(Atlantic, Iowa) – Two men were arrested Sunday in Atlantic, following an investigation into a broken storefront window in the 200 block of Chestnut Street. Atlantic Police say Officers arrived shortly after 8:15-a.m. to find a large window broken out, and blood on the concrete. Police followed the blood trail to a residence on Cedar Street in Atlantic. As a result of the investigation, 26-year old River Pecha-Nichols, and 19-year old Michael Gehling were arrested on charges that include Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, and Theft in the 3rd Degree.

There were no injuries.  Atlantic Police Department were assisted by deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

(Photo: L-R: Michael Gehling, River Pecha-Nichols)

(8-a.m. News)

(Radio Iowa) – Story County authorities are investigating two separate fires that occurred at a Casey’s convenience store in the town of Maxwell within a period of three days. The latest fire was reported just after 1 a.m. Sunday, according to the Story County sheriff’s office. The fire was discovered by a passerby who immediately alerted authorities. Authorities say the fire originated on the south side of the building, located at 100 Main Street. The fire caused significant damage to the store’s wall and interior, according to investigators.

Another fire was reported at the same Casey’s store on February 3rd, according to the sheriff’s office. The Maxwell Fire Department responded to Sunday’s fire, with additional assistance being provided by fire departments from nearby Cambridge, Collins and Nevada. At this time, both fires are being called “suspicious” in nature.

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities say the man who stole a vehicle with a child inside near Manson in Calhoun County has been apprehended in Missouri. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office in a press release stated that 25-year-old Jabari Kolaker stole a vehicle at gunpoint around 10:15 Sunday morning fleeing with his two-year-old son. Kolaker was eventually located and arrested yesterday afternoon south of St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to his extradition back to Iowa, Kolaker faces criminal charges in Missouri. The child was located and is safe. The owner of the vehicle stolen by Kolater was not harmed in the incident.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports two arrests occurred over the weekend, and a stolen vehicle was reported. Authorities say 55-year-old Scott Bradley Spurrier, of Creston, was arrested at his home, Saturday morning, on a charge of Child Endangerment with Substantial Risk. He later posted a $5,000 cash or surety bond, and was released from the Union County Jail. And, late Sunday night, 58-year-old David Joseph Tindle, of Des Moines, was arrested in Creston for Intent to manufacture/deliver Meth, and Burglary in the 2nd Degree. His cash or surety bond was set at $35,000.

A Creston man reported to Police Sunday morning, that a vehicle belonging to the Vestas Wind Mill Company was stolen, along with approximately $2,700 worth of tools in the truck. The vehicle was described as being a white, 2020 Chevy 2500 that has damage on the front and rear bumpers. It also has a sticker in the front or back windows with the company logo. The loss was estimated at $62,700 altogether.

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Falls police are investigating a weekend shooting that left one person dead and two others injured – one critically. The incident happened Sunday just before 2 AM in the College Hill business district near the University of Northern Iowa campus. Cedar Falls police say they found a man lying on the ground suffering from life-threatening injuries. He later died at the hospital. According to authorities, two other men with gunshot wounds later arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. One of the victims was admitted with life-threatening injuries while the other was treated and released. None of the victims have been identified. Authorities later arrested two Mason City men, Brandon Mitchell and Daniel Judon, on felony charges connected to the shooting.

Mitchell was booked into the Black Hawk County Jail on charges of attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and control of a firearm by a felon. Officials took Judon into custody on a charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Last month, two Senate Republicans called for felony charges against educators who provide books with passages they deem obscene, while the Majority Leader, who is also the top Republican in the Senate — expressed support for the governor’s plan for addressing parents’ concerns. Governor Reynolds has proposed requiring lists of school books be posted online and requiring school officials to respond within 30 days to parents’ complaints about any book. Parents would have a final appeal heard by the State Board of Education. Senate President Jake Chapman used the phrase “sinister agenda” and disguising sexually obscene material as desired subject matter and profess it as artistic and literary in value.”

During an electronic legislative coffee held Saturday, Republican Representative Tom Moore and Senator Tom Shipley,expressed their thoughts on Chapman’s position. Shipley said he’s seen evidence of the obscene material in question.

He said “a good number of us [in the legislature] were just a little put off by [Chapman’s statements about an agenda], and have expressed that [he] went a little too far.” He says he knows too many teachers, to think that they are pushing an agenda with regard to obscene material. Tom Moore agreed, but with a caveat…”

Moore said the material affects “just a few” in a certain school districts, not the 99-percent. Moore says he doesn’t support the banning of books, but he believes parents have the right to see what is being assigned, and in the libraries, and to make sure their child is protected from that if they so want it to be.

Other topics of discussion during the legislative coffee, include changing the can/bottle bill [for redeeming cans and bottles]. Senator Shipley said the issue has been the topic of discussion for years. A bill in Natural Resources may be coming to the full committee for action to get it fixed, but there’s too many players involved, in getting the situation resolved.

Moore echoed those comments, and acknowledged the redemption centers need more money.

Representative Moore says there are many less redemption centers now than there were 10-years ago, because they aren’t getting enough money to stay afloat. Other topics discussed, Saturday, included those pertaining to Eminent Domain, especially with regard to the CO2 pipelines, and, extending REAP fund in 2026 and beyond.

(Radio Iowa) – A new study finds about one in three Iowans have hypertension or high blood pressure. Dr. David Goff, director of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, says Iowa ranks 27th in the nation. “Iowa is about in the middle of the pack with blood pressure and you might say, ‘Well, that’s not so bad,’ but that’s not good either,” Goff says. “Having a third of us with high blood pressure is way too many, given how much trouble high blood pressure causes.”

The treatable condition can lead to kidney problems, heart attacks, stroke and death. Two years of pandemic living has raised stress levels for nearly everyone, Goff says, and we need to take action to improve our self-care. “All of us need to follow a healthier diet, eat more vegetables and fruits and whole grains, less salt in our diet,” Goff says. “Get more activity, that means usually about 30 minutes of something like brisk walking most days, try to stay lean.”

Iowans who are stressed need to find ways to decompress and manage that stress, what Goff says is invoking your “relaxation response.” “For some people, it’s breathing exercises. For some people, it’s meditation. For other people, it’s prayer. Some folks work out their stress by going to the gym,” Goff says. “Whatever works for the individual that’s going to be a healthy way of coping with stress would be really helpful in improving heart health as well as overall health.”

Some Iowans have picked up bad habits during the pandemic, like alcohol, smoking, overeating and binge-watching television. You won’t be able to tackle them all at once, Goff says, but start with something. “Maybe you start with just cutting back a little bit on the alcohol. Then you’re probably going to feel better, and then you can try to increase your activity — and then you can try to improve your diet,” Goff says. “Trying to do them all at the same time can sometimes seem overwhelming. Making small changes and building on them over time can be more successful.”

Whether it’s everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or COVID-19, we all face some degree of stress and our bodies react to it. With chronic stress, Goff says you’re more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Find tips on getting healthy at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts