DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Backers of a skateboard park under construction in downtown Des Moines say they have reached their $6.3 million funding goal. The Lauridsen Skatepark will be the nation’s largest when it’s completed in spring 2020. The 88,000-square-foot skate park is being built on five acres of land between Second Avenue and the Des Moines River.

Recent gifts by the Lauridsen Family Foundation and the state’s Enhance Iowa fund enabled organizers to reach their fundraising goal. Nix and Virginia Lauridsen have donated a total of $1.6 million to the project.

Besides the skate areas, the park will include viewing platforms, handicap accessible walkways, shade structures and landscaping. Organizers expect about 40,000 skaters a year will use the park. They note skateboarding will be an Olympic sport in 2020.

(Radio Iowa) — October is recognized as “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month”, and Cathy Van Maanen with the Le Mars officer of the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence says statistics show one in every three to four women will experience some type of domestic violence in her lifetime. “And when you consider that number — if that were an illness — that would be considered an epidemic,” according to Van Maanen. “Those are huge numbers and so yes, we need to be doing everything we can to create awareness first, and then do the work to bring an end to this kind of abuse.”

Van Maanen says domestic violence is a common occurrence in Iowa and it happens to across the spectrum regardless of your income. And victims can be both males and females. “Domestic violence does happen here. It happens everywhere. It isn’t the size of the city or anything like that. It can happen anywhere and it can happen every day and it happens to people that you know,” Van Maanen says.

She says many people are showing support for domestic violence victims by wearing purple colored ties, scarfs, or other purple colored clothing. Businesses have also hung purple ribbons on their doorways. “Purple is nationally known as the color to represent Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple is the sign of courage and we know that survivors certainly have an enormous amount of courage to live with what they are living with and then to find the courage to leave that situation and survive it,” Van Maanen says.

A victim of domestic violence will often return to their abuser. Van Maanen says the abuser will use power, control, along with intimidation on the victim, making that victim feel compelled to return. She says abuse is not always the hitting and things that we know are not legal. “There are many parts to domestic violence that are no illegal — but are very debilitating,” Van Maanen says. ” So, when we understand the emotional, the psychological, the mental abuse, the financial control, using the children as pawns, creating isolation so that the individual doesn’t have a good support system. Those all create those very real barriers to making leaving successful.”

She says a person averages leaving five to seven times before they leave for good. Van Maanen says she deals with more than 150 reported cases of domestic violence in Plymouth County each year, and every week on average, two new cases of domestic violence are referred to her agency.

The Atlantic City Council will meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 16th), at City Hall. During their regularly scheduled session, the Council will recognize Atlantic Police Officers Christin Vavricek and Caleb Smith for their 10-years of service to the A-PD. The Council will then act on approving a partial street closure in advance of the Oct. 26th Shift ATL Block Party. The event takes place on 4th Street, west of Walnut to the alley in the 200 block of 4th Street.

Their fundraiser block party takes place from 5:30-until 11-p.m., and includes: a beer garden; live music (The First Name Band) from 7-until 10-p.m.; and food trucks (5:30-to 9-p.m.) with wood fired pizza and BBQ. Pre-sale tickets are available for $20, and include one free drink ticket. Tickets are also available during the event, or can be purchased at the Atlantic Chamber, CADCO, Camblin Mechanical, Deter Motor Company, and Luxe Salon.

In other business, the Council will act on an order to accept the Tax Sale for 901 Elm Street, and hold a Public Forum on Stormwater issues at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. The final order of business is a closed session to discuss legal matters pertaining to: four abandoned properties the City intends to acquire for demolition; real estate owned by the City, and, a dilapidated property.

One person was arrested following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle this (Monday) morning, in Council Bluffs. Police say at around 2-a.m., Omaha Police put out a broadcast indicating the stolen vehicle, a black Dodge Ram Pickup, was entering Council Bluffs on I-480. An Officer spotted the vehicle in the area of 30th Street and 2nd Ave. The stolen pickup fled before other responding officers arrived in the area. It was last seen at 2nd Ave. and Dodge Riverside Blvd.

