DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person was hospitalized after a fire that damaged an apartment building on the southwest side of Des Moines. Firetrucks were dispatched a little after 1 p.m. Sunday. Station KCCI reports that arriving firefighters saw smoke coming from the third floor of the Wakonda West Apartments and fire and smoke blowing out of the front of the building.

One person was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The person’s name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

While the Iowa Department of Public Health put out a request for proposal last week for a second company to manufacture medical marijuana — there are no plans to add licenses for more dispensaries. D-P-H deputy director Sarah Reisetter says the law only allows five dispensary licenses.  “For us to be able to offer additional dispensary licenses, the legislature would need to change the statute,” Reisetter explains.

A Cedar Rapids city council member called for more licenses after the recent awarding of licenses Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Windsor Heights, Waterloo and Davenport. He says some Iowans will have to drive a long way to get to the dispensaries. Reisetter says the Health Department will keep an eye on the situation as the products start being distributed. “We will certainly collect information and we will collect feedback. We want to be a source of information for the people in the program,” Reisetter says. “Being the regulators and being the people who maintain the patient registry, we are a natural place to hear some of those concerns and questions that a patient may have.”

She says there is another way for people in the program to provide feedback. Reisetter says the medical cannabidial board is another way for people to give input on changes in the law as she says the board makes an annual report to the Iowa Legislature on January 1st of every year. She says they will keep the board up to day and she says the board has a public comment period at every meeting. Reisetter says they want to be sure they are hearing from those involved in the program. “Certainly we will provide feedback in terms of information that we are receiving, and our advisory board might decide to make a recommendation as well,” Reisetter says.

MedPharm Iowa is required to have the medical marijuana products available by December 1st of this year.

(Radio Iowa)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate arrests took place, Sunday. At around 3:50-p.m., 19-year old Justice Guy Myers, of Villisca, was arrested in Villisca, on an Adams County Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. Myers was turned over to Adams County authorities and was being held at the Adams County Jail on a $1,000 cash only bond. And, 43-year old Justin Wade Woods, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 8:20-p.m. Sunday, on a valid Pottawattamie County Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. Woods was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board will meet this evening in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. Their meeting begins at 5:15-p.m., and includes updates from Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, on the following projects:

• Schildberg Development Project: A) West Shelter & B) East Playground.
• Lake #2 Trail
• Community Parks
• Sunnyside Entrance Sign
• IDAL’s (IA Dept. of Ag & Land Stewardship) Water Quality Initiative.

Later in the meeting, Staashelm will discuss Earth Day, the clean-up for which was moved from this past Saturday, to April 28th (due to the weather). He’ll also talk about “Love Atlantic, and the High School Service Learning Day on April 25th, along with a campground status report.

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack says the current U.S. Ag Secretary has authority to provide some short term financial support to farmers that Vilsack did not have during his eight years as the nation’s secretary of agriculture. If the trade dispute with China escalates, Vilsack says Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue has “unfettered access” to Commodity Credit Corporation resources.

(as said) “Which can be used in a very thoughtful and strategic way to provide some direct assistance for a period of time,” Vilsack says. “The reality is it’s a stop-gap measure. It’s not something you can necessarily do that is permanent and, frankly, most of the farmers I talk to would prefer not to have a support structure and system. They would prefer to have a free and open market opportunity.”

Vilsack is president and C-E-O of the U.S. Dairy Export Council and he’s been to China twice this year. Vilsack says the Chinese are “not fearful” about a trade war, although they hope to avoid it. And Vilsack says officials in other world capitals believe a trade war would put a damper on the world economy, which appears to be perking up a little bit.

(as said) “No question China has not played by the rules,” Vilsack says “The question is how we go about making sure that they change and I think one of the things the administration is now trying to do, that I think is a good thing, is that they’re trying to get allies in this effort.”

Vilsack says there are plenty of companies and farmers in other countries that have been damaged by China’s conduct.

(as said) “There’s no question that China has basically gamed the system, certainly as it relates to intellectual property,” Vilsack says. “But there are ways in which we could solicit the help of the E.U., Japan and others to put pressure on China to basically change their ways without damaging agriculture.”

Vilsack made his comments this weekend during an appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Market to Market” program.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that passed the Iowa Legislature last week targets so-called “lunch shaming,” where students whose families owe money are singled out, given inferior meals or even have their food dumped in the garbage. The challenge faced by schools is how to pay for meal services when families can’t or won’t replenish school meal accounts. Some still provide meals, while others turn to cheaper substitutes or allow a child to go without food altogether. The bill is awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature.

