NEOLA, IA (IRN) – Multiple cattle were loose on the interstate after a cattle truck overturned near the western Iowa town of Neola, around 12:30 p.m. Friday.  According to KETV, a trucker on eastbound I-80 was trying to get onto westbound I-680, when the cattle truck rolled. The 52 cattle headed for market were suddenly free and roaming the interstate. Some of the cattle were put down due to injuries, others were spotted miles away from the crash scene. AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames teenager faces adult charges for his role in an attempted abduction.  KASI Radio reports the incident happened just before 1:00 a.m. Friday.  According to Ames Police, the suspect, Akuk Akok, 17, entered the house while the occupants were sleeping, pulled a minor child out a basement window, and struck the child in the face.  A family member awakened by the commotion was able to chase down the suspect who had fled on foot. IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A retired Army Brigadier General helped pull a man away from a fiery crash on Interstate 80 Friday morning in Iowa City.  KCRG TV reports General Bob Felderman was traveling to the VA Hospital when a semi drifted off the road and crashed into the Dubuque Street overpass shortly after 8 AM. The Iowa State Patrol said there were two victims involved in the crash, both in the semi. Gary Griffey from Indiana, 39, was killed, and Shawn Freeman, 24, was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where his condition is unknown. BELLE PLAINE, IA (IRN) A train derailed overnight along the Union Pacific Railway in Belle Plaine.  KWWL reports that according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, six to nine cars derailed around midnight.  It’s unknown what the train was carrying, but there are no reports of spills. Authorities say no injuries were reported, and the cause of the derailment is unknown. WINTERSET, IA (IRN) – The new John Wayne Museum in Winterset is opening today. Across from his boyhood home, the $2.5 million, 6,100 square foot facility honors the actor who spent the first three years of his life in Winterset. Born Marion Robert Morrison in 1907, Wayne became a box office star with the release of the John Ford classic 1939 western “Stagecoach.”

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – It’s time to pay up if you owe money to any of Iowa’s three public universities.  According to the Iowa City Press Citizen, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University are joining together to collect more than $15.5 million in outstanding tuition, loans and various other charges.  They have issued a joint request for proposals from external agencies to help collect funds from current and former students, as well as customers of university services. WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers to file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form with their local USDA Service Center by June 1. The 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to have the form on file in order to remain eligible, or to become eligible for crop insurance premium support. HANCOCK COUNTY, Iowa – The Iowa State Patrol reports that 55-year-old Darla Asche of Garner was killed in a three-vehicle crash just east of Garner Thursday. Asche was westbound on Highway 18 and crossed the center line, her van striking an eastbound vehicle driven by 62-year-old Norma Lovstad of Burt.  Asche then had a head on collision with an additional eastbound vehicle driven by 26-year-old Megan Brood of Rockwell. Asche and Brood were transported to Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa, by ambulance while Lovstad and a passenger were taken to Mercy by private vehicle. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Waterloo police are investigating a case where road rage may have resulted in a stabbing. KWWL TV reports that Waterloo police say that based on the initial investigation, the incident started as road rage and turned into an assault. A person was stabbed but is expected to survive. DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has cancelled all live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, and other gatherings of birds due to avian flu. The Department’s order begins immediately, is effective through the end of 2015, and also prohibits live birds from being sold at livestock auction markets, swap meets and exotic sales. Iowa has over 25 million birds and more than 60 farms impacted by the avian flu. PLEASANT HILL, IA (IRN) – A Pleasant Hill daycare provider is facing charges after police say she abused three children in her care. WHO TV reports that 28-year-old Christina Williamson, who runs a non-registered daycare out of her home, is charged with five counts of child endangerment. Police say video exists to prove the incidents. CALMAR, IA (IRN) – A Postville man has been charged in connection with the robbery of State Bank in the northeastern Iowa town of Calmar. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Tyrone Wilson has been indicted on federal robbery charges and is now in custody of federal agents at the Linn County Jail. WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Farm wages are down, and hours worked are up. The National Agriculture Statistics Service reports that there were 25,000 workers hired directly by farms in Iowa and Missouri during the reference week of April 12-18.  Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage rate of $12.08 per hour, down $2.17 from last year. The number of hours worked averaged 36.5 for hired workers, up about five hours from last year.  

