Police in Creston today (Tuesday) released a delayed Theft report. Authorities say a man residing in the 1000 block of W. Montgomery Street reported that sometime during the month of October someone entered his garage at his residence and stole a large number of tools, hunting gear and other miscellaneous items.

The stolen items included: Several Snap-On brand socket sets, wrenches, ratchets and
extension sets; Under Armour Bibs and Jacket; a Nikon Monarch Laser 1200 range finder; Red Head Primal Bow/Rifle Rack; a Dewalt 6 tool 18 Volt Combo kit; Hunter Safety System Harness; and, a True Fire Edge Buckle fold back release. The property was valued at $8,500 altogether.

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

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A Council Bluffs man escaped injuries after his vehicle was struck this (Tuesday) morning during a police chase. Authorities identified the driver of the vehicle struck as Wayne Belt. Officials say the incident happened at around 1:40-a.m.

Pottawattamie County Deputies broadcast that they were in pursuit of a vehicle which was determined to have been stolen out of Mills County, and was heading Southbound on River Road heading towards the Council Bluffs City Limits. Council Bluffs Police Department Officers responded to the area to assist and were able to deploy tire deflation devices (Stop Sticks) to attempt to slow the vehicle. The suspect vehicle ran over the stop sticks causing 3 of its tires to slowly deflate. The vehicle slowed, but continued into the city. The Sheriff’s Deputy terminated the pursuit in the area of 25th and Ave G when his patrol vehicle became disabled.

The suspect vehicle meanwhile continued Southbound on South 25th with Officers no longer in pursuit. At 25th and Broadway the suspect vehicle ran the stoplight and collided with Belt’s vehicle, striking the rear passenger side of his vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued Southbound on 25th until 3rd Ave where the suspects abandoned the vehicle and ran from the area. Witnesses reported seeing a total of three suspects flee the vehicle. An Omaha Police K‐9 Officer responded to assist, however after a search of the area no suspects were located.

Anyone with information concerning the identity of the occupants of the suspect vehicle is requested to contact Crime Stoppers at 328‐STOP(7867) or the Council Bluffs Police Special Operations unit at 712‐328‐4948.

Voters in Montgomery County will head to the polls today (Tuesday), to cast their ballots in a Special Red Oak School District Election. On the ballot, is Public Measure “A,” a renewal of the 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and a PPEL income surtax. If approved, the 10-year Levy would authorize a tax of not more than $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation within the Red Oak School District, beginning June 30^th 2021, and a tax on personal income starting December 31^st for each calendar year, and commencing with the 2020 calendar year.

Proceeds from the levy would be used for building construction or repairs, plus equipment, technology and transportation purchases. The PPEL needs a simple majority in order to pass.

Voters may vote absentee in-person at the Auditor’s Office today from 8-a.m. until 11-a.m. The polls open at Noon, and close at 8-p.m.

The polling site is the Montgomery County Fairground’s Gold Building.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have rescued a man who jumped into the Missouri River from a pedestrian bridge that connects Omaha with Council Bluffs. He leaped from the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge at 6:15 p.m. Monday and spent 15 minutes in the frigid water before his rescue on the Nebraska side.

Omaha Police Officer Phillip Anson says an officer entered the water to try to reach the man but couldn’t get a good hold. Anson says two other officers reached out with a stick, and the man grabbed it so he could be pulled to shore. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center. His name hasn’t been released.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) – Officials say they won’t erect warning signs near an Iowa park overlook where a man fell 60 feet to his death on New Year’s Day. Sixty-three-year-old Dan Carlile, of Ames, fell after losing his footing near Lost Lake Trail at Ledges State Park south of Boone.

The Des Moines Register reports that his widow, Cheryl Carlile, says excess signage and railings would ruin the spot’s beauty. But she says a single sign would make people think twice about getting too close to the edge of what’s known as Solstice Rock, which overlooks the Des Moines River.

Iowa Natural Resources Department officials decided against any barriers or signs at the site. Park manager Andy Bartlett says, “It’s just too important of a cultural resource to do that.”

Republicans in the Iowa House have sent the governor a bill that will increase general state aid to public schools by 40-million dollars for the next academic year. Republican Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, is a retired school teacher. Moore says “In discussion with my Superintendents, their major concern was to get this done in 30-days. We’re doing that. Yes, they would like to have more than $40-million, but they understand the important of living within their budgets, and they understand we must also.”

