With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state commission that oversees voting is holding a public hearing on a new rule that would start online voter registration in Iowa. The Iowa Voter Registration Commission is seeking a new rule to allow anyone with a driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation to log onto a website and register to vote. It’s a process used in 17 other states. Commissioner Charlie Smithson says it will benefit 94 percent of the population of Iowa with minimal cost.

Voter rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa believe excluding those without a license or photo ID isn’t fair and will push for changes at the hearing set for 10 a.m. today (Tuesday), in Des Moines.

Residents of some southwest Iowa counties will brave the bitterly cold wind and head to the polls today to participate in a special election to decide who will fill the Iowa Senate seat vacated by U-S Senator elect Joni Ernst. The polls opened today at 7-a.m. and will close at 9-p.m.  On the ballot for the District 12 seat is: Democrat Steve Adams; Libertarian Donald Brantz, and current Republican State Rep. Mark Costello. Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold and Taylor counties are included in the district.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa City have arrested a man in connection to a homicide in Chicago. The Iowa City Police Department says 29-year-old Lorenzo Jones was taken to the Johnson County Jail on Monday. He will remain there pending extradition to Chicago to face an arrest warrant on a homicide charge.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Someone has stolen a baby Jesus figurine from a Dubuque church, but members of the congregation are hopeful images from a security camera will help them track down the thief. The Rev. Joseph Hauer says the figurine was stolen Friday night from a manger scene outside the Church of the Resurrection. Members of the congregation noticed it missing before Mass on Saturday afternoon. Hauer says the figurine cost about $250.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad says the governor’s outpatient treatment for a minor leg issue went as planned. A tweet posted from the governor’s official Twitter page says the routine procedure to treat varicose veins in his legs was successful. Spokesman Jimmy Centers says the governor is expected to need a week of rest and reduced time on his feet. Branstad will be available for calls and meetings and will return to his regular schedule on Jan. 6.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A county courthouse in central Iowa was briefly evacuated after authorities say a bomb threat was called in. The Jasper County Courthouse in Newton was evacuated Monday. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty says the county treasurer’s office received a threat by phone that a bomb would detonate inside the building at 10 a.m. A similar threat was left on an office voicemail earlier in the morning. Authorities checked the courthouse but found no suspicious devices. It was later reopened.

A woman from southern Iowa was injured when her SUV crashed Monday afternoon in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 30-year old Kendra Schultz, of Blakesburg, was transported to Alegent Hospital by Missouri Valley Rescue, after her 1999 Toyota 4 Runner slid-off the curve as it was merging from Interstate 29 southbound to I-680. The vehicle hit a light pole on the north side of the road and came to rest in the north ditch. The accident happened just after 2-p.m. Officials say Schultz was wearing her seat belt.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man suspected in a car jacking incident late Monday morning. Authorities says at around 11:30-a.m., officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart 3201 Manawa Center Drive in reference to a Car Jacking at that location. As the suspect, a transient identified as 31-year old Joey D. Guillory, fled the area in the stolen vehicle (a blue 2007 Pontiac G-6), he struck another vehicle in traffic in the 3800 Block of Metro Drive. At the intersection of Highway 92 & East Manawa Drive, the stolen car hit the back of a vehicle driven by Robert Shoemaker.

As Guillory continued Southbound on East Manawa Drive, he was followed by Shoemaker. Near the intersection of East Manawa Drive and Navajo Street Guillory lost control of the car, which spun out. Guillory then used the stolen car to intentionally ram into the front of Shoemaker’s vehicle. When the Pontiac became disabled, Guillory was taken into custody by officers, as the arrived on the scene.

During the investigation it was determined that Guillory was initially confronted by Wal-Mart Security who witnessed him attempting to steal a shopping cart full of merchandise from the business. When  confronted the man brandished a knife at the Security Officers and took off running through the parking lot, where he stole the car from his victim, at knife point.

Joey D. Guillory was arrested for 2 counts of Robbery 1st Degree and Aggravated Assault. The merchandise was recovered at the business and is valued at $830.

