Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:55 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 51-year-old man has been accused of duping a homeowner out of more than $366,000 for unfinished and shoddy repairs. Authorities say Scott Geary, of Clinton, is charged with theft. Court records don’t list an attorney for him. Police say the victim paid Geary and another, unnamed person more than $366,000 for work on a home that’s been assessed at $250,000 for taxes.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Missouri man has admitted robbing a bank in eastern Iowa. Prosecutors say 60-year-old Peter Lundberg, of St. Ann, Missouri, pleaded guilty Friday to robbing a Bank of the West branch in Coralville of nearly $1,100 on April 20. His sentencing is set for Jan. 8.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three neighboring cities are resisting paying Sioux City’s long-overlooked wastewater service charge. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city discovered the neglected charge during an audit and notified officials in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; North Sioux City, South Dakota; and South Sioux City, Nebraska, that it would begin imposing the 7 percent charge. Those cities’ officials worry about having to pass along the cost to their residents.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City woman has been accused of setting fire to a house in the northern Iowa city. No injuries have been reported from the fire, which was reported around 1:50 p.m. Saturday. Jail records say 29-year-old Donyale Jones remained in custody Monday on an arson charge. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney for her.

A man who lost a bag off his motorcycle on Interstate 29 in Harrison County, attempted to retrieve it by pulling over and walking across both the south- and north-bounds lanes of traffic. In doing so, he was partially struck by a pickup driven by a man from Cass County. The Iowa State Patrol says 73-year old Earl Lee Bolls, of Chamberlain, SD, was clipped by the side view mirror of a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 69-year old Lynn Poeppe, of Atlantic. The Patrol says Poeppe came up over a hill on I-29 and swerved to avoid Bolls, but was unable to entirely miss him. The accident happened at around 3:05-p.m., Sunday on I-29 northbound, near the 78 mile marker.

Bolls suffered minor cuts to his hand during the incident. He was transported by Missouri Valley Rescue to the Missouri Valley Hospital for treatment.

A single-vehicle accident Monday morning in Audubon County has claimed the life of a man from northern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports 27-year old Lucas D. Degen, of Ft. Dodge, who was wearing a seat belt, died when the 2001 Jeep Cherokee he was driving, failed to negotiate a curve north of Brayton, on Highway 71.

The southbound SUV went out of control and rolled over into the ditch before coming to rest against some trees. Speed and alcohol were believed to be factors in the crash that happened at around 7:30-a.m., Monday.

Police in Council Bluffs, Monday, arrested a man for Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, warrants and other charges. Officials say at around 11:45-a.m., Officer Mark Archibald from the Council Bluffs Police Department had initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Bucky’s Gas station at 16th and Broadway in Council Bluffs. The Officer was on a department motorcycle and was in the process of dismounting the motorcycle when he noticed the driver looking at him. The driver – later identified as 30-year old Jesse Baker, of Council Bluffs — put the vehicle into reverse and accelerated.

Officer Archibald jump out of the way and the vehicle struck the motorcycle, pushing the motorcycle onto its side for about 30 feet. Baker then fled the scene at a high rate of speed. As officers were responding to the area, witnesses and bystanders were directing officers in the direction of the suspect vehicle. A short time later, Baker ran the stop sign at N. 25th and Ave H striking a 1999 Chevy Tahoe that was being driven by Brianna Johnson of Council Bluffs. Johnson suffered minor injuries and advised officers she would drive herself to the hospital later if needed.

Baker fled the scene after the accident on foot. As officers arrived at the scene, they were directed by neighbors of the location of the suspect. Baker was taken into custody without incident. Baker was taken to the hospital for evaluation as he complained of a previous injury and injuries related to the crash. After evaluation Baker was booked into corrections without incident.

Jesse Baker was charged with Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. He also had warrants for Probation Violation and Escape from Custody as he had walked away from the Residential Correction Facility. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident at 25th and Ave H and after review with the County Attorney’s Office and will pursue charges if necessary.

Pickets and walk-outs are being held in nearly 350 cities across the country, including a few in Iowa, on this Labor Day to show support for raising the minimum wage. Workers at a Burger King that’s a couple of blocks from the state capitol in Des Moines went on strike at midnight, a crowd of over 200 was there at sunrise and the store is closed.

Cathy Glasson, a Democrat who formed an exploratory committee for governor in May, posted video of this morning’s (Monday’s) rally on Twitter. Glasson also rallied with workers at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. She’s a nurse who has been president of her local union at the University of Iowa Hospitals. Other Democratic candidates for governor have been traveling the state yesterday and today (Monday), to attend Labor Day weekend parades, picnics and other events.

(Radio Iowa)

A study conducted at Iowa State University suggests a police officer’s ability to identify someone carrying a gun or bomb is only slightly better than chance. Lead author Dawn Sweet directs ISU’s Body Language and Facial Expressions Lab. She says police need more tools and evidence based training to identify someone might may be concealing a weapon.

“It’s an inherently difficult task and we’re not giving it enough attention,” Sweet said. Reading nonverbal communication is “context dependent,” according to Sweet. She’s now work to develop a standardized approach to evaluating behaviors that predict if someone is concealing a weapon or dangerous device, and therein poses a threat.

“It’s our hope as we continue this line of research we’ll be able to ultimately deliver systematic, evidence-based training to law enforcement officers,” Sweet said. “Because ultimately, it’s not just the law enforcement officers who are going to benefit from that, but it’s us as a society.” Sweet’s study is published in the journal Law and Human Behavior.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Sarah Boden, Iowa Public Radio)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three neighboring cities are resisting paying Sioux City’s long-overlooked wastewater service charge. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city discovered the neglected charge during an audit and notified officials in Sergeant Bluff, in North Sioux City, South Dakota; and South Sioux City, Nebraska, that it would begin imposing the 7 percent charge on July 1.

Those cities’ officials worry about having to pass along the cost to their residents, so the officials want to talk over the charge with Sioux City officials.

The agreements with each city for sewage treatment at the Sioux City plant have been overlooked for at least the past two years and potentially longer. Sioux City utilities director Mark Simms says the charge essentially covers administrative costs, and he isn’t sure why it’s been overlooked.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A man from Iowa died late Saturday night southeast of Kansas City after being struck by numerous vehicles. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 39-year old Jeffrey M. Koontz, of Council Bluffs, a Reserve Deputy with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, died at the scene.

The incident happened at around 10:55 p.m. on I-70 eastbound, just east of Woods Chapel Road. Authorities said the man was walking on the roadway along I-70 when he was struck by an unknown tractor-trailer. That vehicle fled the scene. Koontz was subsequently struck by an SUV and a sedan. Both of those drivers remained at the scene to speak with police.

The incident remains under investigation. Police are working to identify the driver of the semi that fled the scene.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS