The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Clayton Nathaniel Parsons, of Hamburg, was arrested Tuesday on felony weapon, drug and other charges. His arrest followed an investigation into an incident that occurred Sunday, in Sidney.

Deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit conducted an investigation into a disturbance that took place near the Casey’s General Store in Sidney on Sunday, after they received a report that a male had displayed a handgun during an argument.

Clayton Parsons

Their investigation led authorities to Parsons, who was arrested in the 3400 block of 310th Street, in rural Hamburg. Parsons was arrested for two aggravated misdemeanor counts of Harassment in the 1st Degree, felony Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and a felony charge of Conspiracy to Possess or Distribute Methamphetamine.  He was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $24,000 bond.

Parsons was previously released from jail on 07/03/2019 after posting bond for a separate arrest that occurred on 06/05/2019 for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, Harassment 1st and False Imprisonment at the time this incident occurred.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Human Services says it has agreed to pay an additional $386 million to two insurance companies that will provide Medicaid services for the 2020 fiscal year.

The 8.6% increase announced Wednesday will include $115 million in additional state funding, with the federal government paying for the remaining portion.

The $5 billion Medicaid program serves about 600,000 poor and disabled people.

DHS says the rates include changes made by the Iowa Legislature, which account for about 2 percent of the increase.

Last year the agency approved a $344 million increase over the previous year.

The state privatized the Medicaid program in 2016 with then-Gov. Terry Branstad promising cost savings and improved care. Democrats say neither goal has been accomplished amid turmoil that included two insurers dropping out and last month’s sudden resignation of DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a disabled relative.

Polk County court records say 29-year-old Steven Baker is charged with theft and dependent adult abuse. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him. Baker’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 19.

The Des Moines Register reports that police say Baker moved into his bank account nearly $48,000 of his relative’s money, using $12,500 for payment on a car and spending more of the money on himself.

Authorities say the money had come from the Social Security Administration, and Baker told authorities that he’d gotten Social Security permission to buy the car because it would be used to transport his relative.

DES MOINES – Election officials and state executives from around the nation will converge in Iowa in 2021 as the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) holds its annual summer conference in Des Moines. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate developed the successful bid presentation and pitched it to his colleagues, with assistance from Catch Des Moines.

“The NASS Summer Conference is a great opportunity for secretaries of state to come together in a bipartisan fashion, collaborate and share best practices,” Secretary Pate said. “I’m thrilled to host this event in Des Moines. We’re going to give them a taste of ‘Iowa Nice’, great food and first-class hospitality in the best state in the country.”

This marks the first time in its 115-year history that NASS has held a conference in Iowa. Approximately 300 Secretaries of State, Lt. Governors, senior state staff, vendors and media outlets attend the annual gathering.

“We are thrilled to welcome the National Association of Secretaries of State to Iowa’s capital city in 2021,” said Greg Edwards, President and CEO at Catch Des Moines. “We love to host all visitors, but this is certainly a unique opportunity to showcase our thriving metro to the heads of state across the country. It’s an honor to be selected and there’s no doubt that Des Moines will roll up our sleeves and roll out the red carpet to show them some Midwest hospitality.”

The 2021 NASS Summer Conference is scheduled to be held in July of 2021. Reno, Nevada will host the 2020 NASS Summer Conference.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Johnson County authorities say an accident killed a 26-year-old man whose body was found in an Iowa City creek.

The medical examiner’s office says Jonathan Guerrero died of blunt force head injuries and likely drowning. His body was found in Ralston Creek the morning of July 1. Police say evidence supports the medical examiner’s preliminary results.

Authorities are still investigating the death of 45-year-old Eric Riskedahl, whose body was found under a U.S. Highway 6 bridge in Iowa City later on July 1. Police say the investigations so far don’t find any connection between the two deaths and say crimes are not suspected in either of them.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A magistrate has refused to dismiss a criminal mischief charge against an Iowa religious activist accused of burning four LGBTQ children’s books that he checked out of a library.

Prosecutors say 63-year-old Paul Dorr posted a video on Facebook in October in which he denounced the Orange City library for having the books and threw them into a burning barrel.

He argued in his motion for dismissal that he was singled out for prosecution because of the message he was sending.

Sioux County District Court records show that Magistrate Lisa Mazurek said in her ruling issued Monday that Dorr didn’t prove his assertions and that the only message being sent to him is “that he cannot burn books that do not belong to him.”

His trial’s set for Aug. 6.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines International Airport has announced plans to add 1,000 more parking spaces to combat shortages.

KCCI reports that the new spots will be available at Economy Lot 4, just south of the airport’s main terminal.

Airport General Manager Kevin Foley says the parking shortage is a good sign because it reflects an increase in the number of people using airport facilities. The new parking spaces should be finished by Thanksgiving.

He says the $3 million project “only buys us two or three years” before more spaces will be needed.

The next solution? A new parking garage next to the airport’s new terminal.