COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — [KETV] – Council Bluffs Fire Department said the wind has caused some of the small fires from the weekend that were still smoldering to ignite again. First responders have set up command as the fire continues to burn.The fire is along Interstate 29 near the Pottawattamie County Jail. KETV reports I-29 is still open, but fire officials do not recommend driving on it between Council Bluffs and Crescent.

The 16th Street and N 25th Street, I-29 on ramps have been closed. The fire is on both sides of the interstate. Fire officials said 40 to 60 acres of land have been affected by the fire. The city of Council Bluffs is under a burn ban.

A field fire also broke out in Mead, Nebraska, on Thursday, burning almost 80 acres of land.Another factor in the brush fire is Nebraska and Iowa’s ongoing drought.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments today (Thursday) on the fetal heartbeat law that’s been on hold since the the governor signed the bill. The state’s attorney, Eric Wessen, argued the state has a rational interest in enacting the law and that’s how it should be viewed. “A majority of this court held and Planned Parenthood 2022 that abortion is not a fundamental right subject to strict scrutiny so under its long standing substantive due process jurisprudence this court should apply rational basis,” he says. Wessen says the state has “The right of life, the important value of health and well being of mothers, the integrity of medical profession, each of those can be found in Iowa code section 146 E,” he says.

Wessen says he believes the district court would have to drop its injunction if the High Court follows his argument. “If this court explains and holds that rational basis is the proper standard of review the state is confident that this law which is duly enacted by the legislature and is entitled to the presumption of constitutionality will survive that review,” he says. Peter Im represented Planned Parenthood and the A-C-L-U of Iowa which are seeking to block the law. He says a rational interest interpretation should not be used.

“P-P-H 2022 which is the controlling precedent clearly stated that undue burden quote remains the governing standard unquote. The district court got it right by applying that standard and certainly did not abuse its discretion by committing legal error,” Im says. He says the law block the rights of women.

“Iowans’ ability to make decisions, private and personal medical decisions, to exercise bodily autonomy and to decide what when and whether to have children,” Im says. Justices Christopher McDonald and Susan Christensen asked Im about his argument that women were not properly represented when abortion was banned after Iowa became a state. They asked why a law should be blocked that was passed by a legislature that now includes duly-elected women.

“The level of deference to the legislature is certainly most important I think in issues of policy. But when it comes to individual rights, there is no political question doctrine. There is no doctrine that says that this court should defer to the legislature if the legislature passes a law that rides roughshod over the right of Iowans to exercise bodily autonomy,” he says.

The court is expected to issue a ruling in June.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) –  A Pottawattamie County man was arrested Wednesday evening on charges that include Attempted Murder, 1st Degree Burglary, Harassment in the 1st Degree, and Willful Injury resulting in Bodily Injury. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 23-year-old Spencer Steve Prusia, of Hancock, was being held in the Pott. County Jail, on bond amounting to $57,000.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were sent to 208 Main Street in Hancock at around 5:30-p.m., following a reported home invasion. When deputies arrived, the male victim told them Prusia rang the doorbell. When the victim answered the door, Prusia started inquiring about an individual.

The victim told Prusia the person he was looking for hadn’t lived there for about 10-years. When Prusia told the man he didn’t believe him, the victim tried to shut the door, but Prusia forced his way into the residence and allegedly placed victim in a choke hold.

Spencer Prusia (Pott. County Jail booking photo)

Prusia also alleged told the man “he wanted to kill him.” After the victim escaped, Prusia fled the home. He was located Prusia at his residence in Hancock and transported him to the Pottawattamie County Jail. The victim was treated by medics at the scene.

UPDATE 3:30-P.M, 4/11/24: KEYSTONE, Iowa – The missing person advisory issued for Rhiannon “Rainy” Walter on behalf of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office has been canceled. She has been safely located. Law enforcement thanks the public for their assistance.

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(Vinton, Iowa) – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (in eastern Iowa) is attempting to locate an 11-year-old girl last seen Wednesday evening in Keystone, Iowa. See the Sheriff’s Office press release below: