Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa agriculture officials say two additional commercial poultry farms show signs of the presence of bird flu. A chicken farm in Osceola County with 100,000 birds and a turkey farm in Cherokee County are the latest additions to the list of farms testing positive for the H5N2 virus.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has found a 74-year-old northern Iowa man guilty of sexual abusing two 8-year-old children. Jurors convicted John Winston Lusk of Floyd of two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Prosecutors allege Lusk sexually abused a girl about three years ago when she stayed overnight at his home, and sexually abused a boy in 2014.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The murder trial of a Sioux City man accused in the shooting death of another Iowan has been continued as lawyers await forensic test results. Attorneys on Wednesday filed a motion to delay the first-degree murder trial of Timothy Schroeder, arguing they needed more time to conduct depositions. They also said they’re waiting on ballistics and fingerprint reports from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation laboratory. The Sioux City Journal reports the trial has been rescheduled for September 1st.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man convicted in 2011 of sexually abusing three girls has been granted a retrial in June. Woodbury County Assistant Attorney Drew Bockenstedt tells the Sioux City Journal reports 42-year-old Julius Turner filed for post-conviction relief in 2012, claiming his attorney inadequately defended him.

(Updated 4:45-a.m.)

A four-year old Council Bluffs boy was reported to be in critical condition at a hospital in Nebraska, after being shot in the neck Thursday evening. According to Council Bluffs Police, Q-Marion Jones was transported CHI Creighton Hospital before being transferred to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, after he was hit by a bullet at around 5-p.m., Thursday.

Police say they received a call at 5:03-p.m. from Q-Marion’s mother saying the boy was having breathing problems while in her vehicle. The dispatcher was able to ascertain the woman’s location was 19th Street and West Broadway. A rescue squad was dispatched and upon arrival, determined the boy had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the neck.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is conducting an investigation into the incident, but preliminary information reveals there was another juvenile in the mother’s apartment, who had access to a semi-automatic pistol. The juvenile was placed into protective custody, pending completion of an investigation.

A search warrant was executed late Thursday evening at the residence, with evidence recovered that indicated a weapon was fired inside the home. The weapon however, had not been recovered at last report.

Police in Council Bluffs report one person was arrested following a domestic disturbance Thursday evening. Authorities say officers were dispatched to 1516 Little John Circle, Unit 4, just before 7-p.m. Upon arrival, they met with the alleged victim, 59-year old Dani Lewis, of Council Bluffs, who reported she had an argument with her live-in boyfriend.

Lewis said during the argument, 52-year old Mark Dean Smith, of Council Bluffs, grabbed her by the arm, spun her around, and knocked her to the ground. She suffered several bone fractures as a result of the incident. Smith denied the allegations but, based on the evidence, he was arrested and booked into corrections for Willful Injury causing serious injury. Lewis was treated for her injuries, and released.

The Iowa DOT’s District 4 Office in Atlantic reports there will be a lane closure on Monday on US Hwy 6/ 7th Street in Atlantic, so that crews may take soil borings in the roadway. Traffic will be shifted in the area between Cherry Street and Hospital Drive.

Motorists will want to use caution and obey the signs directing their travel through this area. The work taking place is preliminary work prior to the construction of US 6/ 7th Street.

An elementary school in Council Bluffs was placed on “lockdown” status late this (Thursday) morning. According to Council Bluffs Police, shortly after 11-a.m.,the Pottawattamie County 9-1-1 Center received a single call of gunshots being heard in the area of Longfellow Elementary School, 2011 South 10th Street.

As a precaution, the school was notified and was placed into “lockdown.” Several CBPD officers responded and checked the area. Authorities found no evidence of any gunfire in the area. Officers again made contact with the school staff, informing them that normal activities could resume.

The “lockdown” was in effect for approximately 15 minutes.

Scott Suhr, Transportation Planner for the Iowa DOT’s District 4 Office in Atlantic, issued a statement Thursday afternoon clarifying the start date for the Highway 6/7th Street Atlantic Construction Project. Suhr said at the preconstruction meeting held Wednesday, May 6th, the contractor stated that they are shooting for a May 26th start date, however, they are waiting on a sub contractor’s milling machine. That machine may be delayed on another project due to rain.

Suhr says at this time, it appears likely the contractor will start work on the road AFTER the Memorial Day weekend. Official information concerning the project will come from the DOT office in Atlantic, and will be conveyed by the media to the public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Millions of dead chickens and turkeys lie in stinking, fly-swarmed piles near dozens of large Iowa farms due to the H5N2 bird flu virus.
Neighbors say they understand the challenge in disposing of more than 20 million bird carcasses, but are eager for quick action, especially as temperatures rise and create more decomposition odor and flies.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmental supervisor Ken Hessenius says the state must look at “all methods of disposal” and called the virus a “crisis.” Some of the birds are piled up and covered with dirt or other material, turkeys are often composted inside barns and at least one chicken farm is burying them in trenches. Portable incinerators have been set up and state officials are working with landfills.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will allow victims of domestic abuse and other crimes to keep their home address private through a mail-forwarding program. Branstad signed the bill Thursday. It takes effect in January.

The law will allow victims of domestic abuse and other crimes to have their mail sent to an address managed by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. The mail will then be forwarded to the victim’s home address. The system allows victims to keep their home address confidential from an abuser or potential abuser.

Rep. Dean Fisher, a Republican from Garwin, sponsored the bill. He says it could help between 300 and 500 people in Iowa. More than 30 other states have similar laws.