Representative Walt Rogers, a Republican from Waterloo, is chairman of the House Education Committee. “Today’s schools are doing so much more than just teaching and we must give them the tools to do that,” Rogers says. “Does that always involve more money? No, it doesn’t.” Representative Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo, says legislators can do better than a 73-dollar-per-student increase.

Representative Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City, says schools need far more than Republicans are offering. Representative Rogers says Republican lawmakers are responding to the dilemma of limited state tax collections. “This plan involves funding education appropriately in the context of our overall budget and our overall state budget needs,” Rogers says.

Representative Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, says this level of state aid will force more school consolidations.  “If the Republicans wanted to just close rural schools, this is the way to go about it,” Mascher said. “You starve ’em to death.”

Representative Rogers says the state will send more than three-point-two BILLION dollars to Iowa’s public school districts next year. “Funding education is a top priority of what we do,” Rogers says. “K-12 education gets 43 perent of our budget.” About a month ago, Iowa’s Republican governor recommended a TWO percent state spending boost for schools in EACH of the next two years.

On Monday, Governor Branstad indicated he will accept the ONE-year, roughly ONE percent increase Republican legislators have agreed upon.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Branstad is signalling his support for a law that would ban motorists from driving with one hand and having a phone in the other. “If all we do is say: ‘You can’t text and drive,’ how do you prove that somebody was texting?” Branstad asks. “They could be looking at this device in their hands and say: ‘Well, I wasn’t texting,’ and so you can’t get a conviction.”

Cell phone providers, insurance companies and the state’s law enforcement community are lobbying legislators to make it illegal to handle an electronic device while driving. Advocates say crash data indicates there’s been a dramatic increase in distracted drivers causing accidents.

State officials say 70 percent of fatal wrecks in the past three years were caused by a vehicle that drifted out of its lane and investigators suspect many of those drivers were distracted by their smart phone.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Terry Branstad is pushing back on the idea the attorney general needs to weigh in on the proper transfer of power when he resigns to become an ambassador. “The constitution is clear and the law is clear that in the case of the death, resignation or disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor becomes the governor,” Branstad says.

Branstad is President Trump’s pick to be the next ambassador to China. The only independent in the legislature says the state constitution seems unclear on whether Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds gets the title of governor once Branstad leaves.

State Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan has asked Iowa’s attorney general to issue a written opinion about the matter, including whether Reynolds will have the authority to choose a NEW lieutenant governor. Branstad says it’s not necessary because legislators passed a law on that a few years ago. “In the event of a vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office, the governor makes the appointment,” Branstad said. “It’s just as clear as can be and I don’t think there’s any question about that.”

Branstad’s communications director issued a written statement last week, accusing Senator Johnson of “political grandstanding” by raising questions about what executive authority Reynolds may have when Branstad resigns.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature is pushing ahead with its plans to vote on a K-12 education spending bill that school officials say will result in larger classroom sizes and other district-level shortfalls. A group that included school board members, parents and students gathered at the Capitol on Monday in opposition to the legislation, which adds about $40 million to a roughly $3 billion education budget.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A key group of election officials plans to oppose legislation proposed by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate that would require voter identification at the polls and make other changes to the state’s election system. The Iowa State Association of County Auditors confirmed Monday that the group voted Friday to register against Pate’s bill. The group also agreed to form a committee that would suggest changes to the bill. Pate said in a statement he was disappointed by the group’s decision.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The recent winner of a special election to represent the Davenport area has been sworn into the state House. Democrat Monica Kurth took an oath of office in the chamber Monday to represent District 89. With Kurth’s addition, the House once again has a full 100 members. Republicans hold a 59-41 majority. Kurth won a Jan. 31 special election to fill a vacant seat left by Sen. Jim Lykam.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he has completed paperwork necessary to be considered as the next U.S. ambassador to China. Branstad told reporters Monday he submitted documents recently that are required under a confirmation process in the U.S. Senate. His office says there is no timeline available on when a hearing or set of hearings would happen. If Branstad is confirmed, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds is expected to become Iowa’s next governor.