SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Construction work will continue on Interstate 29 in the Sioux City area through winter, so drivers won’t get much of a break this year. The Sioux City Journal reports the seven-year widening project is reaching one of its most-complicated stages. So even as this year’s work wraps up, new projects will be getting started.

Iowa Department of Transportation’s Dakin Schultz says seven bridges will be replaced during the next phase of the project, and work on two of those bridges will start during winter. Schultz says next year will be a tough one for motorists because of all the projects that are planned that will require detours.

Major construction is expected to continue in 2019, but some finishing work may stretch in to 2020.

Authorities in Montgomery County report two arrests took place Saturday. Red Oak Police arrested 24-year old Kiley Brian Caron, of Red Oak, at around 9:45-p.m., on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault and Interference with Official Acts. Caron was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond pending an appearance before a magistrate.

And, at around 7:20-p.m., Saturday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 21-year old Cody Benjamin Carrol Johnson, of Stanton, on a Page County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Johnson was turned over to the Page County Sheriff’s Office and held on a $300 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton is defending her campaign contributions from Wall Street by invoking her work to help the financial sector rebuild after the September 11th attacks, raising eyebrows among her Democratic challengers and Republicans alike. During Saturday’s second Democratic debate in Des Moines, Clinton was put on the defensive by rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders when he said Wall Street had been the major contributor to her campaigns. Clinton’s other debate opponent, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, called it a “gaffe.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says the business model of Wall Street is “fraud.” Sanders is challenging Hillary Rodham Clinton on her ties to Wall Street as he promises to aggressively take on the nation’s largest banks.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — The city of Mason City has announced five finalists to fill the role of police chief after current Chief Mike Lashbrook announced his plans to retire at the end of the year. The Globe Gazette reports that residents will get the chance to meet the finalists and their spouses during an open house Monday evening at City Hall.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa River Trail between Benton Street and Myrtle Drive in Iowa City will be closed to allow repairs to be made to a storm sewer in the area. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that weather permitting, the closure will begin Monday. Officials anticipate both the trail and parking lot will reopen by December 1st.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A Storm Lake woman faces a child endangerment charge after authorities allege she hit a child in the head with a cellphone. The Sioux City Journal reports that police arrested the 38-year-old woman after being called to home in Storm Lake by the Iowa Department of Human Services, which reported possible child abuse involving a 7-year-old girl.

Police and agency personnel say they found the girl suffering from a head injury. After an investigation, officials determined that the woman had hit the girl with a cellphone as a form of discipline.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

One person died in a crash involving a car and a semi in Dallas County early this (Saturday) morning. The Iowa State Patrol says 28-year old Danny Lynn Dunton, of Van Meter, who was wearing his seat belt, died in the crash that happened at around 1:35-a.m. just off the Van Meter exit from Interstate 80 westbound.

Officials say Dunton had begun to exit the interstate, when the 2014 VW he was driving came into contact with a 2016 tractor-trailer that was parked on the shoulder of the exit ramp. Following the collision, the VW came to rest on its top in the ditch. The operator of the semi, 52-year old James Ronald Renshaw, of Council Bluffs, was not hurt.

The accident remains under investigation.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say two men from California have been arrested after nearly 400 pounds of marijuana was found in a recreational vehicle in Omaha.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the men, from Fontana, California, were taken into custody early Friday after a traffic stop in the city’s south side.

Authorities say a deputy’s dog indicated the odor of drugs in the RV. Twelve large boxes containing nearly 400 pounds of packaged marijuana was later discovered in various areas of the vehicle. The Omaha World-Herald reports a third man in the vehicle fled during the traffic stop. Authorities have been unable to find him.

About 12-hundred school board members and superintendents from across Iowa, including those from Atlantic, will be attending the Iowa Association of School Boards state convention next week. Luann Gvist is organizing the 70th annual meeting at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Gvist says the three-day conference will feature several great keynote speakers. “One of the gentlemen is a school superintendent from Georgia who is doing a lot of innovative things in their public school district,” Gvist says. “Also, we’re excited to have one of our own teachers from Iowa who was the National Teacher of the Year in 2010, Sarah Brown-Wessling.”

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will be speaking at the convention on Thursday about the state of education in Iowa. A workshop on school finances will be very helpful, Gvist says, especially since the elections were just held a few weeks ago. “We’re welcoming a whole host of brand new school board members to our convention and we can provide them with in-depth learning on topics such as that and also board-superintendent relationships,” Gvist says, “and we also offer break-out sessions on a wide variety of topics.”

The convention runs next Wednesday through Friday. Learn more at the Iowa Association of School Boards website: www.ia-sb.org

(Radio Iowa)