DES MOINES (IRN) – The population of Iowa is growing, although not as fast as the rest of the nation. According to estimates provided by the Iowa Data Center, Iowa’s population increased by nearly 15,000 people to over 3,107,000 in 2014. The growth rate is approximately half of one percent, slightly more than half the growth rate of the rest of the country. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – ConAgra Foods is expanding in Waterloo and adding 55 jobs. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Omaha-based ConAgra, which has produced Snack Pack and Swiss Miss products in Waterloo since 1997, announced today it will expand its manufacturing plant in Waterloo pending approval of state and local incentives. The project cost is estimated at $55 million. DES MOINES (IRN) – Mike Huckabee has announced that he will not be participating in the Republican Party Iowa Straw Poll this summer. The Des Moines Register reports that Huckabee stated that he “concluded this year’s Iowa Straw Poll will serve only to weaken conservative candidates and further empower the Washington ruling class and their hand-picked candidates.” Huckabee joins former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who announced last week he will not participate. AMES, IA (IRN) – A man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for robbing the Midwest Heritage Bank inside the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee store in Ames. The Ames Tribune reports that Kirk Priest Matlock, 55, of Burlington was charged with first-degree theft and second-degree burglary for the March 19 incident, in which police said he demanded money from a bank teller and left with an undisclosed amount of cash before driving off in a stolen pickup truck. DES MOINES, (IRN) – An investigation by the Iowa Auditor’s Office has found that over $130,000 worth of improper and unsupported reimbursements were made to an employee of the Center for Behavioral Health, an organization that receives state funding to provide treatment to those with addictions.  The audit was requested by the Center, in regards to payments made to its former Executive Director, Mindy Williams. DONNELLSON, IA, (IRN) – The police chief of the southeastern Iowa town of Donnellson has been charged with simple domestic abuse assault. WGEM TV reports that Chief William Sackett is accused of hitting his wife Monday morning at their home.  Court records indicate that after a night of drinking, he became angry and began breaking items, and then hit his wife.  He is currently on unpaid leave from the position. TAMA COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old man from Chelsea was killed in a head-on crash in rural Tama County on Tuesday. Thor William Curtis Osterholt was northbound on V 18 when his vehicle crossed into the southbound lane, hitting an oncoming minivan.  The minivan was driven by Sally Marie Slaven, 44, of Chelsea.  Slaven was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in unknown condition. GEORGE, IA (IRN) – Eleven chicken farm employees were treated for exposure Wednesday afternoon near the Northwestern Iowa community of George.  KSFY TV reports that the workers were preparing to euthanize chickens with the avian flu virus. A pile of manure in the chicken barn was moved, releasing an ammonia cloud. In related news, two more cases of the avian flu were announced yesterday in Sac and Calhoun counties, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 62.

WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – Iowa’s rural bridges are poor shape, ranking third worst in the nation as structurally deficient. TRIP, a national transportation research group, reports that 22% of Iowa’s rural bridges are structurally deficient, with only bridges in  Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in worse shape. The states with the bridges in the best shape? Florida, Texas, and Nevada. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa teen smoking has fallen dramatically, but the rate is still higher than the U.S. average. The Iowa Hospital Association reports that just over 7% of Iowa teens smoke, down from over 14% a decade ago. DES MOINES, (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has announced four more probable cases of the avian flu in Buena Vista and Sioux counties, bringing the total to 60 cases. These include a turkey farm, a commercial laying operation, a pullet farm, and a backyard flock.  Approximately 275,000 birds are included in these four cases. JOHNSTON, (IRN) – The director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy has notified the governor he plans to retire at the end of June. Arlen Ciechanowski has been the academy’s director since 1996.  WHO TV reports that earlier this year the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Ciechanowski over some troubling issues at the academy, ultimately deciding to not recommend him for re-appointment. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man who was paroled from a life sentence in a 1976 murder is back behind bars for allegedly leaving the state of Iowa without permission. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Duane Eugene Brant, 58, was found in California last week with an estimated $220,000 in cash. He is being held in the Black Hawk County Jail. Brant was convicted of murder in a 1976 convenience store robbery that left the clerk dead. MODALE, IA (IRN) – Two Sioux City residents are in custody after a short pursuit led to gunfire on Interstate 29 Monday. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation reports that a Department of Transportation officer was checking on a car parked on the shoulder of the road, when the driver of the vehicle started acting suspicious and drove away.  During the pursuit, at least one round was fired, hitting the law enforcement vehicle. Chauncy Jewett, 17, has been charged with Attempted Murder, and Sydney Swanson, 20, has been charged with Identity Theft and Interference with Official Acts. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines will acquire the Skiff Medical Center in Newton. The Des Moines Business Record reports that the Newton City Council approved the agreement that transfers ownership of Skiff, all of its land, buildings, and assets to Mercy. Skiff is owned by the city of Newton, and has been in operation for over 90 years. The sale is effective July 1. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – While wet weather slowed planting last week, the USDA reports that ninety-two percent of the Iowa corn crop has been planted, 6 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. Southwest Iowa is still lagging behind with 75 percent planted, compared to northwest Iowa, where 98 percent of the corn was in the ground.  Soybean planting was at 51%  at the end of the week.

OTTER CREEK, IA (IRN) – Responders from four Jackson County fire departments freed a rural Otter Creek man from a grain bin Monday afternoon. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the man was engulfed in corn, and that it took approximately 90 minutes to free him with an aerial fire truck using rescue tubes. Grinnell IA, (IRN) – The Grinnell Regional Medical Center and the local community are working together to prevent head-injuries to young bicyclists. The Toledo Chronicle and Tama News-Herald report that the hospital is giving over 500 new bicycle helmets to third graders in the Grinnell area this year. The program has been ongoing since 1996. MODALE, IA (IRN) – Two people are in custody after a short pursuit led to gunfire on Interstate 29 in western Iowa yesterday. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation reports that a Department of Transportation officer was checking on a car parked on the shoulder of the road, when the driver of the vehicle started acting suspicious and drove away.  During the pursuit, at least one round was fired, hitting the law enforcement vehicle. The male driver and female passenger were apprehended when the driver lost control and hit a vehicle at a rest area. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has announced four new probable cases of avian influenza in Sac and Sioux counties.  Two are turkey farms, one is a backyard chicken flock, and the other a backyard duck flock. Iowa now has 56 cases of the disease. Over 25 million poultry have been impacted, with total economic losses nearing $1 billion in Iowa and Minnesota, the two states hit hardest by the disease. NEW YORK, NY (IRN) – Des Moines has been named one of the top “business-friendly” cities in the country.  MarketWatch, a Dow Jones and Co. financial reporting website, ranked 100 cities nationwide on business climate, economic outcome, and the performance of companies located in each city. Des Moines ranked fourth, behind Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced the formation of a Child Abduction Response Team yesterday. The purpose of the program is to have readily trained experts in the field of child abduction investigations able to respond immediately, assist local law enforcement agencies, and bring additional resources to aid in the recovery effort. DES  MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to urge Iowa landfill operators to take the carcasses of millions of chickens and turkeys that have been destroyed during the bird flu epidemic. Speaking at his weekly news conference, Branstad urged landfill operators to impose reasonable and fair fees for the disposal.  WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of West Des Moines and its Police Chief are facing a sexual discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Chief Shaun LaDue discriminated against female employees and despite their complaints, the city did not investigate. The women say LaDue reduced their duties, kept them from completing professional development their male co-workers were offered, and gave favorable treatment to male officers with less experience and training.