County, 1,375; {+11}; 16
• Montgomery, 870; {+11}; 24
• Pottawattamie County, 9,066; {+74}; 114
• Shelby County, 1036; {+4}; 27
• Union County,  1,099; {+11}; 23

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is urging Americans to respect the country’s Constitutional system — and its new commander-in-chief. “Like four years ago, I know that many Americans are not happy with how it turned out,” Grassley said. “…I hope we can retire #resist.” Grassley delivered brief remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon. Grassley said as a responsible senator, he has to engage with the administration that’s in office. “As I have with every president, I will seek to find common ground with President Biden wherever possible,” Grassley said, ” but I will strongly oppose policies that I think are not good for Iowa or all Americans.”

Grassley and Biden served together in the senate for 28 years. Grassley has held public office since 1959, over the course of a dozen presidencies. “In our country, nobody is obliged to like or support a president, but hopefully people will really respect the office of the presidency,” Grassley said, “regardless of who holds it.”

Grassley is no longer third in line to the presidency. For the past two years, Grassley has served as the senate president pro tem, but a Democrat transitioned into that role yesterday (Wednesday). The position is occupied by the longest-serving senator from the party that holds a majority in the Senate. Late Wednesday afternoon, three new senators were sworn into office, giving Democrats a working majority in the U.S. Senate.

During a meeting of the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, City Administrator John Lund presented a preliminary overview of the FY21 Budget. The timeline calls for the Council to receive the proposed Budget on Feb. 17^th, a Public Hearing on the Budget and maximum tax dollars resolution and proposed budget adoption on March 3^rd, and on March 17^th, a Public hearing and adoption of the final budget. Lund said the property tax levy is expected to remain the same as last year, at $16.56.

(That’s because the residential rollback went up. Residential taxes per $100,000 of assessed value he says, will increase by $22.11, or 2.42%.)

Mayor Dave Jones explained the City has no control over the amount of rollback. That’s set by the Iowa Legislature. Lund said also, there will be no increase for commercial and industrial properties.

(There would be no increase and for multi-residential the rollback declined so multi-residential taxes will decline $62.10 per $100,000 of valuation, or 5.26%.)

Lund says between the rollback changes and TIF catcher, and debt service versus other levies and new construction coming online, total new property tax dollars the rate will be 2.59%, but the resolution will show 2.87%, which is still better than the 2.71% increase last year.

He said there would be no recommended changes to permits and licenses, fees and fines, wastewater utilities or stormwater utility. The FY 22 Budget however, will likely see some changes in the rates the City charges for wastewater, which has not been changed since 2014.

He concluded by saying “As it stands, things are looking pretty good.”

The Atlantic City Council breezed through most of their agenda, Wednesday night, at least until it came time for a report of the budget. First-off, the Council recognized Street Department Superintendent Kirk Knudsen for his 35 years of work with the City. Mayor Dave Jones presented Knudsen with a plaque and an insulated beverage mug.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones and Street Dept. Superintendent Kirk Knudsen.

In other business, the Council, with Councilman Behrens absent, agreed to set the date for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate at 403 W. 14th Street. The Hearing will be held during the Council’s meeting at 5:30-p.m. on Feb. 3rd.

The City, in April 2019, adopted a resolution for the disposition of City-owned properties, that outlines how properties may be disposed of. In this case, owners of an abutting property have submitted a bid for $10,000 to acquire the property at 403 W. 14th, but a hearing is required before the agreement can be signed-off on.

On a related note, the Council passed a Resolution “Amending the Policy for the Disposition of City Own Properties.” And, they passed on the Second Reading, an Ordinance with regard to the Collection of Solid Waste. City Clerk Barb Barrick explains…

And, they passed the First Reading of an Ordinance amending sections of the Code of Ordinances entitled “City Clerk,”and “City Attorney,” that would eliminate the current two-year reappointment schedule, and make the City Clerk and Attorney permanent employees.