DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines have identified a man whose body was been found inside a portable toilet outside the city’s Forest Avenue Library earlier this month. The Des Moines Register reports that police confirmed Thursday that the body was that of 59-year-old Luis Alonso Mendoza Sandoval. Police say Sandoval was homeless and that autopsy results determining the cause of his death are still pending.

Police have said Sandoval’s body was discovered in the early-morning hours of Feb. 8 by a city snowplow driver who spotted a man’s legs sticking out of the portable toilet. Temperatures at the time hovered around 2 below zero, and the wind chill was double digits below zero.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines police officer has been placed on leave after being charged with a misdemeanor in which he’s accused of trying to interfere in a criminal investigation involving one of his friends. The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release Thursday that Officer Rodney Alan Briggs was arrested Wednesday by police in nearby Altoona and charged with non-felonious misconduct in office.

The release says Briggs exceeded his authority as a police officer by trying to persuade Southeast Polk School District employees to give him video evidence related to an ongoing Altoona police investigation involving a friend of Briggs’. Police did not name the friend or detail the investigation involving the friend.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa grocery stores could opt out of accepting empty containers covered by the state’s nickel deposit law under legislation that has cleared a Senate subcommittee. Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, says his bill is an attempt to tweak, but not end the state’s popular “Bottle Bill.”

Rozenboom predicts his bill would lead to more business for redemption centers, but Troy Willard, owner of the Can Shed in Cedar Rapids, says without an increase in the fee for handling empty cans and bottles, it’s not a profitable business model for rural parts of the state.

Jess Mazour, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club, says the bill would make it less convenient for consumers to get their deposit fees back.

As the bill is currently written, a retailer may refuse to accept cans and bottles if there’s a redemption center within 20 miles of the store. Mary Tarnoff of Fairfield, legislative action chair for the Sierra Club of Southeast Iowa, says it’s not reasonable to expect someone to drive 20 miles to recycle.

Rozenboom says his attempt to modernize the Bottle Bill, like countless others, may be doomed if competing interest groups aren’t willing to compromise.

Beer and liquor distributors keep all the deposit fees that are not redeemed today and Rosenboom says it’s grown “into a very large sum of money.” His bill would have that money turned over the state.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers suggests the economy is slowly improving in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but employment remains below the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic began last year. The overall index for the region increased to 53.8 in February from January’s 52. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the number of jobs in the region is down roughly 146,000, or 3.3%, from the level it was at before the pandemic began.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

The Southwest Iowa Squadron of Heroes wants to equip all Montgomery County Fire and EMS units and/or personnel with Ballistic Vests for tactical medical situations. Red Oak Police Reserve Officer Brad Baker says providing the vests has been a goal of first responders in the County for about four-years, but there’s never been enough in the budget to allow that to happen. Across the nation, firefighters, EMS and first responders have occasionally come under fire while on the scene of a call, bringing the need for ballistic vests into a clearer perspective. Baker says one incident locally, comes to mind.

Baker says in response to the potential threat, in 2017 all Montgomery Co. first responders received the tactical training on how to respond to an active threat/shooter type event.

He says the scenario they used was similar to what happened during a mass casualty event in Columbine, Colorado, where EMS personnel “Staged” near the scene before they could enter.

Baker says they are trying to secure funds to purchase 50 or more Level III protection, Rise Tactical Carrier (RTC) vests, and are working with the military tech supplier to help keep the costs as low as possible, but the initial funds needed amount to $15,000. Any additional or grant support will be used for accessories such as vest id’s, med kits/vest attachments, and, helmets.

The vests will help defend against small arms and rifle fire and bladed weapons, with plates covering the torso, back and sides. Brad Baker says they donations can come in any amount, but one option is to “adopt” a First Responder for a $300 or $150 investment.

The vests will cover the following full- and part-time volunteers:

• Elliott Fire and First Responders
• Grant Fire and First Responders
• Red Oak Fire
• Red Oak Ambulance
• Stanton Fire
• Stanton Ambulance
• Villisca Fire, and
• Villisca EMS.

Baker says 100% of all donations will be applied toward the outfitting of Fire/EMS personnel with protective equipment. Checks are payable to Elk’s Superhero Fund. (Venmo: SuperHeroes-Fund). For more information,call Brad Akers at 712-623-6500, or email recbaker@redoakpolice.com

The Iowa Department of Public Health, Thursday (today), said there were 628 new positive cases of COVID-19 test results returned from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 331,064 positive cases.  There were also 15 additional deaths, for a pandemic total to-date of 5,321, including one additional death in Cass County. Statewide, 4,792 COVID deaths are attributed to Underlying causes. COVID was a contributing factor to 529 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,139 of the total number of deaths.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks declined to 27 from 29 on Wednesday. Officials say 771 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 517 have recovered.

The State data show hospitalizations shows an uptick, from 235 Wednesday to 252 Thursday. COVID patients in an ICU increased from 52 to 59. The State says 52 were admitted over the previous 24-hours, and 24 patients were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 13 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, three people are in an ICU, one person was admitted over the past 24-hours, and one person remains on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate continues to decline, from 7.3% Wednesday to 7.2% Thursday, and the 7-day average is down to 5.4%.

A total of 306,382 Iowans have recovered from the virus.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,239 cases; {+0}; 48 deaths
• Adair, 787; {+5}; 26
• Adams, 317 {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 464 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,073 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,650; {+0}; 68
• Madison County, 1,378; {+5}; 17
• Mills County, 1,460; {+1}; 20
• Montgomery, 954; {+0}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 9,649; {+17}; 140
• Shelby County, 1,134; {+3}; 32
• Union County,  1,174; {+5}; 31

(Radio Iowa) – Organizers hope the thousands of RAGBRAI riders will be pedaling across Iowa this summer. Last year’s edition of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa was cancelled because of the pandemic. The 2021 ride will start in Le Mars and end a week later in Clinton. Lesley Webster, director of the Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau, says they’re working to create a safe destination.*

RAGBRAI offers a tremendous economic boost to cities and towns along the route, with up to 20,000 riders likely. Many thousands of volunteers will be needed statewide to make it all work. Webster says Clinton already has several committees in place and projects are underway.

On Sunday, July 25th, riders will begin the ride by dipping their back tires in the Missouri River in Le Mars. Then they’ll pedal to Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Waterloo, Anamosa, DeWitt, and will finally arrive in Clinton on Saturday, July 31st, to dip their front tires in the Mississippi.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a man from Villisca was arrested Wednesday afternoon. 26-year old SeanCody Lee was arrested for Interference with Officials Acts, in connection with an incident that occurred in the 100 block of N. 2nd Avenue, in Villisca.  Lee was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five arrests, two of which took place on Monday (2/15). Officials say 45-year old Bruce Birge, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating under the influence. And, 18-year old Dante Watkins, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. Watkins was cited into court and released. Birge was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Last Saturday, 26-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault. Baker was booked into the jail. On Feb. 10th, 41-year old Jason Cook, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. He was cited into court and released.

And, on Feb. 4th, 49-year old Binte Binios, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating under the influence, Criminal Mischief and Driving while license suspended. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.