DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 will finally be laid to rest in his home state. The Des Moines Register reports that William James Shanahan Jr. of Cedar Rapids was killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that pushed the U.S. into World War II, but his remains went unidentified for 78 years.

Shanahan’s sister, Mary Lou Shanahan Pierce, donated DNA almost 20 years ago. Finally, in May, that DNA sample found a match and William’s remains were positively identified. A burial with full military honors is planned for Tuesday at the family plot in Cedar Rapids. Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly half-staff from sunrise to sunset to honor Shanahan.

Pierce was just 5 when her brother enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 5, 1940. She said one of her last memories of him was that he would miss her birthday a week later. Pierce received her brother’s remains Friday. She is the only sibling left out of six. “My mom is very honored to welcome her brother home and have him buried with the rest of our family,” said Pierce’s daughter, Cheryl Schemmel. “It’s what her parents would have wanted.”

The Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor destroyed the USS Oklahoma, the battleship Shanahan was on. The ship capsized from multiple torpedo hits, killing 429 crewmen. Only 35 remains were identified and the rest were buried as “unknown,” according to the Department of POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Scientists identified Shanahan’s remains by using anthropological analysis, circumstantial and material evidence, mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis, according to the agency. Shanahan was born on July 22, 1918. He graduated from high school in 1936 and is remembered as a well-liked man who was proud of his Catholic religion and Irish heritage.

“We just want to honor him. Yes he died a hero, but first and foremost he was my mother’s big brother,” Schemmel said.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The city of Ames has been awarded a $1.66 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to put more electric buses into the city’s public transportation fleet. The city recently announced that CyRide will use the money to replace several diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life. The public transportation entity will also buy battery chargers/dispensers and complete facility modifications to support the technology.

Interim Transit Director Barbara Neal says the grant is good news for Ames. She says supporting public transportation is “a great way to reduce your own carbon footprint, while moving to electric buses will help CyRide reduce its emissions.”

The Transportation Department’s Federal Transit Administration Low- or No-Emission Grant program has funded over $300 million in new buses, infrastructure and training since its establishment.

ATLANTIC, IA- September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness month and Cass County Health System’s Senior Life Solutions team is working to raise awareness. On August 30, 2019, the Cass County Board of Supervisors proclaimed September to be Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month for all of Cass County. Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions, says “We are very fortunate to have the support of the supervisors on this proclamation. Mental health is a vital part of everyone’s overall health. The more that we can talk about it, the more we can encourage loved ones to seek help, then the healthier our communities and families can be. This proclamation recognizes that mental health conditions are real and prevalent in our communities, and that all of us have a role to play in promoting mental wellness and preventing suicide.”

Senior Life Solutions provides life-changing care through an intensive outpatient group counseling program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults typically age 65 and older struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions often related to aging. Anyone can make a referral to Senior Life Solutions. Call 712-250-8100 for more information.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 129 deaths by suicide occur per day on average, and there are an estimated 1,400,000 attempted suicides per year.  Talk of suicide should never be dismissed. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also connect with the Crisis Text Line, a global not-for-profit organization providing free crisis intervention via SMS message, by texting 741741.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 27-year old Dakota Ray Nordstrom, who was convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault 3rd or Subsequent Offense, and other crimes in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility as required, Saturday night.

Dakota Ray Nordstrom

Nordstrom is a white male, height 6’2″, and weighs 200 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 12, 2019. Persons with information on Nordstrom’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:55 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police responding to a report of gunshots found the body of a man. Police responded to the report at 3.46 p.m. Saturday and found a dead man. Police didn’t release his name but say he’s a 45-year-old Des Moines resident. Police say it’s the city’s 10th homicide of the year.

HOLLAND, Iowa (AP) — Businesses partnering with the state to provide real-world student learning opportunities are expected to boost career education for rural Iowa school districts. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the state is using the recently unveiled Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning to help students build job skills. Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise says it’s designed as a virtual workspace.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Morningside College has announced its first doctoral program, a doctor of nursing practice. The Sioux City Journal reports that the 30-credit program will be launched this fall. It will be delivered online and is designed for working nurses seeking advancement in their field. Jackie Barber, dean of the Morningside College Nylen School of Nursing, says the program is designed for nurses who want to take their career to the next level.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — Developers are pitching the idea of creating a $100 million entertainment district in the Des Moines suburb of Waukee. Television station KCCI reports that developers have scouted an area of 27 acres in Waukee for a concert venue, bars and restaurants. The developers hope to have a site plan approved this year, as early as October.