Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa board has approved nearly $16 million in investments in three companies across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced the grants Friday for projects in Sioux City, West Des Moines and Knoxville. The board also approved an additional $19.8 million in tax refunds for Google Inc.’s Council Bluffs data center, bringing its total tax incentives to more than $36 million.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a van stolen from a Cedar Rapids nonprofit has been found in West Des Moines but no arrests have been made. The van was taken from the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids Polk Unit. Police say someone broke into the building and stole electronics and the club van. Officers are working to identify a suspect.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The discovery of bird flu on an Iowa turkey farm has raised serious concerns that the poultry-killing virus could find its way into chicken barns in the state. Iowa is home to roughly 50 million chickens that lay nearly one in every five eggs consumed in the country. The H5N2 virus has not yet been detected in Iowa chicken barns.

GARNER, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa lawmaker has testified during his sexual abuse trial that he didn’t have sex with his wife in May at a nursing home in Garner. Henry Rayhons is accused of sexually abusing his wife after being told she was no longer mentally capable of consenting to sex due to dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. She died in August.

21 nonprofit agencies in Cass County have been awarded grants from the Cass County Community Foundation, amounting to $103,866. The checks were presented to representatives of those organizations Friday afternoon by Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the CCCF.

Representatives of various Cass County Organizations proudly display their CCCF grant checks Friday afternoon.

The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Cass County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Cass County Board of Directors for their respective projects:

• Anita Foundation: Washer & dryer for facility and new equipment for toddler room $2,000
• Anita Public Library: Replace front door with automated doors to accommodate handicapped access $4,000
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center: Carpet for Special Needs Preschool classrooms $10,000.00
• Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum: Display unit for donated items $3,000.00
• Atlantic Parks & Recreation Department: Fencing around the off-leash dog park at Schildberg Recreation Area $10,000.00
• Atlantic Public Library: Furnishings to create teen area in library $1,000.00
• Atlantic Rock Island Society: Climate control equipment to ensure preservation of historic documents $6,000.00
• Atlantic Youth Sports Organization: Create a playground at the Atlantic Little League Complex $3,000.00
• Cass County Conservation Board: Funds to finish upgrades of electrical camping hookups at Cold Springs Park $4,500.00
• Cass County Health System Foundation: Purchase central monitor system for OB department $6,116.00
• Cass County Historical Museum: Complete building façade by adding signage, awning and seating $5,000.00
• City of Griswold: Griswold Community Building repairs and equipment $10,000.00
• City of Lewis: Tornado siren $2,500.00
• City of Marne: Repair Community Center steps & sidewalk $2,250.00
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library: Renovations $5,000.00
• Lewis Public Library: Computers and wireless router $2,500.00
• Massena Public Library/City of Massena: Awning & outdoor lighting $2,000.00
• Nishna Valley Trails, Inc: Recreational trail construction to connect two existing trails $25,000.00

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible. Cass County agency representatives received their checks on April 17th.

During brief check distribution activities, Hunt commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Cass County. “Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $103,866.00 in grants to these important community efforts in Cass County,” Hunt explained. “The Cass County Community Foundation is one of nine counties that are collectively known as the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa and meets or exceeds the Standards for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.”

The Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a permanently endowed fund helps your neighbors today AND you help build a stronger community tomorrow. Not only that, you’ll be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal tax benefits for which you may qualify.

The Cass County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes grants to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations. “This has grown from an annual event to twice a year, with one grant cycle in the spring and another in the fall,” said Hunt. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact any of the Board Members, or call Dennis Nissen, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Weather experts say Nebraska and Iowa experienced a near-record dry March this year. The Omaha World-Herald reports regional and national climatologists and meteorologists announced their findings Thursday. They said the state had its second-driest March on record, while Iowa had its third-driest March, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Central Nebraska experienced its driest March in 121 years of record-keeping. Weather experts say dry conditions have contributed to a brisk fire season, a slow start to tornado season and lower headwaters for the Platte and Missouri rivers. However, the National Weather Service expects the two states to get rain this month.

