The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — Fire heavily damaged a farm and construction equipment dealership in northwest Iowa early this (Wednesday) morning. Sioux County Sheriff’s Deputy Nate Huisingasays the call came in about 3:20 A-M at Hawke and Company Ag on the outskirts of Alton. “There was flames coming through the roof of the building and as the morning went on, they got that under control,” Huisinga says. “Five fire departments are here assisting and at this point, it looks like they have the fire contained.”

The business was closed at the time the fire broke out. No injuries are reported. Deputy Huisinga says the rain showers weren’t exactly a benefit. “At this point, it’s probably more of a hindrance than it is helping as the conditions aren’t real nice out here,” Huisinga says. “Looks like we’ll have another rain shower go through and hopefully get a little break in the rain.”

There’s no word yet on what may have caused the fire.

As heavy rains move in and snow melt continues, the potential for river flooding begins. Officials in Pottawattamie County are preparing for what the National Weather Service has described as a flood event that has historic potential, primarily along the West Nishnabotna River. Levels at the Missouri River are forecast to reach a potential 29 feet in minor flood stage by 7am Saturday morning, similar to events observed last summer. The Nishnabotna is forecast to crest at just over 26 feet in major flood stage by 1am Thursday, topping the 23.5 foot record set in July of 1993.

Pott. County EMA

Doug Reed, Pott. County Director of Emergency Management, says “There are many variables in this scenario that will impact the river levels. With existing snow pack, frozen ground, and varying ranges of potential rainfall this event could go either way – however, we need to be prepared for the worst-case potential.” In doing so, a Declaration of Disaster Emergency has been authorized for the communities of Avoca, Hancock, Oakland, Carson, Macedonia, Council Bluffs, and unincorporated areas of Pottawattamie County as a preemptive measure should any of the jurisdictions require assistance from mutual aid partners or state agencies based on actual observed conditions.

Currently, county and city agencies are preparing to secure storm sewer systems, roads, and other infrastructure that may be impacted. Urban streets are likely to experience flooding during the heavy rain event and some rural highways and roads near and around the Nishnabotna River could be closed due to floodwaters. Pottawattamie County Conservation is working to relocate the Botna Bend Park buffalo herd to a safer location and moving the elk herd to a higher elevation within the park. Emergency Management has been coordinating additional resource support with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management should they be needed and coordinating preparedness efforts with partners such as MidAmerican Energy and others.

Residents and people with interests along the rivers are advised to begin monitoring river conditions and prepare accordingly. With frozen ground conditions creating higher runoff than normal, river levels have the potential to rise more rapid than in normal high water and flooding events. For more information on flood preparedness, visit the Floods and Flash Floods page at www.beready.iowa.gov.  To receive emergency weather warnings and community alerts such as evacuations, shelter locations, and other emergency notices, sign up for free alerts from Pottawattamie Alert, part of the Alert Iowa Network, at www.pottcounty-ia.gov.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — A former southern Iowa county attorney has pleaded guilty to drunken driving. Clarke County court records say 43-year-old Michelle Rivera, of Osceola, entered the plea last week after making a deal with prosecutors. She’d been arrested Dec. 14. Her plea agreement calls for 365 days in jail with all but two days suspended, a $1,250 fine and two years of probation. Prosecutors would drop another charge in return. The agreement isn’t binding on the judge. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 22.

Rivera lost her re-election bid in November after she was arrested in October on suspicion of being drunk on the job in a Clarke County courtroom. A sheriff’s deputy said in a criminal complaint that he noticed Rivera “slurring her words and stumbling on her feet” in the Osceola courtroom. She was charged with public intoxication. Rivera eventually pleaded guilty and was fined $65.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health/Bureau of Emergency and Trauma Services, say a Consent Agreement has been reached between the agency and Wiota First Responders, with regard to a Citation and Warning/Civil Penalty issued Nov. 16, 2018, and which became final agency action on Dec. 6, 2018. The agreement requires Wiota First Responders to voluntarily surrender its Iowa service program authorization, and “Not to hold itself out as or perform any functions of an Emergency Medical Services authorized service program.”

The civil penalty remains in effect. If the Wiota First Responders chooses to seek future authorization as a service program, they will be required to follow the application process set forth in the Iowa Code and Administrative Code as a new service program.

