The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) — Officials pulled a man’s body from a Harrison County sand pit, Thursday, hours after the dump truck he was driving fell into water in the pit. Omaha, Nebraska, television station KETV reports that authorities and rescue workers were called Thursday morning to Hallett Materials in Harrison County just south of Dunlap for reports of a missing truck and driver. Sometime later, crews discovered the truck submerged in the sand pit under ice and water.

The driver was trapped inside the truck, where he died. His body was recovered Thursday afternoon. Officials have not yet released the man’s name. Officials are conducting an investigation into what caused the accident. .

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were hurt during a collision between a two cars Thursday evening, south of Red Oak. Officials said a 2012 Ford Mustang, owned and driven by 31-year old Melissa Lynn Bond, of Red Oak, was traveling south on Highway 48 just before 6-p.m., and stopped at the intersection with 230th while waiting for cross traffic, so she could turn east onto 230th. A 1998 Buick LeSabre, owned and driven by 56-year old Donna Diann Franks, of Essex, was also southbound on Highway 48, but Franks didn’t notice Bond’s car was stopped on the roadway. Her Buick struck the Ford, causing a total of $9,000 damage.

Bond and her passenger, 55-year old Mark Kevin Cody, of Villisca, suffered possible/unknown injuries, and were transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, for treatment. Franks was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured, Clear Distance. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Red Oak Police, Red Oak Fire and Rescue, and Eggleston Towing.

A Semi-tractor tanker accident occurred Thursday morning, in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Department says a 2016 Peterbilt semi-tractor pulling a liquid cargo tank trailer owned by Sudbeck Trucking, in Sheldon, was traveling on 110th Street just before 8-a.m. Thursday, when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The semi entered the south ditch about three-quarters of a mile west of O Avenue, and crashed through a pasture fence. The driver, 58-year old Keith Faber, of Boyden, was not injured. Damage to the semi amounted to $4,500, while the fence sustained $600 damage. No citations were issued.

Wagering on “fantasy” sports teams would become legal in Iowa under legislation that’s cleared one statehouse hurdle, but it would only be legal if the organization hosting the fantasy gaming is licensed by the state to do so. John Cacciatore has been hired by DraftKings and FanDuel to lobby legislators.

“There are hundreds of thousands of Iowans today who play season-long fantasy sports with their friends and neighbors and co-workers, etc.,” he says. “Those same Iowans would like to also play daily fantasy sports which is basically in an online platform but that’s not allowed because, technically, fantasy sports is illegal in Iowa.”

The bill that cleared a five-member House subcommittee Thursday would allow the state’s casinos to take wagers on fantasy sports teams. Businesses like FanDuel and DraftKings would have to apply for a state license, pay state taxes and be subject to oversight from state gambling regulators. Reverend Brian Carter is lobbying against the bill on behalf of the United Methodist Church. He says gambling “fosters greed” and puts faith in chance.

“We would rather support Iowa values of education, hard work and perseverance,” Carter says. “Gambling is a menace to personal character and social morality.”

A lobbyist for the 19 state-licensed casinos says DraftKings and FanDuel ultimately aim to “morph” into online sports betting sites. He points to what happened last weekend as one site allowed “fantasy” teams to be assembled from N-F-L playoff game rosters — and he says the other site plans to offer fantasy sports betting on the Super Bowl.

(Radio Iowa)

A proposed amendment to the Iowa constitution on gun rights has cleared one hurdle in the Iowa House, but it’s the first of many required steps before the constitution could be changed. The proposed amendment states that Iowans have a “fundamental right…to acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer and use” firearms for “legitimate purposes.” It also indicates courts should strictly scrutinize any attempt to regulate guns. Republican Representative Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley is one of the amendment’s key backers. “The proposal before us is to put Second Amendment protections into our state constitution if the voters so choose once this gets on the ballot,” Windschitl says.

Amending the state constitution isn’t done quickly. The Iowa House and Senate would have to approve this specific language this year — and then again sometime in the next two years before it would be submitted to voters in the 2020 election. Richard Rogers of the Iowa Firearms Coalition says Iowa is one of only six states that does not have gun rights spelled out in its constitution. “This simple amendment will ensure that these basic rights are protected for future generations and will not be affected by shifting and transitory political winds,” Rogers says.

Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, says people have a right to defend themselves, but the church opposes this amendment. “The bishops have been very strong advocates for regulation of firearms in the past and we’re concerned that this amendment, if it becomes part of our constitution, would make it very difficult to have any future regulation,” Chapman says.

Chapman says it could also lead courts to overturn current regulations. Connie Ryan of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa agrees. “We simply believe that it opens up a whole new can of worms of what we’re talking about in the state of Iowa,” Ryan says.

Supporters of the amendment dispute the idea it could un-due current regulations. They point to a case in Missouri, where a similar amendment was just passed, and where a felon lost his lawsuit to regain his gun rights.

(Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state ethics board says a Republican activist violated the law by failing to disclose income she earned by working as an agent of Saudi Arabia while serving as a governor-appointed state board member. The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board concluded Thursday that Connie Schmett made omissions on personal finance disclosure statements. She must pay a $250 fine and get a reprimand. Schmetts’ consulting firm collected $103,500 for a Saudi Arabia-funded public relations campaign.

DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) — Officials pulled a man’s body from a western Iowa sand pit hours after the dump truck he was driving fell into water in the pit. Omaha, Nebraska, television station KETV reports that authorities and rescue workers were called Thursday morning to Hallett Materials in Harrison County just south of Dunlap for reports of a missing truck and driver. Sometime later, crews discovered the truck submerged in the sand pit under ice and water. The driver was trapped inside the truck, where he died.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Wind turbine blade maker Siemens has announced it will lay off 202 workers at its Fort Madison plant in the southeastern corner of Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that Siemens notified affected workers on Wednesday and plans to eliminate their positions by March 24. A statement from the company says business volume at the plant through the 2018 fiscal year “does not support the existing workforce level.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a man already in custody on a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of another Des Moines man last year. Police say Alonzo Marlon Gibbs was arrested Thursday, following the end of his trial on federal firearms charges. Police say Gibbs shot 24-year-old Trey Leon Lee and 24-year-old Patrick Young, both of Des Moines, at a Des Moines residence near Evelyn Davis Park on March 17. Both were taken to hospitals, where Lee died.

An incident at the Council Bluffs Wal-Mart Store at around 3:30-p.m., Thursday, concluded with one person being injured and another attempting to flee. Authorities say officers were called to the store at 1800 N. 16th Street for a rolling disturbance involving a white Dodge Caravan.

Prior to arriving, officers were informed the van left the area southbound and hit a house in the 1400 block of Avenue B. The driver was transported to Mercy Hospital by squad for minor injuries. The passenger attempted to flee the scene but was located.

Black Hills Energy was called due to a gas leak caused by the crash. The house (at 1414 Ave. B) sustained significant damage also due to the crash. Although the accident remains under investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Department Traffic Unit, alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Authorities in Harrison County were working Thursday afternoon, on recovering the body of a man from a pickup submerged in a water-filled sand pit. Rescue crews discovered the body but have not officially identified the victim.

The incident occurred at the Hallett Materials pit near Dunlap. The vehicle was discovered at around 5-a.m. , after crews searching for a man missing since late Wednesday night found the pickup belonging to Caterpillar.

No other details were released.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County are investigating a burglary that was reported at around 2-p.m. Wednesday, at a residence located about eight-miles east of Shenandoah along Highway 2. The resident reported that sometime between 10-a.m. and 2-p.m., someone broke into her residence while she was gone.  Numerous items were taken during the burglary.

A Crimestopper’s reward is being offered for information leading to the indictment of persons responsible for the burglary and theft.  The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193 or their local Law Enforcement agency.