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

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is introducing himself to Iowa Democrats as a champion of universal health care and affordable housing as he moves toward a presidential campaign. Castro spoke with party activists Monday at a house party in North Liberty in his first trip to Iowa since forming an exploratory committee last month. Castro indicated that he would announce his presidential campaign Saturday in San Antonio.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A firefighter who died while battling a blaze at a grain storage facility over the weekend is being remembered in the eastern Iowa communities he served. Mourners lined the streets of Clinton on Sunday as the procession transporting the body of 33-year-old fire Lt. Eric Hosette rolled through town. He died Saturday while fighting a fire at the ADM grain facility in Clinton. Another firefighter, 23-year-old Adam Cain, was injured.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A $7 million indoor turf facility for soccer and other sports is being planned for Council Bluffs. The 75,000-square-foot building would be erected just northwest of the Mid-America Center. The Daily Nonpareil reports that what would be called the Iowa West Sports Plex awaits a city Planning Commission vote Tuesday and a City Council vote likely later this month.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota supporter of President Donald Trump is facing a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a weekend altercation at an Iowa rally for Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Photos from Warren’s rally Saturday in Storm Lake show 58-year-old Randal Thom, of Lakefield, Minnesota, carrying a sign that read “Keep America Great.” Police say Thom was involved in an argument with Warren supporters that turned physical and included some punches. There were no injuries and no one else was arrested.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa lost population last year, according to a study from United Van Lines. The moving company says it handled more moves for people leaving Iowa, than those moving in, making it 8th of the 50 states for having the most “out-bound” moves. Michael Stoll, a professor of public policy at U-C-L-A, studies the data for United. Stoll says many of the people who left Iowa are young, between the ages of 25 and 44.

“They’re more moderate income individuals making somewhere between $40,000 and $75,000 a year,” Stoll says. “What that says is, there’s an economic reason for people leaving Iowa that may have to do with professional aspirations or opportunities that they could achieve elsewhere.” Iowa’s population loss is no surprise as many people leave this part of the country every year and head generally south.

Stoll says, “This is part of a longer overall migration trend that’s been occurring in the United States over the last 20 or 30 years, where you have people leaving the Midwest (and going) to the Southern and Western or Southwestern states for a variety of reasons, including changes in the economy, demographic change as well as people migrating to more warmer climates.” The number-one reason people give for moving is job-related, but other factors play a role, including family, housing costs and taxes.

“In Iowa, about 63% of people are moving there to take a job, but a quarter, 25%, are moving to be closer to family and friends,” Stoll says. “Typically, in the United States, only about 6% of people move to be closer to family and friends, so 25% moving to Iowa for that reason is a pretty big number.” The U-S Census Bureau says Iowa’s population grew by about one-half of one-percent last year and exceeded three-point-one million people, ranking Iowa 30th among the 50 states.

A dangerous driver was removed from a busy roadway in Pottawattamie County over the weekend.

Phillip Newcomb

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Phillip Newcomb, of Bellevue, NE., was clocked at 97 miles per hour on Interstate 29, near Council Bluffs. In addition, Newcomb was given a breathalyzer test and registered a point-two-three-seven (.237) blood alcohol level. That’s nearly three times the legal limit to drive.

During the traffic stop, troopers say there was a strong odor of alcohol in the car and that there was an open container on his passenger seat. Newcomb was subsequently arrested for OWI, and booked into the Pottawattamie County jail. He has since been released.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, late Monday evening, issued a report on four recent arrests. Last Friday, 29-year old Brett Michael Stacey, of Adair, was arrested at the Adair County Jail on a Montgomery County warrant for Sex Offender Registration Violation/1st offense. Stacey was held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond, until being extradited to Montgomery County.

Also arrested last Friday, was 38-year old Donna Marie Ott, of Orient. She was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear for her arraignment. Ott was released the following day on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

On Dec. 30th, 37-year old Corey Lee Irvin, of Bridgewater, was arrested on a Polk County warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the owner’s consent. Irvin was held in the Adair County Jail without bond until being picked up by Polk County deputies the following day.  And, 18-year old Koy Alan Brandt, of Greenfield, was arrested Dec. 31st in Greenfield, following a traffic stop for a defective rear license plate light. Records indicated Brandt was driving with a revoked license. He was taken into custody at the scene for Driving While License Denied or Revoked, and subsequently released on his own recognizance with a citation.

