DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University researchers are moving ahead with a long-delayed project in which a dozen students will be paid to eat genetically modified bananas. The Des Moines Register reports that the bananas were created by an Australian scientist and have a gene that’s supposed to help people living in Africa make vitamin A. The participants would be paid $900 each.

The trial has been criticized because natural-food proponents say genetically modified foods can be dangerous. The experiment’s proponents say the gene came from a different type of banana and is safe to eat.

Earlier this week, activists delivered petitions calling on the project’s halt to university officials and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is funding the project. The activists said more than 57,000 people signed the petition.

OSAWATOMIE, Kan. (AP) — The former police chief for an eastern Kansas town has been arrested on charges including witness intimidation. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says in a release that Robert Butters, former Osawatomie police chief, was arrested Thursday and is being held on $250,000 bond in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Jail records, however, show Butter’s being without bond. He’s due in court Friday.

The KBI says Butters was arrested on charges of aggravated intimidation of a witness, attempted interference with a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm while under the influence. The KBI says the charges stem from a recent incident in the Osawatomie area.

Butters resigned earlier this year as police chief. The KBI says no other information would be released Thursday.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on Thursday after a traffic stop.  At 12:37pm Officers made a traffic stop in the 200 block of Prospect Street and after investigation arrested the driver 41-year-old Jill Leanne Schaefer of Red Oak on a charge of OWI Drugged 1st Offense.  Schaefer was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 cash bond.  She was also cited for Operation Without Registration.

An accident early this (Thursday) morning in Fremont County, resulted in one person being transported to the hospital. Sheriff’s officials say a 2004 Chevy Impala driven by 68-year old Linda Moyer, of Riverton, was traveling west on 250th Street near Riverton, at around 9:30-a.m., when Moyer lost control of her car as she was passing another vehicle.

The Impala crossed the centerline of the road and entered the south ditch, where it rolled twice before coming to rest on its top. Moyer was extricated from her car by witnesses to the crash, and transported to the Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, by Riverton Rescue. The extent of her injuries was not immediately known.

Riverton Fire and Rescue and Hamburg Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports on Atlantic man was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by private vehicle Monday morning, following a single-vehicle accident on White Pole Road, southwest of Atlantic. Deputies responded to the scene at around 3-a.m., Monday. An investigation determined a 2001 Buick driven by 40-year old Manuel Lopez, of Atlantic, was southbound on White Pole Road when the car went out of control on the snow-covered road, and hit a utility pole. A passenger in the car, 30-year old Daniel Morales-Reyes, of Atlantic, was transported to CCMH by private vehicle. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $8,000. The accident remains under investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman who was already being held in jail for Failure to Appear in Court, now faces additional charges. 35-year old Lisa Mae Harper, of Atlantic, faces felony charges that include Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation, as well as an aggravated misdemeanor Possession with Intent to Deliver a Scheduled Substance, charge. Harper remains held at the Cass County Jail on $50,300 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, that on Wednesday, deputies arrested 26-year old Mildred Helenora Douglas, of Red Oak, on three Magistrate’s warrants for Failure to Appear. Douglas was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $2,000 bond. That same day, 39-year old Terrence Russell Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for two felony counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver. Frazier was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $15,000 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two people were arrested Wednesday on drug, and other charges. 19-year old Lucas Stone, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Stone was also wanted on Cass County warrants for Burglary in the 3rd degree of a motor vehicle (2 counts). And, 25-year old Alexandra Smaridge, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Smaridge was also wanted on Cass County warrants for Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card, Aiding and abetting (for Burglary in the 3rd degree, 2 counts), and Aiding and Abetting (for Unauthorized use of a credit card, 3 counts). Smaridge and Stone were booked into the Cass County Jail.

On Tuesday, 35-year old Lisa Harper, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Theft in the 5th degree charge. That same day, 24-year old Mark Fredericksen, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. Harper and Fredericksen were also booked into the Cass County Jail.

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

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DENISON, Iowa (AP) – Officials say the police chief in the western Iowa city of Denison has been disciplined for the lewd images that he created and that ended up on the department’s shared computer drive. Former Denison police officer Ray Ohl told Sioux City television station KTIV that Chief John Emswiler had pictures of his staff on his computer and that Emswiler would use editing software to put “their heads on different stuff.”

City attorney Derrick Franck says information on the chief’s computer somehow got onto the department’s shared drive. Franck says the situation was investigated, the chief was disciplined and the city considers the matter closed. He declined to describe the discipline.

A man wanted in Sac County for attempted murder in connection with an alleged, intentional hit-and-run, was arrested Wednesday, in Fort Dodge. According to KCCI-TV, 36-year old Jeremy Werneberg was captured after a brief struggle, at a Wal-Mart store after Officers with the Fort Dodge Police Department received a tip.
Ft. Dodge Police Officer Matt Burns attempted to place Werneburg in handcuffs and Werneburg began to fight back. Burns suffered an injury to his left knee and was forced to use his stun gun to subdue Werneburg.

Jeremy Werneburg

Werneburg was later transported to the Webster County Jail, where he was charged with assault on a peace officer causing injury and interference with official acts causing injury. The attempted murder charge steams from an incident on February 14, 2016 where Werneburg is alleged to have hit a Glidden man on purpose with his car.