(Radio Iowa) — Vice President Mike Pence rallied with about 200 of Republican Congressman David Young’s supporters Friday afternoon, in Des Moines. Pence told the crowd the race in Iowa’s third congressional district may determine whether Republicans retain majority control of the U.S. House or Democrats take over. “This race is going to be critical to whether we’re going to be able to continue with the momentum that we have,” Pence said.

Pence returned to that theme several times during his 24 minute speech. “The fate of the Republican majority in the House might just go through Iowa 3…It’s a choice between two different futures, one future under a Republican majority in the United States House of Representatives and another future where Nancy Pelosi is speaker of the House again,” Pence said and the crowd booed.

Pelosi’s name was mentioned often during the event. Young spoke less than seven minutes and mentioned Pelosi’s name seven times. “Now again Nancy Pelosi and her hand-picked candidates want to take us back,” Young said, eliciting boos from the audience. “We can’t have that.”

Pence cited Young’s work on veterans issues, then mentioned Cindy Axne, the Democrat who’s challenging Young’s bid for a third term. “The choice between his opponent is so clear. You know, his opponent Cindy Axne — I know the president called her ‘Cindy Tax-Me’ and there’s a good reason why. Cindy Axne said the first thing that Democrats need to do if they retake the majority in the congress is to repeal those tax cuts. You know, there’s a term for repealing a tax cut. It’s called a tax increase and we’re not going to let it happen.”

Pence praised Young for supporting President Trump’s agenda in congress. “He’s been there, standing with this president every step of the way,” Pence said. The vice president drew the largest burst of applause when he promised that Trump would withhold aide from Central American countries if a caravan of four-thousand asylum seekers winds up at the southern border.

An accident west of Massena yesterday (Friday) claimed the life of a Cass County man. The Iowa State Patrol has not officially released the names of those involved in a head-on collision on Highway 92, but Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic reports 22-year old Patrick L. Schultz, of Wiota, died Friday “near Massena.” 38-year old Jeremiah Juhl, of Fontalle, posted on the KJAN Facebook page that he was the other driver involved in the crash.

Initial reports from law enforcement indicated one person had died and another was injured in the crash that happened at around 6:45-a.m., about two-miles west of Massena. In his post, Juhl said he’s “Going to be okay, for anybody wondering.”

Highway 92 was blocked for more than three-hours after crash, while the accident was being investigated and the vehicles removed from the scene. The State Patrol had not yet released their report on the crash, as of this (Saturday) morning.

Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports his office was contacted by a parent this past week (Oct. 15th-19th), who said that while waiting for their child to get off a school bus, the parent was approached by a person who said they were gathering information for a “kid’s safety network,” or had child safety kit information. The parent was asked to give the child’s information and finger prints. The parent requested the person who contacted them return, when both parents were home, however there was no return visit.

Chief Rhamy said the Red Oak Police Dept. has been unable to verify with any groups in town that would be conducting this type of event or solicitation. There is not enough information, he said, to determine conclusively that the company is bogus or legitimate, but the Chief requests your help in the matter. If you are, or have been approached in a similar incident or questioning, please contact Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center at 712-623-6500, so an officer may respond and verify the validity of the company or individual.

Rhamy reminds parents that they should never give out any information on a child or adult to a source that you do not know, or have properly researched ahead of time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No one won the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to a staggering $1.6 billion. Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $1 billion grand prize in Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 15, 23, 53, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 7. The next drawing will be Tuesday. The estimated jackpot for that drawing would tie the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
The jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office workers won $543 million. It costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of winning the jackpot aren’t good. The chance of matching all six numbers and taking home the grand prize is one in 302.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A Nebraska man died during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday night, south of Glenwood, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 38-year old Alberto Iban Herrerra, of Bellevue, NE., died when the 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup he was driving, left the road and entered the median before rolling over nearly twice. The accident happened at around 9:42-p.m. on Highway 34, just west of Levi Road.

Herrerra, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene of the crash.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions numbers that could win an estimated $1 billion jackpot have been announced. They are 15 23 53 65 70 and Mega Ball 7. The jackpot is the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. lottery history. As of early this morning, officials had still not announced if there was a winner or winners of the jackpot.

