After decades of planning and construction, the final pieces are being assembled to make Highway 20 a four-lane thoroughfare all the way across Iowa, from Sioux City to Dubuque. The U-S 20 Corridor Association is celebrating by unveiling a list of honorees and “heroes” of the project. Association president Shirley Phillips says the 85 people played a role in the development and construction of the key highway.

Hwy 20

“This wasn’t a one-person mission, it took a whole village to get this project done,” Phillips says. “We want to make sure that everybody was at least acknowledged.” Phillips says it’s been a very long journey, but the border-to-border four-lane highway is nearly finished. “We can’t wait until the end,” she says. “It’s supposed to be completed by the end of 2018 and they are moving on almost every mile of the gap right now with some type of construction, either surveying, moving utilities or dirt work.”

The first miles of four-lane U-S 20 in Iowa were built in Woodbury County and opened in 1958. Since then, individuals, organizations, businesses, and legislators have advocated for completion of a statewide four-lane. www.4lane20.com

(Radio Iowa)

Red Oak Police say a woman was arrested Thursday night on Theft, Assault and drug charges. 32-year old Natosha Myree Cralley, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 8:10-p.m. on a valid Red Oak P-D warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Cralley was also found to allegedly be in possession of drug paraphernalia. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $1,000.

Sheriff’s deputies in Adams County, Thursday morning, arrested a man on alcohol and drug charges, after they were called to the scene of an argument in front of the Adams County Courthouse at around 11:30-a.m. Following an investigation, 26-year old Jose Manuel Huerta, of Prescott, was arrested for OWI/1st (after authorities determined he had allegedly driven to town for court in an impaired condition). Huerta was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

More jobs are being cut at a plant in northwest Iowa that manufactures hydraulic pumps and motors. The Eaton Corporation plans to eliminate 70 jobs at its plant in Spencer. Plant Manager Tony Niese says 23 employees will be out of work within 60 days, while the others will be let go over the next year. “We met with all of our employees and talked about the continued market decline and things that Eaton has seen since 2015 and continue into this year,” Niese said.

Just under a year ago, Eaton cut 49 workers at the Spencer facility and forced all employees to take a week off without pay. There are currently 180 workers at the plant. Those who are losing their jobs will receive a severance package and help finding other work. “They’re eligible to explore opportunities within Eaton at other locations if that’s what they want to do, but we also want to assist anybody wanting to find new (jobs) here in the region as well,” Niese said.

The Ohio-based Eaton Corporation opened the Spencer plant in 1974. At one time, it was the largest employer in Spencer.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The mother of a 2-year-old Omaha girl who had part of her right leg severed in a lawn mower accident says the girl faces another surgery this weekend. Tonya Streck said in a news conference Thursday that her daughter is expected to recover, but that her right leg was amputated below her knee following the Tuesday evening accident.

Streck says the girl was with family friends when she fell off a motorized child’s vehicle, rolled down a ditch embankment and under a riding mower in Council Bluffs.

Streck, who is six months’ pregnant, said her daughter is still on a pain medication and a ventilator and is unaware that part of her leg is missing. The girl turns 3 on Saturday. Streck says she faces another surgery on Sunday.

An investigation into a disturbance early this (Friday) morning, in Hamburg, resulted in the arrest of two people from Missouri. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports deputies were called to the 1600 block of Main Street in Hamburg. Upon arrival, and following their investigation, deputies arrested 23-year old Ryan Burke, of Tarkio, MO and 21-year old Montana Martin, of Rock Port, MO.

Montana Martin

Ryan Burke

Aistrope says after an altercation occurred in Missouri, Burke and Martin made their way into Hamburg, where they both were arrested for Public Intoxication and Martin also for Interference with official acts. They were transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement center. Further Charges are pending following the investigation of criminal mischief.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic leaders in Washington hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley have turned to former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a farmer who has won statewide. But as the state’s June 7 primary approaches, it’s unclear whether Judge’s advantages in fundraising and name recognition will be enough to overcome support for a more liberal state senator, Rob Hogg, who has endorsements from most Democratic legislators and two key labor unions.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Exelon Corp. said Thursday that it will shut two Illinois nuclear power plants after the Legislature failed to approve a financial-support plan, but an email obtained by The Associated Press indicates the company is pursuing a full-steam lobbying effort. Exelon announced it will shutter its plants in Clinton and the Quad Cities in the next two years because no action was taken on legislation to extend state subsidies to nuclear generators producing clean energy.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The former treasurer of an Iowa State University sorority alumni association has pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud the group out of nearly $1 million over 14 years. U.S. Attorney Kevin VanderSchel says Thursday that 50-year-old Andrea Baker pleaded guilty to mail fraud. Baker admitted that she received and attempted to receive over $950,000 from the Chi Omega Alumnae Association between 2000 and 2014. Sentencing is set for Oct. 6.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has resumed inspections of egg-handling facilities more than a year after they were suspended due to the nation’s worst bird flu outbreak. Federal on-site egg inspections at processors with 3,000 or more birds were suspended in 21 states in May 2015 after the FDA consulted with state veterinarians concerned about spreading the bird flu virus. FDA spokeswoman Lauren Sucher said the agency resumed inspections Wednesday.

BONDURANT, Iowa (AP) — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says credit card skimmers have been found at two central Iowa gas stations. Officials say Thursday the device was plugged into a card reader in a gas pump at the Git-N-Go on Henry Street in Bondurant, just off of U.S. Highway 65. A pump technician discovered the skimmer Tuesday afternoon.

Two more devices were discovered Thursday afternoon inside gas pumps at a Grimes BP on Southeast 37th Street, just off of Iowa Highway 141. The skimmer is placed inside the credit card reader to capture credit and debit card information as the card is being swiped.

Customers who used a card at the two locations over the past two weeks are being asked to check their bank statements for unfamiliar changes.

Officials with the Iowa DNR said Thursday, that even though water pressure has been restored, a boil advisory will remain in place for the city of New Market in Taylor County until bacteria samples can be collected to ensure the water is safe.

The boil advisory was issued Wednesday when boring for fiber optics lines hit a
water main at approximately 11 a.m. A loss in water pressure can allow bacteria to
enter the system which is why the boil advisory is in place.

Residents of New Market are advised to bring all water to a boil, let it boil for
one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled
water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation
until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. The
water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes.

General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available
from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has resumed inspections of egg-handling facilities more than a year after they were suspended due to the nation’s worst bird flu outbreak. FDA spokeswoman Lauren Sucher says the agency resumed inspections Wednesday.

Federal on-site egg inspections at processors with 3,000 or more birds were suspended in 21 states in May 2015 after the FDA consulted with state veterinarians concerned about spreading the bird flu virus. States inspect smaller operations.

About 49 million turkeys and chickens were euthanized or died of the bird flu virus in 15 states, including more than 24 million egg layers in Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer. The inspections are done primarily to prevent salmonella contamination in eggs.