Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa highway patrolman who was recently elected to the Legislature wrote almost no tickets to his future constituents as he made his first run for public office. The annual number of citations issued by Trooper Jon Thorup plummeted in 2018 as he campaigned for the Iowa House. He issued 8 tickets, or 1 for every 45 issued by the average trooper statewide. Thorup says he should have written more but that his priority was responding to calls in rural areas.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence took a look at the raging Elkhorn River at the small town of Waterloo, Nebraska, which found itself cut off from the outside world last week by floodwaters. Pence met with a group of first responders who helped pluck people from their flooded homes along the river’s banks.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Police in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny say an officer has shot a burglary suspect who advanced on officers. Police say the incident happened around 4 a.m. Tuesday when Ankeny officers were called to a car wash for a burglary in progress. Police say arriving officers a masked man inside the business, and Officer Tony Higgins fired when the man advanced on Higgins and other officers. Police have identified the suspect as 27-year-old Myles Matthew Regenold. He is expected to recover.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa say officers and firefighters have found the body of a person in a burning car. The Iowa City Police Department says in a news release Tuesday that the body was found after first responders were called just before 11 p.m. Monday to a car on fire in an Iowa City parking lot. The person’s identity has not yet been released.

Vice President Mike Pence says the Trump administration will expedite presidential disaster declarations for Nebraska and Iowa. Pence was in Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday to tour areas ravaged by the flood that has killed at least three people and forced hundreds of Midwesterners from their homes. Pence says he spoke to the governors of both states shortly after landing in Omaha to assure them federal aid will soon be on the way.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds were among a group of Republican leaders accompanying Pence during a brief tour of damaged areas. Others included U.S. Sens. Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, and Joni Ernst, of Iowa, as well as Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa) — If you think your homeowner’s insurance covers flooding, think again. As snow melts, rain falls, and rivers rise, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reminds Iowans to learn about flood insurance and buy appropriate coverage. David Maurstad heads FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and says only about 30-percent of properties located in high-risk areas are covered, and only four-percent outside those areas.

“Maybe 2012 or so, there was another pretty significant flooding event in Iowa and the number of people covered was about 12% in the effected areas,” Maurstad says. “We have a lot of work to do in making sure people understand that flood insurance is their first line of defense to recover from flooding events.”

Damage to buildings and their contents is covered if the high water is caused by rain or rising lakes or rivers. Maurstad says the policies are affordable, averaging less than 500-dollars a year in locations that are not flood-prone. “An inch of water can cause $25,000 worth of damage,” Maurstad says. “We’re trying to encourage people when they renew their homeowner policy that they consider flood insurance. They need to get that flood insurance, they need to not wait. We have to do a better job of encouraging renters to have flood insurance. They can be as negatively impacted as whoever owns the building.”

Be advised, after buying flood insurance, there’s a 30-day waiting period before it goes into effect. More information is available at floodsmart.gov.

(Radio Iowa) — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have voted to require able-bodied adults to work, volunteer or go to school for at least 20 hours a week to remain qualified for Medicaid benefits. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, says the “Iowa work ethic” is eroding and this will help.

“We’ve told people that you don’t have to work…’Oh, here, by the way, here’s enough stuff to get by. You still don’t have to work,'” Schultz said. “That destroys a culture, people.” Senator Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, had this reply. “People don’t wake up every morning, Senator Schultz, and say: ‘I’m so glad I’m on Medicaid. I’m so glad I’m poor,'” Mathis said.

Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says there are better ways to spend the cost five-million dollars it will cost to keep and analyze the reports Medicaid recipients submit about their work, volunteerism or school attendance. “This is not about new work requirements. We can keep saying it is. It is not,” Jochum said. “It’s about new reporting requirements.”

Jochum and the other Democrats present in the Senate today (Tuesday) voted against the bill, while all 32 Republicans voted for it. Senator Jerry Behn, of Boone, a Republican, says work requirements for welfare should be enforced. “It is simply a compassionate nudge toward being successful,” Behn said. “…This is a bill that we are in dire need of. Will it fix everything? No. Will it help? Yes.”

The bill now goes to the House. The Senate has passed two other bills aimed at making welfare program changes. One created a new crime of illegally possessing more than two food stamp cards and it passed unanimously.

In response to Governor Reynolds’ disaster declarations for many Iowa counties, the Iowa Department of Revenue has granted a 30-day extension and suspension of any penalty or interest for taxpayers whose principal residence or business is located in the disaster areas and whose payment or return is due on or before March 31. This includes all tax types.

The governor has issued declarations for 41 counties impacted by the recent flooding, including (locally): Adair, Crawford, Dallas, Fremont, Guthrie, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby.

State law authorizes Iowa Department of Revenue Director Kraig Paulsen to extend the period of time for filing tax returns and making associated payments. This includes the suspension of any penalty or interest associated with those returns or payments.

Officials with Cass County Public Heath said Tuesday, Parents as Teachers (PAT) currently has limited openings. Parents who are interested in the program can contract Nancy Gibson, Parents as Teachers Educator with Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7475.

Referrals are also welcome – anyone who knows of a family that could benefit from participating is encouraged to call. PAT is a free program for Cass County families with children ages 0-5, which provides home visits to help young children grow up healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, issued report on arrests from over the past couple of weeks. This past Sunday, 28-year old Alicia Arlene Dellaca, of Avoca, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Dellaca was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with operating while intoxicated, prohibited acts, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating without owner’s consent, false reports to police, driving while revoked, and careless driving.

Last Saturday, 24-year old Khadijah Meeks, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Meeks was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while revoked and violation of financial liability.

On March 12th, 24-year old Matthew Allen Strong, of Harlan was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  Strong was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of burglary tools.

March 8th, following a traffic stop, Harlan Police arrested 27-year old Miranda June Willis, of Charter Oak.  Willis was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with prohibited acts, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a non-registered vehicle, and improper rear lamps.

And, on March 7th, 25-year old Jacob Wayne Jens, of Avoca, was arrested on an active Pottawatomie County warrant.  Custody of Jens was transferred to a Shelby County deputy for transport to Pottawatomie County.