Police in Creston report the arrest Friday evening, of 37-year old Lela Ann Churchwell, of Creston. Churchwell was taken into custody at a residence in the 300 block of N. Pine Street, on a Union County Warrant. She was later released after posting $1,000 bond.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 500 block of W. Buckeye Street reported last Wednesday night, that her purse containing her wallet, ID cards, medicines and other items, was taken from her car while it was parked in her driveway.  The estimated value of the stolen property is approximately $22.  It’s not clear when the theft occurred.  And, late Friday morning, a resident of the 1000 block of Cottonwood Street, in Creston, told authorities money was taken from his room while he was in residence. The loss was estimated at $143, and again, it’s not clear when the incident took place.

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Officials in Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, are taking different approaches toward handling an expected infestation of an ash tree-killing insect. The Omaha World-Herald reports Omaha plans to treat up to 5,000 of its 11,000 ash trees and to remove the rest.

In Council Bluffs, officials plant to treat most of the 1,260 ash trees on city property, then evaluate the situation in 10 years. Crews removed 30 unhealthy trees last year and treated 200 trees. Workers will treat about 1,000 trees this spring.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, workers will treat about 10 percent of the 368 ash trees on campus. Officials must take action because of the emerald ash borer. Since being found in 2002 in Michigan, the insect has killed millions of trees across the country.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Republican legislator says he likely would re-introduce legislation requiring state and local governments to cooperate with federal immigration officials if Iowa City opts not to enforce immigration laws. Denison Rep. Steven Holt filed a bill during that last legislative session requiring local officials to work with immigration officers. Holt told The Des Moines Register he’ll feel compelled to introduce the bill again if the City Council in Iowa City approves a resolution preventing spending funds on immigration enforcement.

Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton says the issue arose after the election of Donald Trump. The city attorney is drafting a resolution that will be presented to the council. Although Holt’s bill failed last year, Republicans now control both chambers of the Legislature. The session begins today (Monday).

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board is releasing a series of videos touting the state’s top crop featuring an actor known as the Iowa Nice Guy. Board president Larry Klever, of Audubon, says the videos are being posted on the Iowa Corn YouTube website. “We’re always looking for new ways to get our message out and we decided to team up with Scott Siepker and use his fun and energetic way of telling stories to help us out.”

Siepker made a name for himself several years ago with his snarky videos promoting the state of Iowa and catapulted onto national sports T-V programs with further commentary. Klever says the new videos will educate consumers about the different ways corn is used, from food to fuel. “We talk about what is E-15 and high-fructose corn syrup, how it’s similar to cane sugar,” Klever says. “Also, your lawns versus our fields, water quality and sweet corn versus field corn.”

There are five videos produced in the series so far. If they’re a success, Klever says there will be more coming.

(Radio Iowa)

The 2017 session of the Iowa legislature will officially get underway at 10 a.m. today (Monday). For the past six years, Republicans have had the majority in the Iowa House while Democrats controlled the Senate’s debate agenda, but no more. As of today, G-O-P lawmakers hold a majority of seats in both the House and Senate. Republicans like incoming Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock are ready with a new agenda. “As we prepare to start this legislative session, we’re doing so with a high level of optimism and determination that we are going to change the way we do business in Iowa,” Dix says. Dix says “nothing should be off the table.”

Dix and the 28 other Republican senators have four items in line for quick action. They want to cut off state funding to Planned Parenthood, enact tort reform and they’ll propose amendments to the state constitution that ensure gun rights and enact new restrictions on state spending. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake is entering her second year as the legislature’s top Republican. “We’re excited about this opportunity,” Upmeyer says. “We’re excited about the energy in the building and look forward to getting started.”

Upmeyer says spending restraint is a top priority for House Republicans. Rob Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, is the new leader for minority Democrats in the state senate. “Our number one goal is to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent the legislature from dismantling or damaging or destroying parts of state government and the way our state has operated for decades,” Hogg says.

