Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports 42-year old Levi Stroup, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday for Domestic Abuse Assault, with injury. Stroup was transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An ex-Republican lawmaker tasked with recommending improvements to workplace culture within the Iowa Senate after an ex-GOP staffer sued for sexual harassment says “there is nothing that has changed to prevent additional inappropriate behavior and ensuing problems” at the Iowa Capitol. Mary Kramer issued the warning today (Friday), in her recommendations to improve working conditions at the Iowa Legislature. She says everyone working at the Capitol, from elected officials to nonpartisan staff and the press, should receive training “regarding what constitutes inappropriate behavior.”

Kramer says a clear process needs to be established for a legislative ethics committee to investigate lawmakers accused of misconduct. The Legislature is grappling with the fallout from a lawsuit filed by a former Senate Republican staffer who was fired after reporting sexual misconduct. The state paid $1.75 million to settle the case.

BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A man from southeast Iowa has been convicted of scamming out-of-state hunters in a case that raises questions about whether the state does enough to protect against fraudulent outfitters. The Des Moines Register reports that 34-year-old Andrew Wulf was convicted on two counts of felony theft and ongoing criminal conduct on Thursday. Wulf owns Whitetail Ridge Outfitters in Tipton and was accused of swindling three out-of-state customers, leading illegal hunts and ripping off customers.

The case has reignited discussion about whether legislation is needed to better protect hunters against fraud in Iowa, a destination for thousands of out-of-state hunters each year. Several states regulate and license outfitters and guides, including Alaska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Wulf faces up to 35 years in prison. He will be sentenced in March.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A farm management company says average prices for high-quality farmland have dropped over the past year in Nebraska but slightly risen in Iowa. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Farmers National Co. gathered sale price information from land grant colleges, Farm Credit banks and other industry sources.

The report says an acre of irrigated cropland in Nebraska averaged $9,000 last year, down from $9,500 in 2016 and $10,000 in 2015. The average for farmland in Iowa was $10,500 last year, up from $10,100 in 2016 and 2015. Randy Dickhut is senior vice president of real estate operations for Farmers National. He says prices are more stable than in previous years, despite a slight dip in prices in many states.

Average prices have been dropping steadily since 2013 because of lower prices for farm goods.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says a woman was involved in a rollover accident Wednesday afternoon, but refused medical attention at the scene. Authorities say 67-year old Terry Lea Crowley, of Clarinda, was driving a 1988 Ford F-150 pickup westbound, up a steep hill about three-miles northeast of Clarinda, when the vehicle went out of control. The pickup entered the north ditch and rolled onto its top. The damage was estimated at $2,000. The accident happened at around 1-p.m., Wednesday.

No citations were issued. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Clarinda Ambulance Service and the Clarinda Fire Department.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators suspect drug trafficking is related to the fatal shooting of a man in Sioux City. Police say 26-year-old Javier Cheron died at a hospital Wednesday evening. Police say he was armed when he arrived there.

No arrests have been reported in Cheron’s slaying, but a search of the home where police think Cheron was shot turned up stolen handguns and illegal drugs. Police subsequently arrested 60-year-old Liborio Martinez-Rubio on drug and weapons charges. Authorities say Cheron’s death was the first Sioux City homicide of the year.

The Atlantic Police Department has requested a Chamber Alert for counterfeit money:  A counterfeit $50 bill was reported to have been passed in Atlantic. If your or your business finds one of these counterfeit bills, report it to the Atlantic Police Department.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests this week, with three of those persons having been arrested on drug-related charges, following a traffic stop. Authorities say on Wednesday, 29-year old Clayton Dean Strucker, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession, with the Intent to Deliver, more than five-grams of methamphetamine. He was taken into custody at around 8-p.m. near 307th Street and Epperson Avenue. Bond was set at $100,000. At the same time and place, Mills County Deputies arrested 45-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, for being a Felon in Possession of firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, and Possession w/the intent to deliver, 5-grams of meth. His bond was set at $110,000. Also arrested at the same location, was 29-year old Terry Eugene Lunsford, of Council Bluffs. Lunsford was charged with Driving Under Suspension and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $600.

On Tuesday, 34-year old Keith Henry Day, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Escape from Custody. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, at around 7:20-this (Friday) morning, 40-year old Janet Lynn Hernandez, of Malvern, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Her bond was set at $2,000.

Influenza levels continue to build in Iowa and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is confirming an additional eight flu-related deaths. Five of the deaths occurred in Central Iowa and included two female older adults (61 to 80 years of age); two elderly females (81+ years of age); and one elderly male. Two of the deaths occurred in Southwest Iowa (both were elderly females) and one death, an elderly male, occurred in Eastern Iowa. Five of the eight individuals had an underlying health condition.

Since October 1, 2017, 14 influenza-related deaths have been reported. The deaths have occurred in all regions of the state and the average age was 85. The predominant flu strain this season is AH3N2, which typically causes serious illnesses, hospitalizations and even death, particularly for those who are very young or old and those with weakened immune systems. Health officials urge residents to get a flu shot, as the viruses will likely be around for months.

It’s important to contact your health care provider as soon as possible after flu symptoms begin, especially if you are at high risk of complications and serious disease. If you start on anti-viral medications within a day or two of when your symptoms start, your risk of serious disease, hospitalization and even death can be significantly reduced. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. It comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days.

For more information on influenza, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/influenza/faq

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying one of the suspects involved in a December 30th carjacking, in which a 53 year old Nebraska man was shot. The unknown male subject, who may possibly use the nickname “KJ”, is a white male, 5’10, 200 lbs., late 40’s to early 50’s in age. He should be considered armed and dangerous.  Anyone with information regarding his identity is urged to contact CBPD Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).

Suspect KJ at Horseshoe Casino

Suspect in carjacking

The incident occurred at around 4:45-a.m., December 30th, 2017. Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the Horseshoe Casino on that date, for a report of a male party laying in the parking lot who had been shot. It was discovered the male party had been the victim of a robbery / car-jacking in the parking lot. The victim was shot by a suspect as the victim attempted to flee on foot from the vehicle. The suspect fled from the scene with the victim’s vehicle, a gray 2006 Ford F-150 Super-Crew.

The victim was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The victim’s vehicle was recovered by the Omaha Police Department in the area of the 2000 blk of So 45th St. It had been burned.