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa officials say a teenage girl has died after becoming trapped in her burning, crashed car. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were sent to the scene of a crash Friday morning when 16-year-old ShyAnne Larsen, of Honey Creek, reported that her car had crashed and had caught fire. She told dispatchers she was unable to get out of the car. Her body was later found in the burned out car.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A prominent youth basketball coach in Iowa has admitted to possessing nude photos and videos of 400 boys, including former players and their friends. Former Iowa Barnstormers Coach Greg Stephen pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually exploiting minors and possessing and transporting child pornography. He acknowledged in a plea agreement that police discovered files on his hard drive containing videos or photos including images of the boys undressing, showering and sleeping.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a guard was punched and kicked at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The Iowa Corrections Department says the attack occurred Friday morning when an inmate confronted the officer. The guard was taken to Fort Madison Community Hospital for treatment and then released. The names of those involved haven’t been made public. A department spokesman says the inmate didn’t suffer any major injuries.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced her appointments of Margaret Reyes and Craig Dreismeier as district court judges in the Fourth Judicial District. Reyes, of Pacific Junction, received her undergraduate and law degrees from Creighton University. She currently serves as an assistant county attorney in the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office. Reyes fills the vacancy that was created when Gov. Reynolds appointed Justice Susan Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court earlier this year.

Dreismeier, of Council Bluffs, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and his law degree from the Creighton University Law School. He currently serves as a district associate judge in the Fourth Judicial District.

The Fourth Judicial District includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.

The Cass County Conservation Service says “Due to lack of site sign-ups” they are “regretfully cancelling the Lighted Halloween Campground including the Birthday Party. You may turn in the Birthday geocache tokens into our Office on both October 25 and 26^th during office hours,” or call the CCCB to make other arrangements.

RED OAK — Montgomery County Democrats have announced they will host Democracy Day on Saturday, October 27, starting at 9 a.m. in Fountain Square Park in downtown Red Oak. The keynote speaker for the event will be Christie Vilsack, former First Lady of Iowa and champion of Education & Literacy.

Other speakers scheduled for the event are Democratic nominees for Secretary of Agriculture, Tim Gannon and State Auditor, Rob Sand; both Iowa House Democratic candidates in Montgomery County, Chuck Larson, District 23 and James Uhlenkamp, District 24; as well as representatives for gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, and US Congress District 3 candidate Cindy Axne. Local speakers will address current issues of importance such as immigration, mental health, the economy, the military, education and healthcare. Candidates are scheduled to speak 9:20-9:50am; keynote address is scheduled to begin at 9:55am; and issue speakers will wrap up the event beginning at 10:15am.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s office is open for early voting Oct 27 from 9-a.m. to 5-p.m.  After the event on the square, attendees are invited to walk together to the Montgomery County Courthouse, located at 117 East Coolbaugh Street, and vote.  More information on voting can be found at www.montgomerycountyiowa.com. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place in the upper level of the Red Oak Elks Lodge, located at 519 North 1st Street. More information on this event can be found at www.iowamocodemocrats.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryCountyIowaDemocrats/

The Montgomery County Democrats is the local organization of the Iowa Democratic Party. They represent the towns of Red Oak, Stanton, Villisca, Elliott, Grant, and Coburg and meet the 3^rd Monday monthly at the Red Oak Library. You can learn more about them online at www.iowamocodemocrats.com.  The democratic parties of Page & Taylor Counties are also sponsoring Democracy Day events on October 27, 2018. The Clarinda Lied Library will host candidates at 10:45am and Mrs. Vilsack at 11:30am.  The Bedford Library will host candidates at 11:45am and Mrs. Vilsack at 12:30pm.

A teenager from western Iowa died in a fiery crash early this (Friday) morning in Pottawattamie County. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker reports just before eight-a.m., deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident. The driver of the vehicle reported the accident and advised the vehicle was on fire and they were unable to get out. Deputies located the vehicle not long on Pinoak Road just west of County Road L-34, minutes later. The vehicle had traveled off the roadway and ended up on its side. It was fully engulfed in flames.

Fire and rescue personnel arrived at around 8:10-a.m. and extinguished the flames. The driver, identified as 16-year old ShyAnne Larsen, of Honey Creek, was unable to escape the vehicle and flames. She died at the scene. A preliminary investigation determined the teen was eastbound on Pinoak Road in a 2000 Ford Focus, when the vehicle left the road and entered the north ditch, when it traveled on its side before coming to rest. The fire started in the front portion of the vehicle. The cause of the fire is unknown. The accident remains under investigation.