COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says a section of Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs has collapsed, but no one was injured. The Omaha World-Herald reports crews were installing a pipe beneath the freeway when the three eastbound lanes collapsed Wednesday night. Council Bluffs police say the collapse left about a 10-foot gap that was 2 to 3 feet deep.

Workers immediately called 911 and authorities were able to halt traffic and avoid injuries. The state Department of Transportation posted a message on its website just before 9 p.m. saying lanes were blocked between Exit 1A and Exit 4.

Omaha TV station WOWT reported the Department of Transportation advised that eastbound lanes from the Missouri River bridge to the South Expressway exit would remain closed until late afternoon Thursday.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says a section of Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs has collapsed, but no one was injured. Crews were installing a pipe beneath the freeway when the three eastbound lanes collapsed last night. The collapse left about a 10-foot gap that was two to three feet deep. Authorities were able to halt traffic and avoid injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An insurance carrier under Iowa’s new health marketplace says at least five residents have signed up for insurance on the government’s website. CoOportunity Health says the consumers from Iowa City, Glidden and Clive enrolled in the carrier’s insurance plans by yesterday morning. The marketplaces have been troubled by glitches and delays since launching earlier this month.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Texas Governor Rick Perry will headline a Republican fundraiser next month in Des Moines. Perry will appear November 7th at a dinner hosted by the Republican Party of Polk County. The event will be at the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines, with tickets starting at $75 per person. Perry is considering a 2016 run for president.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Coralville officials plan to appeal a Postal Service decision to close a customer service location in a central part of the city. They say the new site in an industrial zone is a poor location for customers and has parking issues, no sidewalks and no public transit. The facility to be closed is on Tenth Avenue.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says smoke will be rising from the Rock Island Depot this weekend, but residents shouldn’t be alarmed—it’s all part of the Harvest Fest activities brought to you by McCurdy’s Pumpkins and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Rib Fest will take place Friday night from 8 to 11 p.m.

Atlantic Business and Professional Women volunteer at Harvest Fest last year, serving the apple pie from the judged contest. Sponsored by Gade Insurance and Downtowner Café & Catering, the contest is open for commercial and private entries, and pies are to be delivered to the Depot by 2 p.m. for judging. The warm apple pie and smoked pork and brisket are
served prior to the Firemen’s Parade at the Depot Saturday.

Admission is free for live music from country artist Danny Grouse with his “Boonetucky Sound.” Rib samples will be available for one dollar each and includes a slip to vote for People’s Choice ribs. A beer and Coca-Cola soft drink garden will be open during the festivities, sponsored by Sears and Atlantic Motor Supply (NAPA).

The cooking will continue through the night as smokers prepare pulled pork and beef brisket to be judged on Saturday afternoon. AtlantiCash prizes will be awarded for the top three places in both categories, sponsored by Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Connect-A-Dock, and Robinson’s Hardware.

A Harvest Feast of beef brisket or pulled pork sandwiches, potato chips, apple pie, and ice cream will be served at 5 p.m. during and immediately following the Salem Baptist Church Stepping Siants Drill Team performance at the depot. The $7 meal includes a drink.

More information can be found on AtlanticIowa.com or by calling the Chamber at (712) 243-3017.

One week after the Obamacare health insurance marketplaces opened, the Southwest Iowa Chapter of Organizing for Action will host a Community Conversation on the impacts and benefits of Obamacare to residents of southwest Iowa, businesses and communities. During the 5:30-p.m. Oct. 10th event in the Community Room at the Red Oak Fire Station (1904 N. Broadway), there will be a panel discussion, followed by a Question and Answer period. Light refreshments will also be served. The event is free and open to the public.

Officials with Organizing for Action (OFA) say it is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the policies that the American people voted for in 2012.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three accidents over the past week resulted in only two injuries. The most recent occurred Tuesday evening, in Anita. Officials say at around 7:15-p.m., deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on Main Street at the intersection of 2nd Street in Anita. Authorities say a 2012 Chevy Impala owned and driven by 82-year old Mildred Rosie Klemish, of Anita, was traveling east on Main Street passing the Casey’s parking lot, when a 2011 Ford F350 pickup owned and driven by 48-year old Scot Lyle Bailey, of Anita, exited the Casey’s parking lot and struck the left front of Klemish’s car. Two passengers in Klemish’s car were transported by Anita Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. One of those passengers was later transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Damage to the vehicles was estimated at $5000 each.

On October 6th, at 5:42 a.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an accident on Main Street in Griswold. A 2009 Chevy Silverado pickup owned and driven by 68-year old Gary Lee Jacobson, of Griswold, was westbound on Main Street when Jacobsen fell asleep at the wheel. The truck struck a parked a 2009 Chevy Impala owned by Stanley Oral Rossell, of Lewis. The force of the collision  pushed Rossell’s vehicle into a parked 2007 Chevy Aveo owned by Kathryn Stevens of Omaha, NE. No injuries were reported. Damage from the crash amounted to $17,500.

And, on Oct. 4th, a two-vehicle accident on eastbound Interstate 80 in Cass County resulted in $11,000 damage, but no injuries. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia driven by 45-year old Eric Allan Andersen, of Harlan, was eastbound on I-80 in the left lane when it was sideswiped by a 2004 Dodge Springer driven by 42-year old Irvin David Weaver,  of Lincoln, NE. Heavy rain played a part in the accident. No citations were issued.

Three juveniles who were reported missing from the Quakerdale Youth Center in Manning were apprehended Tuesday following a pursuit in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say the 16-year old driver of the vehicle and his passengers, a 16-year old male and 13-year old female, were being held on charges of Theft in the 2nd degree, Theft in the 5th degree, Interference with official acts, eluding, reckless driving and a variety of traffic offenses. Additional charges are pending, in other jurisdictions.

Authorities say Fremont County deputies received a call at around 10:40-a.m. Tuesday, about a pursuit involving Otoe County, Nebraska deputies entering Fremont county on Highway 2. During the chase of the stolen, 2012 Dodge Ram pickup, speeds topped 110-miles per hour near the intersection of Highway 2 and Interstate 29, as well as in the City limits of Riverton.

Fremont County deputies joined in on the pursuit at the intersection of Highways 2 & 275, but the pickup was lost in Riverton. A citizen later informed officials a vehicle matching the pickup was observed in Sidney. A vehicle matching the stolen pickup was found in the parking lot of the Sidney Elementary School. An investigation determined the teens had entered the Sidney Community Library to access the internet. When deputies arrived, the teens fled on foot and were apprehended a short time later.

The teens are being investigated as suspects in the theft of a vehicle from Manning, a pursuit in Atchison County, MO, thefts in Nemaha County, NE, and vehicle theft and vehicle arson cases in Cass County, NE.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Otoe and Cass County, NE Sheriff’s Offices, the Iowa State Patrol, and Nebraska Fire Marshall’s Office. An investigation into the teens’ activities continues.

Passage of a property tax relief package will not alter Iowa’s overall tax “climate” for businesses in 2014 according to a national group that issues a yearly ranking. For the second straight year the Tax Foundation — a conservative Washington, D.C. “think tank” — ranks Iowa 40th out of the 50 states in terms of how taxes in the state will impact businesses. That’s the “11th worst business tax climate” according to the Tax Foundation.

The group evaluates over a hundred different kinds of taxes states collect and ranks Wyoming as having the most positive tax climate for business, followed by South Dakota in the number two slot. An economist for the Tax Foundation says some states improved in the rankings because governors and legislators made their state tax codes simpler, so businesses aren’t forced to navigate “complex” tax laws.

(Radio Iowa)