HONEY CREEK, Iowa (AP) – Officials say a large grass fire in western Iowa caused by what was meant to be a controlled burn has been contained. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports  that three area fire departments responded at about 12:15 p.m. Monday to the fire in northwestern Pottawattamie County. Emergency crews contained the fire within an hour.

Deputy Crescent Fire Chief says dry and windy conditions contributed to the fire. No injuries have been reported. The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning to western Iowa and parts of central Iowa, that was in effect until 7 p.m. The warning indicated dry conditions and low humidity that can lead to flames that spread more quickly than usual.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines Water Works has filed a lawsuit against three northern Iowa counties, alleging they are violating federal law by running drainage systems that contribute to high nitrate levels in rivers the utility uses for source water. Details of the lawsuit against Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties were released Monday. The Des Moines Register reports  the lawsuit was filed Friday and seeks reimbursement after spending $540,000 to operate a nitrate removal facility for 97 days this winter.

Water Works officials say the counties’ 10 drainage districts allow excessive nitrate levels into the Raccoon River, a primary central Iowa water source. In the lawsuit, the utility alleges such systems limit the area’s drinking supply. The law firm representing the counties didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.

A Red Oak man was arrested Monday (3/16) afternoon after he was discovered inside a residence breaking items.  Red Oak Police responded to a call of someone in a house at 107 4th Avenue breaking things at 2:35pm Monday.  Upon arrival officers arrested 35-year-0ld Kim Jack Douglas Trost who was inside residence.  He will be charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree and was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 bond.  The Red Oak Police were assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The nominations for Iowa’s Best Burger show that whether you live in a town of 1,000 people or in a metropolitan area of more than half a million people, great hamburgers are being served across the state. Officials with the Iowa Beef Industry Council said Monday (today), Iowans submitted more than 4,000 nomination votes between Feb. 11th and March 10th that selected the 2015 Top Ten restaurants and their burgers.

In its sixth year, Iowa’s Best Burger contest received nominations for 286 Iowa restaurants. The Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association counted the nominations that came in via online, texting and paper ballots. Those making the Top Ten list are (in alphabetical order):

Ankeny Diner, Ankeny
Big City Burgers & Greens, Des Moines
Down Right Delicious, Clarinda
Elm’s Club, Creston
First Street Grille, Keosauqua
Ride’s Bar & Grill, Fort Dodge
Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids
The Cider House, Fairfield
The Ritz, Arnold’s Park
Zombie Burger, Des Moines

Saucy Focaccia and The Cider House joined 102 other new restaurants at being nominated for the contest. Those two, along with Down Right Delicious, are also in the Top 10 for the first time. Iowa’s Best Burger contest now moves to the next stage. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by judges who will evaluate the hamburgers based on taste, appearance, and proper serving temperature (160 degrees).

The winner will be announced May 4th. To continue to learn more about the contest, you can visit www.iabeef.org where you’ll find a map showing the locations of the Top Ten restaurants, or “friend” the Iowa Beef Council Facebook© page.

Last year, Brick City Grill of Ames too home the final prize. Winners in previous years are: 2013- 61 Chop House Grille, Mediapolis; 2012- Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011- Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010-Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City.

A special enrollment period for the federal health insurance marketplace is open from March 15, 2015 to April 30, 2015. You may enroll in a health insurance plan through the Marketplace during this period if you:

• Are currently not enrolled in coverage through the Federal Marketplace for 2015
• Paid a fee on your 2014 tax return for not having health coverage in 2014
• Can attest you did not understand or become aware of the Shared Responsibility Payment until after the open enrollment deadline had passed (February 15th, 2015) in connection with preparing your 2014 income taxes

In order to help eligible people understand their choices and assist them with the enrollment, health insurance enrollment fairs will be held at Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street in Atlantic, on the dates below:
• Saturday, March 21st, 10:00am to 4:00pm
• Saturday, April 11th, 10:00am to 4:00pm

To schedule your 30 minute personal appointment, call Cass County Memorial Hospital at 712-243-3250 and ask for extension 3411 or extension 4111.