The National Drought Mitigation Center, housed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, reports that nearly 38 percent of the continental United States is in drought.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa board has approved nearly $16 million in investments in three companies across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced the grants Friday for projects in Sioux City, West Des Moines and Knoxville. The board also approved an additional $19.8 million in tax refunds for Google Inc.’s Council Bluffs data center, bringing its total tax incentives to more than $36 million.

Curly’s Foods, a Sioux City processed meats producer, has been awarded tax breaks for an expansion project expected to create 30 jobs. Software developer FunnelWise is slated to receive $150,000 in direct financial assistance for a move to Des Moines, creating 14 jobs and retaining six others.

Knoxville’s Weiler gets $600,000 and tax benefits to expand manufacturing at its heavy road equipment plant for 106 new jobs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The discovery of bird flu on an Iowa turkey farm has raised serious concerns that the poultry-killing virus could find its way into chicken barns in the nation’s top egg-producing state and decimate flocks. Iowa is home to roughly 50 million chickens that lay nearly one in every five eggs consumed in the U.S.

The highly contagious H5N2 virus has not been detected in any Iowa chicken barns, but it was confirmed Tuesday on a northwest Iowa turkey farm. Iowa Poultry Association executive Randy Olson says farmers are on heightened alert, focusing on biosecurity measures to keep the virus away from chickens.

Procedures previously implemented to guard against salmonella help keep bird flu out, such as bird-proofed chicken houses to keep wild birds out and strict clothing-sanitation protocols.

A 9-1-1 dispatcher with Pottawattamie County Communications received a Life Saving Award, Thursday, for her role in saving the life of a man suffering from cardiac issues.

Pott Co. Communications Operator Elizabeth Cleveland (Center) (Photo from the Pott. Co. Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)

Operator Elizabeth Cleveland answered a 911 line during the early morning hours of October 16th. A frantic female caller said her dad was having trouble breathing. While rescue was being dispatched, Cleveland spent 9 minutes on the phone keeping the caller calm and giving her instructions for CPR, until help could arrive.

Cleveland also repeated instructions when the caller’s mother took over compressions, giving positive reinforcement and counting with her. She remained on the line giving instructions until she could hear a Deputy on scene using an Automated External Defibrillator. Lewis Township Rescue transported the patient to Jennie Edmundson Hospital at around 12:30-a.m. A diagnosis revealed the patient had suffered from a neurological event which lead to cardiopulmonary arrest. He was discharged from the hospital a few days later.

The award was presented in conjunction with National Telecommunications Week.

Firefighters in Harlan responded to the scene of a structure fire late Thursday night. The blaze at 1622 Willow Street was reported shortly after 11-pm.  Occupants of the house said that a woman was laying on the couch when she saw an orange glow in the vicinity of the kitchen.

When she got up to investigate, she saw that the glow was coming from the garage area and opened the door. Flames then erupted into the rest of the home. The couple and their baby escaped the home with only the female’s hand being burned from the hot door.

The Harlan Fire Department was on the scene for about 2 ½ hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The occupants of the home mentioned that they did not have smoke detectors in the residence. Harlan Fire Chief, Roger Bissen, reminds anyone that does not have a smoke detector in their home to call the Harlan Fire Department. The department has detectors available free of charge.

(KNOD)

(In an update to our story earlier this morning) A man from Audubon County has died from injuries he suffered during a grain bin accident Thursday afternoon. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 62-year old Gary Glen Fancher, of Audubon, died at the scene of the accident in northern Audubon County. Fancher had entered the bin to break the corn loose from above, while unloading the bin.

Authorities say they received a 911 call just before 1-p.m. about a person being trapped in the grain bin. Audubon Fire and Rescue requested assistance from the Exira, Harlan and Atlantic Fire Departments. After extensive extrication efforts, Fancher was removed from the grain bin and pronounced dead.

Audubon Police also assisted the Sheriff’s Department at the scene.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Wednesday of a local man, on drug charges. 52-year old John Fraissinet, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana. His bond was set at $2000.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report the arrest Thursday evening, of a Lorimor man. 52-year old Clayton A. Allison was taken into custody just before 8-p.m. at the Lorimor City Park, on a Union County warrant for violation of a no contact orprotective order. Allison was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.