DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Polk County’s medical examiner says he’s seen four times more flu-related deaths so far this season than he saw last winter. Dr. Gregory Schmunk said Friday he’s received 12 death certificates since November citing flu as a main or contributing cause of death. Schmunk says he received just three such certificates last winter. The Des Moines Register reports three are death certificates of children, most others of the elderly, and one of a 47-year-old.

Schmunk says the spike in flu deaths shows the seriousness of this year’s outbreak, when the height of flu season hasn’t yet hit. The county medical examiner’s office doesn’t receive all death certificates, but Schmunk says he estimates that he sees more than half of Polk County’s death certificates, which is Iowa’s most populous county.

The Council Bluffs Police Dept. says a fire early this (Friday) morning is suspicious in nature, and possibly a hate crime. Sgt. Chad Meyers reports at around 3:35-a.m., an Officer with the Council Bluffs Police Department was on patrol, when he smelled smoke in the area. The Officer was able to trace the smoke back to a house located at 2929 Avenue G. The windows of the house were blackened and smoke could be seen rising from the roof.

The Officer requested the Fire Department be dispatched, as he began trying to alert anyone who may have been inside the house. The Fire Department arrived and was able to extinguish the fire and determine that nobody was home. While on scene, Officers noticed that swastikas and racial slurs had been spray painted on the north and west sides of a detached garage at this address. During a neighborhood canvass, it was learned that the graffiti on the garage has been there for two or three days. The fire itself was isolated to the house and not the detached garage.

The homeowner is a white female, who has a bi-racial daughter and bi-racial adult grandson who live with her at the home. All three of them were out of town last night. The fire is suspicious in nature and will be investigated as an arson by the Council Bluffs Fire Department, in cooperation with the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Council Bluffs Police Department. The graffiti on the garage will be investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department as a possible hate crime.

Meyers says at this time, authorities don’t  know if the two incidents are related. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 328-STOP. You can remain anonymous and any tip leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect is eligible for a cash reward.

w/Jim Field talking about tax changes

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(Updated 10:35-a.m.)

Quick action by the owners of a hog confinement facility northeast of Shelby saved about 200 hogs from a fiery death, but anywhere from 75-to 100 of the animals were lost during a blaze Thursday night. Shelby Fire Chief Eric Wendt told KJAN news the building at 515 Hazel Road was fully engulfed in flames and the roof of the building had collapsed. Wendt said the structure was capable of holding 2,500 of the animals, but there were 350 inside at the time the blaze broke out .

Photo’s from the Harlan Fire & Rescue Dept.’s Facebook page.

Firefighters from Shelby, Harlan, Avoca, Minden and Elk Horn responded to the scene after motorist passing by reported seeing flames. Crews remained on the scene for about 5-hours. Wendt said the cause of the fire appears to have been a short in an electrical panel for the lighting, auger and related equipment.

No injuries were reported, but the loss was substantial. The animals and structure were valued at $400,000. Wendt said the mutual aid they received was greatly appreciated.

A Mills County man was arrested Thursday on a harassment charge. According to Glenwood Police, 48-year old Tony Martin, of Glenwood, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd degree. His bond set at $300.

More area news, with Ric Hanson.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Local and Nebraska officials are trying to counter Iowa efforts to lure Woodmen of the World and its 400 headquarters jobs away from Omaha. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Iowa’s courtship of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society began last spring, after the insurer was denied a county property tax exemption that’s still under appeal.

Woodmen’s lawyers argued that Woodmen is a fraternal benefit organization exempt from federal taxes. Douglas County lawyers say Woodmen is primarily an insurance company, citing its $1.2 billion of gross revenue in 2013.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert is concerned about the potential loss of hundreds of jobs and a longtime corporate citizen. Woodmen spokeswoman Jill Regester says Iowa is attractive because of its favorable business incentives and laws.

A Shenandoah man was arrested Thursday on an assault charge. According to the Police report, 19-year-old Anthony Racine faces assault with a dangerous weapon and willful injury charges, based on an investigation into an incident that occurred at 812 South Avenue. Racine was being held in the Page County jail.

At that same residence, police arrested 31-year-old Kenneth Johnson on a Page County warrant. Johnson was also being held in the Page County jail. And, 27-year-old Kyle Campbell, of Shenandoah, was arrested Thursday for driving while suspended. Campbell received a citation and was subsequently released from custody.

An official with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund says the organization, on Thursday, donated $400 toward the Kiwanis bike helmet project. Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty said “Trevor had received a helmet from the program when he was in 3rd grade so this program has a special place in our hearts.”

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund was started to give back to the community Trevor loved by offering scholarships to graduating Atlantic High School students and support other things that meant alot to him.

An Adams County woman was arrested early this (Friday) morning, in Creston. Authorities say 22-year old Miranda Pedersen, of Corning, was arrested at around 2:30-a.m. on a charge of OWI/1st offense. Pedersen was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And Wednesday afternoon, Creston Police took a report of theft from the Creston Wal-Mart store. Officials say an unidentified man left the store without paying for a 50-inch tv and other items. The loss was estimated at $898.