(Fort Atkinson, Iowa) – Authorities in Winneshiek County report one person died during a collision Monday afternoon between a tractor and a train. The accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. in the vicinity of Highway 24 and 128th Street, in Fort Atkinson.

The name of the crash victim was not immediately released. The accident remains under investigation by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and officials with the Canadian Pacific Railway.

(Radio Iowa) – Election Day is four weeks away, but the leaders of both of Iowa’s major political parties are urging their fellow partisans to vote early. Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst have helped the Iowa G-O-P fund an early voting effort. “This election is going to be about turnout, it’s going to be about turnout, it’s going to be about turnout.” Reynolds says the goal is to “bank” as many early votes as possible. “So that we can take the limited resources that we have, be more efficient with those limited resources and do everything we can to get more people to the polls.”

The Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart notes the party’s website lists “early in person” as the recommended way to vote in 2024. “And then go out and get three of your friends, all of your neighbors, everybody you know to do that same thing,” Hart said at a recent fundraiser. Kira Barker is executive director of Polk County Democrats. She says they’ve delivered a placard that lists all the deadlines for absentee ballots, early voting and election day voting to 140-thousand doors in Iowa’s largest county.

“This cycle we have been laser focused on field work,” Barker said, “…in every precinct in the county.” October 16th is the the first day Iowans may vote at county auditors’ offices. It’s also the day county auditors may begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who requested one.

DES MOINES — A boil advisory was issued Monday for the communities of Greenfield, Fontanelle and Orient in Adair County following a water main break. Schools in the County will have bottled water on-hand for students and staff until the advisory is lifted.

The incident happened around 4:00 p.m. when a contractor hit a 10 inch main near the Greenfield city water tower, resulting in pressure loss. City officials isolated the leak, and repairs are underway. Once repairs are completed the affected area will be disinfected and flushed.

Along with the City of Greenfield, Greenfield Municipal Utilities (GMU) also supplies the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) #1 – Greenfield and the City of Fontanelle with drinking water. Additionally, the City of Orient receives its water from SIRWA #1 – Greenfield.

Officials have notified affected residents through city Facebook pages and postings in public locations. Customers are encouraged to boil water that will be consumed or used for food preparation. Water should be boiled for two minutes and allowed to cool before use. Water is safe to use for showering, laundry, general washing and outdoor use without boiling.

Bacteria samples will be collected for testing. The boil advisory will be lifted when bacterial samples have tested negative for bacteria.

(Radio Iowa) – University of Iowa Health Care announced plans today (Monday) to buy a clinical cancer practice. The U-I Healthcare plans to buy Mission Cancer plus Blood’s more than 20 community clinics across Iowa, saying it will create a comprehensive state-wide cancer care network.

The Iowa Board of Regents will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the proposed purchase that includes equipment, inventory, workforce, supplies, and active business operations for 280 million dollars.

Some of the facilities involved are in Des Moines, Ankeny, Pella, Oskaloosa, Fort Dodge and Grinnell.

(Creston, Iowa) – Three people were hurt in two separate crashes today (Monday), in Creston. According to Creston Police, one of the accidents happened at around 11:15-a.m. on southbound Sumner Street, when 17-year-old Brynn Tussey, of Creston, attempted to turn east into the Casey’s Store, as she was driving a 2017 GMC Acadia (SUV).

When the SUV turned in front of a northbound 2022 Toyota Corolla, driven by 40-year-old Clarke Howe, of Creston, the SUV was struck and came to rest on the side of the road. The car came to rest in the Casey’s driveway. Creston Police say both drivers complained of pain following the crash. Tussey was flown by EMS Air to the Greater Regional Medical Center (GRMC) in Creston. Howe was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Damage from the accident amounted to a police estimated $13,000. Both vehicles were a total loss.

The second crash happened at around 1:50-p.m. at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Highway 25, in Creston. Police say a 2016 GMC Acadia SUV driven by 47-year-old Megan Ann Andreasen, of Prescott, was traveling southbound when it entered the intersection, and was collided with a westbound 2016 Chrysler Town & Country van driven by 85-year-old Patricia Elaine Mielk, of Carroll.

Witnesses told police they saw the SUV enter the intersection under a red light. Following the impact, the SUV spun and collided again with the van before hitting a sign and a fence. The SUV came to rest on the shoulder at the northeast side of the road. Patricia Mielk complained of pain and was transported by ambulance to the GRMC.

The van was a total loss, while the SUV sustained “functional damage.” The total amount of damage from the collision was a police estimated $21,500 (including damage to a church sign and the fence).

Creston Police said there were no citations issued in either crash, as of the latest report.

(Clinton County, Iowa) – A collision this (Monday) morning in eastern Iowa resulted in the deaths of three juveniles. Three other people were injured. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened in the 3700 block of the outside lane of eastbound Highway 30, when a 1999 Jeep that was stopped in the lane for reasons unknown, was hit from behind by a 2023 Dodge 4500 pickup truck. The accident took place at around 9:20-a.m.

The impact caused the Jeep to be enter the south ditch, where it came to rest. The pickup came to rest on the south shoulder of the road.

Authorities say the three juveniles died from their injuries. None of them was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the pickup was transported by Clinton Fire to Mercy Hospital in Clinton. The driver of the Jeep, who was not wearing a seat belt. They were transported to helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. A passenger in the Jeep, who was not wearing a seat belt, was also transported to the UIHC.

No names have been released at this time. The crash remains under investigation.