Some much colder conditions have moved into Iowa and National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Fillbach says the first hard freeze of the season for much of the state will arrive early tomorrow (Saturday). “We’re looking at lows in the mid 20s to mid 30s across the state. We do have frost advisories and freeze warnings out,” Fillbach said. The freeze warning for 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday covers much of northern, eastern and southeastern Iowa.

Freeze warning for counties in purple; Frost Advisory for counties in light blue.

High temperatures today (Friday) are forecast for the 40s and 50s. Warmer weather will return soon. “Saturday’s highs will warm back up into the 50s, with 60s by Sunday and Monday,” Fillbach said. Some areas of the state should have temperatures in the 70s on Monday and Tuesday.

A Frost Advisory is in effect from 1-until 9-a.m. Saturday, for parts of the KJAN listening area, including Cass, Adair, Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Ringgold, Sac, Taylor and Union Counties.

The first rain chances in several weeks may arrive next week. “We do have chances early next week, but the chances are fairly slight and what rain we do get doesn’t appear to be of any significance,” Fillbach said. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released its winter outlook Thursday, and it calls for a slightly warmer-than-normal winter in Iowa, with near normal precipitation.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – More Council Bluffs residents now have free access to outdoor wireless Internet. The Daily Nonpareil reports the Council Bluffs Area Wi-Fi Consortium launched the Bluffs Community Wi-Fi network Thursday. Residents can connect to the Internet by searching for the “BLink” network in the wireless settings on their device and accepting the terms and conditions. No password is needed.

The consortium is a cooperative organization between the school district and the city. The school district’s Chief Technology Officer David Fringer said its goal is to bring as much free Wi-Fi to Council Bluffs as possible to encourage teaching and learning in the community.

Access to BLink Wi-Fi is available in an area around Wilson Middle School. The second phase of the project will expand west between I-29 and U.S. Route 6. Public Wi-Fi is already available downtown.

Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday evening at the intersection of Reed and 4th Streets. Officials report a 2010 Dodge Caravan driven by 79-year old Peggy Lou Vanbuskirk, of Red Oak, was traveling westbound and approached a stop sign at the intersection, but continued into the intersection, where her vehicle made contact with a northbound 1994 Chevy pickup, driven by 68-year old Bobby Joe Bruce, of Red Oak.

Vanbuskirk was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. Damage from the accident, which happened at around 4:15-p.m., amounted to $6,000.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says the grassland/field fire danger level will remain “HIGH” through this weekend. Continued drying conditions, make the potential for grassland and standing corn fires higher than normal. Caution should be observed when burning and, notices provided to your local Fire Chief .

The next local update will be Monday October 19th.

A man from Pottawattamie County was arrested early this (Friday) morning in Red Oak, for Aggravated Domestic Abuse Assault with Strangulation. Red Oak Police say 25-year old Mark Alan Lear, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody in the 300 block of E. Market Street, at around 2-a.m.  The victim suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Red Oak police officers.  Lear was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A third consecutive overall index drop in a monthly rural bankers survey suggests an economic slowdown is ahead in Iowa and Nebraska. Omaha-based Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the overall index reflects “weakness stemming from lower agriculture and energy commodity prices.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton says she will “not be silenced” when it comes to talking about gun violence, renewing her debate-night tangle with rival Bernie Sanders. The Democratic presidential candidate says at a rally in San Antonio, Texas that she’s “been told by some to quit talking about this.” She says she’ll continue to challenge the National Rifle Association. Clinton did not mention Sanders by name. But during Tuesday’s debate, Sanders said “all the shouting in the world” won’t keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson are threatening to boycott the next GOP debate over its proposed format. The two political outsiders wrote in a joint letter to CNBC on Thursday that they will not appear at the October 28th debate unless its length is capped at two hours, including commercials.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A cluster of endangered cacti in Sioux City will be protected in the development of a major road project. The Sioux City Journal reports Southbridge Drive construction will veer west in order to avoid 100 bigroot prickly pear cactus plants located about three miles southeast of Sioux Gateway Airport.

The Red Oak Police Department reports an arrest Thursday morning of a Red Oak man for Possession of Stolen Property.  At 8:30am officers arrested 33-year-old Jesse Donald Trost of Red Oak near the intersection of North 2nd Street and East Corning Street in Red Oak.  Trost was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.