DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The last carrier of individual health insurance policies in most of Iowa might stop offering them to residents. Minnetonka, Minnesota-based Medica announced Wednesday that its ability to stay in the Iowa insurance market “is in question at this point.”

The company echoed statements by two larger carriers that already have announced their intentions to leave the market: Aetna and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield. All three cited instability in the market because of concerns about the Affordable Care Act.

The Des Moines Register reports that the carriers’ exits would not affect Iowans who obtain insurance through their employers or through a government program. But the exits could leave more than 70,000 Iowans who buy their own coverage without any options for next year.

(UPDATE 11:25-am.: The missing girl has been found. No other details are available.)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says it has taken a report of a missing juvenile from the 1600 block of Boxelder Avenue, northwest of Red Oak. 17-year old Jessica Lynn Dickerson was last seen Tuesday, May 2nd, at about 9:30-p.m.

Jessica has black hair, brown eyes, braces on her teeth with rubber bands. She stands about 5-feet 3-inches tall and weighs about 120-pounds. If you have any information about her location, please call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107.

Authorities said they do not suspect the girl is in danger, but no other details were released.

Photo provided by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department

Officials with the Veterans Administration (VA) say it has come to their attention, that a phone line has been set-up by an unknown party to potentially “mimic” the VCP (Veterans Choice Program) phone line. The imposter phone line may be intended to reach Veterans who inadvertently dial the VCP number incorrectly. The line allows Veterans to check their eligibility for the program and ask questions.

The VA says it takes the situation seriously, and steps are being taken to find those responsible for the fake phone line as part of a civil or criminal investigation. The real VCP phone number is 1-800-606-8198.

You have reached the wrong VCP phone line if the line offers a $100 rebate when IF you provide a credit card, and, the phone line DOES NOT state you have reach the “U-S Department of Veterans Affairs” or the “VCP phone line.” The incorrect line will confirm you had reached the VCP if you ask that question.

If you are not sure you have called the correct line, hang up and dial 1-866-606-8198 again. Once again, the correct line will say you have reached the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A public hearing will be held Thursday evening in Walnut, as part of the regular Walnut City Council meeting that begins at 5-p.m.  The hearing is with regard to a Budget Amendment for the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Budget. The Council will act later on during the meeting to approve the amendment.

In other business, the Walnut City Council will continue with discussions pertaining to the Streetscape Enhancement Project, Facade improvements Streetscape improvements, the Well project, the former school property, Antique City Car Show, and more.

Action items include the adoption of: A Code of Conduct; Residential Anti-displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan; Policies and Resolutions pertaining to the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) program; Equal Opportunity statement; Affirmative Fair Housing Policy and more.

The meeting takes place at the Walnut City Hall.

Some students at Iowa State University are likely having more fun than other students around the state — as they all scramble to finish class projects before the end of the spring semester. That’s because the ISU students, in James Lathrop’s computer science class, are making a video game. It’s not your traditional video game. Ryan Krause is among the students working with Microsoft’s HoloLens to make interactive holograms. “There’s just always new technology to keep up with and find new ways to make it fun for the people,” Krause says.

The holograms create an “integrated reality,” allowing users to interact with the games in their actual environment. Zachary Koehn, a senior at ISU from Atkins, Iowa, is among the group of students that spent an entire academic year developing a game from concept to finished product. “In the first semester, you just end with a prototype. So, all you have is blocks…just a cube on the screen. But, now that we have all of our artist friends doing stuff — we have monster models, actual cards on the field — it looks good now. It finally feels like a game,” Koehn says.

The class initially involved just computer programmers, but eventually, graphic design students like Quinn Van Maanen helped create the game’s characters. “I get to make creatures – like dragons, griffons, werewolves, and goblins,” Van Maanen says. “They’re just really fun to make.” Van Maanen is a 2013 graduate of Rock Valley High School. She’s now hoping to make a career out of what she’s learned at ISU. “I really do want to go into game design because it’s such a mixed media, so you get to touch everything,” Van Maanen says.

The ISU students are scheduled to preview the final version of their game tonight (Wednesday) at 6 p.m.

(Radio Iowa)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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ADEL, Iowa (AP) – Voters in Ankeny and in Dallas County have approved bonds for major construction projects. More than 77 percent of Dallas County voters said yes Tuesday to building a $22.9 million jail.

