(Radio Iowa) — New federal data shows Iowa’s population is growing but not as fast as most other states. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Iowa’s population now stands at 3.156 million people. That’s up 3.6 percent from 2010. The state’s growth rate is 28th in the country and trails the national growth rate of 6 percent. Iowa is now ranked 31st in the nation for its population, falling from 30th.

Utah leap-frogged Iowa into the number-30 position. Only three states in the U.S. have lost population since 2010; Illinois, West Virginia and Connecticut.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Before they arrested a farmhand in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, investigators scrutinized four other potential suspects during their five-week search. Newly unsealed search warrant documents show that those who drew police interest included a neighbor seen washing his SUV hours after Tibbetts vanished, a Nebraska man who ditched his vehicle in Iowa days later and an acquaintance who had recently erased his cellphone data. All have been ruled out as suspects.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids police say they have charged a man with murder, 39 years to the day after the killing of a high school student. Police announced the arrest Wednesday night in the Dec. 19, 1979, stabbing death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko. Police arrested 64-year-old Jerry Lynn Burns on Wednesday morning in Manchester and charged him with first-degree murder. Martinko’s body was found just after 4 a.m. Dec. 20 inside her family’s car parked at a shopping mall.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Missouri farmer is accused of marketing $140 million worth of non-organic corn, soybeans and wheat as organic over 7½ years. The U.S. attorney’s office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, charged Randy Constant with fraud on Wednesday. The Chillicothe, Missouri, man is expected to appear in court Thursday. Prosecutors say more than 90 percent of his product was non-organic grain purchased from others. Three Nebraska farmers have pleaded guilty in the alleged scheme.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest Census estimates show that Nebraska’s and Iowa’s populations continued growing at a slow, steady pace over the past year. The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest state population figures as of July 1 on Wednesday.

An official swearing-in ceremony was held Wednesday evening in Atlantic, for a new police officer. And, while that happens in communities all over the State, the event held here was extra special, because the “Officer” is a six and one-half year old boy Massena, who was presented with a certificate, an official badge and the title of Honorary Police Officer for the City of Atlantic.  Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones conducted the swearing-in ceremony, with Police Chief Dave Erickson kneeling next to Myles Jones.

Mayor Dave Jones swears-in the City’s Honorary Police Officer (click on the pictures to enlarge)

Chief Erickson was beaming as he pinned a badge on the young boy. He said “Good job officer. We’re proud of you.” Myles is the son of Erick and Sara Beth Jones, of Massena. His parents, brother Hayden and baby sister Caroline attended the ceremony. Myles was asked later why he wanted to become a police officer.  He said “Because it’s really cool and I like the outfit.” He said also that he likes to run after the bad guys.

Chief Erickson pins a badge on “Officer Myles”

“Officer Myles” was Honored for his efforts to raise money for the Atlantic Police Department’s children and families Christmas and other programs. Myles challenged the community to give towards those programs, and singlehandidly raised $3,725. The funds were presented Dec. 7th to the Police Chief and Reserve Officer Jeff Hackwell. Last Sunday (Dec. 16th), Myles helped the Department with their annual “Shop-with-a-Cop” program at the Atlantic Wal-Mart. When asked why he raised the funds, he said “It’s just my duty.”

His mom said the response from the community toward his efforts was unexpected, and provided her son with a invaluable lesson on helping others, which is what police officers do. She said she hasn’t told her son how big of a star he has become in the town, as evidenced by the response on social media, on the street and in school. Sara Beth Jones said she wants her son to remain humble, remember what he did it for, and not “get a big head.”  The young man may undertake a similar fundraising endeavor next year, too.

“Officer” Myles Jones.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest Census estimates show that Nebraska’s and Iowa’s populations continued growing at a slow, steady pace over the past year. The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest state population figures as of July 1 on Wednesday. Iowa’s estimated population grew 12,508 to 3,156,145. Iowa grew at a rate of 0.4 percent.

Nebraska’s population rose to 1,929,268 between 2017 and this year. The state gained 11,693 residents and grew at a rate of 0.61 percent.

Researcher David Drozd with the University of Nebraska’s Center for Public Affairs Research says the growth should ensure that Nebraska will keep all three of its Congressional districts in 2020.
The United States population grew by more than 2 million to 327,167,434. The nation’s population grew at a rate of 0.62 percent.

(Radio Iowa) — For the past three weeks, love has been in the air in Marshalltown. The hope is the love will remain there for a few more weeks. A Marshalltown life coach, came across the idea of putting up a billboard that just says “love” on it, from a colleague in Spokane, Washington. Jody Wunsch thought, why not do that in Marshalltown? She and her husband purchased one billboard for one month, while donations helped put up a second billboard. Three weeks later, Wunsch says the response has been heartwarming.

“I’ve really gotten a lot of feedback from people…people emailing me,” Wunsch says. “They start out “…I don’t know you, but…”. You know that it has touched them and how much they love it. It’s creating conservation and what I have been getting back is all positive.” Wunsch is now looking for further help to keep the love billboards up past Christmas Day. The cost of one for an additional 30 days is covered.

“We’re working on the second one. One’s definitely going to be up, and we’re hoping we’ll get enough yet to keep the other one up as well,” Wunsch says. A fund has been set up at Home Federal in Marshalltown to receive any “love” donations. Wunsch says if they don’t get enough money to keep the second love billboard in place, the donations will be given to the tornado relief effort in Marshalltown.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered a new trial for a woman found guilty more than four years ago of killing her daughter in south-central Iowa’s Mahaska County. Court records say Judge Daniel Wilson last week set aside the first-degree murder conviction of 25-year-old Alicia Ritenour, agreeing with her arguments that her trial attorney had been ineffective. The judge did not release her from state custody and set bail at $500,000. The new trial has not yet been scheduled.

Authorities went to Ritenour’s Oskaloosa apartment in January 2014 following a 911 call. Officers found 17-month-old Ava Ritenour dead. An autopsy showed she died of head trauma.