The Cass County Extension is offering Farm Bill Computer Lab workshops to help local residents get the most out of online decision-making tools using current farm data and price projections to help guide their decision making regarding programs and options available through the new Farm Bill. Officials say participants in the workshops will be asked to bring certain farm data, enter that data into online decision tools, choose anticipated price scenarios and evaluate possible outcomes based on program choices. Participants should be able to increase their confidence when making choices regarding base reallocation, yield update and farm bill program selection for farms.

Workshops in Atlantic are scheduled for Thursday, January 8th and will be held at Iowa Western Community College in Atlantic. Classes will meet in the computer lab, and computers will be supplied for all participants. Currently, there are two available workshop times on the 8th- an afternoon session from 1-4 PM, and an evening session from 6-9 PM. Tim Eggers, ISU Extension Field Agricultural
Economist, will be on hand to explain the decision tools and walk participants through the data entry and price selection options. Workshops are scheduled for three hour time slots, but some participants may need less time than this, depending on the number of farms entered and the number of scenarios run.

Pre-Registration is required at least 2 days in advance by calling 712-243-1132. Registration is limited to the number of computer workspaces available, so please register early to save your seat. There is a $5 fee required for registration to offset program costs. Please call the Cass County Extension Office or email keolson@iastate.edu<mailto:keolson@iastate.edu> with any program questions.

Additional Farm Bill Computer Lab workshops in Southwest Iowa are scheduled at Southwestern Community College in Creston on Wednesday, January 7th or at Southwestern Community College in Red Oak on either Wednesday, January 14 or Wednesday, January 28. For more information, or to register for these sites, please call 877-596-7243.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say they’re looking for an Iowa inmate who failed to return to a work release facility in Council Bluffs. The state Department of Corrections says 31-year-old Roger Eugene Madsen was placed on escape status Sunday after he didn’t return from a scheduled program appointment. He was required to check in at a work release facility in Council Bluffs.

Madsen is serving a 20-year sentence on multiple offenses, including first-degree theft and assault. His sentence began in 2009 and he was transferred to work release on Dec. 10.

Atlantic Police and rescue personnel were busy Saturday, responding to four separate accidents. The first happened at around 12:20-a.m. at 10th and Plum Streets, when a vehicle driven by Jason Mullin, of Atlantic, rear-ended a vehicle driven by Amanda Cooper, also of Atlantic. The accident happened as both vehicles were traveling east on 10th. Following the collision, Mullin left the scene. Cooper followed him and called police once both vehicles were parked. Mullin was subsequently arrested for OWI/1st offense and booked into the Cass County Jail. No injuries were reported. Damage from the crash amounted to $5,000.

The A-PD says at around 4-a.m. Saturday, a vehicle driven by Adam Fisher, of Lincoln, NE, was traveling west on 29th Street from Highway 6, when Fisher failed to negotiate a curve as the road turns south onto Nishna Street. The vehicle ran off the road and hit a metal livestock chute. No injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $17,000.  Fisher was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Just before Noon, Saturday, two people were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital after vehicles driven by Allen Thelen, of Anita, and Michael Albert, of Atlantic, collided at the intersection of 7th Street and the Wal-Mart access drive. Officials say Thelen was traveling north on the access road and turned right onto eastbound 7th Street. When Thelen braked, his vehicle was struck in the rear by Michael Albert’s eastbound vehicle. Albert had the green light, according to Police. Thelen, and a passenger in his vehicle, were taken to CCMH.  Damage from the crash amounted to $11,000. No citations were issued.

And at around 3:50-p.m., Saturday, a rear-end collision occurred at 7th and Walnut Streets in Atlantic. Authorities say vehicles driven by Stephanie Blum, of Walnut, and Kegan McManigal, of Griswold, were both traveling westbound when Blum stopped for the red light. McManigal was unable to stop in-time. She was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance. No injuries were reported. Damage from the crash amounted to $7,500.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday, of 45-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena. Ranney was charged with Driving While Suspended and brought the Cass County Jail. He was released later that day on $300 bond.