IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa meth kingpin who kidnapped and killed five people, including two young girls, to thwart his prosecution for drug trafficking in 1993 is set to become the third federal inmate to be executed this week. Fifty-two-year-old Dustin Honken would become the first defendant from Iowa to die from capital punishment since 1963 if his lethal injection takes place as scheduled on Friday in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he has been on death row since 2005.

FILE – In this Oct. 11, 2005, file photo, Dustin Lee Honken is led by US Marshals into the Federal Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, prior to his sentencing. Honken an Iowa meth kingpin who kidnapped and killed five people, including two young girls, to thwart his prosecution for drug trafficking in 1993 is set to become the third federal inmate to be executed this week. Honken would become the first defendant from Iowa to die from capital punishment since 1963 if his lethal injection takes place as scheduled on Friday, July 17, 2020 in Terre Haute, Ind. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette via AP, File)

Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965, but federal prosecutors sought that punishment against Honken because of the horrific nature of his crimes. This week’s federal executions have been the first in 17 years.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Iowa, South Carolina and South Dakota have now joined Nebraska in agreeing to share driver’s license information with the U.S. Census Bureau to help the Trump administration determine the citizenship status of every U.S. resident. Until recently, Nebraska had been the sole state to sign an agreement with the Census Bureau to share their information. President Donald Trump ordered the Census Bureau last year to gather citizenship data from the administrative records of federal and state agencies after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked his administration’s effort to place a citizenship question on the 2020 census questionnaire.

A crash in Atlantic late Wednesday night caused $11,000 damage and resulted in a juvenile being transported to the hospital. According to Atlantic Police, the crash happened shortly after 10-p.m. In the 1200 block of Locust Street, when a vehicle driven by a 17-year old male struck a parked van. The impact caused the car, a 2002 Honda Accord, to roll onto its top on the west side of Locust Street.

The unidentified teen was transported by Cass EMS to the Cass County Hospital. Authorities say charges are pending.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on recent arrests. Authorities say a little after 7-p.m. Wednesday, 36-year old Jonathan Timothy Bunten, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop. Bunten faces charges that include Possession of Marijuana and Methamphetamine/both 1st offenses, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Barred. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on bond amounting to $4,300.

Wednesday afternoon, 45-year old Kathleen Marie Gerhardt, of Oakland, who was being held in the Pott. County Jail on other charges, was served with a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Wednesday morning, 37-year old Wendi An Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested for Violation of Probation. Johnson turned herself-in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and turned over to Corrections staff.

Tuesday evening, 41-year old David Leroy Walker, JR., of Underwood, was arrested at an Underwood motel. He was taken into custody on a warrant for Violation of Parole. And, Tuesday morning, 46-year old Sandra Annette Graham, of Omaha, was arrested for Public Intoxication, after a caller reported a woman was in a ditch and possibly intoxicated, in the vicinity of the Neola Kum-and-Go Store.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – July 16, 2020 – The  Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office reports a project to replace a reinforced concrete box culvert on U.S. 59 south of Denison in Crawford County requires closing the roadway to traffic beginning on Monday morning, July 27th, and lasting until November 2020, weather permitting. During this closure, motorists will be directed around the work zone using U.S. 30, Crawford County Road E-59, and U.S. 59. Midwest Contracting, LLC is the prime contractor of this $805,159 project.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The Salvation Army Store in Atlantic is set to close Friday (July 17th). Salvation Army Officials in Omaha issued the following statement to KJAN News this (Thursday) morning:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of our Atlantic, Iowa Salvation Army Family Store—effective as of the close of business Friday, July 17.  Declining sales revenues accelerated by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced this decision.  We are working to assist our remaining store staff as they search for new jobs in the community.  We were hoping to mark the store’s tenth anniversary of operation this year; unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic’s damaging economic effects have made it impossible to keep the store open.

We thank the Atlantic community for its faithful support of this store over the years, and we want to reassure the community that Salvation Army social services will continue in the area despite the store’s closure.  We have had a presence in Cass County for decades, and we will maintain that presence—serving those in need—going forward.”

The store, in the Atlantic Shopping Plaza, held its grand opening Dec. 7th, 2012.