The Montgomery County Extension and Outreach will be starting off the year with their new Ag Coffee’s.  The Ag Coffee’s will be a free monthly gathering to learn about topics in that affect the Ag world and feature conversation with area producers. January’s Ag Coffee will be on Farm Succession Planning, sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America.  By attending, you’ll learn a bit about the importance of transition planning and minimizing legal difficulties and confusion for your family during farm transition.

Join the Montgomery County Extension for their Ag Coffee, on January 23^rd at 9:30-a.m., at the Montgomery County Extension Office. The coffee will be hot and rolls will be ready!  Reservations are appreciated, but not required. For more information or to pre-register, contact the Montgomery County Extension Office, at 712-623-2592.

The cities of Griswold and Walnut are seeking pre-applications from homeowners interested in participating in the Community Development Block Grant home rehabilitation program.  Both cities, with the assistance of Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), are submitting applications to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in April for the housing CDBG program. If awarded, the program will provide funding to income qualified owner occupied homes within the target area. The homes will be brought up to the Iowa Minimum Housing Rehabilitation Standards, which may include items such as furnaces, water heaters, windows, doors, roofing, siding, foundation, etc.

All pre-applications are due by Friday March 29. If the cities are awarded a CDBG grant, all pre-applicants within the target area will be contacted to complete a full application. If you are interested in pre-applying please contact the respective city hall’s in Griswold and Walnut, or SWIPCO at 866-279-4720 for the application.

Southwest Iowa Planning Council is the council of government serving the eight counties of southwest Iowa with public transit, housing rehabilitation, and community and economic development. SWIPCO is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plea hearing has been scheduled Friday for two men charged with first-degree murder following the death of a Des Moines resident who was severely beaten in 2013. Polk County District Court records say 21-year-olds Terrance Cheeks and Leshaun Murray pleaded not guilty in July after the charges were filed. Prosecutors say the two were 15 when they attacked Mike Wasike during a carjacking. He died last January after years in care centers.

Court records say prosecutors have extended a plea deal to Cheeks that includes reducing the charge to second-degree murder. The records don’t show whether a similar offer has been made to Murray.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa continues to lose meat lockers in the state’s smaller towns. Brandi Janssen, who runs the Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, says without these processors, small-scale farmers will lose customers.  “Well, if you don’t have access to a market you don’t have much reason to farm,” Janssen says. “It’s just sort of a necessary chain. And then you need to make calculations about…how far is it economically feasible and humane to transport animals?”

Iowa State University researchers estimate Iowa has about a third as many small meat plants today as in 1965. “They’re critical for a healthy local food system,” Janssen says. “A small producer is not going to be able to access a giant, federally-inspected processing facility for products that he or she is going to sell to their local community.”

A long-time meat locker in eastern Iowa closed its doors at the end of December. The Holy Cross Meat Locker was famous for its smoked sausage, before it shut down after 72 years. Market watchers say Iowa is losing a lot of these small meat processors. The shops, sometimes run by just a handful of family members, generally butcher a limited number of cattle and hogs for retail or farmers’ markets.

(Thanks to Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year old Caleb Joseph Proctor, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested late Friday morning at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. Proctor was taken into custody on a warrant for Burglary, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $8,000. And, 43-year old Joshua Adam Miller, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested just before 1-a.m. Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) — Republicans in the state legislature may pursue a policy that will require most “able-bodied” Iowa adults enrolled in Medicaid to work. Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake says it could help ease the worker shortage in Iowa.  “Certainly we’re not suggesting that people that are unable to work should, somehow, work. That’s not the point,” Upmeyer says, “but when we do have able-bodied adults that could work, we frankly need them in the workforce.”

The Trump Administration has given states the go-ahead to impose a work requirement for Medicaid recipients. Seven states have adopted the policy and eight other states have submitted requests for federal approval of the move. In 2018, Republicans in the Iowa legislature began reviewing bills to require “childless” adults who are Medicaid recipients *AND* receive food stamps to work or engage in volunteer activities if they are able. Upmeyer says the policy has not been labeled a top priority for Republicans this year, but it may be considered. “I think there are some inherent benefits to work. The rewards that are sort of intangible sometimes — in addition to a paycheck, you also feel a little better about getting up in the morning and having something to do,” Upmeyer says. “…We genuinely need people in the workforce and if there’s a way to do that where we can get people the skills they need to be more productive and have some opportunities they don’t have today, I think that’s worth considering.”

The 2019 Iowa legislative session starts a week from today (Monday) and Republicans will again determine what gets debated because the G-O-P won a majority of seats in the House and Senate in November.