DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa safety agency has proposed fining a Dubuque manufacturer nearly $26,000 over the workplace death of a Wisconsin man. The Telegraph Herald reports that the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a citation to A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Co. Each of the hazards cited carry fines of nearly $13,000.

Authorities say 46-year-old Dennis Hall died Dec. 6 after becoming trapped in equipment at the plant. OSHA investigators say Hall “fell through the unguarded floor hole to a moving conveyor and was transported into other mechanical hazards resulting in fatal injuries.” He’d worked for McDonald for five years and lived in Potosi, Wisconsin.

The company makes water works brass, plumbing valves, pumps and water systems, and high-pressure gas valves and meter bars.

The Creston Police Department reports there were two arrests over the past few days and three incidents of vandalism. At around 8-p.m. Friday, 28-year old Matthew Edwin Thomas, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Simple Assault. And, at around 3:40-a.m. today (Monday), 20-year old Austin Brian Lanny Benge, of Orient, was arrested in Creston for Driving Under Suspension. Both men were released on bond.

And, there were three reports of vehicles sustaining broken windows in Creston over the weekend. The incidents, which happened sometime Friday or Saturday, caused a total of $700 damage. The incidents took place in the 500 and 100 blocks of W. Montgomery Street, along with the 100 block of Manor Drive.

(7-a.m. News)

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

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 63-year-old care program supervisor has been accused of sexually abusing a client in Davenport. Scott County court records say Bruce Enger is charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. The records say the alleged victim has been a client of REM Iowa for six years.

REM Iowa serves adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Enger’s responsibilities including supervising the residence in which the alleged victim lived.

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image

The National Weather Service reports widespread rain across Iowa remains on track for Tuesday through Thursday, where a swath of 1 to 2 inches of rain can be expected. Thunderstorms are possible as well, resulting in locally higher amounts approaching 3 inches, especially over western portions of Iowa. In addition to the rainfall, warmer temperatures will melt a good portion of the snow pack today through Wednesday resulting in significant runoff and potential river flooding mid to late week and into the weekend. The potential for ice jams exist as the runoff, swelling rivers, and warmer temperatures look to break up the river ice and lead to some localized flash flooding.

(Radio Iowa) — This is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the man who runs the state Gambling Treatment Program says it’s a good time to take a close look at the issue. Eric Pruess, says the number of problem gamblers remains small, but they shouldn’t be overlooked.

Eric Preuss

“Many Iowans are impacted by problem gambling and they continue to gamble because they just don’t know. They don’t know why they have a problem, they don’t know what problem gambling is, or where to get help. Problem gambling should not go unnoticed,” he says.

Pruess says the most recent studies show how prevalent gambling is in Iowa. He says nearly nine in ten adult Iowans have gambled in their lifetime, seven in 10 gambled in the last 12 months, and about four in ten gambled in the last 30 days.  Pruess says everyone needs to know help is out there. “The good news is that prevention is effective, treatment works and recovery is possible,” according to Pruess. “As of January first 2019, I-D-P-H now contracts with 19 local agencies to provide problem gambling treatment, prevention and recovery support services in 19 service regions that encompass all 999 counties in Iowa.”

He says the results of treatment are encouraging. He says 66 percent reported dissatisfaction with life when starting treatment, and that dropped to 24 percent at discharge. While 50 percent reported being late in paying bills at admission to treatment — which fell to 25 percent when they were released. Pruess says the creation “Your Life Iowa” gives people struggling with addiction a place to go. “Help and information is available 24-seven 365 via phone, text and on-line chat,” Pruess says. He says it is also the home to 1-800-BETTSOFF.org for those who need help with problem gambling.

He says they have had more than 65-thousand visits in the last year, with most of the page visits being for problem gambling. Pruess says there are a variety of way they can help and he encourages anyone with concerns to visit the website.

There are no machines made which can match dogs’ special abilities. They are used in all branches of military service. Military Working Dogs is a presentation which will provide more information about their amazing accomplishments. Jason Dunn, dog handler while in the Marine Corps will be at the American Legion Memorial Building on Sunday, March 17, 2 pm. He joined the Marine Corp immediately after graduating high school shortly after the war on terror began. He served through multiple deployments. Jason’s presentation will tell about characteristics of military working dogs, their training, jobs they perform, special equipment provided and more. He will also talk about training for handlers and share some of his experiences. Working together, a dog develops a high level of obedience, discipline and amazing skills.

