Three people were arrested on separate charges Monday, in Creston. Authorities say 36-year old Nicki Renee Jones, of Creston, was arrested for Providing False Identification Information. She was additionally cited for the charge of Trespass. Jones was released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond. 58-year old Rodney Gale Fry, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Theft 4th. Fry was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond. And, 21-year old Klay Evans, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

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

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man accused of fatally beating his father is scheduled to enter a plea Tuesday and be sentenced. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness says 31-year-old Flannery Kennedy-Meier made a deal and will plead guilty to attempted murder. He’d already pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Mark Meier.

Kennedy-Meier was arrested Nov. 13, 2017, after police were called to an Iowa City residence and found the injured Meier. Officers say Kennedy-Meier had hit his father in the head with a weapon, causing a skull fracture and brain bleed. Meier died of his injuries on Dec. 4, 2017, and an autopsy blamed the November beating.

The American Red Cross has a critical shortage of type O blood and urges eligible donors to give now to help patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations. As a thank-you for helping replenish the blood supply, all donors who come to give blood or platelets now through June 10 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a two-day supply of type O blood available for emergency rooms, where it can be most critical. That means just six units of type O blood are available for every 100,000 people, but at least 14 are needed every day. While just 7% of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, it can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and is also critical in trauma situations.

“All blood types are urgently needed, but we’re facing a critical shortage of type O blood – the blood group most needed by hospitals,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Because it’s vitally important for hospitals to have type O blood available when every second counts, type O donors are urged to donate now and make a point to donate often.” The Red Cross collected approximately 11,500 fewer type O blood donations than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. Spring break schedules are known to decrease blood donations, and schools, including high schools and colleges, begin to host fewer blood drives in late spring as school years end. Because these drives account for about 20% of blood donations during the school year, less drives can also greatly affect the blood supply.

Donations needed now

Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to urged to make an appointment to donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Eligible donors with type O blood are encouraged to make a whole blood or Power Red donation, where available. During a Power Red donation, donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. In thanks, all those who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross May 1 through June 10, 2019, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.) Additionally, those who come to give May 24-28 will receive an exclusive Red Cross-branded T-shirt, while supplies last.

How to help

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass® are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App. Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this summer by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 13-June 8:

• American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, Loess Hills Blood Donation Center 705 N. 16th St., Council Bluffs, IA 51503
• Audubon County: Audubon – 6/5/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Patrick’s Parish Center, 2050 Hwy 71 N; Exira – 5/21/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson
• Carroll County: Arcadia – 5/21/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 210 Head Street
• Cass County: Atlantic – 5/16/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street; 5/17/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School, 1201 East 14th Street; 5/29/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street
• Crawford County: Denison – 6/4/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 113 South 14th Street
• Harrison County: Logan – 5/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 108 West 4th Street; Missouri Valley – 5/23/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Rand Community/Senior Center, 100 S. 4th St; Mondamin – 6/3/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mondamin Community Center, 200 Maple St; Woodbine – 5/14/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Woodbine High School, 501 Weare St
• Mills County: Malvern – 6/5/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Malvern Library, 502 Main St
• Montgomery County: Red Oak – 5/20/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit; Villisca – 5/22/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave
• Page County: Clarinda – 5/14/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Drive; 5/28/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 322 N 16th
• Pottawattamie County: Council Bluffs – 5/17/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Pottawattamie County Courthouse, 227 S. 6th St.; 5/31/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Avenue; 6/3/2019: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., NP Dodge Real Estate, 1032 Woodbury Avenue; 6/7/2019: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Rasmussen Mechanical Services, 3100 Nebraska Avenue; 6/7/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mercy Hospital, 800 Mercy Drive; Oakland – 6/4/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Community Center, 614 Dr. Van Zee Rd.
• Ringgold County: Mount Ayr – 5/14/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 201 W Monroe.
• Shelby County: Elk Horn – 5/23/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street; Harlan – 5/14/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview; Westphalia – 5/29/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St.
• Taylor County: Bedford – 5/15/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion Hall, 301 Main St
• Union County: Creston – 5/24/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Creston High School, 601 W. Townline

Troy Price, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, will be meeting with local activists and voters on Saturday, May 18th, at noon at the Family Table in Atlantic. Price, who is in his second term as Chair, plans to talk about the upcoming 2020 caucus and caucus changes, and the 2020 elections. He is also interested in discovering what the state party can do for the local party and obtain information about the local party’s activities.

Troy Price

Price is a longtime Iowa political operative and strategist as well as a vocal LGBT rights advocate. Raised in Durant, Iowa, he has worked for Governor Vilsack and Lt. Gov. Pederson and Governor Culver and Lt. Gov. Judge. He headed Iowa’s largest LGBT advocacy group, One Iowa, and has worked behind the scenes as political director for President Obama’s Iowa re-election campaign and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. He previously served as the Iowa Democratic Party’s executive director.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bookkeeper is accused of stealing more than $200,000 from at least three Open Bible Churches in the Des Moines area. Polk County court records say 54-year-old Michelene Kinning is charged with four counts of theft.  Authorities say she wrote unauthorized checks to herself from the churches’ bank accounts from 2010 until she was fired last year.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s conducting a national search to find a new director for the Department of Natural Resources. On May 1st of last year, Chuck Gipp retired after seven years as the agency’s leader. Bruce Trautman has been the department’s acting director for the past 12 months. “Bruce has been the deputy for quite some time,” Reynolds says. “He’s doing a good job over there and instead of working on someone else’s timeline, I want to make sure we get the right person.”

The governor says it’s a big agency with a wide variety of responsibilities and that has complicated the process of finding a new director. “We have a great story to tell. This is a beautiful state. We have a lot of opportunities and need to really be able to address both ag concerns, business concerns and environmental concerns as well.”

