(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowans filing a first-time unemployment claim jumped 28 percent last week. At the same time, the total number of Iowans getting unemployment benefits fell by five percent. According to Iowa Workforce Development, Nearly 10-thousand-700 people who had a job in Iowa filed an initial claim for unemployment last week. Over half of those who filed for unemployment were self-employed, independent contractors or working in manufacturing. The state paid out nearly 32-million dollars in unemployment benefits to 135-thousand out-of-work Iowans last week.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 12:15 -a.m. today (Thursday), of a woman from Council Bluffs, who turned herself-in on a warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree – False Reports. 25-year old Joeli Marienne West was turned over to Pott. County Corrections staff. Late Wednesday night, a motorist, 26-year old Darrell Jerome Boyer, of Neola, was arrested after a Deputy stopped to assist him on Railroad Highway and Hanie Avenue. A records check determined Boyer was wanted for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, and two counts of being a Fugitive from Justice. Boyer was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Wednesday afternoon, 30-year old Brittany Savanna Nicole Hedges, of Council Bluffs, turned herself-in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. Hedges was wanted on a warrant for Child Endangerment-Abandonment. She was turned over to Pott. County Corrections. Late Tuesday morning, Pott. County Jail inmate, 30-year old Cornelius Cooper Stanley, of Council Bluffs, was presented with a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense causing injury. Stanley was then returned to his jail cell.

Monday afternoon, 43-year old Jason M. Fisher was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense. He was arrested following a traffic stop for speeding near Treynor. And 40-year old Bradley Shea Eaton, of Booneville, MS., an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was issued a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. He remains in jail on $5,300 bond associated with other charges.

PELLA, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman accused of fatally stabbing her husband’s girlfriend has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. The Des Moines Register reports that 55-year-old Michelle Boat entered the plea Monday. Authorities allege that Boat shouted “He don’t belong to you” during the May 18 attack that killed 46-year-old Tracy Mondabough. Pella police have said that Boat was recorded on camera following the victim to an apartment complex before the stabbing.

Police also accused Boat of abusing her estranged husband and violating a no-contact order several times in the months before the stabbing.