As a child Jason had a fascination with animals, how they behaved and how they were trained. He put that fascination to work when he followed a family tradition of a long line of military service. Now retired, he continues to use his knowledge and skills in a dog training business and with his own dog. Jason’s family dog is a 3-year-old German Shepherd. Freya has learned to follow numerous commands off leash.

Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) sponsors monthly programs held at the American Legion Memorial Building located at 201 Poplar Street in Atlantic. Everyone is welcome and there is no fee. The Building is handicapped accessible. For more information see www.ariseAtlantic.org.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A man already accused of setting a fire that injured two people at his eastern Iowa home has been charged with attempted murder. Buchanan County court records say charges of arson and third offense domestic assault also have been filed against 44-year-old Shane Heins. Heins’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 25.

Investigators say Heins set the fire March 2 in Independence in an effort to kill his wife, Christina Heins, and her uncle, Nick Necker. Both were taken for treatment to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. A witness reported seeing Shane Heins throwing items and furniture around the home and pouring gasoline around the wooden steps between the house and garage.

(Radio Iowa) — A tour of some of Iowa’s top technical schools and academies is scheduled this week for a group of key state lawmakers and officials with the Association for Career and Technical Education, or A-C-T-E. Jarrod Nagurka, the public affairs manager for A-C-T-E, says eight stops are planned. “There’s a huge need for these career and technical education programs,” Nagurka says. “We see all sorts of business and industry sectors that span across the economy recognizing there is a skills gap between the jobs and careers they have available and the skilled labor they need in order to fill those jobs.”

Nearly 100-thousand Iowa high school students are enrolled in some form of career and technical education program, along with another 11-thousand students at the post-secondary level. Nagurka says the demand for skilled labor is growing — and so is the interest among students. “Career and technical education, both at the high school level and at the post-secondary level from community colleges and other training programs, are really helping fuel that talent pipeline to make sure that business and industry have the workers they need to meet their demands,” he says.

Nagurka says students who pursue career and technical education training programs will reap a host of benefits. “Students who take CTE programs are more engaged, they have higher graduation rates, lower risks of dropping out,” Nagurka says, “and for students who take two to three technical education credits, 91% of them enroll in some sort of college experience.”

Higher earnings are another plus, he says, as students who earn a credential that’s even less than a two-year associate’s degree will often out-earn the average bachelor’s degree recipient. The delegation will tour the Sioux City Career Academy and Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City on Monday, MMCRU High School in Marcus and the North Central Career Academy in Eagle Grove on Tuesday, the Western Outreach Center in Holland and the Waterloo Career Center on Wednesday, and Linn-Mar High School in Marion and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Learn more at www.acteonline.org

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Just two months after a federal court judge struck down Iowa’s existing law meant to discourage investigations of animal abuse on farms, lawmakers are pushing another so-called ag-gag measure that opponents say would likely land them in court again. Civil rights and animal rights groups are surprised Iowa Republican lawmakers would try to pass another law inviting further lawsuits when they haven’t yet completed appeals in the last lawsuit, for which legal bills already likely exceed $200,000.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — About 20 pigs and sheep died after a barn caught fire in Iowa but no one was hurt. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the fire was reported shortly after 6 a.m.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper tells a house party in Dubuque, Iowa, that immigration hard-liners have to accept that they won’t be able to drive out everyone who is in the U.S. illegally. Hickenlooper says it would be “crazy” to think that a country founded and defined by immigrants would ever expel 10 million to 11 million people. Hickenlooper launched his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination this week. He is on his first Iowa swing as an official candidate.

DENMARK, S.C. (AP) — Rural America is a stronghold for President Donald Trump and Republicans. But there are Democrats and persuadable voters there who are important to picking the Democratic presidential nominee. Some Democratic presidential candidates are reaching out to rural areas and small towns as they campaign for the 2020 election. Cutting into Republican advantages in the general election could help flip several swing states that gave Trump his 2016 victory.