Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Police arrested a western Iowa woman after finding her hiding in an oven. Twenty-five-year-old Gabrielle Looper, who was wanted for violating her probation requirements, was arrested Thursday after police forced their way into her Guthrie Center mobile home to complete a search warrant.

MURRAY, Iowa (AP) — State officials are investigating a manure spill that has reached the Thompson River in southern Iowa. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say the spill occurred about eight miles south of Murray after a pipe broke at a Swine Graphics Enterprises hog plant. The manure was being transferred from building pits to an outdoor basin when the transfer pipe broke and released an unknown amount of manure.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa officials have proposed a new location for a building to house its art museum less than a month after pulling out of a public-private partnership for the project. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the University of Iowa Museum of Art’s executive director says the new location is just a few blocks from the site in the previous proposal. The school’s art collection has been homeless since the previous building was damaged in the 2008 flood.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Marshalltown resident has been arrested in the fatal assault of another man outside a Marshalltown bar. Authorities say Brandon Skidmore was taken into custody early Saturday and is charged with second-degree murder. Police say James Anderson was attacked in an alley as the Center Street Station bar was closing. Anderson was also from Marshalltown.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office released information Monday on one recent arrest and accident.

On Sunday, April 3rd deputies arrested 28-year-old Nikki Lorene Elizabeth Johnson of Hamlin around 9:00pm.  Johnson was charged with Aiding and Abetting Violation of a No Contact Order.  The charge stems from the investigation into an incident that was reported to the Sheriff’s office earlier on Sunday.  Johnson was taken to the Audubon County Jail and later released following appearance before the magistrate. Johnson will appear in Magistrate court on May 5th.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was also called to an accident on Wednesday, March 30th at 9:45pm.  The accident occurred southwest of Exira on Kingbird Avenue.  After investigation officers determined that 15-year-old Aaron Oliver Allen of Elk Horn was traveling west on Kingbird Avenue and lost control on a curve with soft, loose, wet gravel and slid into the west ditch.  The vehicle rolled onto its roof and came to rest on its top.  Allen and three other passengers 15-year-old Danielle Ann Bowlin of Harlan, 14-year-old Damian Mae Peterson of Exira and 15-year-old Destiny Hope Dawson of Exira were all transported to Audubon County Memorial Hospital by Exira Rescue.  Damage to the 2000 Oldsmobile Allen was driving was unknown.  Allen was charged with Failure to Maintain Control and Violation of a Restricted School License.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green released details Monday about the department’s response to a possible threat on Sunday.  Atlantic Police were made aware of a veiled threat on social media in the Atlantic area on Sunday afternoon.  The threat was not specific in nature but police still treated the situation with caution and located the individual posting the message within two hours after receiving the initial report.  A local 16-year-old male was questioned in reference to the post and precautions were taken to ensure the teenager had no access to weapons with a consensual search of the home.  Officers determined there was no credible threat and the teenager was released pending further investigation.  Atlantic Police will be conferring with the County Attorney and juvenile authorities on further action.  Local school officials were kept informed throughout the investigation.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) says the Fire Danger rating in the County will remain MODERATE this week, but Operations Officer Jason Wickizer says you should keep in mind “This time of year we can go from Moderate to Extreme in less than 24 hours.  Sunday was an excellent example where we had Moderate conditions that due to wind, temperature, and humidity changed rapidly to a Red Flag or Extreme condition.”

Continue to notify the EMA if you have any planned large burns, and conduct burns during the early morning or late evening hours when possible.

A woman from central Iowa was arrested on drug charges Sunday, in Cass County. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 50-year old Erin Sue Walker, of Urbandale, was arrested on felony charges that include: Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent offense; and Possession of Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent offense(D Felony). She was also arrested for OWI 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Walker was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office says 25-year old Benjamin Jesse Galles, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a Pottawattamie County warrant. Galles was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remained held pending transfer to Pottawattamie County authorities.

A passenger in a vehicle that crashed into a tree Sunday morning in Emerson was transported to the hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Levi Allen, of Red Oak, was riding in a 2016 Chevy driven by Adam Lundgren, of Essex, when the accident happened at around 6-a.m., Sunday.

Authorities say the vehicle was northbound on Highway 59 approaching Crawford Street in Emerson, when Lundgren fell asleep at the wheel. When the vehicle went off the right side of the road, Lundgren over-corrected, causing the vehicle to cross the center line into the southbound lane of Highway 59. When the vehicle went off onto the left side of the road, Lundgren panic-braked before the vehicle struck a tree.

