Firefighters from Walnut and Harlan were called to assist Avoca Fire at a possible house fire in Avoca. The incident occurred at 907 N. Frost Avenue, at around 2:53-a.m., when residents thought they had smoke coming from a register in the home. A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy arriving on the scene reported two residents of the home had safely evacuated, but there was no smoke or flames visible.

Walnut and Harlan Fire were told to “disregard” the response at around 3:07-a.m. About 10-minutes later, it was determined there was no fire, and all units returned to service.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:30 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chief executive officer of an Iowa-based banking company has been appointed to be the state’s top banking regulator. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s named Northwest Financial Corp. CEO Jeff Plagge to superintendent of the Iowa Division of Banking.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Principal Financial Group says it has closed its purchase of Wells Fargo’s Institutional Retirement & Trust business. Principal says with the closing, it is beginning the integration of the Wells Fargo retirement business that includes 401k, pension, executive deferred compensation, employee stock ownership plans and asset advice. Principal previously announced the $1.2 billion deal would be financed with cash and senior debt financing.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report says a June survey of business supply managers suggests economic growth will continue over the next three to six months in nine Midwest and Plains states. The report issued Monday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 55.4 last month from 54.3 in May. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in southern Iowa’s Marion County say a man trapped under a trailer has died. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says someone called 911 around 5:30 p.m. Saturday and said medical and other help was needed at a Knoxville address. The sheriff’s office identified him as 53-year-old Richard Shilling, who lived in Knoxville. The office says Shilling had been working under the trailer when a jack supporting it failed.

Police in Red Oak arrested 36-year old Joseph Aaron Nelson, of Red Oak, on two counts of Child Endangerment Monday evening, after they received a report of children left unattended inside of a hot car near the Dollar General Store.

Joseph Aaron Nelson

When officers arrived, they found two children inside of a vehicle, which was turned-off and had one window down. The outside temperature at the time was around 90 degrees. Witnesses said the children had been inside the vehicle for 10-to 15-minutes.

The children – a 5 month old female and a 5-year old male – were removed from the vehicle and placed inside of an ambulance to cool down. While medics were attending to the children, Nelson came out of the store. He was taken into custody at around 5:22-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,000.

Red Oak Police remind parents and care givers, to consider the following during warmer months:

• Never leave a child or pets in an unattended vehicle, even with the windows down.
• Make it habit to open the rear door of the vehicle every time you park, to ensure no one is left inside.
• To enforce that habit, place an item that you can’t start your day without – such as a purse, briefcase, employee badge, phone, etc. – inside your vehicle in the back seat.
• When at home, keep your vehicle locked at all times, even in the garage.
• Never leave keys within reach of children.
• If a child is missing, immediately check the vehicle, floorboards and trunk of all vehicles in the area.

According to the National Weather Service, 16 toddlers have died in 2019 as a result of being left in hot vehicles. The Red Oak Police Dept. is asking citizens to keep an eye out for children or pets left in vehicles on hot days, and to call 9-1-1 if you see any unaccompanied child or pets, in distress.

(Radio Iowa) — Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is the first of NINE Democratic presidential candidates planning to campaign in Iowa this week, heading into a flurry of festivities surrounding Independence Day.

Radio Iowa photo of the Atlantic event

Klobuchar started out Monday afternoon speaking to a crowd of Democrats in Atlantic, mentioning her appearance in last week’s candidate debate in Miami.

Without mentioning the name of any rival, Klobuchar told the crowd she isn’t the candidate who’ll be making a bunch of “huge promises.”

Klobuchar later told reporters candidates need to make sure what they promise can get done soon after they take office. And she seemed to strike a contrast with former Vice President Biden, who has touted his ability to work across party lines.

(Radio Iowa photo)

“It’s not a goal just to say: ‘Hey, I get along with people,'” Klobuchar said. “That’s great. O.k., maybe that’s fun if you want to, like, go out for dinner or something, but it won’t accomplish anything. What matters is what are the results and if one of the ways to get results is to push the envelope on the first 100 days, I’m going to do it.” In the months leading up to Iowa’s 2020 Caucuses, Klobuchar said she’ll be “all over” Iowa in the same way she’s campaigned in neighboring Minnesota.

Klobuchar’s campaign hosted a potluck Monday evening, in Adel. One of her staffers used Klobuchar’s recipe for a “hot dish” featuring tater tots and pepper jack cheese. Klobuchar won a “hot dish” contest with the recipe a few years ago.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office said Monday (July 1st), that a woman from Lorimor reported late Thursday morning, someone had entered her home and had taken three tv’s, two tv stands, three DVD players, 200 DVD’s, clothing, jewelry, two kids’ beds, an I-Pod tablet, frozen meat and other frozen items, plus an X-Box. Theft, which had occurred sometime earlier that day, resulted in a loss of about $3,950.

BRIGHTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities this (Monday) morning resumed the search for a kayaker missing along the Skunk River near Brighton in southeast Iowa. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says the search began after it was reported that the kayaker had flipped in the water but didn’t resurface.

The search began Saturday night and continued without success on Sunday. The sheriff’s office says it resumed around 8 a.m. Monday. The office identified the missing man as 52-year-old David Woodson, of Brighton.

Regional Water users in Pottawattamie County on Idlewood Road east of Railroad Highway, and in the City of McClelland, are being asked to boil water before drinking or cooking, or to use bottled water.

Officials with the Regional Rural Water Association said today (Monday), there was a problem in the distribution system, and the system lost pressure on Sunday, June 30th. Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, rural water users in and near McClelland should take the aforementioned precautions until the system is restored.

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER BEFORE WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST! Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using (or, use bottled water). Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation, until further notice.

For more information, contact Kerry Kiesal at Regional Water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA at 1-800-426-4791.

The system has been TEMPORARILY repaired and repressurized, but bacteria samples will not be collected until final repairs are made. The Advisory is a precaution until bacterial sample results are available. The public and media will be notified when that occurs. The Rural Water Assoc. is working with the Iowa DNR to resolve the situation.

Officials say when water service is restored, there may be air in your water pipes, and the water may be discolored. It is recommended that you run the water first from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape.

Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until the water is clear.

(Radio Iowa) — Shoppers in and around Des Moines are now paying more taxes on most purchases. In March, voters in Des Moines and several surrounding cities approved a one-cent local option sales tax which went into effect today (Monday). Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders says some of the money raised will be used tear down abandoned homes that are neighborhood eyesores.

Sanders says, “By simply removing that negative aspect, the rest of the neighborhood can breathe a sigh of relief, if you will, and just feel that much more secure, even, in an investment they’ve made in their homes.” The tax is expected to collect an additional 48-million dollars in revenue across the metro area, with half of the money going to offset property taxes. About 37-million dollars will be going to the city of Des Moines and Sanders says that money has already been worked into the city budget.

“The property tax rate was reduced by 60 cents,” Sanders says, “and so there will be a reduction in the taxes that are paid this fall by Des Moines residents.” Sanders says nearly all other cities and counties across the state already charge the local sales tax. Many basics like prescriptions, groceries and gas are exempt. Altoona, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Pleasant Hill and Alleman are also part of the penny sales tax boost. Another group of cities including Clive and Johnston plan to vote on their own increase in August.

(Radio Iowa) — While tornadoes can strike during any month of the year in Iowa, the peak months are April, May and June. Now that we’re into July, the risks diminish slightly.

Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, at the National Weather Service, says Iowa had zero tornadoes during April and didn’t see this year’s first twister touch down until May 22nd.  “We got off to a quicker start after that. We had quite a few tornadoes toward the end of May, although those were all relatively short-lived and weak,” Hagenhoff says. “For the month of May, we had 25 tornadoes and for June, just eight tornadoes across the state of Iowa.”

We’re never out of the woods with tornadoes, so she urges people to remain vigilant, though at the moment, Iowa is well behind normal for the potentially-deadly wind storms. “Each year can fluxuate. Our average for the state of Iowa is usually around 48 tornadoes,” Hagenhoff says. “We’re sitting at 33 so far here for 2019.”

The past few years, Iowa had above-average numbers of tornadoes, with 55 in 2017 and 69 last year. July 19th of last year brought an outbreak of very large, destructive tornadoes to Marshalltown, Pella and Bondurant. Tornadoes have hit Iowa during the fall, too. For example, a twister tore through Belmond in October of 1966 and Stratford in November of 2005.

The Atlantic Police Department reports several recent arrests. Today (Monday), 30-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. On Sunday, 40-year old Tobin Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI and on two-counts of Child Endangerment. And, 39-year old Kantauo Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts.

Last Thursday, 18-year old Jordan Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Conspiracy to Commit an Aggravated Misdemeanor. On June 27th, 20-year old Froilan Amaya, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, Obstruction of Emergency Communications, and Child Endangerment. And, on June 26th, 26-year old Jason Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. 29-year old Norrin Bishop, of Atlantic, was arrested that same day, on Cass County warrants for Forgery and Prostitution.

All subjects were booked-into the Cass County Jail.