(Additional information using authorization/license number 9156000, can be found here: https://dphregprograms.iowa.gov/PublicPortal/Iowa/IDPH/publicSearch/publicSearch.jsp?EaaUserId=&lid=ReadOnlyidph&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Harlan Mayor Gene Gettys and Shelby County EMA officials report, due to water, the following streets are closed as of 6-p.m. today (3/13):

• 6th Street from Chatburn Avenue to Walnut Street
• Utility Avenue from Chatburn Avenue to Industrial Avenue
• Exchange Street from Chatburn Avenue to Stowe Red-E-Mix (approx. Elm Street)
• Highway 44 is closed at Maple Road.
• Nishna Ave from 1st St to Oak Road

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An investigation by The Associated Press has found that police departments routinely withhold video taken by body-worn and dashboard-mounted cameras that show officer-involved shootings and other uses of force. They often do so by citing a broad exemption to state open-records laws _ claiming that releasing the video would harm an ongoing investigation. That’s not true for all departments. Some routinely release officer video within days or weeks.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke is planning a series of stops in Iowa beginning Thursday as he nears an announcement on a 2020 White House bid. Two people familiar with O’Rourke’s planning say the former congressman is expected to visit working-class Burlington on the Mississippi River in southeast Iowa. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose details of the plans. He says he’s decided on whether to seek the presidency and will make his plans known soon.
BOSTON (AP) — Tax records show that a California charity accused of funneling money in a national college admissions bribery scheme claimed it gave out $500,000 to the University of Southern California. An Associated Press review of Key Worldwide Foundation’s filings shows the Southern Cal contributions were part of nearly $2 million in grants in recent years. The foundation reported revenues that spiked from $451,600 in 2013 to $3.7 million in 2016. A message left late Tuesday at the school wasn’t returned.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is proposing to allow year-round sales of gasoline mixed with 15 percent ethanol, seeking to calm a dispute between the oil industry and corn farmers. The proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency fulfills a pledge that President Donald Trump made to U.S. corn farmers, who see ethanol as an important driver of demand for their crops. Many environmentalists oppose any expansion of the ethanol industry, saying the increase in corn production has polluted waterways.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in the High School Media Center. On their agenda is approval of resignations and Contract Recommendations.

Resignations include:

• Morgan Staashelm, HS Math Teacher
• Arnie Lamp, HS Day Custodian
• Michelle Huber, HS Guidance Counselor
• Oran Perkins, Asst. Boys Soccer Coach
• Jennifer Gaesser, HS Choir Director.

Contract Recommendations include:

• Taylor Williams, MS Girls Track Coach
• Tesia Cleaver, Special Ed Para Educator
• Sarah Eim, HS Guidance Counselor
• Dawn Russell, Asst. Head Cook at Schuler
• Laura Vogl, HS Math Teacher
• Rebecca Wallace, HS FCS (Food/Consumer Science)

The Board will also act on the termination of Kelly Simonton, providing him with a 14 day notice as required by his letter of assignment with the District. Simonton, a High School Custodian, was arrested March 1st on two counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree.

In other business, the Board is expected to set April 10th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the 2019-2020 School Calendar, and act on approving resolutions for 2019-20:

• Budget Guarantee ($56,679);
• Board approved PPEL ($156,338/.33-cents);
• 2019-20 Fund Transfer (General to Activity for Protective Equipment);
• 2018-19 Calendar Make-up days (as previously reported), and
• Out-of-State overnight trips as follows – Drama Dept. trip to Lincoln, NE in June to attend the International Thespian Festival, and Boys & Girls High School Track – Trip to Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO., March 16th, to compete in the Indoor Track Meet.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Senate has unanimously voted to ban female genital mutilation and charge those who perform the procedure with a felony. Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says a recent survey indicated five-thousand women and girls IN IOWA were at risk. “This bill criminalizes a violent criminal act against small girls,” Sinclair said. “….This bill matters.”

A version of the bill ready for debate in the HOUSE would establish a lesser penalty for the practice — an aggravated misdemeanor — but Senator Jake Chapman of Adel objected.  “Shame on the House,” Chapman said. “…This practice is horrific. This practice should be classified as torture.”

Female mutilation or cutting is routinely done on girls in countries like Somalia. Some lawmakers have called for spending state money to educate Somali refugees of the risks.  “I imagine if any of us moved to another country where circumcision was against the law, we would want to know about it. Things that are cultural norms in one country are not cultural norms in another.”

That’s Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines, the leader of Democrats in the Iowa Senate. She voted for the bill, but used the occasion to complain that other bills dealing with gender inequality have languished in the senate. The United Nations estimates more than 200 women and girls around the globe have experienced some form of genital mutilation. In some cultures, women who have NOT undergone such procedures are shunned by prospective husbands.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A hung jury has led to a mistrial in the murder trial of an Iowa woman accused in the 1992 beating death of her former boyfriend. The Muscatine Journal reports that a judge declared the mistrial Tuesday afternoon when the jury of five women and seven men declared they could not reach a verdict.

The jury began deliberating Monday in the trial of 56-year-old Annette Cahill, of Tipton. Cahill was arrested last year in connection with the 1992 killing of 22-year-old Corey Lee Wieneke, whose body was found in his West Liberty home.

Cahill, who pleaded not guilty, has no criminal history and works for a company that helps train police officers. She has said Wieneke was her best friend and denied any involvement in his death.