LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Black Hawk County official says enough money has been secured to fix a long-closed bridge on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail in La Porte City. County conservation board executive director Mike Hendrickson says the only worry now is whether bids that will be opened in fall are low enough. The project estimate is $854,000. Grants, private donations and $77,000 from the county are paying for the project.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that work would begin in spring 2020 if all goes according to plan. The bridge over Wolf Creek was closed in September 2015 after inspectors concluded it was unsafe. The trail runs 67 miles along an old railroad line from Evansdale through Cedar Rapids to Ely.

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) _ Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $22.4 million. The North Liberty, Iowa-based company said it had profit of 27 cents per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 24 cents per share. The trucking and logistics company posted revenue of $147 million in the period, which fell short of Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $152.2 million.

For the year, the company reported profit of $72.7 million, or 88 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $610.8 million. Heartland Express shares have increased 9 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has fallen 15 percent in the last 12 months.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say an eastern Iowa firefighter injured in a fiery explosion that killed a colleague is making strides in his recovery. Clinton City Administrator Matt Brooke said Monday that 23-year-old Adam Cain is listed as stable and has begun physical therapy. Brooke says Cain was able to walk about 100 feet Sunday, at University of Iowa Clinics & Hospitals in Iowa City. Brooke says Cain “is doing well and is in good spirits” and was able to receive a visit Monday from fellow Clinton Fire Department firefighters. Fire Lt. Eric Hosette died Jan. 5 while fighting the fire at the ADM grain facility in Clinton.

Two men were arrested on separate charges in Creston, Monday. According to Creston Police, 20-year old Kane Farlow, of Creston, was arrested at around 3:40-a.m. on a Union County warrant for Parole Violation, for which he was being held without bond. Farlow was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, A controlled substance violation, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. His bond on those charges was set at $16,000.

And, at around 12:45-p.m., Monday, 64-year old John Stephens, of Lorimor, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.