Police in Creston report the arrest at around 1:36-a.m. today (Thursday), of 20-year old Sundiata Ani Edwards. The Des Moines woman was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended, and later bonded out on a $300 bond. Wednesday night, Creston Police arrested 32-year old Sean Patrick Bagby, of Creston. He was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bagby was later released on a $1,300 bond. And, Wednesday evening, Creston Police arrested 26-year old Tina Louise Perrigo, of Creston, for Driving While Suspended. She was released on a $300 bond.

(8-a.m. News)

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Insurance Division says it now overseeing a program that will help the roughly 500-thousand Iowa Medicare users. The director of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), Kris Gross, explains the program. “Medicare Patrol or S-M-P is a program to help Medicare beneficiaries prevent and detect fraud, errors and abuse,” Gross says.  Gross says there are a couple of ways Medicare users can help. “One is their Medicare summary notices — which shows what services they’ve had — and by monitoring those summary notices they can see if there are inappropriate charges, or things that they really didn’t receive services for,” Gross says.

And she says they can help by reporting scams that try to get personal information. “Remembering that Medicare and Social Security are never going to call you for your Medicare number. They have it,” Gross explains. “So, you should not be giving out those numbers to anyone who would just call you on the phone.”  The program allows you to call and talk to someone about any concerns. “If someone suspects fraud, errors or abuse, they can call S-M-P. Our 800 number is 800-351-4664. Or they can email us at smp@iid.iowa.gov,” according to Gross.

While she doesn’t have the state specific numbers — Gross says Medicare fraud added up to 50 BILLION dollars nationwide in 2017. “That’s a big number, and the S-M-P program and our S-M-P counselors across the state are hear to help people investigate those fraud errors and abuse — and if necessary — get them reported to the appropriate federal agency,” Gross says.  You are also are encouraged to visit shiip.iowa.gov/smp To learn about new Medicare insurance scams and discover tips and tools to prevent and report Medicare fraud.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of killing a 16-month-old girl is scheduled to go on trial next week in Pottawattamie County.  District Court records say 23-year-old Javon Jennings has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His trial is set to begin Tuesday in Council Bluffs. He’s accused of killing Jazlynn Harshbarger, who was pronounced dead at a Council Bluffs apartment on April 19 last year after officers and medics sent there to check a report about an unresponsive child . Police say he was the sole caretaker of the girl when she was fatally injured. Her injuries included a broken left leg.