DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines’ main library downtown has been evacuated and closed after a man walked into its atrium and set himself on fire. Police say witnesses reported the 36-year-old man doused himself with a flammable liquid just before 2 p.m. Tuesday and lit himself on fire. Library staff used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames, and the man was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious burns.

The man’s name has not been released. No other injuries were reported. Police closed Locust Street in front of the library as officers investigate.

AMES, Iowa – Sept. 17, 2019 – Due to rising water levels from western Iowa rivers, the Iowa Department of Transportation is anticipating that Interstate 29 will close due to water over the roadway near the Honey Creek area (milepost 66 north of Council Bluffs) sometime later in the day Wednesday, Sept. 18. We don’t expect the flooding to significantly impact travelers on I-29 Wednesday morning, but we are closely monitoring the situation and may have to close I-29 before the afternoon commute.

With the changing river levels, this dynamic situation could change significantly in a short period of time. Travelers should pay close attention to www.511ia.org for updates and plan their afternoon and evening trips.

If I-29 does close traffic heading north will be detoured using eastbound I-80 to the northern segment of westbound I-680 and back to I-29 at Loveland. Southbound traffic will head eastbound on the northern section of I-680 and take I-80 westbound to reconnect with I-29 in Council Bluffs.

Relying on phone or in-vehicle navigation systems may not be reliable since closure changes happen rapidly and navigation systems can route traffic through areas not designed for larger vehicles or heavy traffic.

(Radio Iowa) — Today (Tuesday) is Senator Chuck Grassley’s birthday. “Since the day I was born, I have celebrated Constitution Day,” Grassley said this morning. “That’s because the 39 delegates signing the United States Constitution on September the 17th Is exactly 146 years before I was born.” Grassley is now 86 years old. He’s has served in elected office since 1959, first as a state legislator, then as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Grassley has been a member of the U.S. Senate since 1981.

He recently told reporters to ask him in two-and-a-half years if he’ll run for a ninth term in 2022. Do you think I just sit around and think about reelection?” Grassley asked. Grassley says he’s healthy and sticking with the running habit he started at age 65. Grassley runs a three-mile route four days a week. Grassley has been celebrating his birthday in his Washington, D.C. office with ice cream — a favorite food group for Grassley — as well as lots of donuts.

Fellow Iowa Senator Joni Ernst delivered a platter of donuts this (Tuesday) morning to Grassley, with birthday candles burning on top. Since Grassley is currently the longest-serving Republican senator, he holds the office of president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate.

Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division report a Sioux City woman, 28-year old Ashley Oakley, pled guilty Monday in Woodbury County District Court, to one Felony count of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Submissions to an Insurer (a Class D Felony). Her plea followed an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. Oakley received a Deferred Judgment, was given credit for previous time served, and will be placed on probation for two years. Oakley was assessed a $750.00 fine, and ordered to pay $4,422.21 in restitution. Oakley’s conviction stemmed from an investigation which began in April of 2018.

Ashley Oakley

The investigation uncovered that after being involved in a motor vehicle accident in Sioux City, Oakley’s vehicle was determined to be a total loss by her insurance company. During the insurance claim process, Oakley intentionally provided false information to her insurance company indicating that her vehicle loan was paid in full, when in fact a promissory note with a balance of over $8,000 remained. As a result of Oakley’s fraudulent scheme, she received insurance benefits in the amount of $4,422.21 to which she was not entitled and intentionally defaulted on the remaining promissory note balance.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government has finalized rules for most U.S. pork processing plants that remove limits on the speed of production lines and place more animal inspection and food safety tasks with company employees.

The pork industry says the first significant pork processing rule changes in 50 years were long overdue. Officials applauded the new regulatory freedom finalized Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Advocacy groups for workers, animals, consumers and the environment say the changes will endanger workers, increase suffering for pigs and threaten the food supply.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue says the change ensures food safety while eliminating outdated rules and allowing companies to innovate. Among the critics is Washington-based Food & Water Watch, which says the Trump administration is prioritizing the meat industry’s interests over food safety.

Police in Creston report a the driver of an SUV and a 12-year old girl were injured during a collision Friday morning. Authorities say Mercedez Quinn, of Creston, was a passenger in a 2005 Chevy Equinox driven by 19-year old Mia Maxwell, of Creston. According to the report, the SUV was facing east on Townline Road, stopped in traffic at around 7:25-a.m., and waiting to turn into the Creston High School parking lot, when the vehicle was struck from behind by a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The Tundra was driven by 15-year old Luke Tebbenkamp, of Creston. The teen told police he didn’t see the SUV due to glare from the sun.

Quinn and Maxwell were transported by Union County Medics to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston, for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

A judge today (Tuesday) sentenced 34-year old Toby McCunn, of Red Oak, to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, for a fatal shooting that took place in Shenandoah on April 22nd. Judge Jeffrey Larson also ordered McCunn to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000 to the family of the victim, 33-year old Joshua Jordan. McCunn was found guilty of 1st Degree Murder last month.

Nonresidents now have another option to purchase the annual vehicle permit for Lake Manawa and Waubonsie state parks. The Iowa DNR says starting September 18, 2019, customers will be able to go the state park reservation system at www.iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com and purchase the $40 annual vehicle permit. A $4 convenience fee will apply. The permit decal will be mailed to the customer the following business day. Customers may continue to purchase the annual permit and the second vehicle permit at Lake Manawa and Waubonsie state park offices.

For more information about the nonresident user fee, visit www.iowadnr.gov/parks or call Lake Manawa State Park at 712-366-0220 or Waubonsie State Park at 712-382-2786.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources reports that at around 7:30-p.m. Sunday, a collision occurred on Lake Manawa, between a boat and a personal watercraft (PWC). Both were leaving a 5 mph zone and gaining speed, going in the same direction, when the PWC made an abrupt right turn and collided with the front of the boat, according to witnesses. The PWC was driven by 20-year old Olum Sandel, of Offutt Air Force Base, and the boat was operated by 23-year old Rodney Smith, of Plattsmouth, Neb.

Smith was take to the Pottawattamie County Jail and charged with Boating While Intoxicated, first offense. Sandel was taken by the Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to UNMC in Omaha where he is being treated for injuries sustained during the crash. The crash is under investigation by the Iowa DNR Law Enforcement Bureau, and was assisted by the DNR Parks Bureau and the Iowa State Patrol during the initial investigation.