There’s been an acting director leading the state’s prison system since the previous director retired December 27th. Reynolds says after a national search, she’ll be interviewing prospects for that job in the next few weeks.

(Radio Iowa) — A return to cool, wet weather put the brakes on planting in most areas of the state. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says the weekly U-S-D-A crop report showed less than two suitable days for field work last week. “It has definitely been a challenge this spring for producers all across the state,” Naig says.  Naig says less than half the projected corn acres are planted. “We’re at 48 percent planted in corn, which is four or five days behind average. Soybeans are at 13 percent statewide — and that’s nearly a week behind average — so there’s obviously a concern out there on the part of our farmers,” according to Naig.

The U-S-D-A report says this is the smallest percent of corn planted by May 12 since 2013 when just 15 percent of the expected crop had been planted. It is the fifth time in 40 years that less than half the expected crop has been planted by May 12. The soybean planting is six days behind both last year and the five-year average. Naig says farmers are anxious — but this is not new. “This also something that our producers are very used to dealing with, is the weather each spring,” Naig says. “We know if we can get some sunny weather and some warmer temps, this crop can get in the ground pretty quick.”

He says farmers still have some time before considering a move from corn to beans. Naig says as you get to the end of May and Memorial Day they start to think of all of their options, but he says producers like to wait as long as possible to make those decisions. Cool temperatures are also a problem for corn that is already planted, as only five-percent of the corn is emerging. “Northwest Iowa up where we farm up there in Palo Alto County, we have really struggled to get those soil temps to stay above 50 degrees with any consistency,” Naig says. “It is interesting as you travel the state north to south — even just how the trees are leafed out and the difference.”

Northeast Iowa is lagging most in corn planting — at only twenty-four-percent. West central Iowa has the most corn planted at 67 percent

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that allows Iowa farmers to legally grow industrial hemp. The Iowa Hemp Act passed the Legislature with overwhelming support last month. The bill Reynolds signed Monday allows licensed growers to cultivate the crop on up to 40 acres. First, however, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship must develop a plan and submit it for approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA must still release its own regulations this fall.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that establishes a legal way to bet on professional, collegiate and international sporting events. It also legalizes fantasy sports contests and internet fantasy sports betting, but delays betting based on college sporting event statistics until May 2020. Betting is expected to begin as early as this summer.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an 11-year-old Iowa boy whose bedroom was covered in plastic sheeting told an investigator that he hadn’t been outside in several months. His parents have been charged with kidnapping, child endangerment and neglect. Marion County court records say 49-year-old Rocky Wooldridge and 43-year-old Jennifer Wooldridge, of Knoxville, are scheduled for arraignment June 6. The records don’t list an attorney.

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — A group is trying to raise money to repair the roof of a historic one-room schoolhouse near Indianola and prevent damage to documents inside the building. The Des Moines Register reports a nonprofit group that manages the Hoosier Row schoolhouse is trying to raise $7,000 to replace the roof after storm damage this past winter. Group secretary Genie Hansen says the 119-year-old building is filled with maps, slate chalk boards and other items. It’s the last one-room schoolhouse in Warren County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — China’s announcement Monday of higher tariffs on $60 billion of American exports — retaliation for President Donald Trump’s latest penalties on Chinese goods — hit particularly hard in the farm belt. China’s vast consumer market has been a vital source of revenue for American farmers.

Since December, when U.S. and China negotiators called a truce to tariffs and began signaling that an agreement might be reached, soybean farmers had been holding out hope that sales to China would resume, said Todd Hultman, an Omaha-based grain market analyst with agriculture market data provider DTN. In the meantime, the farmers had been storing a record stockpile of nearly 1 billion bushels.

The latest news of a new round of tariffs, with no agreement in sight, spooked the financial markets and some farmers who had been tentatively optimistic. In a statement Monday, the American Soybean Association reacted with frustration edged with anxiety. “The sentiment out in farm country is getting grimmer by the day,” said John Heisdorffer, a soybean farmer in Keota, Iowa, who is chairman of the ASA. “Our patience is waning, our finances are suffering and the stress from months of living with the consequences of these tariffs is mounting.”

A slowdown in soybean sales, and the huge stockpiles that result, has a ripple effect. Farmers in many parts of the corn belt have suffered from a wet and cooler spring, which has prevented them from planting corn. Typically when it becomes too late to plant corn, farmers will instead plant soybeans, which can grow later into the fall before harvest is required. Yet now, planting soybeans with the overabundance already in bins and scant hope for sales to one of the biggest buyers in China, could raise the risk of a financial disaster. “This is the fifth year of low prices, basically, for crops,” Hultman said. “I think time is just wearing us out.”

To Brent Gloy of Grant, Nebraska, many farmers like him appear to be facing only bleak alternatives for planting. On Monday, Trump told reporters that a new program to relieve U.S. farmers’ pain is being devised and predicted that they will be “very happy.” The administration last year handed farmers aid worth $11 billion to offset losses from trade conflicts.

Trump seemed to suggest that the aid will make up for, or partially cover, the $15 billion that he said represented “the biggest purchase that China has ever made with our farmers.” In fact, U.S. farm exports to China approached $26 billion in both 2012 and 2013 and equaled $19.5 billion in 2017 — before his trade war began taking a toll on agricultural sales to China.

Gloy, an agriculture economist and a partner in the online research website Agriculture Economic Insights, said he fears there may be no end in sight to the Trump administration’s trade dispute with China. And he noted that most crops that farmers could plant aren’t profitable right now. He said worries that the entire agriculture sector could face severe trouble if the dispute lasts indefinitely.