Voters rejected plans to build a replacement jail three times since 2013 as county officials struggle with jail overcrowding. The new facility will have 130 beds and room for expansion and be built on the east side of Adel. There also will be space for jail administration, sheriff’s office staff and inmates’ initial court appearances.

Ankeny voters Tuesday approved an $8.5 million bond measure for a library and a $2.55 million bond measure for the city’s third fire station. Officials have said the projects will not raise taxes.

The reception Governor Terry Branstad got yesterday (Tuesday) from a key U.S. senate committee seems to signal he’ll easily be confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to China. Tennessee Senator Bob Corker Tennessee Senator Bob Corker opened Branstad’s confirmation hearing by saying Branstad understands the challenges he’ll face in China.  “I wish you all the best as you embark on this exciting new venture,” Corker said. Corker later closed the hearing with this: “You’ve had an outstanding hearing,” Corker said. “I think your on-the-ground experiences with China will serve our nation well. I think your understandings of what drives the thinking within China will serve our nation well.”

Branstad emphasized his long-term “friendship” with China’s leader. President Xi’s first trip to the U.S. brought him to Iowa in 1985 and he met Branstad in the governor’s office. In addition, Branstad emphasized the six trade missions he’s led to China during his past 22 years as governor. Senator Corker thanked Branstad for giving up “a very comfortable place” in Iowa. “Apparently issues of reelection are not a problem,” Corker said. Branstad and others laughed, then Corker continued: “to go to a post that’s much more temporary and yet in many ways far more meaningful in terms of our security and the world’s security.” 

Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio also praised Branstad’s performance. “You’ve done a great job and you’ve shown today that you’ve got a grasp for what’s going on over in China and I appreciate that.” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine — the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee last year — told Branstad he was “very happy” to vote “yes” on his nomination. “I’ve got good Democratic friends in Iowa who’d give you high marks, at least as high as they’re going to give to somebody from the other side,” Branstad replied: “They keep reelecting me,” and Kaine continued: “I’m struck by that, too. I come from a state where they only give you one term (as governor)…You’ve had a pretty amazing track record.”

Kaine praised Branstad’s embrace of renewable fuels. Kaine urged Branstad to press the Chinese — and the Trump Administration — to remain committed to greenhouse gas reduction goals. Florida Senator Marco Rubio asked Branstad if he had ever challenged China’s president on a “difficult” issue, like human rights concerns. “Obviously my role as governor is different than my role is going to be as ambassador,” Branstad said.

But Branstad told senators that during a 1986 trip to “the old Soviet Union” he smuggled a book into the country and met with “a group of refuseniks” to find out what was happening in Leningrad. “I’m not bashful about meeting with dissidents or people that feel they’re being discriminated against or treated unfairly,” Branstad said. “I have a history of being willing to do that in my previous role. As ambassador, I think that’s even more important.”

You may have noticed Branstad was talking in the past tense about his days as Iowa’s governor. Much of the committee’s discussion with Branstad centered on the nuclear threat in North Korea.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prosecutors have levied a barrage of charges against an inmate accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy while escaping from an Iowa jail. But prosecutors say the real hope is to have 24-year-old Wesley Correa-Carmenaty quickly sent back to Iowa, where he faces more serious charges stemming from his Monday escape. The prosecutor in Omaha says he’ll drop Nebraska charges if the suspect agrees during a hearing Wednesday to a quickly return to Iowa.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend in a Des Moines suburb has returned to Iowa to face charges in the case. Police say 38-year-old Abraham Roberts waived his right to an extradition hearing and was returned to Iowa on Tuesday. Roberts was arrested last month at the Canadian border. Johnston police say he killed 34-year-old Agnes Yarlee.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — One of two men accused of killing Burlington teenager Kedarie Johnson has pleaded not guilty and has waived his right to a speedy trial. The Hawk Eye reports that Jorge Sanders-Galvez waived that right at a hearing Monday as one of his attorneys withdrew because of a conflict of interest. Sanders-Galvez’s trial tentatively was scheduled to begin June 27, but the judge says a new date will be set later.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Officials are warning that Ames residents may experience rusty water and fluctuations in water pressure over the next several weeks as workers test and disinfect new water plant equipment. Rusty water would be particularly acute in areas near the new water plant on East 13th Street. Officials say rusty water is still safe to drink, but can stain laundry.