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

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(Radio Iowa) — A Waterloo woman is charged with first-degree murder in a homicide case that’s more than five months old. 22-year-old Danaesha Martin was arrested in Norfolk, Virginia on Tuesday. Waterloo police believe she played a roll in the shooting death of her cousin, 22-year-old Shavondes Martin, who’s body was found in a Waterloo alley on May 31st. An autopsy determined he died of gunshot wounds.

Waterloo police say they learned on Thursday that Danaesha Martin was in Virginia. They obtained an arrest warrant, then contacted the United States Marshals Service for assistance in located her. She was taken into custody without incident. According to authorities, the murder of Shavondes Martin remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Iowa Association of Realtors attended a national convention last week where he had a chance to talk with counterparts in other states. Spencer Realtor John Goede says the flood insurance requirement for homes got a lot of discussion. Those in the flood plain are required to buy insurance and Goede says that add substantially to the cost of homes on the same street. “That reflects about 15-thousand dollars worth of buying power,” Goede says. “So the same house on one side would be a 100-thousand dollar house — on the other side it could be 85-thousand. That’s something we have to address.”

Goede says the low unemployment rate across the country was another issue they discussed. “There was a time there when people were reluctant to buy if they weren’t confident that they had a job. And that isn’t the case now,” Goede says.  Iowa has the second lowest level of unemployment in the country. He says he found a new program in Iowa is not used in many other states. “We’re only one of three states that has a first-time homebuyer savings account. That was implemented last year, this is the first year it goes into effect,” Goede says. You can put money away. You can do this yourself as a potential home buyer, or relatives can do the same and they can put money away.”

Goede says the program gives new homeowners a break. He says you can deduct the money you put away from your Iowa income tax.  Goede says this is something that Iowa Realtors will be watching to see what type of impact it has on sales.

(Updates with clarification) – Authorities in Griswold recovered a stolen vehicle at around 5:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), at 4th and Scott Streets. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has clarified that the incident did not involve a pursuit as it originally appeared. The vehicle was reported to have been stolen out Griswold. Deputies from Pottawattamie and Cass County responded to the scene. Additional information is currently not available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Nationwide insurance intends to eliminate the jobs of about 80 workers at its Des Moines office as it cuts 1,100 positions across the country. Nationwide spokesman Joe Case says the workers affected were told Tuesday that their jobs will be ending in March. The employees will receive severance pay and other support. The job cuts will occur mostly in information technology, marketing, property and casualty operations and bank organizations. Nationwide announced in February that it would cut about 50 Des Moines employees from its mortgage division.

Case says the Nationwide workforce needs are evolving as the company “implements new technologies and modernizes for the future.” Nationwide is based in Columbus, Ohio.

(Radio Iowa) — An Iowa-based convenience store chain is donating a 10-thousand-dollar bonus from the Iowa Lottery to emergency responders and a school that serve the Guthrie County town of Redfield. The Casey’s store in Redfield received the $10,000 check for selling an October 27th jackpot-winning Powerball ticket. Casey’s is giving $5,000 to West Central Valley High School, where Rusty Shockley is principal. “We’re working on a branding project for West Central Valley and we’re going to use (the money) for some graphics types-of-things to really dress-up our new high school – it’s about seven years old – just to make it a better environment for the entire student body,” Shockley said.

PHOTO: (from left) Mike Richardson, Casey’s Vice President of Marketing; Obie Meyers, Redfield EMS Association; Mike Short, Chief of the Redfield Fire Department; Rusty Shockley, Principal of West Central Valley High School in Stuart.

The remainder of the lottery bonus will be split between the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department and the Redfield First Responders ($2,500 each). Mike Short is chief of the Redfield Fire Department. “We’ll most likely use it to purchase some gear or something to keep us updated with ever-advancing things in the industry,” Short said. Obie Meyers is with the Redfield EMS Association. “We’ll use this money to increase our medical response capabilities and also to update some of our equipment,” Meyers said.

