COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A hotel in western Iowa had to be evacuated after a fire early Sunday morning. The Omaha World-Herald reports authorities believe a lightning strike around 7:30 a.m. Sunday caused the fire at the Value Place Hotel in Council Bluffs. The hotel was evacuated while firefighters battled the fire.

Assistant Fire Chief Derrick Williams says no injuries were reported in the fire, but the building will need to be repaired before it can be used again. The hotel sustained both water and smoke damage from the fire and the effort to contain it.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Sunday, an Oelwein man was fatally injured Saturday while turkey hunting in Fayette County. 63-year old Michael Adams was hit in the face and chest area by shot from a 12-gauge shotgun fired from another hunter in his hunting party at approximately 3-p.m. Saturday, north of Maynard.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation by the DNR.

A vehicle traveling recklessly on Interstate 29 in western Iowa’s Monona County, struck a motorcycle Saturday evening, sending a South Dakota couple to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol says 35-year old Sarrell Manley, of Omaha, was driving a 2006 Ford 500 northbound on I-29 a little after 7-p.m. Saturday, and attempted to pass between a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle in the right lane, and another vehicle in the left lane.

Manley’s car hit the cycle ridden by 52-year old David Yeadon and 49-year old Patricia Yeadon, both of Sioux Falls, SD. The impact caused both motorcycle riders to be tossed to the pavement. Manley continued northbound on I-29, leaving the scene of the accident. He was later stopped deputies from the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office near Salix, and arrested for leaving the scene of an accident.

The Yeadon’s were transported by Burgess Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. A report on their conditions was not immediately available.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:40 a.m. CDT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged a 40-year-old Council Bluffs with kidnapping and sexually abusing a teenage girl. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Fednol Garly St. Cyr was charged Friday with first-degree kidnapping, third-degree sexual abuse and indecent contact with a child. St. Cyr could face life in prison if convicted of the kidnapping charge.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former magistrate arrested on a sex abuse charge last year while running for the local school board is now asking for a lawyer to be appointed to help him at his sentencing. Doug Lindaman served as his own attorney during his trial earlier this month, when he was found guilty of third-degree sexual abuse. Authorities say Lindaman fondled a 17-year-old boy in 2011.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state panel is mulling what to do about a lack of foster homes for Native American children in northwestern Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Iowa Commission on Native American Affairs was told of the problem Friday during a meeting in Sioux City. Shane Frisch, a state social work supervisor says there are only five licensed foster homes with Native American parents in Woodbury County.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a central Iowa city’s outdoor severe weather sirens are not working, even as forecasters predict stormy weather this weekend with a potential for tornadoes. Johnston spokeswoman Emily Price tells the Iowa City Press-Citizen that none of the city’s eight sirens worked during tests Friday. Price says officials don’t know why the sirens aren’t working. A technician is scheduled to check on them early next week.

The Creston Police Department is investigating an accident in which one party possibly provided false information.  The accident was reported on Thursday, April 21st at 12:45pm at the Creston Fareway parking lot.  A blue truck was backing up out of a parking space and struck the rear drivers side of a 2001 Buick LeSabre that was traveling northbound in the parking lot.  The owner of the Buick exchanged information at the scene but officers later had reason to believe the driver of the truck provided false information.  The truck driver claimed to be Ray Brunner of Orient and said he had an insurance policy with State Farm.  Officers were unable to locate an individual by that name and State Farm had no record of a policy under that name.  The phone number given was no longer in service.  Damage to the Buick was estimated at $1,400.  The incident is still under investigation.

The Red Oak Police Department reported the arrest of a man Saturday morning for Driving While Revoked.  At 11:31am Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of A Street.  After investigation Officers arrested 40-year-old Jason Neal Beacham of Red Oak.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There isn’t a deadline for the Iowa Legislature to adjourn, but there clearly are some issues that are keeping lawmakers from finishing their work. Lawmakers try to be done by the annual date when payments for their expenses end. This year payments ended on April 19, so lawmakers are several days late with plenty of work ahead of them in the coming week.

Although legislators have reached deals on some issues, such as K-12 education funding and tax rules, there’s disagreement over Medicaid oversight, transportation, infrastructure funding and whether to block state spending on the family planning organization Planned Parenthood.

At least some bills that will make up the nearly $7.35 billion budget are expected to be sorted out in special legislative committees.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged a 40-year-old Council Bluffs man with kidnapping and sexually abusing a teenage girl. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 40-year old Fednol Garly St. Cyr was charged Friday with first-degree kidnapping, third-degree sexual abuse and indecent contact with a child. St. Cyr could face life in prison if convicted of the kidnapping charge.

One person died and another was injured during a collision Saturday morning between a pickup and a semi, in Polk County. The Iowa State Patrol report 31-year old Michael Eric Wright, of Waukee was injured in the crash that happened on Interstate 80 westbound, at the east mixmaster on Des Moines’ northeast side. A passenger in the pickup, 44-year old Susannah Dryer Thompson, of Waukee, died at the scene. Both occupants of the pickup were ejected during the crash. Neither was wearing their seat belts.

The accident happened at around 12:45-a.m., when Wright changed lanes his pickup hit the westbound semi’s trailer. Following the collision, the pickup slid into the median guardrail and went airborne. The pickup came to rest between the guardrails.

Wright was transported by ambulance to Broadlawns Hospital for treatment. A report on his condition was not immediately available. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

(In an update to our earlier post) A man from Atlantic was injured during a single-vehicle accident this (Saturday) morning, northeast of Atlantic. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1993 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 66-year old Charles Sievers, of Atlantic, was traveling east on Casey Road at around 9:40-a.m., when Sievers reached down to pick up his cell phone. In the process, his pickup left the road and entered the south ditch, where it hit an embankment and came to rest upright. The accident happened not far from the intersection with Highway 71.

Sievers, who was not wearing a seat belt, was trapped in the pickup and reported suffered from a broken leg. He was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Medivac Ambulance.