(Updated 7/17) — Two separate accidents over the past few days, left a total of two people dead and seven more injured. The Iowa State Patrol says the latest happened at around 10:42-p.m. Saturday, in central Iowa’s Tama County. Officials say a 2010 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 74-year old David M. Keidel, of Cedar Falls, was traveling north on High 21 and entered a bridge construction zone, where the highway was reduced to one lane. A 2011 Cadillac DTS driven by 81-year old Donald G. Selken, of Vinton, was southbound on Highway 21 in the construction zone. The vehicles collided head-on.

Selken who wore a seat belt, died in the crash. Keidel, and a passenger in Selken’s car, 73-year old Lois M. Schmitt, of Vinton. were injured in the crash and transported by ambulance to Covenant Hospital. Both were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

The other accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Friday, in southeast Iowa’ Van Buren County. The State Patrol says a 2005 Mercury Mariner SUV driven 26-year Mindy Rae Johnson, of Burlington, was eastbound on Highway 2, when it made contact with the gravel shoulder, causing Johnson to over-correct and lose control of SUV. The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled into a corn field. Johnson died at the scene. An adult passenger, 36-year old April Irene Maul, of Burlington, and five children in the vehicle were injured. Two of them — a 3-year old and a 5-year old — were transported to the Van Buren County Hospital by ambulance. The other three children were eight years of age, each.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:15 a.m. CDT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A deadly jail escape has prompted officials in a southwestern Iowa county to consider spending up to $200,000 to install body scanners that would be used on inmates when they enter the jail. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker tells The Daily Nonpareil that the scanners would be used to find contraband inmates try to smuggle into the county jail. It would be used as they enter the jail and for trips to and from the courthouse.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — A former southern Iowa teacher has pleaded guilty to a felony count of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that 61-year-old Alan Stewart, of Oskaloosa, pleaded guilty this week. He was charged in March after a report was filed of an inappropriate relationship he had with a student in 2015.

EXIRA, Iowa (AP) — A fire that started in a downtown bar has destroyed four businesses in the small western Iowa town of Exira (ex-ZYE’-ruh). The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that fire began early Friday morning in a two-story building housing Jerry’s Bar. The fire spread to nearby businesses, including a hardwood floor and decor store, a gift shop called Gabby’s and Crabby’s Place, and a building where a local psychologist lived. No one was injured.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic congressman from Iowa has announced a $400,000 federal grant awarded to the Ottumwa Regional Airport. Rep. Dave Loebsack says the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration. . The funding will be used for the reconstruction of 6,500 feet of the existing runway pavement that has reached the end of its useful life.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has reiterated criticism of Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act to a receptive crowd in Iowa, calling a bill in the Senate “disastrous.” The Vermont senator told community organizers in Des Moines the bill is “anti-working class legislation.” The speech marked his first time in Iowa since the 2016 presidential election.

Hours earlier inside the same building complex, senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told a conservative audience it’s a “moral imperative” to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care law.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates at least 22 million more people would be uninsured under Republican legislation. U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst also addressed the conservative audience. Sanders asked the senators in his speech to reject the proposal.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A deadly jail escape has prompted officials in a southwestern Iowa county to consider spending up to $200,000 to install body scanners that would be used on inmates when they enter the jail.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker tells The Daily Nonpareil that the scanners would be used to find contraband inmates try to smuggle into the county jail. It would be used as they enter the jail and for trips to and from the courthouse.

A May 1 attempted escape at the jail that resulted in the death of a deputy has led to the push for more security. County Supervisor Tim Wichman says the jail recently brought in $600,000 above the anticipated revenue which could be used to fund the purchase of the machines.