A slowing moving or stopped 1995 Chevy Blazer was struck from behind Sunday evening in Fremont County, causing injuries to a man and a woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports the blazer, driven by 27-year old Britney Smith, of Lincoln, NE.,  was in the right lane of Interstate 29 southbound at around 5:12-p.m. near mile marker nine, when it was hit by a southbound 2015 KIA Optima, that was driven by 24-year old Nicholas Brunette, of Sioux Falls, SD.

Following the crash, the KIA entered the right side ditch off I-29. Brunette, and his passenger, 24-year old Nicole Schultz, of Sioux Falls, SD, neither of whom was wearing a seat belt, were seriously injured and transported to the hospital. Schultz was taken by LifeFlight to Brian Medical Center, in Lincoln, NE. Brunette was transported by Hamburg Rescue to Grape Community Hospital, in Hamburg,

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:33 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Government documents and emails show Iowa’s top 4-H leader was fired earlier this year after a proposed policy discouraging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender was withdrawn. The Des Moines Register reports that it reviewed more than 500 pages of communication that show Iowa 4-H director John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas was fired after he fought pressure to drop the policy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Navy says it has commissioned the USS Sioux City into service. The Navy said in a news release that the combat ship was placed into active service on Saturday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Plans for the USS Sioux City were announced in 2012. It was built at as shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Preliminary autopsy results show four people who died in a small plane crash in central Iowa earlier this month were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Television station KCCI reports that the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office report said all the victims died from “multiple blunt force injuries in the setting of carbon monoxide toxicity.” The crash happened the night of Nov. 9 after plane passengers reported the pilot had had an apparent heart attack.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old stepson have died in a crash in south-central Iowa. Television station KCRG reports that the crash happened Friday evening in Clarke County, about 9 miles south of Osceola. The patrol says 22-year-old Bethannie Kennedy, of Osceola, was driving south on U.S. 69 when she lost control, went sideways and was broadsided by a northbound pickup truck. Kennedy and 2-year-old Michael Dohrn Jr. died from injuries received in the crash.

At least four area school districts will hold their regular monthly meetings Monday night. The Griswold School Board meeting takes place at 5:30-p.m. in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School Building. During their session, the Board will receive updates (if available) on the construction projects and act on approving any change orders. They’ll also discuss and/or act on: Budget changes for 2019-20; The Elementary Building; the Pizza Card program; and specifications for the purchase of a van.

The Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board meeting starts at 6-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. On their agenda is a presentation with regard to the FFA’s trip to the National FFA meeting, discussion with regard to Construction projects, and action on Snow removal bids, an early graduation request, along with any personnel matters.

The CAM School District Board of Education meeting gets underway at 6:30-p.m. in the CAM High School Media Center. Their agenda includes: Bids on the school suburban for sale; snow removal bids; personnel matters, discussion on the district’s vehicle replacement plan, fundraiser requests and other matters.

And, the Audubon Community School District Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Monday, in their Board Room at the High School. Among the matters on their agenda, is an Early Retirement offer for teachers, setting the date for Superintendent Interviews, and other, personnel matters, to name a few.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Government documents and emails show that Iowa’s top 4-H leader was fired earlier this year after a proposed policy discouraging discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender was withdrawn. The Des Moines Register reports that it reviewed more than 500 pages of communication that show Iowa 4-H director John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas was fired after he fought pressure to drop the policy.

Just days after Iowa officials posted a draft of the policy in April, an official with the federal department that administers 4-H, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, sent an email urging that the policy be dropped. Iowa 4-H officials were also pressured to drop the policy by Christian conservative leaders and one group threatened to file a lawsuit.

Chaisson-Cárdenas resisted because he was adamant that 4-H should be for all kids. Chaisson-Cárdenas was disciplined after the criticism for the way the policy was handled and later fired in August. He maintains that he followed proper procedure.

Police in Creston say snow on the road contributed to an accident Saturday afternoon. Authorities say the accident happened as a 2006 Dodge Caravan driven by 39-year old Sheri Ann Gist, of Creston, was traveling east on Montgomery Street at around 2-p.m., and turning left onto Cherry Street. A 2006 Nissan Murano driven by 60-year old Diana Rae Griffin, of Creston, was traveling south on Cherry Street and trying to turn right onto Montgomery Street, but due to snow on the road, she was unable to make the turn or stop. The Murano hit the Dodge, causing a total of $4,000 damage.

Sheri Gist complained of pain or possible injury, but was not transported to the hospital. Griffin was uninjured during the collision. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Navy says it has commissioned the USS Sioux City into service.
The Navy said in a news release that the combat ship was placed into active service on Saturday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

It’s the nation’s sixth littoral combat Ship. The vessel has an aluminum skin, high-tech computer capabilities and can reach a speed of 40 knots.

USS Sioux City

The Navy says the ship’s name was chosen to honor the residents of Sioux City, Iowa. Plans for the USS Sioux City were announced in 2012. It was built at a shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.