The Creston Police Department reports 46-year old Michael Williams, of Creston, was arrested Saturday evening. Williams was taken into custody at around 5:30-p.m. in the 200 block of S. Peterson, for Public Intoxication/2nd offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Disorderly Conduct. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

Creston Police also took to reports of theft over the past week. Saturday afternoon, a resident of the 500 block of W. Mills St. reported someone broke into his home and took an XBox One, two controllers, several games and an external hard drive. The loss was estimated at $500. And, On June 20th, a resident of the 100 block of W. Buckeye, in Creston, reported that sometime between March 1st and March 31st, someone took a wedding band from her home. The loss was estimated at $550.

TAMA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have recovered the body of a man from the Iowa River, just south of Tama. First responders were called to the site around 4:35 p.m. Sunday. They soon found a body that later was identified as that of Rodney Keraghan.
An autopsy has been ordered . Authorities suspect he drowned.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is co-sponsoring legislation with fellow Republican Senator Marco Rubio or Florida, which she says will help states make better use of federal programs for those trying to get out of poverty. Ernst, who is from Red Oak, says her travels around the state raised several questions about poverty issues. “How can we help Iowans overcome financial hardships and obstacles? Is the federal government hurting or helping? How can we as a nation do better?,” Ernst says.

She says she came to the conclusion that something needs to be done to improve the system. “The reality is — despite over 80 programs and BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars spent annually — the federal governor often fails to address the barriers to self-sufficiency to those living in poverty,” according to Ernst.

Ernst says she learned when she was still a state senator that the federal programs designed to help those in poverty can often end up being part of the problem. She cited a woman she met in Lenox who was getting assistance and had to make a tough decision about getting a promotion at her job at a care center. “This young women went home and calculated what her pay increase would be along with all the government assistance she would lose. What she figured out, is that taking the promotion would actually cost her 200 dollars a month,” Ernst says.

Ernst says the woman decided to go ahead and take the promotion and deal with the lost of funds to support her family. Ernst says her legislation gives state the flexibility to review and revise the programs to ensure those trying to improve themselves don’t fall off a cliff when their federal support levels go down. “The Empowers Act would allow states to apply for four-year temporary waivers to integrate and reform two or more federal programs that assist folks in need,” Ernst explains.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds joined Ernst for the announcement of the legislation. Reynolds says too often the federal money comes with a one-size-fits-all approach that makes it tough to mesh with state programs. “It’s nearly impossible for the two efforts to align despite having the same goal — and that goal is to empower Iowans and reduce poverty,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds says the system ends up with state organizations working in their own “silos.” If the bill becomes law — she would ask all her department heads to find opportunities to use it to help Iowans. “Have them look at the opportunities that we have in front of us and see if collectively the can figure out a way to really break down those silos and take the flexibility that we have and to coordinate that in a better manner,” Reynolds says. “To really work smarter, to find ways to work smarter and serve more Iowans.”

Ernst says the states that get waivers would get the same amount of money that other states get for the same programs and would be required to put any savings back into programs to help people in poverty.

(Radio Iowa)

Two teenage lifeguards at the La Porte City municipal swimming pool saved the life of a 4-year-old boy Friday. Jace Keegan, son of Ryan and Audra Keegan of rural La Porte City slipped underwater and lost consciousness in the children’s pool. Audra Keegan and Julie Grote, ambulance captain for the La Porte City Fire Rescue, said lifeguards Megan Hudson and Richie Artega administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Jace, who was not breathing and had no pulse when removed from the water.

Keegan began coughing and regained consciousness after one round of CPR, according to Grote. Jace Keegan was transported to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo, then taken to University Hospitals to be monitored. He is expected to fully recover.

(Radio Iowa)

A traffic stop at around 11-p.m. Sunday resulted in the arrest of a Red Oak man for Driving While Suspended. Red Oak Police say 25-year old Anthony Michael Harris was taken into custody at around 11:40-p.m., and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

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

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska fireworks retailers are scrambling into Iowa after the state’s ban ended last month, brushing aside concerns that the new policy could hurt sales for their existing shops along the border. Retailers said they’re excited to expand into the new market after former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a law last month to legalize bottle rockets, roman candles and other consumer fireworks.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A new shelter and trail in Waterloo are among the final pieces of a transformation of a flood-raved neighborhood into a riverfront recreation area. The Courier reports that a $200,000 grant from Iowa’s Resource Enhancement and Protection program will fund the new shelter, parking lot and trail in Waterloo’s Sherwood Park Recreation Area. Construction is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg paid a visit to Nebraska and Iowa and toured Union Pacific’s railyard in central Nebraska. Zuckerberg also attended part of the Heartland Pride Festival in Omaha on Saturday and stopped in several Iowa towns as part of a tour of the area.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A California-based developer of a 12-story historic art deco building in downtown Sioux City has filed for bankruptcy protection, indefinitely delaying an effort by an eastern Iowa bank to foreclose on it. The Sioux City Journal reports that Mako One Corp., of Carlsbad, California, has notified the court that it’s filing a Chapter 11 petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of California. Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust filed for foreclosure on the Badgerow Building in April.