SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – A northwest Iowa mother had a scary start to her Friday morning, according to WHO-TV. The Sioux City woman loaded her four-year old in her running SUV and then went back into her home to get her other child. In just the few minutes she was inside, someone stole the car. Police located the abandoned SUV about 15 minutes later. The child was still in the car and was not injured. Officials are still searching for the car thief.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Thirty-six Iowa counties filed federal lawsuits Friday against the manufacturers of pharmaceutical opioid drugs. States across the country have filed similar lawsuits in an attempt to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for the nation’s widespread opioid epidemic. It identifies five pharmaceutical companies for allegedly downplaying the risks of opioids.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A central Iowa man said the cold weather almost kept him at home, but at the last minute, he decided to go out and buy Powerball tickets on New Year’s weekend. That’s how he ended up with a $1 million prize. 57-year-old George Dickerson said the lottery terminal wasn’t working at the first store he stopped at, so he had to drive to another location to buy tickets.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids woman says she’s alive today because of the quick thinking and kindness of a stranger. KCRG-TV reports Vicki Witte was driving on a highway in Linn County when her heart stopped. Witte’s daughter says she managed to stop the car, and Arturo Melendez pulled over to make sure she was O.K. He saw she wasn’t, so he busted out the window, unlocked the door, pulled her out, and started CPR on the highway. Witte is recovering.