Levi Allen was transported by Red Oak EMS to the Red Oak Hospital. Lundgren was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

In other business, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Joseph Lee Hastie, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday night for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300.

Governor Terry Branstad isn’t closing the door on a bill that would adjust Iowa’s medical marijuana law.  “I’ve indicated a willingness to work with the legislature on this as well as other issues,” Branstad says. “I reserve judgment until we see it in its final form, but certainly this is an issue there is some strong interest in.”

Iowa decriminalized possession of cannabis oil for treatment of chronic epilepsy in 2014, but cannabis oil isn’t sold in the state. Advocates have been pressing state officials to set up a system for growing and dispensing cannabis oil in Iowa. Plus, they want Iowa doctors to be able to prescribe it as treatment for a wide range of chronic conditions.

“We have been open to and met with people about resolving this issue throughout the session,” Branstad says. Branstad isn’t specifying what he might accept, but he says it’s important to keep marijuana out of the hands of people who would use the drug “for illicit purposes.”

“What we have is cannabis oil which is basically designed to treat a particular medical condition and the question is whether that should be expanded to some others and whether you could have it produced in the state of Iowa,” Branstad says.

Twenty-three states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Illinois residents suffering from any of 40 different conditions can get a state permit to buy marijuana from state licensed dispensaries. Minnesota residents can buy the drug in liquid or pill form as treatment for a handful of specific illnesses, as well as terminal conditions.

(Radio Iowa)

Last Friday, about three-thousand calls were made to the state “call center” created to help figure out benefits for Iowa Medicaid patients and the health care professionals who treat them. Friday was the day Iowa’s 560-thousand Medicaid patients were switched to a private managed care system. Governor Terry Branstad describes the transition as “smooth.”

“Nothing of this magnitude is going to be totally glitch-free,” Branstad says. “But the reports I’ve been getting is that it’s relative smooth and, you know, there are all kinds of opportunities for people to call if they have a glitch or a problem, to get that corrected as quickly as possible.”

State officials say the average wait time for people who’ve been calling the hotline for help was about two minutes on Friday. Administrators also say call volume was just about the same as it has in the weeks leading up to the switch. Branstad invited representatives of each of the three private companies now managing Iowa’s Medicaid system to his weekly news conference — to tout new “add-on” services each now offers to Medicaid patients, like smoking cessation and well-baby programs.

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 10:10-a.m. w/more details)

A woman from Guthrie County was arrested last Thursday after hiding in a most unusual place: her oven. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 800 block of Ashton Avenue, in Guthrie Center. As a result of the search warrant, 25-year old Gabrielle Looper was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for probation violation. Deputy Kent Gries, with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, told KJAN News the woman was taken into custody without incident, but not before authorities encountered some obstacles.

Gries said they first had to force entry into the mobile home using a prybar. When they made entry, they were greeted by a couple of vicious dogs. One of the deputies was bitten by a canine in the home. Instead of using lethal force to subdue the dogs, authorities used a fire extinguisher to force them back.

Once inside, deputies conducted a slow, methodical search. Gries said they knew Looper was in the home based on her medical history. She had just given birth three weeks ago. He says their first priority was to find the baby. Deputies secured the baby and spread out throughout the house, where they found Looper hiding in the oven.

The door to the oven was closed. Gries said authorities had received intelligence beforehand indicating they were likely to find her there. There were actually two ovens in the trailer house, which was a dead giveaway something was amiss, according to Gries. One of the ovens was non-functional and was specially modified so the bottom could hide a person.

32-year old Joseph Crawford was also arrested at the scene, for interference with official acts. Both were transported to the Guthrie County Jail. The Iowa State Patrol and Panora Police Department assisted in executing the search warrant. The child was voluntarily turned by over by Looper, to her grandmother. Gries said they took a picture of the unusual oven because it serves as a reminder that people will go to extreme lengths to hide themselves from authorities, in order to avoid prosecution.

Image from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A nondenominational Christian nonprofit agency is opening a shelter in Sioux City for homeless, single fathers and their children. The Sioux City Journal reports that Gospel Mission began construction on the $600,000 facility in the fall of 2015. The apartments are scheduled to open later this month.

Gospel Mission will give families food and resources to find daycare and work. The apartments include various kitchen appliances, a laundry machine, a living area with a TV and bunkbeds. Residents will be allowed to stay for six months, with the end goal of getting the family back on its feet. Gospel mission already has a shelter for single women with children. A dedication and open house for the new shelter is scheduled for April 17.