U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is praising the passage of a bill designed to help law enforcement prosecute human traffickers. “The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act also provides much need support to the victims of this, what I consider modern-day slavery,” Ernst says. “It also enhances law enforcement’s ability to bring these perpetrators to justice and brings forward stiffer penalties for criminals.” The trafficking bill was approved in the Senate this week on a vote of 99-0.

“This marks an important step to combat the spread of human and sex trafficking,” Ernst says. “We can no longer turn a blind eye to the human rights crisis happening across the country.” In addition to the law enforcement tools and victims’ fund, the legislation qualifies child pornography production as a form of human trafficking and creates a Human Trafficking Advisory Council composed of survivors to formulate recommendations to the federal government.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has asked several state agencies to monitor the outbreak of a deadly form of bird flu that’s reached Iowa and led to an emergency declaration in Minnesota. In Iowa, the flu is confirmed in Buena Vista and Osceola counties. Nearly 4 million chickens at one farm will be destroyed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Agriculture says a turkey farm in Sac County has become the third farm in Iowa to have confirmed cases of bird flu. The farm’s 34,000 turkeys will be killed to contain the virus. The farm is within a six-mile monitoring zone of the first turkey farm identified in Iowa to have the H5N2 virus.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some international trade partners are declining to buy egg and poultry products from states affected by a deadly strain of bird flu while others are excluding imports only from counties where the virus has surfaced. Agriculture officials say the food supply is safe. But Mexico, Japan and Canada are among 33 countries declining to accept poultry products from entire states, including Iowa.

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teen was killed and his passenger escaped after their truck plowed through barricades blocking what had previously been a bridge and submerged in a creek. KCCI-TV reports 17-year-old Zachary Meacham, of Guthrie Center, died in the crash Wednesday at Brushy Creek in Guthrie County. The crash remains under investigation.

A man who was arrested Monday night for Violating a No Contact Order, was arrested again Thursday evening, on the same charge. Red Oak Police say 45-year old Mark Douglas Berggren, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 5:30-p.m. on an active warrant out of Mills County, for Violation of a No Contact Order. Berggren was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Authorities in Adams County say three separate 911 calls about a possible drunk driver Thursday afternoon, resulted in a traffic stop and an arrest. 43-year old Ronald Chester Kingery, Jr., of Corning, was arrested at around 3:50-p.m. at Highway 148 and 6th Street, in Corning. Kingery, Jr. was charged with OWI/1st offense and brought to the Adams County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Agriculture says a turkey farm in Sac County has become the third farm in Iowa to have confirmed cases of bird flu. The farm’s 34,000 turkeys will be killed to contain the virus. The farm is within a six-mile monitoring zone of the first turkey farm identified in Iowa to have the H5N2 virus.

Sac County is the adjacent county south of Buena Vista County where a farm with 27,000 turkeys was confirmed to have the virus on April 13. An egg-laying facility with 3.8 million chickens in Osceola County northwest of the turkey farms also has the virus. State agriculture officials say in the latest case announced Thursday, turkeys began dying and tests at Iowa State University confirmed the bird flu virus is present.

A man from Dallas County was injured during a rollover accident this (Thursday) afternoon, in Guthrie County. The Iowa State Patrol says 18-year old Ricardo Samuel Alanis Cazares, of Dawson, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported by Panora Fire and Rescue to the Dallas County Hospital, following the crash that happened at around 12:30-p.m.

Officials say Cazares was traveling north on Guthrie County Road P-28. At the intersection with 270th Street, P-28 curves west, and then back north. The 2004 Dodge Caravan Cazares was driving went across the southbound lane and onto the southbound shoulder at the curve. Cazares overcorrected, causing the van to roll over and come to rest upright in the east ditch.

A western Iowa teen faces numerous arson charges. Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report 19-year old Coty William Cates, of Missouri Valley, was arrested April 16th on three counts of Arson in the 2nd Degree. The charges stem from an investigation into three separate fires set to a vacant residence located at 1003 Granite Street, Missouri Valley.Cates was being held in the Missouri Valley Jail.

Officials say the first fire occurred at approximately 1:12-a.m.on October 4, 2014. The second fire occurred at approximately 3:24-p.m., on October 9, 2014. The third fire occurred at approximately 9:57-p.m., on October 10, 2014. The combination of the three fires caused extensive damage to the home.

The Missouri Valley Police Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office continue to investigate several other possible arson fires that have occurred in the Missouri Valley area over the past two years. They include:

• An explosion at a vacant house that occurred east of Missouri Valley at 2279 Hwy 30 on October 27, 2013.
• Numerous large hay bales set on fire in several locations outside of Missouri Valley on October 31, 2014.
• A vacant house fire located at 105 West Superior, Missouri Valley on March 7, 2015.

Anyone with information about those is asked to call the Missouri Valley Police Department at (712) 642-2736, DPS’ State Fire Marshal Division at (712) 308-3977, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 644-2244, or the Arson Hotline at (800) 532-1459:

A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction from the Iowa Arson Reward Fund.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the past two weeks have seen needed rainfall over much of the state, ending a very dry stretch of weather. The rains reflect improvements to the drought, streamflow and shallow groundwater conditions.

Areas in yellow are experiencing “Abnormally Dry” conditions. Areas in white are considered to have “Normal” soil conditions as of April 21st.

Rainfall totals varied from just over seven-tenths (0.70) inches at Muscatine to more than six-inches inches at Lake Mills.  In Atlantic, rainfall from April 7th through this past Tuesday, amounted to 2.39-inches, which matches the statewide average. Temperatures have averaged 4.5 degrees above normal, as well. Officials say the wet weather comes at a time when Iowa is entering its traditionally wet months, and is a positive sign for conditions through spring.

The area of the state classified as abnormally dry has dropped from 50 percent to 25 percent according to the National Drought Monitor, a significant improvement over one year ago when more than 75 percent of the state was abnormally dry. Slight drought conditions remain present in far northwest and eastern Iowa.

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate. The report is prepared by the technical staff from the Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.

A traffic stop in Audubon County this (Thursday) morning, resulted in a man being arrested on a alcohol charge. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year old Michael Todd Sonntag, of Exira, was pulled over in Exira at around 12:15-a.m. and charged with OWI/1st Offense. Sonntag was brought to the Audubon County Jail and held until appearing before the magistrate, and then released.

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) – A facade project to give Red Oak’s downtown square a face-lift is set to begin. The Daily Nonpareil reports residents gathered in Fountain Square Park Wednesday for the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. Paul Griffen, the executive director for the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, said the gathering was a celebration of updates that are needed.

The project, which will be done in two phases, will give new awnings, paint and more to 30 buildings in the downtown square area. Both phases are expected to be completed by the end of the year. According to Griffen, the facade project will have a price tag of more than $900,000 by the time it is done.

The city has received funds for the project from a Community Development Block Grant, as well as money from Downtown Urban Renewal and building owner contributions.