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Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, Dec. 28th 2018

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December 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

STANHOPE — One person died, three others were injured, during a collision between two passenger vans Thursday evening, in northern Iowa’s Hamilton County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 47-year old Heidi Beisch, of Ft. Dodge died when he Nissan Quest went out of control on Highway 17 at around 4:25-p.m., and spun into the path of Chrysler van. The driver of the Chrysler, 30-year old Emily Loughry, of Webster City, along with three children in her vehicle, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a hospital.DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The romance of Barack Obama’s surprise victory in Iowa hangs like a championship banner in the minds of Democrats in the state more than a decade after they set him on the road to being the nation’s first African-American president. But as they begin to think about Iowa’s 2020 presidential caucuses _ in which as many as two dozen Democratic candidates may seek their support _ the wistfulness is fading fast.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — John C. Culver, who represented Iowa in Congress during the Vietnam War era, has died at age 86. The Democrat won praise across the political spectrum for his independence and willingness to take tough votes. He was an attorney and former aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy when he was elected to the House in 1964. He was elected to the Senate in 1974 and served one term. He’s also the father of former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. His family says he died late Wednesday at his home near Washington.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two men were injured in an explosion at a Sioux City landfill. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Cougill told the Sioux City Journal the men injured Thursday were employees of Gill Hauling, which operates the city-owned landfill. Emergency responders were called to the landfill about noon and found an explosion and fire had damaged an office area of the scale house, where trucks weigh the garbage they’re hauling. Cougill says he didn’t know how seriously the men were injured.

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — An East Moline alderman has been arrested in Iowa on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Quad City Times reports that Alderman Jose Roberto “JR” Rico was questioned Wednesday night by officers who, in response to a call about a disruptive and intoxicated man at a Davenport bar, found Rico staggering, slurring his words and smelling of alcohol.