Sheriff’s Deputies from Taylor and Ringgold Counties, along with deputies with the Nodaway County, MO. Sheriff’s Department, and the Taylor County K9 “Ciba,” executed a search warrant Tuesday at a residence in Bedford. The search warrant was conducted in connection with an on-going narcotics investigation. Two people were taken into custody:

37-year old Cynthia Butler and 44-year old Elmer Harwell, both of Bedford, were charged with Controlled Substance Violations, and (Felony) Possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Butler and Harwell were being held without bond pending an appearance before the Magistrate

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An electric scooter rental program will resume this spring in Cedar Rapids with more scooters to share. The Gazette reports that the plan is station 80 scooters around the city — up from 30 — and hold steady on bikes at 150. The devices cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute for renting over a smartphone app. Last fall city officials weighed whether to continue with the scooters after hearing reports of improper use. A city planner has justified the scooters’ return because of their popularity, new safety controls and a tightly run program.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Opening statements are expected today (Wednesday), in the trial of a man charged with killing a high school girl in Iowa more than 40 years ago. Jury selection was completed Tuesday for the trial of 66-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko on Dec. 19, 1979, in Cedar Rapids. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall. The trial was moved to Scott County District Court in Davenport because of pretrial publicity in Cedar Rapids. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an inmate attacked a guard at the Iowa Medical Classification Center in Coralville. The Iowa Corrections Department says the inmate approached the guard around 10:25 a.m. Tuesday and began punching him. Other guards quickly responded and subdued the inmate. The guard was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics to be assessed for facial injuries. The department said the inmate didn’t suffer serious injuries. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

(Radio Iowa) — The National Weather Service is predicting a polar plunge for temperatures later today (Wednesday). Meteorologist Cory Martin says it’ll be a big swing by the time you are heading home from work. “We’re going to see a strong cold front move through the state, probably during the afternoon and evening hours,” Martin says. “So the day is probably going to start out not too bad — but then when the front comes through we’re going to see temperatures dropping very quickly — with brisk northwest winds.”

Those brisk winds are really going to have an impact. “Our windchill temperatures overnight Wednesday will possibly be 20 to 30 below zero by the time you wake up Thursday morning,” he says. Martin says we shouldn’t have to deal with the extreme cold for very long. “By Friday we should start to see a steady rebound, and by the time we get into the weekend we’re looking at high temperatures across the area back in the 30’s and 40s,” according to Martin.

He says these types of quick cold fronts happen this time of year and it could bring some issues for people who have to be on the road. “It’s typical for this time of year, just rolling though. We may see some light snow with it as well that could lead to some areas of slick travel and reduced visibility — especially given how fast the temperatures are looking to fall as the front moves through,” Martin says. “So, that is something to keep in mind as well if you have travel plans over the second half of the day on Wednesday.”

He advises you to keep up with the latest weather forecasts and road conditions if you plan on being out.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two doctors and other former employees of an Iowa care center for people with intellectual disabilities have filed a federal lawsuit against a state agency and several officials alleging a conspiracy to silence complaints about sexual arousal research they claim exploited fragile and dependent residents. The allegations center on the former superintendent of the Glenwood Resource Center who was fired in December. The lawsuit claims he conducted medical experimentation. The lawsuit was filed Monday in by two former Glenwood doctors and other former employees. They allege violations of civil rights and whistleblower laws, wrongful termination and interference with a doctor-patient relationship.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democratic Party leaders and activists are describing widespread missteps in planning and implementation that made the Iowa caucuses a historic disaster. In interviews, they blamed bad decisions by party officials, technology failures and poor communication for the mess that humiliated Democrats, undermined confidence in the results and threatens to end the state’s tradition of going first. They said poor planning was to blame for problems with a smartphone app and phone hotline used to report results. And several officials said the Iowa Democratic Party’s decision to wait nearly a full day before releasing any results was a key miscalculation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a K-12 education funding plan that would spend about $16 million more than a version approved by the state Senate. The House on Tuesday voted to increase state spending by nearly $108 million, for a total of about $3.4 billion. Lawmakers approved the funding after first rejecting a proposal by Democrats to spend an additional $20 million. The House action following approval by the Senate on Monday of a nearly $92 million increase. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, had proposed increasing education spending by $101 million. Iowa has just over 320 school districts. The funding lawmakers are considering would provide money beginning July 1.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified two women found shot to death overnight in Waterloo. Police say officers and medics were called to the home around 11:20 p.m. Monday and found the bodies of 42-year-old Tamica Takeisha Allison and 41-year-old Andrea Rochelle Anderson. Station KCRG reports that Allison lived in the home where the bodies were found, while Anderson, who is also from Waterloo, was visiting the home. Police say they are searching for a suspect, 36-year-old Mathew Dee Buford III, who also lived in the home. Police have issued arrest warrants charging Buford with two counts of first-degree murder.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday of 47-year-old Rondy Ruby Porter of Red Oak on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Violation of Probation. She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regularly scheduled session 6-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. Among the items on their agenda, is a Special Presentation, with regard to a Home School Assistance Program, and action on the resignation of Jordan Mullen – Head Boys Track Coach, along with contract recommendations for: Clint Weppler – Link Center Paraeducator; Abby Becker – Head Boys Track Coach; and Mark Anderson – Volunteer Boys Soccer Coach.

The Board will receive an update on, and discuss, the district facilities projects, as well as the 2020-21 School Calendar. Action items include approving the 2019-20 Amended/Certified Budget; setting the date and time for a Public Hearing on the 2020-21 School Calendar as March 11th, at 6-p.m.; Acting on a three-year contract for Auditing services with Nolte, Cornman and Johnson, P.C., in the amount of $31,500; and a Technology Purchase that includes 20 access points, one cachebox, and 5-years of support with an 80/20 split with E-rate paying the larger cost, with the total cost to the District amounting to just under $10,000 ($9,676.84).

The idea is that the new technology will increase the internet capacity to 10 Gig, and add a wireless access point for the Middle School as additional computers to the 1:1 program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has approved a K-12 education funding plan that would spend about $16 million more than a version approved by the state Senate. The House on Tuesday voted to increase state spending by nearly $108 million, for a total of about $3.4 billion. Lawmakers approved the funding after first rejecting a proposal by Democrats to spend an additional $20 million.

The House action following approval by the Senate on Monday of a nearly $92 million increase. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, had proposed increasing education spending by $101 million. Iowa has just over 320 school districts. The funding lawmakers are considering would provide money beginning July 1.