The driver of a motorcycle and his passenger were injured in an accident on Thursday evening near Council Bluffs. The Council Bluffs Police Department reports the accident occurred on the I-29 southbound off ramp to Avenue G at 6:09pm.

40-year-old Johnathon Scott Enarson of Council Bluffs was exiting I-29 to Avenue G when he lost control on the off ramp causing the crash. Enarson and his passenger 53-year-old Jackie Lorraine Usher of Council Bluffs were both taken to a local hospital. Enarson suffered serious life-threatening injuries and Usher suffered non-life threatening injuries. Neither rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The Council Bluffs Traffic Unit is investigating the crash and it is believed that both speed and alcohol were factors. The Iowa DOT assisted at the scene with traffic control.

DES MOINES – Iowans are invited to provide input on children’s mental health needs at regional listening posts scheduled statewide beginning Oct. 2.

The listening posts will be hosted by Iowa’s area education agencies on behalf of the Children’s System State Board established by Gov. Kim Reynolds through Executive Order 2 in April. The board is co-chaired by Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven and Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise.

Board members will review information gathered from the listening posts as part of their charge to develop recommendations to create a children’s mental health system. The recommendations are due to the legislature on Nov. 15.

In our area, Listening post details are as follows:

Oct. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Green Hills AEA
257 Swan St., Creston

Iowa families who are unable to participate in the listening posts may provide input online in the following ways:

An online survey. The survey deadline is Oct. 12.

An online listening post will run from noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 4. To join from a computer, visit: https://zoom.us/j/290354386. To join by phone, call 1-646-876-9923. When prompted, enter meeting code 290-354-386

For more information about the Children’s System State Board, visit the Iowa Department of Human Services’ website.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has reached a record number of pigs on farms as the pork industry continues to expand production amid questionable export demand due to tariff battles with China.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Thursday Iowa has 23.6 million pigs on farms as of Sept. 1, an increase of 4 percent from the previous year and the highest number recorded.

That makes Iowa the leading pork producer by far. North Carolina is second with 9.4 million pigs and Minnesota third with 8.6 million.

The total for the United States has reached 75.5 million pigs, a 3 percent increase from a year ago.

Overproduction and fewer export markets could result in cheaper pork chops and ham, but low prices make profitability a challenge for farmers.

The USDA predicts increased U.S. demand for pork and industry groups say they’re working to find other markets to sell product.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men from Elliott were cited on alcohol charges late Thursday night. At 11:27pm Deputies cited 20-year-old Shane Dalton Dunkerson and another 16-year-old male juvenile both for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. The juvenile was cited into court and released to a parent. Dunkerson was cited and released on scene.