A crash involving four vehicles Saturday morning in northwest Iowa’s Sac County resulted in one person dead and five others injured. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at around 8:24-a.m., about one and one-quarter miles west of Lake View, on Highway 175.

According to the report, a semi-tractor trailer was traveling west on Highway 175 when it attempted to pass a car in front of it. As it was passing the car, the semi collided head-on with a pick-up that was traveling eastbound. A passenger car following the pickup rear-ended the pickup.

The driver of the pickup and two persons in the car, along with the driver and a passenger in the semi were transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City. Two of the five transported to Loring suffered critical injuries, and were later transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. A female passenger in the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. Names of those involved were being withheld pending notification of family members.

The car that has been passed by the semi sustained damage subsequent to the collision, but the driver was not injured. At the time of the crash, visibility was reported as being near zero because of fog.

The accident is under investigation by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Officers with the Iowa Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. Lake View Police, Lake View Fire, Wall Lake Fire and ambulances from Lake View and Sac City all responded to the scene.

(In an update to our earlier post and reports) Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen reports the Harlan Fire Department was dispatched to a Structure Fire at 1510 Erie Drive at around 5:25-p.m. The house was vacant, and upon arrival there was light smoke coming from the structure.

Bissen said the first engine crew on scene made entry and found no fire but smoke throughout the structure. At around 5:38-p.m., Westphalia Fire was dispatched to assist, and Medivac Ambulance was placed on standby. All crews were assisted at the scene Officers with the Harlan Police Department.

The Chief said the fire was caused by a dehumidifier in the basement, and the flames had also self extinguished prior to arrival of crews.

About one in every 12 Iowans has asthma and winter can be the worst season for many sufferers, as simply breathing cold air can trigger an asthma attack. Being cooped up indoors can be difficult too, with exposure to triggers like pet dander and smoke. Allergist Dr. David Slade offers tips on keeping your asthma symptoms in check. “If at all possible, try not to use or be around things like wood-burning stoves, even kerosene heaters or fireplaces, just to avoid the strong odors or chemicals they that they produce,” Slade says. “It’s also important to avoid things like irritating sprays, hairspray, indoor air fresheners.”

Slade says there are ways other actions you — and others — can take to better cope. “Ask your family members to try to limit their use of perfumes or anything with a strong scent,” he says. “The most important thing is that if you have asthma and you smoke, the best thing you can do is quit and ask people not to smoke around you.”

If you’ve been inside where it’s warm, simply going outside and having the super-cold air hit your lungs could bring on an episode. Slade says it’s important to cover your nose and mouth with a scarf when you’re outdoors, especially on very cold, windy days. “If you’re thinking of fun things to do outside this winter, try to plan them when you’ll have the least exposure to your asthma triggers,” Slade says. “Keep an eye on the weather so that you can monitor your asthma by tracking days that symptoms most occur.”

Also, he says to talk with your doctor on developing a plan that really keeps your symptoms under control and establish a routine that works best for you.

(Radio Iowa)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Governor Terry Branstad is signalling that he’ll ask his fellow Republicans in the legislature to provide a state funding boost for Iowa’s K-through-12 public schools. Branstad’s FORMAL state budget recommendations will be made on January 10th, the second day of the 2017 legislative session — but the governor’s suggesting he’ll probably recommend a two percent increase in general state aid for schools.

“It is my hope that we will pass a two-year budget and that we will approve supplemental state aid in the first 30 days,” Branstad says. “And I have said, ideally, I’d like to get to two percent. That’s not going to be easy in light of the budget limitations that we’re facing.”

The official estimate of state tax collections has been lowered for the CURRENT budgeting year by 100 million, forcing Branstad and legislators to make cuts. The prediction of state tax revenue for the following year has been pared down as well, but Branstad says he wants to make school funding a priority.

(Radio Iowa)

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Police in Red Oak say a man who was reported to have been out of control in the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room, was arrested Friday night on two counts of assault on a health care providers. 55-year old Danny Meyers Moody, of Villisca, was taken into custody at around 9:55-p.m., and was being held on $1,000 bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Authorities say Red Oak Police Officers were called to the E-R after Moody, who was a patient at the facility, became angry with staff at the hospital and allegedly kicked and struck a nurse in the arm and abdomen, and allegedly attempted to kick another nurse. Moody received the medical treatment he was at the hospital for, then arrested on the assault charges. None of the staff suffered any injuries that required treatment.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:00 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The company building an oil pipeline across four Midwestern states says it is halting land restoration work in Iowa until spring. In a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board on Monday Dakota Access says it had hoped to be finished with land restoration over the completed Iowa section by Dec. 31 but a regulatory delay this spring and “several incidents of trespassers interfering with construction work” prevented it from completing land restoration which is 80 percent done in Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says the Department of Human Services made “personnel changes” following the death of a West Des Moines teenager who was left in an allegedly abusive home despite reports made by a neighbor. Sixteen-year-old Natalie Finn died from denial of critical care and her mother is now charged with murder. Branstad’s office didn’t provide details on the personnel changes at the state agency.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the number of hogs and pigs on Iowa farms has reached a new record high. As of Dec. 1 Iowa had 22.4 million hogs and pigs, the most ever reported.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign chairman, convicted earlier of conspiracy and charges related to false campaign reporting, is accused of violating his probation while trying to arrange an illegal donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign. Court documents filed in federal court in Des Moines last week say Jesse Benton traveled to New York in October in violation of his probation agreement. Benton’s attorney had no comment this week.

Police Officers in Shenandoah early this (Saturday) morning, arrested a Pottawattamie County man. Officers called at around 1-a.m. to a domestic disturbance at a residence on the 800 block of South Avenue, took into custody 20-year old Anthony Racine, of Council Bluffs, following an investigation. Racine was charged with felony Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. He was transported to the Page County Jail after he was unable to make bond.

A head-on crash between two SUV’s Friday evening in Madison County, resulted in two women being sent to hospitals in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol reports 62-year old Lynnette Kay Anderson was transported from the scene by Mercy One helicopter to Mercy Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition at last report. 79-year old Marlene Kay Saxton was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital, where she was being treated for serious injuries. Both women are from Winterset.

The Patrol say Anderson was driving a 2016 Jeep Compass northbound on Highway 169 at around 6:15-p.m., when for reasons unknown, her vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2006 Subaru Legacy driven by Saxton.

It’s not clear if wet road conditions played a role in the crash, which remains under investigation.