Iowa Democrat Representative Bruce Braley, candidate for the US Senate seat currently held by Tom Harkin, will be in Atlantic next week. The Waterloo man will visit the Family Table restaurant next Wednesday, February 19th, from 9:30 to 10:15 AM. Braley, a Congressman from Iowa’s First District, announced his candidacy for the Senate seat soon after Harkin made public his retirement plans.

Cass County Democratic party Chair  Sherry Toelle says everyone is invited to attend the event and learn more about the candidate so they can make a more educated choice when the head to the polls in November.

The statewide telephone service 2-1-1 is being swamped with calls from people who are looking for help paying their utility bills. Shawna Forsberg is spokeswoman for the United Way of the Midlands and says the brutal winter is taking a significant toll on many Iowans’ finances. “A lot of calls are coming in around folks needing help covering their heat bills,” Forsberg says. “Maybe they’ve run into health issues in their family or loss of a job and are looking for some help in that.”

She says they’re seeing a 43-percent increase from last year in calls from people needing assistance with utility bills. Of those who called during January, 81-percent either had received a utility shutoff notice or had already been shut off. Forsberg says dialing 2-1-1 is a free, confidential call that provides information and referrals to a variety of public and non-profit programs.  “It could range from anyone that needs heat assistance or needs help in finding services for health care,” Forsberg says. “Right now, a really popular call is helping with taxes. There are free tax services available to people.”

As further evidence of the tough times, she says there’s also been a boost in people calling 2-1-1 looking for a hot meal.  She says, “Food and meals for example or finding out where pantries are at or congregate meal centers.” You can also reach the 2-1-1 information line online at the website: 211iowa.org.

(Radio Iowa)

A couple from Adel went to the statehouse Wednesday to urge legislators to pass a bill that would require more in-home day care providers to register with the state and undergo regular inspections. Travis Hoover told lawmakers of the 2012 death of his baby. “We lost our little daughter, Annie,” Travis Hoover said. “She was six months old. We actually buried her on her six-month birthday and she was at an in-home…day care center that was unregistered.”

Under current state law, an in-home day care that serves five or fewer kids is exempt from all state oversight. Some home day care providers are backing a bill that would require even those smaller day cares to be inspected. Kay Strayhorn, who cares for children in her Urbandale home, wonders if unregistered homes are meeting safety standards. “We wouldn’t know, because there’s no inspections being done,” Strayhorn says. In the past, Democrats have pushed to expand state oversight of small in-home day cares, but Republicans have resisted.

But this year, Peter Cownie — a Republican from West Des Moines — is backing the bill to boost regulation, after hearing the Hoover’s story. “You know, my wife and I have a 20-month-old and it certainly hits home with me and I think it’s something that we should take a look at,” Cownie says. But Cownie warns legislators have to figure out how to pay for more state inspections of day cares before his bill has a chance of advancing. Child care centers in Iowa pay a licensing fee, but Danielle Oswald-Thole with the Iowa Child and Family Policy Center cautions against assessing new fees to in-home day cares.

“Home providers are some of the lowest paid professionals in the state,” Oswald-Thole says. “Many of them barely make minimum wage.” The bill to expand registration requirements for small in-home day cares passed an initial hurdle in the House Wednesday. A three-member panel signed off, sending the bill to the House Commerce Committee.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state panel has approved legislation giving prosecutors more options for helping minors mired in prostitution and increasing penalties for pimps who used children. The House Judiciary Committee voted 20-0 yesterday to approve the bill, which now goes to the House floor. Penalties would also increase for pimping involving a minor from a class “D” felony to a class “C” felony.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City elementary school has lifted a lockdown caused by a suspect on the loose. Mark Twain Elementary School went on lockdown yesterday afternoon as authorities searched for a suspect wanted by county and state officials. The Press-Citizen reports that Iowa City Community School District says authorities later gave permission for the students to be dismissed. Authorities are still looking for the suspect.

BEVINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man faces several charges in connection to a brief standoff with authorities on a freeway. The Des Moines Register reports 19-year-old Albert Austin the Third faces multiple charges related to the Tuesday afternoon incident, including operating while intoxicated, reckless driving and attempting to elude. The incident temporarily rerouted traffic for several miles.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman has been accused of hitting her boyfriend and using a golf club to repeatedly strike a car. The Telegraph Herald reports 21-year-old Cynthia Pendleton was arrested Tuesday afternoon. She faces charges of assault while displaying, child endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief.

COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

244 AM CST THU FEB 13 2014

…A FEW SLICK SPOTS POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING…

A FEW PERIODS OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR LIGHT SLEET MAY OCCUR EARLY THIS MORNING…AREA WIDE INITIALLY AND THEN RELEGATED TO SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE STATE BY DAYBREAK. AMOUNTS WILL BE QUITE LIGHT…NOT WIDESPREAD…AND TRANSIENT WHERE IT OCCURS LASTING LESS THAN 30 MINUTES. HOWEVER WITH ROAD TEMPERATURES IN THE TEENS AND 20S EVEN THIS BRIEF VERY LIGHT PRECIPITATION MAY PRODUCE SCATTERED SLICK SPOTS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGING QUICKLY OVER SHORT DISTANCES EARLY THIS MORNING. SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY AND DEFENSIVELY.

Police in Lenox have released photos of two suspects and a possible get-a-way vehicle, in connection with a January 26th break-in at the Lenox Public Library. Authorities believe the suspects are the same persons who broke into the Prescott Library, the Afton Fitness Center and several other area locations that night.

One man is believed to be five-feet eight-inches tall. He has a stocky build. The other suspect is about six-feet tall, and has a thinner build. Both wore face masks and gloves during the burglary. Their coats were similar to a Carhart coat, and green in color as were their face masks.

A white mini van believed to be involved was also captured on video. If you have any information concerning this incident or the suspects, please contact the Lenox Police Department at 641 333 2929

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a 79-year old man from Clarinda was arrested Monday morning on a warrant for parole violation.

Sacora, Robert Dean (IA DOC photo)

Robert Dean Sacora was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond until a parole hearing is held. Sacora was released on parole in July 2013 from a Special Sentence issued in eastern Iowa’s Linn County. He was scheduled to be released from parole in January, 2016.

In a report issued Wednesday (Today), the Harlan Police Department announced several arrests occurred and citations were issued from mid-to-late January. On Jan. 26^th, 19-year old Ryan Corder and 15-year old Nicholas Haner were taken into custody in connection with a wallet reported missing from a vehicle in the 300 block of 5^th Street.  Corder was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with theft in the 5^th degree, possession of a controlled substance, credit card fraud, and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.  Haner was charged with credit card fraud and joint criminal conduct.  Haner was released to his parent and will be referred to Juvenile court.

On Jan. 30^th, 18-year old Rosalynn Horner of Tacoma, WA, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia when the owner of the residence where she was staying reported her drug use.  Horner was cited, given a court date, and released. On Jan. 21^st, 44-year old Steven Weber was arrested following an investigation of a stolen vehicle allegedly in his possession. The vehicle had been reported missing from LaPorte City. Weber was served with a warrant for possession of stolen property, made his initial appearance and was released with a court date.

On Jan. 22^nd, 31-year old Katherine Hayes and 44-year old Steven Weber, both of Harlan, were arrested when officers were called to a domestic disturbance at the Lincoln Pines apartments.  Hayes and Weber were both transported to the Shelby County Jail where they were both charged with domestic abuse assault.

And on Jan. 31^st, 34-year old Daniel Grabill of Harlan, was arrested when staff at the Big House Bar told officers that Grabill was asked to leave and refused.Grabill was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with Public Intoxication.