COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Crews were busy cleaning up a 100-gallon diesel spill in western Iowa’s Council Bluffs following a collision between a pickup and semitrailer. Authorities tell the Daily Nonpareil  that the crash happened Friday afternoon on the westbound Interstate 80 ramp going into Omaha, Nebraska from the South Expressway. Investigators say the pickup hit the semi’s fuel tank.

Assistant Council Bluffs Fire Chief Matt Thomas says the fire department assisted until a cleanup crew out of Omaha was hired by the company that employed the semi driver. Thomas says neither driver was injured.

An accident early this (Saturday) morning in Audubon County, has claimed the life of an Audubon man. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department says authorities received a report at around 1:30-a.m., about an accident in the 200 block of 190th Street, about 3-miles northeast of Audubon. When deputies arrived, they found a wrecked pickup truck and the driver, 19-year old Matthew Terry Sunberg, of Audubon, deceased.

The accident remains under investigation. The sheriff’s department was assisted by Audubon Fire and Rescue, officers with the Audubon Police Department, and Audubon County Medical Examiner’s Office.

w/Mark Saylor

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Congressman-elect David Young says President Obama’s plans for immigration reform do not address what he says is the most important issue. The Republican who is preparing to represent the third district, was asked his definition of securing the border. Some Republicans say they may have to shut down the government to stop the president’s actions on immigration, Young is not ready to do that and says he has talked with the Latino community in his district about the issue. On other issues, Young says he wants to see spending and tax bills come forward, and he wants to see the Keystone pipeline approved. He also expects with the House and Senate both now controlled by Republicans, that they will try to repeal Obamacare. Young says there are some things he would like to keep in the federal health care law, such as making sure that people with pre-existing conditions can stay on insurance, and allowing kids to stay on their parent’s health care plan up to the age of 26.

Radio Iowa

Supporters of renewable fuels in Iowa say they are pleased with the announcement by the U-S Environmental Protection Agency that they delaying their decision on a proposal that would have dramatically cut the amount of renewable fuels required to be used in the country. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director, Monte Shaw, has been fighting the decision on the federal Renewable Fuel Standard or R-F-S since it was announced and says he was at a rally with the governor and members of the congressional delegation to defend the R-F-S in Nevada at this time last year. The E-P-A proposal would cut the amount of ethanol required in the R-F-S by three BILLION gallons. Shaw says there is some good news in the decision to take more time and ethanol has continued to show its importance. Shaw isn’t ready to say the R-F-S fight is over, but he is happy with the E-P-A’s latest move. Governor Terry Branstad, Iowa’s ag secretary, Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley, all issued statements praising the decision to delay the action on the E-P-A renewable fuels proposal.

Radio Iowa

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Department of Corrections says he still doesn’t know when a long-delayed new Iowa State Penitentiary will open. Director John Baldwin said Friday that the Fort Madison prison — which has been held up by construction problems — is waiting for a certification that will help determine if fixes are needed to the smoke detection system.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa family has begun a program that provides food for students on Fridays to ensure they have something to eat over the weekend. The Hawk Eye reports Josh and J.J. Caston started Homeplate Iowa, a nonprofit, to feed elementary students at several schools. They are Corse, North Hill, Sunnyside, Grimes and West Burlington elementary schools.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs officials are planning a nearly $1 million restoration of the historic Fairmount Park with the help of $100,000 from a Rotary club. Mayor Matt Walsh announced the project on Thursday. The Daily Nonpareil the 90-acre park features a greenhouse, ice skating, sledding, a petting zoo and an old bell tower.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Ankeny High School teacher has been sentenced after pleading guilty to having sex with a 17-year-old student. KCCI-TV reports Mandy Davenport was sentenced Friday to two years of probation. She also will be listed on the state’s sex offender registry.

A rural Red Oak man was arrested Friday evening in Mongtomery County, on a court order pertaining to an original charge of OWI. The sheriff’s office reports 47-year old Danny Leroy Lewis was taken into custody at around 5-p.m. on the 2200 block of 160th Street. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and was scheduled to be held there for two-days, in order to satisfy the order.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman late Friday morning on a warrant issued Nov. 10th, that charged her with Child Endangerment causing bodily injury. The offense allegedly took place on Oct. 27th. Officials say 25-year old Katie Rose Carnes, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11-a.m. at a residence on east Reed Street. Carnes was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 1st.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reported Friday, four Council Bluffs residents had been arrested and charged with first-degree robbery in connection with a Nov. 4th robbery at a convenience store. Three suspects – including the man the Council Bluffs Police Department believes entered Casey’s General Store at 701 32nd Ave., with a gun – were arrested Friday in Council Bluffs. Another alleged accomplice was arrested in Omaha.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.5 percent in October, down from 4.6 percent in September. Iowa Workforce Development announced the rate Friday, noting that Iowa’s labor force is at an all-time high of 1.7 million.

The rate in October compared to a 4.4 percent jobless rate in October 2013. Nationally, the unemployment rate for October was 5.8 percent.