At 2:10-a.m., the 911 center broadcast that the stolen vehicle had wrecked at 9th Ave and Harrahs Blvd., after colliding with another vehicle in the intersection. Officers arrived in the area and a perimeter was established. Authorities says it’s possible there were up to three occupants in the stolen vehicle. The area was searched by a K-9 team. One suspect, a 17-year old, was located and taken into custody. His identity will not be released by Police. The occupants of the vehicle struck by the stolen vehicle refused medical treatment at the scene.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene

A Public Hearing with regard to the proposed continuation of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL), will be held 6:30 this evening, prior to the start of the regular CAM School Board meeting. The hearing and meeting takes place in the CAM High School Media Center. During the hearing, district patrons may speak for or against the ISL matter.

During the regular CAM School Board meeting, they’ll discuss the initial facilities findings of Boyd-Jones, approve any resignations or contracts, and act on approving the continued ISL. In other business, the CAM School Board will open bids and award a snow removal contract, act on a daycare contract, act on approval of a fundraiser, and SBRC Modified Supplemental Amount Application and Supplemental Aid, for the 2018-19 Special Education Program Deficit.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A manual recount this week will determine which two candidates move on from Davenport’s primary in the mayor’s race. The Quad-City Times reports the third-place finisher in the mayor’s race, Dan Portes, requested the recount after he finished just eight votes behind Alderwoman Rita Rawson. Alderman Mike Matson won the primary with 33 percent of the vote, but officials will recheck roughly 6,500 ballots to determine who his opponent will be in November.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have confirmed that human remains found at a homeless camp near downtown Des Moines was the result of a homicide. Station KCCI reports that police confirmed the homicide investigation Friday. Police received a tip Tuesday that led investigators to a wooded area behind an abandoned manufacturing plant, where the remains were found. Police have not yet shared other details of how the person died or identified the remains.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Fort Dodge police have identified a man shot to death in the north-central Iowa city. The Messenger reports the shooting happened around 8 p.m. Friday. Officers and paramedics found the man, later identified as 28-year-old Mohammed Yaqoub of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at a home and were unable to revive him. Police say they have arrested a 16-year-old boy and are looking for a 19-year-old suspect.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — The trial for a former farmhand charged with first-degree murder in the abduction and killing of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts has again been delayed. The Daily Iowan reports that 25-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera will now face trial beginning Feb. 4 in Woodbury County. His trial had been set for Nov. 12. Rivera is accused in the stabbing death of Tibbetts, who disappeared while out for a run July 18, 2018, in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Red Oak Police report two people were arrested Sunday afternoon at 3rd and Market Streets. 22-year old Devon Lee Smith, of Red Oak, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. And, 19-year old Kammi Shaylee Conrade, also of Red Oak, was arrested for Aiding and Abetting the Violation of a No Contact Order. Both were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond, each.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A manual recount this week will determine which two candidates move on from Davenport’s primary in the mayor’s race. The Quad-City Times reports the third-place finisher in the mayor’s race, Dan Portes, requested the recount after he finished just eight votes behind Alderwoman Rita Rawson. Alderman Mike Matson won the primary with 33 percent of the vote, but officials will recheck roughly 6,500 ballots to determine who his opponent will be in November. The recount will begin Monday morning, but the process could take roughly 40 hours to complete.

Sheriff’s officials in Taylor County received word at around 2-a.m. today (Sunday), vandalism had occurred at the Footworks Dance Studio, located at 408 Main Street, in Bedford. Authorities say they area ware that there were several extra patrons to the Locker Room Saturday evening (October 12th), and there is a high likelihood of someone having information to assist the sheriff’s office.

Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is asked to call the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office administrative line at (712) 523 2929 or email dispatch@taylorcountyiowa.org. They thank you for your assistance in this investigation.

Police in Red Oak say they were informed at around 11-p.m. Saturday, that a party where alcohol was being served and minors were present, was being held in the 400 block of Market Street. Officers who went to the residence cited 18-year old Savannah Jo Fink, of Red Oak, for Minor in Possession/1st Offense. Police also cited and released four juveniles to their parents.