w/ Ric Hanson

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FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Jury selection is expected to begin today (Monday), for a 21-year-old western Iowa man accused of killing his mother in Early and kidnapping another woman. The trial will be held in Webster County despite a late attempt by the lawyer for Kirk Levin to move it to another county. Levin’s trial had been moved from Sac County to Webster County, but attorney Charles Kenville said Friday that another move was needed because of the abduction of two girls May 20 near Dayton, which is in Webster County.

Kenville says that case would influence Webster County jurors. But Judge Timothy Finn disagreed and said Levin could get a fair trial as long as attorneys take extra precautions during jury selection.

Iowans are being warned about a new crop of scams where the con artists claim to be federal agents. Jim Hegarty, with the Better Business Bureau, says the victims find their computer screens frozen with a message that appears to be from the F-B-I claiming the consumer has done something illegal and the computer was electronically seized. “In some cases, they actually use the camera on your computer to take a picture of you,” Hegarty. “Sometimes, people have reported to us that they’re locked screen includes a photo of themselves.” 

Don’t click on the links provided, he says. Instead, take your computer to a reputable tech support center and have it checked out. Another incarnation of the scam tries to convince people they’ve been hit with a harmful computer bug.  “They’ve either received a phone call or a pop-up on their computer from a supposed IT firm letting them know there’s been viruses detected on their computer, that it’s very important that they be removed,” Hegarty says, “and, of course, they offer their services if the consumers will give them access remotely.” 

If you allow someone unscrupulous to poke around in your computer, he says you could be opening yourself to all kinds of trouble, including identity theft. “Lord knows what sort of malware or bots have been installed on their computers that might be operating in the background, looking for sensitive data,” Hegarty says. “On top of that, they’ve charged them for these theoretical services to remove these viruses.” 

Never allow a stranger access to your computer, he says, and if you do, change all passwords, email and online banking information right away. Hegarty says several people have lost hundreds of dollars to these scammers. The BBB investigations show the crooks use several business names and websites to hide their locations. Phone numbers listed on their websites were changed or disconnected. Learn more at the Iowa Better Business Bureau website at: http://iowa.bbb.org/

(Radio Iowa)

A man from Red Oak was being held this (Monday) morning at the Fremont County Jail in Sidney, after he was arrested Sunday night in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak P-D, 18-year old Eligah Cole Ryan Newkirk was taken into custody a little after 10-p.m. Sunday, in the 300 Block of West Coolbaugh. Newkirk was wanted on a warrant out of Fremont County for marijuana possession. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail $1,300 bond.

A Coon Rapids woman is dead following a  collision between a car and a Union Pacific train Sunday night, in Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol says 52-year old Kristina Becker-Duroe was killed, when she failed to yield to the eastbound train as her 2000 Mercury Sable was traveling south on X Avenue, at around 9:53-p.m.  The accident, which occurred just north of Highway 30 and east of Grand Junction, remains under investigation. Authorities says Becker-Duroe was not wearing a seat belt.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A legislative compromise has been struck on low-income health care, but now Iowa starts the complicated process of putting the plan in place. On Monday the state will kick off a series of public hearings to explain the proposed health care plan recently approved by lawmakers. The hearings are a step the state must go through to get federal approval.

But after the dramatic debate during the legislative session, these hearings are likely to stir up little controversy. State Sen. Jack Hatch, a Des Moines Democrat who advocated for Medicaid expansion, says he expects limited criticism. He says, “I think everybody is going to be supportive.” Under the plan, the state will seek federal funding offered to states that expand Medicaid to provide benefits to low-income residents.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Saturday evening, of 51-year old David Lawrence Howe, of Red Oak. Howe was taken into custody at around 7:40-p.m. near north 4th & Linden Streets, on a charge of Public Intoxication. He was being held Saturday night in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

The office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and other state and federal agencies, are working closely with local emergency management agencies to assist communities in preparing for and responding to flooding. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Johnston has been activated to enable agencies to coordinate response activities. A Joint Information Center has been established at the SEOC. Today (Saturday, Governor Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for 17 additional counties in response to the recent storms and flooding. Included in the declaration is Crawford, Monona and Sac Counties.

In addition, the Governor activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for Cedar, Chickasaw, Davis, Decatur and Monroe counties. The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov. Applications must be received within 45 days of the date of proclamation. State, local and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials will begin conducting joint damage assessments on Monday. The damage assessments are expected to take several days to complete. The results will be used to determine if the amount of damage warrants Governor Branstad asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the most recent flooding and severe storms.