Around 800 people live in the town of Redfield, which is located about 37 miles west of Des Moines. Casey’s and Iowa Lottery officials said Tuesday they plan to mail bonus prizes of two free coupons to all addresses with a Redfield zip code. One coupon will be for a free Casey’s Pizza, valid only at the Redfield Casey’s. The other coupon will be for a free, easy-pick Powerball play. Last week, 51-year-old Lerynee West claimed the largest lottery prize ever won in the state of Iowa. West, who grew up in Earlham and recently purchased a house in Redfield, bought the winning ticket at the Casey’s in Redfield and chose to take a lump sum payment of $198.1 million.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — While in private business, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walked away from a taxpayer-subsidized apartment-rehabilitation project in Iowa after years of cost overruns, delays and other problems. That’s according to public records on the Des Moines project, which prompted the city to terminate an affordable housing loan for Whitaker’s company. Another lender began foreclosure proceedings after he defaulted on a separate loan for nearly $700,000. Several contractors went unpaid.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A farmer who appeared on ABC’s “The Bachelor” has pleaded guilty in a fatal crash last year near his home in northern Iowa. In an agreement with prosecutors announced Tuesday, 36-year-old Chris Soules pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of leaving the scene of a serious injury accident. Soules had been charged with a more serious felony count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash for the April 2017 death of 66-year-old Kenny Mosher.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Iowa State will use a large portion of a $6 million gift from Boeing Co. to help fund construction of the Student Innovation Center. A news release sent Tuesday about Boeing’s $6 million commitment says 140,000-square-foot center on the Ames campus is expected to be finished in January 2020. It is intended to serve as the hub for hands-on projects where students can collaborate across a wide range of disciplines.

EARLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a northeast Iowa woman who fell at her farm. First responders were sent Saturday to the farm about 4 miles northwest of Earlville. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office says Mullis was taken to a hospital in Manchester, where she died. Details about the fall have not been released.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in the High School Media Center. On their agenda, is a Special Presentation with regard to the recent FFA National Convention, and action on a handful of resignations, including:

• Craig Fredin, 9^th Grade Girl’s Basketball Coach
• Pam Russell, At-Risk Student Advocate
• David Eckles, Transportation Director
• and Sam Hoover, Bus Driver.

The Board will also act on approving several Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment, including:

• Jordan Mullen, Head Boys Track Coach
• Matt Mullinex, Head Girls Track Coach
• Joe Brummer, Head Baseball Coach
• Justin Williams, Asst. Tennis Coach
• Michella Bartholomew, Volunteer Cheerleading Sponsor
• Abby Becker, Volunteer Girls Basketball Coach
• Jacey Hoegh, Volunteer Boys Basketball Coach
• Zach Christianson, Volunteer Boys Basketball Coach
• Todd Killion, Peter Smith, Jim Swanson, Mike Greving and Matt Williamson, Volunteer Wrestling Coaches
• Steve Anderson, Bus Driver
• Michaelin Juhl, CCEOC Para-educator
• and Haley Wright, transfer to Pre-School Para-educator.

Other action items on the Atlantic School Board’s agenda, include: approving requests for the Debate Team to compete in Marshall, MN, January 25^th and 26th, and Mr. McKay as chaperone for a trip to Washington, D.C., for Middle School Students. The trip to D.C. Is offered every other year for those students. During the trip, they’ll visit several Memorials, the Smithsonian Museum, and other museums, along with Capitol Hill, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Mt. Vernon. The World Strides company will head-up the trip and related details.

The Board will also act on approving a bid from Connection for $63,747, for technology. The district’s cost is $12,749 for network server switches, and Coast to Coast for $18,567, with a cost to the district of $3,713, for a backup power supply. The upgraded switches, officials say, should last a minimum of 10-years, while the backup power supplies will keep the phone and internal systems up for 30-minutes during a power outage.

The final order of business is to approve offering the Early Retirement Incentive as presented during previous discussions.The incentive would be offered until Jan. 3, 2019 only, and keeps the same criteria and pay-out in effect as discussed.

A Pottawattamie County man facing 40 counts of Animal Neglect is scheduled to appear in court, Wednesday. 35 year old Dustin Young, of Hancock, was charge after authorities searched his hunting dog training and breeding company in May.  Young is currently out on $20,000 bond.  He plead not guilty in July, but a plea agreement is being discussed. His  trial had been scheduled to begin today (11/14).

If convicted of the crime, Young faces a maximum sentence of $1,875 in fines and a year in jail for each of the four serious misdemeanor animal neglect charges.  Young is also charged with 36 animal neglect counts as simple misdemeanors.  The maximum penalty for each charge is $625 in fines and up to 30 days in jail.

Young is also named as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by Pottawattamie County seeking compensation for costs of animal control that law enforcement accrued while rescuing 41 dogs found on his property.  That amount will be determined after his neglect case is resolved.

(KNOD)

Authorities in western Iowa say a high speed chase that started in Carroll County eastbound on Highway 30 at noon today (Tuesday), involved a number of law enforcement agencies. Speeds reached up to 100 miles per hour as the driver went through Glidden and into Greene County. Calls were made to deploy stop sticks. The driver of the vehicle is believed to be Joshua Black, formerly of Nevada.

Black was reported to have been involved in a domestic dispute and reported to be armed with a knife. The suspect drove the car into a cornfield north of Highway 30 in Greene County and fled on foot. He was apprehended shortly after that. No other information is currently available.

(KNOD)