More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden is focusing his 2020 White House campaign on South Carolina this weekend while several other Democratic candidates are spending time in Iowa, another early-voting state. Biden is making his debut visit in the first-in-the-South primary state with a stop Saturday in Columbia, the capital, followed by a fundraiser. He opened his latest run for president with explicit appeals to white, working-class voters across the Midwest, pledging his support for unions and promising to rebuild the middle class, Biden now is trying to gauge whether his message will resonate among black voters whose backing will be crucial in South Carolina and elsewhere.

Iowa is the focus for some of his rivals, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, as well as former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke. Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper are campaigning in New Hampshire.

Outside those early-voting states, Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is in Houston, Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio visits Michigan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is in California.
There are more than 20 Democrats competing to take on President Donald Trump in 2020.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officials with Glenwood Municipal Utilities, Friday, lifted a Boil Water Order for the City of Pacific Junction. The Order was lifted after the City’s water supply passed water safety tests, which means the water no longer needs to be boiled prior to consumption. GMU officials, however, say they’re still turning water services on for those who request it.

Anyone in need of restored services should come to the GMU office Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also ask that someone be present at the residence when the water is turned back on for precautionary measures. Officials said also, that while water services are back in Pacific Junction, sewer services are still out. Residents should still refrain from using their facilities or drains to prevent back up problems in their homes.

GMU officials also ask residents to notify their office if their homes are being demolished, so that meters and radio read units can be removed. Glenwood Municipal Utility’s phone number is 712-527-4868.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Friday, said two people were arrested in Omaha that same day, on warrants connected to the theft of items from flood victims’ homes. Authorities say 47-year-old Robert S. White and 43-year-old Cindy A. Abbott, both of Omaha, face multiple charges, including 3rd degree burglary, 2nd degree theft and 2nd degree criminal mischief. White was also charged with ongoing criminal conduct. Both suspects are charged in connection with an investigation that began on Easter Sunday (April 21st), when the sheriff’s office responded to a burglary at a Hamburg residence. The homeowners told authorities they were forced to evacuate their home due to flooding–leaving behind a majority of their possessions. The residents first noticed their house was burglarized when returning to retrieve and sort through belongings.

The sheriff’s office says forced entry was made into the residence, and thousands of dollars of property was reported stolen. The suspects also allegedly caused significant damage to the property’s driveway and yard. An investigation led to the identification of suspects out of Omaha. Information was sent to Omaha Police, who assisted in the investigation. Warrants were later issued for both suspects through an joint investigation between Fremont County and Omaha authorities.

Both suspects were apprehended with the assistance of Omaha Police and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and were being held in the Douglas County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) — Three people are facing multiple drug charges following their arrest by a combined task force of Storm Lake Police and the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office. Police say they executed search warrants at three Storm Lake residences and arrested 28-year-old Billy Fang, 37-year-old Meng Her and 34-year-old Marvin Moua. Officers seized several pounds of marijuana, crystal meth and 50 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, drug paraphernalia, hand guns and assault rifles.

Drugs seized in Storm Lake (Radio IA photo)

Fang was charged multiple counts of drug possession with intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamps. Her was charged with possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia. Moua was arrested on warrants for multiple counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamps. Moua was also charged with two counts of trafficking stolen weapons. The seized drugs were valued at more than 282-thosuand dollars.

(Radio Iowa) — Wearing yellow boots and lime green vests, state officials toured flooded sections of downtown Davenport, Friday. Mayor Frank Klipsch was the guide for Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, and Second District Congressman Dave Loebsack. Several blocks lined with businesses and apartments have been surrounded by Mississippi River floodwater since a temporary floodwall failed on Tuesday. Scott Lehnert is the owner and brewmaster of the Great River Brewery. “When the surge came — we had built sandbag walls prior — and it just happened so fast and had so much pressure it just went right through them. Busted off our garage doors right off the walls,” Lehnert says.

Downtown property owner Pete Stopulos told them one new restaurant was the victim of bad timing. He says the restaurant was scheduled to open Tuesday night, Mayor Klipsch said he had a reservation, which brought laughter. The temporary floodwall protecting this section of downtown Davenport had held back the river for 41 days before the breach on Tuesday.

Downtown residents and businesses had been warned about one hour beforehand that it might fail, but still had little time to protect their buildings and evacuate.

(Thanks to WVIK, Rock Island)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:55 a.m. CDT

(HANLONTOWN) — A pedestrian on 390th Street in northern Iowa’s Worth County was struck and killed by a car Friday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports the unidentified victim was walking eastbound on 390th Street, about one-eighth of a mile east of Ironwood Avenue at around 5:20-p.m., when they were hit by a 2013 VW Passat. The accident took place northeast of Hanlontown. The name of the driver was not released. The accident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a budget bill that prohibits the use of Medicaid funding to pay for sex-reassignment surgery. The Republican governor signed the Health and Human Services funding bill Friday and opted not to issue a line item veto of the ban. Republicans added the prohibition in the closing days of the Legislature, saying it was a response to a recent Iowa Supreme Court decision that said the state couldn’t deny two transgender women Medicaid coverage for sex-reassignment surgery.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — When the Mississippi River reached record levels 26 years ago, the overflowing water covered 400,000 square miles and caused dozens of deaths in a disaster dubbed “The Great Flood of 1993.” But when portions of the river exceeded those levels in parts of the Midwest this week, the flooding affected much less land. Officials say the difference largely comes down to actions taken by communities following the 1993 flood, such as the erection of floodwalls and temporary flood barriers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a budget bill that prohibits the use of Medicaid funding to pay for sex-reassignment surgery. The Republican governor signed the Health and Human Services funding bill on Friday and opted not to issue a line item veto of the ban on public funding for such surgeries.

Conservative Republicans added the prohibition in the closing days of the Legislature, saying it was a response to a recent Iowa Supreme Court decision that said the state couldn’t deny two transgender women Medicaid coverage for sex-reassignment surgery.

Daniel Hoffmann-Zinnell, executive director of the civil rights group One Iowa Action, said that by signing the bill, Reynolds “tarnished Iowa’s reputation as a state that stands for fairness and equality.”

Four people were arrested recently on drug charges in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports:

• On Wednesday (5/1) 43-year old Anthony Hernandez, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Meth 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hernandez was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.
• On April 28th, 30-year old Cody Lee Sellman, of Lanesboro, IA, was arrested for felony Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth; a felony Drug Tax Stamp Violation; and Interference with Official Acts. Sellman was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond.
• On April 26th, 31-year old James Dwight Mills, who currently incarcerated in the Cass County Jail, was assessed additional charges of felony Drug Tax Stamp Violation, and Possession with Intent to Deliver Alprazolam. Mills was initially incarcerated on April 21, 2019, on drug delivery and drug paraphernalia charges. He remains held at the Cass County Jail on $55,000 bond.
• And, on April 22nd, Cass County Deputies arrested 37-year old Samuel Lee Farley,  of Anita, on charges of OWI 1st Offense; Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also charged with an OWI 1st Offense (Serious) that took place on February 7, 2019. Farley was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $3,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, that on Thursday, May 2nd, 44-year old Brad James Smith, of Atlantic, was arrested on a felony OWI/3rd Offense charge, and Driving While Revoked. Smith was taken to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and released the following day on his own recognizance. May 1st, 59-year old Joseph Anthony Frontado, Sr., of Atlantic, was arrested in Cass County for OWI/1st Offense. Frontado was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

April 30th, 30-year old Christopher John Hazen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft 3rd Degree. Hazen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2,000 bond. And, on April 29th, 24-year old Edward Lee Roy Burton, Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Burton was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.