Mark Smith of Marshalltown is returning as the leader for House Democrats. “I like the saying about Iowans that we wear last year’s clothing and read next year’s books,” Smith says. “…Iowans will be watching everything that’s done in this legislative session.”

The last time Republicans held majority control of both the Iowa House and Senate — AND governor’s office — was in 1997 and 1998. The G-O-P’s major action back then was a 10 percent across-the-board cut in state income taxes. Republican Governor Terry Branstad approved those cuts 20 years ago, but Branstad says the state had a surplus back then. He will NOT recommend tax cuts this year.

There will be just 149, not 150 legislators at the capitol today. Jim Lykam — a former state representative — won December’s special election to serve out the remaining two years of a senate term. He replaces Senator Joe Seng, who died in September. Lykam will be sworn in as a state senator this morning. His house seat is vacant. The governor has not set a date for a special election in the Davenport district.

(Radio Iowa)

An accident in Creston Sunday afternoon resulted in a local teen being transported to the hospital to be checked for injuries. Authorities say 16-year old Angel Stow, of Creston, was driving a 2006 Chevy Impala northbound on Sumner Street at around 3-p.m., and was adjusting her rear view mirror. She failed to notice a 2006 Ford F-25 pickup was stopped ahead of her, waiting for traffic to pass before turning west onto Spencer Street.

The car rear-ended the pickup, causing a total of $3,500 damage. Stow complained of pain and was transported by private vehicle to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. The driver of the pickup, 36-year old Bradley Johnson, of Creston, was not hurt.

No citations were issued.

Police in Shenandoah had a busy Sunday night responding to two separate fights. At around 7:30-p.m., officers were called to residence in the 200 block of Wabash Ave for a fight in progress. After an investigation, officers arrested 29-year old Kyle Campbell, of Shenandoah, for Felony Burglary in the Second Degree and Simple Assault. Campbell was taken to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $10,000 bond.

And, at around 9-p.m., Shenandoah Police were called to a report of several juveniles fighting with a handgun present near the intersection of Grant and Center. The parties had separated prior to officers’ arrival and the weapon, a BB gun, was seized. The incident is under investigation. The Page County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the response to the incident.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A judge could hear arguments from an Iowa newspaper in April as it seeks records related to a fatal 2015 police shooting in Burlington. The Hawk Eye reports an April 19 hearing has been scheduled in its effort to obtain police videos and other records. Burlington police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation say they have fulfilled what the law requires by releasing basic details about the shooting and a 12-second video from Hill’s body camera.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans begin the next session of the Iowa Legislature on Monday with plans to restrict abortion, decrease collective bargaining power for unions and cut taxes despite looming budget constraints. Democrats, now out of legislative control in any capacity for the first time in nearly 20 years, will be unable to stop any bills that get simple majority votes in either chamber.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Checking your home for radon is important to protecting your family’s health. The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to raise awareness about radon. Nebraska has the nation’s third-highest prevalence of radon, the cancer-causing gas that seeps into buildings from the surrounding soil. Iowa and North Dakota are the only states where the odorless, colorless gas is more widespread.

SUMNER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the man killed during a weekend home invasion in northeast Iowa. The Bremer County Sheriff’s office says 46-year-old Steven Anthony of Davenport, Iowa, died during after a shooting in the home Friday night. Sheriff Dan Pickett described the incident as a home invasion.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Checking your home for radon is important to protecting your family’s health. The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to raise awareness about radon. The odorless colorless radon gas is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, and is the most common cause in nonsmokers.

Nebraska has the nation’s third-highest prevalence of radon, the cancer-causing gas that seeps into buildings from the surrounding soil. Iowa and North Dakota are the only states where the odorless, colorless gas is more widespread.

The EPA’s Jon Edwards says everyone should test their homes for radon, and if there are high levels of the gas, homeowners should consider installing a radon mitigation system.