A handful of state senators tried to divert 25-million more state tax dollars to the Highway 20 expansion project, but 41 of the 50 senators rejected the idea. Senator Rick Bertrand, a Republican from Sioux City, says finishing Highway 20 as a divided, four-lane roadway all across northern Iowa would be an economic benefit.  “It’s time to fund it,” Bertrand said. “Let’s finish it.” Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, says the professionals at the Iowa D-O-T should make road-building decisions, not legislators. “Wouldn’t it be nice if all of us could determine where the roads in the state go?” McCoy asked.

Senator Mark Segebart, a Republican from Vail, says only 32 miles of Highway 20 remains two-lane rather than four-lane today in Iowa.  “It deserves to be finished as soon as possible because we know there’s going to be growth that’s going to just bloom all around that highway,” Segebart says. McCoy says it’s a “terribly bad idea” for legislators to start deciding which roads get built. “It would put pork barrel politics back into this legislature,” McCoy says. “…It would forever change the formulas that have been adopted by the DOT Commission.” Bertrand responded: “Senator McCoy, I understand the danger here, but you’re right. When we build this road, the four lanes will be able to ship a lot of pork, a lot of pork on those four lanes — I promise you — a lot quicker.”

U-S Route 20 was one of the first coast-to-coast highways in the United States. Advocates of its expansion have been lobbying for the project since the 1960s. The 32-mile stretch from Early to Movile is the only part of Highway 20 in Iowa that remains two-lane.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has approved $119 million in infrastructure spending that would help maintain state buildings and public land. The House passed a $106 million version of the bill last week, and it now goes to a joint committee for lawmakers to reach a compromise.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — State inspectors say co-owners of a Sioux City massage parlor hired unlicensed employees and some are suspected of giving erotic massages. Hong Chinese Massage owners Shuling Liu and Jingyin Bai had their licenses suspended indefinitely and were each fined $1,000. Both have been charged with five counts, including committing unethical conduct.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Jurors are to resume deliberations today in a government case against a Texas company accused of exploiting mentally disabled workers in Iowa. The federal jury in Davenport deliberated five hours before informing the judge that it would need more time to decide the Henry’s Turkey Service lawsuit case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say it will take several days to reopen traffic along a bridge on Interstate 35 in Warren County that was damaged when an oversized truck crashed into an overpass. The state Department of Transportation says it expects to reopen northbound lanes of Interstate 35 at mile marker 58-point-5 after midnight Friday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – State inspectors say co-owners of a Sioux City massage parlor hired unlicensed employees, and some of them are suspected of giving erotic massages. The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy announced Tuesday that Shuling Liu and Jingyin Bai, owners of Hong Chinese Massage, had their licenses suspended indefinitely. They also were fined $1,000 each.

Liu and Bai have been charged with five counts, including committing unethical conduct. The board says it received several complaints of unlicensed therapists giving erotic massages. An employee also was arrested for prostitution following an undercover operation by law enforcement.

Records say the parlor advertised its business on several adult and exotic websites.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Tuesday evening of a man wanted for a violation of his probation, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 19-year old Devon Ray Briggs, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 5-p.m. in the 400 block of east Market Street, in Red Oak.

Briggs was being held Tuesday in the Montgomery County Jail, on $1,000 cash bond.

The Atlantic City Council will act on a couple of resolutions pertaining to the purchase of bonds when they meet Wednesday evening, at City Hall. The bonds amount to nearly $9.8-million dollars, and are designed to help pay for the City’s 2013 Capital Improvement Plan projects, and save money by reducing the amount the City pays in interest.

The Capital Improvement Projects include: Street and storm sewer work; the acquisition of traffic control devices, along with equipment for the Police and Street Departments; Improvements to City Hall, the Municipal salt shed and Senior Center, and, making a grant to Iowa Western Community College for building improvements.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will hear a report from Councilmen Shaun Shouse and Steve Livengood, representing the Cass County Public Safety Committee. Their report is with regard to the County’s exploration of housing for a new communications center. As we reported last week following the Board of Supervisor’s meeting, the County would like to know if the City would be interested in considering options for moving any or all of the City’s offices to a joint-use facility, assuming a suitable lot or building could be found.

The Council will also hear a report from John Lund, Assistant to City Administrator Doug Harris, with regard to enforcement of the Minimum Maintenance Code. And, they’re expected to act on the setting of May 15th as the date for a Public Hearing on any necessary adjustments and/or amendments to the City’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget, as well as a request from the Jaycees, for permission to hold the annual Fireworks display on July 4th, at the Airport. The event is expected to cost $6,000, with the City paying the cost upfront. The Jaycees would reimburse the City for the expense, after July 4th.

The City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday, and is normally televised live on Channel 18, in Atlantic.