Home prices and sales increased 7.7-percent in Iowa last year. Numbers released by the Iowa Association of Realtors show 44,621 homes were sold in the state in 2015. That was up from 43,772 homes sold the previous year. Meanwhile, the median sale price for a home sold in Iowa last year was $140,000. That compares to $130,000 in 2014. IAR president Ken Clark reports it’s the fourth consecutive year of increases in home prices in the state.

The IAR also reports homes sold faster in 2015 than any year in the past decade.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — More than 2,000 people raced to the top of Omaha’s tallest building this weekend, but one of the slower racers earned one of the loudest ovations. Sixty–year-old Ann Hegstrom heard cheers when she crossed the finish line on crutches Saturday. Hegstrom of DeSoto, Iowa, told the Omaha World-Herald she didn’t want to miss her fourth race up the First National Bank tower even after breaking her femur around Thanksgiving.

Initially, Hegstrom planned to only climb halfway, but decided to continue up all 40 floors and finish in 28 minutes, 57 seconds. Thirty-two-year-old Morgan Chaffin of Omaha won the women’s division in 5 minutes, 59 seconds.

Ivan Marsh of Ashland, Nebraska had the fastest time of 4 minutes, 32 seconds. The 41-year-old has won all 10 of the tower races.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Measures that would address the growing use of body cameras in Iowa are not expected to impact law enforcement agencies this year. But their introduction this session showcases looming challenges for state officials. A bill that would have specified storage requirements for body camera footage did not move past a procedural deadline in the recent legislative session.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals will hear an appeal filed by the former operator of the Argosy riverboat casino in Sioux City this week. The Sioux City Journal reports the case challenging decisions the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission made will be heard Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines officials are re-examining a little-used city rule that limits home day cares to six children while state rules allow as many as 16. The Register reports a day care provider who had been caring for 12 children complained after city officials forced her to follow the city rule. Tonja Boggs filed a complaint against the city’s 483 other home day cares.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — More than 2,000 people raced to the top of Omaha’s tallest building this weekend, but an Iowa woman on crutches earned one of the loudest ovations. Sixty-year-old Ann Hegstrom heard cheers when she crossed the finish line Saturday. Hegstrom of DeSoto, Iowa told the Omaha World-Herald she didn’t want to miss her fourth race up the First National Bank tower even after breaking her femur around Thanksgiving.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Saturday afternoon for “Breach of Peace.” 23-year old Matthew Kalvin Owens, of Red Oak, was charged after he allegedly violated Red Oak City Code “By publicly cursing and using abusive language toward another individual.” The language was allegedly directed toward “multiple individuals” in the City of Red Oak. Owens was taken into custody at around 4:15-p.m. Bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Measures that would address the growing use of body cameras in Iowa are not expected to impact law enforcement agencies this year, but their introduction this session showcases looming challenges for state officials.

Several lawmakers agree legislative action is needed soon as more Iowa authorities use body cameras to counter allegations of excessive force and public mistrust. In Iowa and around the country, legislators are scrutinizing existing laws and using task forces to figure out the storage, public inspection and confidentiality of body camera footage.

In Iowa, a bill that would have specified storage requirements for body camera footage did not move past a procedural deadline. The focus now turns to a separate bill that includes the creation of an interim legislative committee to investigate the issue.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals will hear an appeal filed by the former operator of the Argosy riverboat casino in Sioux City this week. The Sioux City Journal reports the case challenging decisions the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission made will be heard Tuesday.

Bell of Sioux City, which is a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming Co., argues that regulators were wrong to grant a license for what has become the land-based Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City. Previous rulings in the case have supported regulators. Brian Ohorilko with the state commission says regulators believe they acted in accordance with state law in their casino decisions.

Mark Monson with the local nonprofit that has worked with both casino operators says he hopes the case is resolved soon.

A woman from south central Iowa was cited for Possessing an open container of alcohol, and failure to have insurance-accident related, following a rollover accident early this (Sunday) morning, about a mile west of Red Oak. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 24-year old Angela Kier, of Indianola, was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer westbound on Highway 34 at around 12:35-a.m., when the SUV drifted onto the north shoulder of the road.

Kier over-corrected back onto the roadway, causing the SUV to go out of control. The vehicle rolled over, landing on its top in the eastbound lane of Highway 34. Kier was not injured. Her vehicle was a total loss.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Douglas County’s top prosecutor say a lack of communication among government agencies allowed a 19-year-old man charged with motor vehicle homicide to flee justice. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a week after the Jan. 29 crash on an Omaha street, Eswin Mejia posted $5,000 bail to be freed. Authorities say he then skipped a urine test, and officials now can’t find him.

Mejia was charged Feb. 3rd with motor vehicle homicide and drunken driving in connection with the death of 21-year-old Sarah Root, of Council Bluffs. Root, who had recently graduated from Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School, was driving a 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada east on L Street about 2:15 a.m. Jan. 31 when her vehicle was rear-ended by a pickup truck driven by Mejia. Root’s sport utility vehicle was stopped or slowing when it was rear-ended near 33rd and L Streets. Root died later, at the Nebraska Medical Center.

A review of the case by the World-Herald shows Mejia – a Honduras national – was found to be a low risk to flee despite having twice failed to appear in court for other offenses. Federal immigration authorities declined to detain Mejia.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine criticized the case’s handling, saying “there has to be a common-sense communication between the feds and the state.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo, Nebraska woman has been charged in Iowa with stealing between $22,000 and $222,000. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 44-year-old Beth Beutler was arrested Friday morning in western Iowa and charged with 38 counts of forgery. Authorities say she also faces charges of theft and ongoing criminal activity.

Police say Beutler used a checking machine to withdraw thousands of dollars. The machine allows truck drivers to access funds from across the country by giving a clerk at a truck stop an authorization code to pay for fuel, service or get cash.

Police say Beutler got the authorization codes from McMullen Brothers Trucking in Carter Lake, where her husband works, and used them at Pilot Travel Center in Council Bluffs.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old man suspected of shooting a Sioux City police officer will be arraigned next month. The Sioux City Journal reports that Isaiah Mothershed’s arraignment will be March 1st, in Woodbury County District Court. He remains in the Woodbury County Jail on a $300,000 bond.

Mothershed has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and five counts of robbery. Each count carries a 25-year prison sentence. He is accused of pulling a gun from a couch while his hands were handcuffed behind his back and shooting Officer Ryan Moritz in the leg while being arrested. As officers struggled with Mothershed, the gun fired again, shooting Mothershed in the leg. Mothershed spent three days in a hospital.

Authorities have said Moritz could return to duty next week.