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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A new state license plate is catching on with some Iowa vehicle owners. The Sioux City Journal reports that the new standard plate options will get phased in over 10 years, but people who want them now can pay $5 extra upon reviewing their registrations at county treasurer offices. The new plates were first issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation in April. The existing standard Iowa license plates date to 1997. They account for 4.2 million of the 4.4 million Iowa plates in circulation.

The new plate has art, with a metro skyline on one side of the word “Iowa,” and a windmill and farm on the other.

Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall shows the 1st, redesigned license plate issued in the County, with its owner, Craig Sporleder (file photo)

Police in Creston report 21-year old Kristina Patterson, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:45-a.m., Saturday. Patterson was arrested on Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. She was released from custody on a Promise to Appear.

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

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MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A sewer line collapse in Mason City is causing untreated wastewater to flow into the Winnebago River in northern Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the city and its contractor were unable to complete repairs to the sewer on Friday and plan to resume their work on Monday. Sewage is being discharged to a storm sewer that ends up in the river.

The DNR is asking people to keep children and pets away from the riverbanks near the area for at least 24 hours after the repairs are completed. DNR officials say they’re monitoring the situation and will consider “appropriate enforcement action.”

Thunderstorms are expected to develop late this afternoon over northern Iowa, generally between Interstate 80 to Highway 20. Heavy rain is likely with these storms where a widespread 0.50 to 2.00 inches are anticipated with a few localized areas possibly receiving over 3 inches by Tuesday morning. The rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are possible at times and the rain may last for a long period over the same location. This could lead to areas of flash flooding by tonight into Tuesday morning. More thunderstorms with heavy rain are anticipated over portions of central to southern Iowa Tuesday into Wednesday and again Wednesday night into Thursday. Finally, a dry period is anticipated by late Friday across the state.

The National Weather Service says this this the last day (for a while) of the HEAT and HUMIDITY today across central and southern Iowa. High temperatures rise back into the 90s with heat index values over 100 degrees this afternoon can be expected. A HEAT ADVISORY is in effect until 7-p.m. for Cass-Adair-Adams-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Madison-Union-Taylor and Ringgold Counties. A cold front sneaks into northern Iowa this afternoon, providing the focus for thunderstorms to develop. A few strong thunderstorms are possible in this location today, with the main threat of large hail and damaging winds. Heavy rain is also likely with the storms late this afternoon into the evening leading to the flash flood potential. An active weather pattern is forecast throughout the work week. Stay tuned for further updates.

Today (Monday) marks the start of a two-week effort to feed the needy in Iowa called “Haul Out Hunger.” The state’s largest pork producer will be filling freezers at food banks, pantries, schools and churches. Allyson Ladd, spokeswoman for the Iowa Falls-based Iowa Select Farms, says they’ll be delivering boneless pork loins by the ton. “School is out for summer so food pantry supplies are at an all-time low,” Ladd says. “We schedule our donations so that it’s timely and so these pantries can have access to fresh, high-quality, protein-packed products like pork when families need it most.”

Ladd says the total donation will be around 60-thousand pounds of pork, or about 30 tons. “The pantries really appreciate the five-pound pork loins we donate,” Ladd says. “From each pork loin, families are going to get about 24 servings of pork, so when it’s all said and done, we’ll have donated about 292,000 servings of pork for families in need here in Iowa.”

The effort is also being made possible by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation. The pork is being delivered through July 2nd. Deliveries at many of the food pantries will be live-streamed on the Iowa Select Farms Facebook page.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cities, counties and the state of Iowa are less liable for injuries caused by road maintenance issues after a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling that upheld a longstanding but controversial legal doctrine. The court in a June 8 ruling said a northern Iowa woman cannot sue Humboldt County for failing to remove a concrete wall a farmer had installed in a roadside ditch to keep cows from escaping.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa county gave $844,000 in grants to ten private, religious schools despite a state law prohibiting public funding for such schools. The Des Moines Register reports that Polk County gave the money in 2012 and 2013 to nine local Catholic schools and one Christian school by giving the grants to a corporation that passed the money to the schools.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Residents have begun moving into Des Moines’ newest neighborhood as work continues on apartments and townhomes in the area. The Des Moines Register reports that downtown’s East Village is being transformed by Hubbell Realty Co.’s 16-acre development known as the Bridge District. Developers hope the district will attract homeowners and renters to the city’s core. The neighborhood is slated to have nearly 700 housing units in five years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans have picked a state agriculture secretary nominee, but it didn’t come easy. The Des Moines Register reports that incumbent Mike Naig was selected Saturday at the Iowa GOP state convention after four rounds of voting. After each round, the bottom candidate was dropped from the ballot. In the last round, Naig topped Corning farmer Ray Gaesser. Naig faces Democrat Tim Gannon in the November general election.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa county gave $844,000 in grants to ten private, religious schools despite a state law prohibiting public funding for such schools. The Des Moines Register reports that Polk County gave the money in 2012 and 2013 to nine local Catholic schools and one Christian school by giving the grants to a corporation that passed the money to the schools.

The money given to the schools came from gambling revenue generated by the Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel. Mark Stringer of the ACLU of Iowa says that it is unacceptable for state tax money to be intentionally sent to religious schools.
Polk County Attorney John Sarcone says he believes the grants to the private schools were legal, and he said the nonprofit wasn’t set up to get around state law.