MADRID, Iowa (AP) — The mayor of the Iowa town of Madrid has resigned amid discussions about whether to resolve the local police department. The Des Moines Register reports Dirk Ringgenberg resigned late last week.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A deadly storm system is moving east after dumping 2 feet of snow in parts of the Upper Midwest and battering areas farther south with powerful winds and even tornadoes. Another 230 flights were canceled Sunday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where more than 13 inches of snow has fallen. The storm also coated Michigan roads with ice and knocked out power. At least four deaths have been blamed on the weather in Louisiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Carolina.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — An Adel mother of twin toddlers spotted wandering naked near a busy state highway in central Iowa in November has pleaded guilty to child endangerment. The Des Moines Register reports that 19-year-old Jasmine Teed entered the plea Thursday in Dallas County District Court. Teed faces up to two years in prison when she’s sentenced May 31.

In celebration of Extension week, which is April 16th-21st, and in honor of their 100 year anniversary, the Guthrie County Extension & Outreach office will be hosting an Open House at their newly renovated office at 212 State Street, Guthrie Center on Friday, April 20th from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

While at the Open House you can enjoy cookies and a drink while you tour the newly renovated office, meet their new Office Coordinator, celebrate Extension and meet and speak with some of the County Specialists!

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach brings the Iowa State campus to you here in Guthrie County. Their educational programs focus on agriculture, feeding people, keeping them healthy, helping communities prosper and thrive, and turning the world over to the next generation better than we found it. We’re building a strong Iowa. Contact the Guthrie County Extension office with any questions at 641-747-2276.

Road construction work for the expansion of U.S. 20 in Ida and Sac counties will require closing the roadway to traffic between Ida County Road M-25 (near Galva) and U.S. 71 (near Early) from noon Monday, Apr. 16, until Friday, Sept. 28, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office.

Motorists will be directed around the work zone on a signed detour using Ida County Road M-25, Ida/Sac County Road D-15, and U.S. 71.

Red Oak Police late Saturday night, were called to the 1200 block of East Reed Street, for a party, where persons under the legal age, were consuming alcohol, and where a controlled substance (Marijuana) was present. 19-year old Jackson Bryan Welter, 18-year old Bennett Andrew Archer, and 18-year old Quinn Robert Hall, all of Red Oak, were cited for Minor In Possession (MIP) of alcohol, and were released from the scene. 18-year old Noah Riley Roberts, of Red Oak, was cited and then released, for permitting minor use of alcohol at a residence.

Three juveniles were transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center for juvenile citations. A 16-year old male was cited into Juvenile Court, for Possession of marijuana, a 17-year old female was cited into Juvenile Court for MIP of alcohol and a 16-year old male was cited for MIP, All three juveniles were then released to their parent or guardian.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:05 a.m. CDT

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — An Adel mother of twin toddlers spotted wandering naked near a busy state highway in central Iowa in November has pleaded guilty to child endangerment. The Des Moines Register reports that 19-year-old Jasmine Teed entered the plea Thursday in Dallas County District Court. Teed faces up to two years in prison when she’s sentenced May 31.

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Deputies in Warren County have charged an 18-year-old man in the shooting death of a Cambridge woman. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Jacquarious Scoggins, of Des Moines, was originally taken into custody earlier this month as a material witness in the death of 25-year-old Mercedes Wathen. The Warren County Attorney’s Office said in a news release Saturday that Scoggins was arrested Friday and has been charged with first-degree murder in Wathen’s death.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some Des Moines live music advocates fear the proposed conversion of a historic downtown armory into two venues would hurt existing organizations. The Des Moines Register reports that national concert promoter Live Nation has partnered with Christensen Development to proposed the up to $15 million renovation of the Argonne Armory. Some city music leaders and entrepreneurs say Live Nation’s “monolithic approach to business” would endanger locally owned venues.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State agricultural officials say an insect that’s killed millions of ash trees has been found in two more Iowa counties. Officials said in a news release Friday that the emerald ash borer has been confirmed in western Iowa’s Carroll County and the southwestern Iowa county of Taylor. That brings Iowa’s total to 57 counties. The latest infestations were discovered by tree services that alerted the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.