(Radio Iowa) – Air quality due to smoke across Iowa’s eastern half remains in the “very unhealthy” category today (Thursday) and comparisons are being drawn about the equivalent of how many cigarettes you’d be smoking just by being outside. Des Moines oncologist Dr. Richard Deming says it’s unclear if the environmental conditions are raising our risk of developing lung cancer, but it’s certainly not good.

Inhaling smoke of any kind is detrimental to health, Dr. Deming says, adding it’s “theoretically possible” that inhaling Canadian forest fire smoke for a few weeks increases the risk of lung cancer. The Iowa D-N-R is extending its air quality advisory for the state’s eastern half through midnight tonight, and even healthy adults are urged to limit outdoor activities. Lung cancer is the most common cancer killer in Iowa, accounting for one out of every four cancer deaths.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Lottery sales have already hit records for the fiscal year with the June numbers still to be added to the total. Lottery C-E-O, Matt Strawn, told to the Lottery Board today (Thursday) it will be the strongest year of lottery performance in the 38-year history of the organization. Sales that will approach 480 million dollars once June numbers are in and Strawn says says proceeds returned to the state top 100 million dollars for the first time in the first 11 months of a fiscal year. The fiscal year ends June 30th and a record for sales is assured.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Wednesday afternoon in Creston caused $3,000 damage, but no one was injured and no citations were issued. According to Creston Police, vehicles driven by 18-year-old Gabriel R. Lovell, of Creston, and 35-year-old Jamie Anne Horton, of Lenox, were both traveling southbound on Sumner Avenue at around 12:19-p.m., and approaching the stop lights at Russell Street.

Both drivers said that traffic came to an abrupt stop, causing the right front bumper of the 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Horton, to strike the rear bumper of the 2003 Ford Focus, driven by Lovell.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Mayor of Atlantic, Grace Garrett, Thursday afternoon, called for an Emergency/Special City Council meeting. The session takes place this evening (Thursday), at 6-p.m., and is expected to be a closed session, “To discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation,” as allowed by the Code of Iowa.

The agenda did not indicate if action would be taken on the undisclosed matter.

(Griswold, Iowa) – One person was injured during a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident late this (Thursday) morning, near Griswold. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened at around 11:46-a.m. on 600th Street, just north of Tucson Road. The driver was initially said to be unconscious, but then was alert before passing out again. Griswold Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the scene. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies also were on the scene.

Authorities says an air ambulance (helicopter) would not be needed. Additional information was not immediately available.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), provided an update on a rollover accident we first told you about last week. The Sheriff’s Office says that on June 21st, 2023, at approximately 7:12 PM, area first responders were called to the area of 620th and Jasper Road, for a single vehicle rollover accident.  Responding personnel found that a 2004 Jeep Liberty, being operated by a 17-year-old male, was traveling North on 620th St. nearing Jasper Rd.

The vehicle lost control and rolled into / through the East ditch.  The driver and a 17-year-old male passenger were injured.  Both occupants of the SUV were transported by LifeNet helicopter for treatment of what appeared to be, non-life-threatening injuries. The names of the injured parties were not released.