w/ Chris Parks

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Legislature will face another week of negotiations as they struggle to reach a budget compromise that will allow them to conclude their session.

Leaders said Thursday there was still work to do before they can adjourn. The Republican-led House and Democratic-majority Senate have not been able to agree on an overall spending level or how much new money to provide to schools.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, said the two sides were trying to find ways to make some one-time payments to make up the difference between their budget proposals.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Hiawatha Republican, did not detail why lawmakers are having difficulty, but said they were dealing with a perennial problem: “Democrats want to spend more than Republicans.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines officials intend to keep operating its traffic cameras along Interstate 235 while the city goes to court, challenging a state ruling that the cameras must be turned off.

Deputy city attorney Carol Moser told The Des Moines Register that the cameras “are in our jurisdiction, and we enforce traffic violations in that area.”

The Iowa Transportation Department recently rejected requests from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Muscatine and Council Bluffs to keep operating their camera systems.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said his city likely won’t challenge the state directive. Officials in Cedar Rapids haven’t decided on whether to appeal, and Muscatine Mayor DeWayne Hopkins has said the city is considering its options.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two more Iowa farms have tested positive for bird flu.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture says two northwest Iowa farms raising young chickens to eventually lay eggs likely have the virus. No estimate of numbers was immediately released for a farm in Sioux County, the 12th case in that county and one in Plymouth County, the first case there.

Iowa has 52 bird flu cases in 14 counties. Nearly 25 million chickens and 970,000 turkeys will die.

South Dakota announced Thursday its first chicken farm with 1.3 million egg layers. The state earlier found the virus on turkey farms.

Nebraska officials confirmed their second case, a chicken flock, and Minnesota reported two new cases.

The USDA lists 162 confirmed cases nationwide affecting more than 33 million birds.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest Thursday night at 8:25pm.  Officers arrested 32-year-old Joseph Alan Smith of Red Oak for OWI 3rd Offense, Driving While Suspended, and valid Warrant for Probation Violation.  Smith was transported to the Montgomery County Jail where he was booked in and held on $5,000 cash bond.

The Creston Police Department reports an accident caused by a runaway trailer on Thursday at 7:51am.

A tar trailer was unhooked from a truck in the upper part of the Super 8 parking lot in Creston as it was being prepared for transport.  The individual working on the trailer thought it was secure but the trailer slid down a hill and struck a legally parked truck with a boat and trailer attached.

The boat and trailer received $3,000 damage while the tar trailer incurred $1,000 damage.  No further details are known at this time.

Creston Police report two arrests on Wednesday, May 13th.

At 5:34pm Wednesday Creston Police arrested 39-year-old Jamie Vandel of Creston at his residence for a Union County Warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of Failure to Affix Drug Stamp, 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana.  He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on $10,000 bond.

Also on Wednesday at 9:00pm officers arrested 31-year-old Jessica England of Creston at the Law Enforcement Center on an Adair County warrant for Harassment 2nd degree.  She was transferred to the custody of Adair County authorities.

Creston Police also received a report Wednesday of a tire being slashed on a vehicle in the parking lot of Ferrera Candy Co. at 500 Industrial Parkway in Creston on May 8th. A Greenfield man reported the incident with an estimated loss of $80.

The Council Bluffs Police Department responded to a disturbance at around 12:55am this (Thursday) morning at Heartland Family Services Housing 1503 Ave J in Council Bluffs.  Upon arrival officers found 20-year-old Bryce Baker with a puncture wound to his upper chest. He told officers he was in a fight with a black male he knew but was unsure how he received his wound.  Baker was uncooperative with officers and did not want to pursue charges.

Baker was taken to Jennie Edmundson Hospital where he was treated and released.  Heartland Family Services personnel quickly arrived on scene and are assisting in the investigation.

The Griswold Fire Department responded to a fire at 51969 Dogwood Avenue near Griswold at around 5:50pm Wednesday.  Upon arrival firefighters discovered a machine shed on fire with heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure. The building was destroyed and a cause is unknown at this time.

Griswold Fire was assisted by Griswold Rescue and the Carson Fire Department.

w/ Chris Parks

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