The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold two public stakeholder meetings in May to collect public comments on proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) water quality permits. Meetings will be held May 20 in the DNR Water Supply Office in the Wallace State Office Building, 502 East Ninth St. in Des Moines, in the second floor conference room 2N.

A meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. will discuss a potential general wastewater permit for hydrostatic test water, underground storage tank ballast water, and potable water line testing discharges (General Permit Number 8). A second meeting from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. will cover a potential general wastewater permit for dewatering and household geothermal discharges (General Permit Number 9).

If issued, General Permit 8 would authorize discharges resulting from hydrostatic testing, which is a process that uses water to verify that a container, like a pipe or tank, will not leak when put into service. The permit would also authorize discharges from underground storage tank ballasting, where water is used to weigh down a tank at installation, and from potable water line testing.

General Permit 9, if issued, would authorize discharge of wastewater from excavation and groundwater dewatering activities. It would also authorize discharges to waters of the United States from residential open-loop geothermal systems.

Both permits will establish eligibility requirements and best management practices to ensure discharges meet state water quality standards. People may make oral or written comments at the public meetings, or can submit written comments through May 27th to Julie Faas, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 502 E. Ninth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034; fax at 515-725-8202; or by email, including the commenter’s name, to Julie.Faas@dnr.iowa.gov.

An Atlantic man was arrested Wednesday, on drug and other charges. The A-PD says 24-year old Devin Register was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Register was booked into the Cass County Jail.

If you’re the type of person who can’t resist a garage sale, you’ll be in heaven this weekend. City-wide garage sales will be held in Atlantic, Griswold, Lewis, and in the communities of Audubon, Brayton and Exira. Some early bird sales take place in Atlantic and along the Highway 71 communities Friday evening, for those who want to get a jump on the throngs of people who’ll be competing for great bargains and finds. There will be crafts, small appliances, toys, adult and children clothing, furniture, bake sale items and much more available.

The Atlantic City Wide Garage Sales will takes place Friday, May 1st, from 2-until 6-pm, and Saturday, from 10-am to 4-pm. Maps will be available at Casey’s, Fareway, and HyVee. The sale is hosted by the Atlantic Business and Profession Women’s (BPW) organization. For more information call Becky Bonney at 712-254-0838.

In Griswold, the City Wide Garage sales take place on Saturday with most starting at 8 a.m. Garage sale maps will be available on Saturday at Casey’s General Store and Main Lil’ Market in Griswold. Garage sale map will also be available online at www.griswoldamerican.com.

In Lewis, the City Wide Garage sale takes place from 7-a.m. until 1-p.m., Saturday.

And, the Audubon-Exira-Brayton Highway 71 Community Garage Sale will be held Saturday from 7-a.m. until 1-pm. Shane Lange, President of the Audubon Area Chamber of Commerce, says flags will mark those residences whose owners or vendors have paid to have their garage sales indicated on free maps. He says there are between 55-and 60 garage sales on the map in Audubon, alone.

Shane says he’s not into garage sales, but he knows others absolutely love them. Free maps are available at most local businesses in Audubon, Exira and Brayton. Residences on the maps will have bright orange flags on their lawns to better identify their location.

Retail sidewalk sales will also be held during the garage sale weather permitting, so be sure and check at individual businesses. The Highway 71 Community Garage Sale is sponsored by the Audubon Chamber of Commerce, Exira Community Club & Brayton Community Club. For more information go to www.auduboniowa.org.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report they have received two separate reports of scams from residents attempting to sell items on Craigslist. The Sheriff’s Office says if you use Craigslist to sell products or services, it’s important to be aware of the scams you may encounter along the way.

One of the most common is the Craigslist overpayment scam, which usually involves a cashier’s check or money order sent from the buyer for an amount that exceeds the cost of the item being sold. With this scam, these cashier’s checks and money orders won’t clear, leaving the seller responsible for the amount with the bank.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former University of Iowa employee has been arrested on charges he secretly recorded people using a campus restroom. The Iowa City Police Department says 46-year-old Nicodemus Hendrick, of Coralville, was arrested Thursday on 13 counts of invasion of privacy. He is accused of hiding the camera in a bathroom at the University Capitol Centre’s Information Technology Services space in June.

According to police complaints, the camera could have been in operation as early as March 1, 2014. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports at least five people were recorded or photographed “in a state of nudity” without their consent. Hendrick was a former employee of the department. A news release from UI says additional security measures have since been implemented.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday, of 33-year old Toby Merritt. The Glenwood man was arrested for Shoplifting. His cash bond was set at $300.

More area & state news, w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The 7:06-a.m. newscast w/the area’s top news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State agriculture officials say the deadly bird flu virus is suspected on two more Iowa chicken farms and two more turkey operations. Officials say initial tests indicate the virus on two turkey farms in Buena Vista County. One has 50,000 birds and the count on the other farm is still pending.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say bird flu isn’t suspected in the deaths of hundreds of waterfowl collected in the Mississippi River near northeastern Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said yesterday that four types of waterfowl are being tested to determine cause of death.

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says cleanup efforts continue after reports of released fertilizer and ammonia near Red Oak. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil says Nachurs Alpine Solutions on Tuesday reported an unknown amount of fertilizer had been released, prompting Red Oak officials to close a floodgate to prevent the spread of chemicals. The DNR on Wednesday confirmed a second, separate report of ammonia traced to a Red Oak hog confinement.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque-area Crime Stoppers have teamed with members of a church committee to launch a fundraising campaign to assist investigators in securing new leads in several unsolved cases. The Telegraph Herald reports that members of the Social Justice Committee of St. Raphael Cathedral and St. Patrick Church and local Crime Stoppers made the announcement Tuesday.