These events will provide Iowa residents with one-on-one enrollment assistance from licensed navigators. At the enrollment events, individuals can obtain detailed information about each Marketplace Health Insurance Plan offered in Iowa and can receive help determining their eligibility for Marketplace subsidies as well as eligibility for public programs such as Medicaid.

In order to complete the enrollment application at the fair, please bring the following information:
• Current ID
• Social Security numbers of all members of the household
• 2013 Income Tax Returns
• If working, last pay stub

Information about Marketplace Enrollment is also available at the federal helpline at
1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) and at www.healthcare.gov.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – When faced with sensitive and potentially embarrassing inquiries, government agencies in Iowa often use the same legal rationale to keep the public in the dark. It’s an exemption to the Iowa open records law that shields “personal information in confidential personnel records.”

Though the precise meaning is unclear, agencies often cite it to reject requests that involve their management, discipline, handling of complaints and many other subjects about publicly-funded employees. As part of Sunshine Week, The Associated Press is highlighting how the exemption limits the public’s ability to access records.

In recent years, agencies have cited it in refusing to release a broad range of information, from employees’ letters of resignation to internal and external complaints, findings in misconduct investigations, even statistical information.

The Atlantic Police Department reports a local man was arrested Saturday on an assault charge. 31-year old Terence Magill, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And an accident Friday afternoon at 7th and Linn Streets in Atlantic caused $6,500 damage. The A-PD says a vehicle driven by Brian Holmes, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on 7th Street at around 12:20-p.m. and was slowing to stop for traffic backed up from the traffic light at the intersection of 7th and Olive Streets.  As he slowed down, his vehicle was hit from behind by a vehicle being driven by Colton Williamson, of Atlantic. A passenger in one of the vehicles complained of pain, but neither driver was injured.

Authorities cited Williamson for Failure to reduce speed, and Failure to have proof of liability insurance.

(12-p.m. News)

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A two-year investigation conducted by western Iowa police has yielded the arrests of 17 people on drug-related charges. The Storm Lake Police Department said Monday that the expansive drug sweep is aimed at stemming the sale of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana. Police began making arrests Thursday, seizing drugs and money throughout the weekend.

The Sioux City Journal reports that those arrested face conspiracy to manufacture and delivery charges involving methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana. Eleven were arrested on felony charges and six on serious misdemeanor charges. Police say the arrests are ongoing as they continue to locate more people linked to their investigation.

This is the last Monday of winter but it’ll feel more like summer across much of Iowa with high temperatures approaching record territory. Meteorologist Brad Fillbach, at the National Weather Service, says most of the state will have highs in the 70s and 80s.  “We are going to be warm today, much warmer than normal,” Fillbach says. “Our record for Des Moines today is 84 and we’re looking for highs in the lower 80s, so close, but probably not a record day.”

He says the warming trend will be boosting temperatures 20 to 30 degrees warmer than average for this date in many Iowa cities. “Normal highs for this time of the year, for the Des Moines area, are upper 40s and for the lows, you’re looking at the upper 20s, so well above normal but not quite the record levels.” A cool front is expected to drift over Iowa late tonight, bumping tomorrow’s (Tuesday) highs back down closer to normal. “We’re going to see a big change in temperatures tomorrow,” Fillbach says. “Where today, we’re lower 80s for highs and tomorrow we’re looking for lower 50s.”

Meteorologist Mindy Beerends, also at the National Weather Service, says a Red Flag Warning is posted for much of central, west-central and south-central Iowa today due to conditions raising the risk of wildfires.  Beerends says, “We’re expecting gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry vegetation which is the combination factors for that Red Flag Warning and extreme fire conditions.”

Even with the big drop in high temperatures for tomorrow, Beerends says much of Iowa will still be slightly above-normal for highs for the rest of the week. Spring arrives on Friday.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Union County say a Lorimor man reported Sunday, someone had entered his storage unit in Lorimor, and taken several items. Among them, various power and specialty tools, a cutting torch and a tool box. The items were valued at $3,700. It’s believed the theft took place over the past couple of days.