(Radio Iowa) – A wind turbine south of the Williamsburg exit on Interstate-80 caught fire overnight and sparked a field fire. According to a Facebook post by the Williamsburg Fire Department, the head of the wind turbine was fully engulfed in flames when fire fighters got to the scene shortly before 1 a.m. Falling debris set the field surrounding the tower on fire. Officials say the fire was put out by 3 a.m. and a crew from MidAmerican arrived on scene to oversee operation of the turbine.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican candidate Todd Halbur says his record as a state government whistleblower shows he has the courage to be state auditor. Halbur says as chief financial officer of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, he discovered the agency was overcharging Iowa restaurants, bars and retailers for liquor. “When I disclosed that information, I ultimately paid that price and they fired me,” Halbur says. “…Two weeks, ago the jury saw what I saw.” A jury awarded Halbur a million dollars in his lawsuit alleging his 2018 firing was done in retaliation. “If you look at the actual court document, I sued the Alcoholic Beverages Division and its administrator, Stephen Larson,” Halbur says. “I did not sue Governor Reynolds, even though Stephen Larson is an appointee of Governor Reynolds.”

Halbur was hired during Governor Terry Branstad’s administration and fired after Kim Reynolds became governor. During an appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S, Halbur said he had suggested an investigation of the liquor control agency. “That we should go to the auditor’s office, the AG’s office and the governor’s office through the Department of Management,” Halbur said. Halbur was asked: “Did that happen?” Halbur answered: “No….I was fired. I don’t know the reason why.”

During the trial, state officials said they took corrective action after Halbur found the discrepancies and he was fired for other reasons. Halbur’s allegations about overcharges in liquor sold by the state and Halbur’s firing happened before current State Auditor Rob Sand was elected. Sand says his agency has reviewed Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission procedures and have confirmed the overcharging is no longer happening. Iowa is one of 18 states where a state agency acts as the statewide wholesaler for liquor.

(Cass County, Iowa) – A man from Atlantic, last week, waived his rights and, through his attorney, entered a plea of guilty to charges associated with an incident on Cedar Street, in May 2022. 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay was charged with Willful Injury, Assault Causing Bodily Injury and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense, in connection to an incident of stabbing.

Asay remains held in the Washington County, Nebraska jail, on charges of 2nd Degree Assault, 3rd Degree Assault, Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Prohibited Person and Use of Weapon to Commit Felony. Those charges were the result of an investigation into a Blair, NE. stabbing incident that occurred in August.

A month earlier (July, 20220) a jury in Cass County found Asay Not Guilty on charges of Attempted Murder, Arson 1st Degree and Assault Causing Bodily Injury that stemmed from a May 4th house fire on Cedar Street, in Atlantic.

(Ames, Iowa/Iowa DOT News) – Making sure you are paying attention when you’re driving near those working on the road is essential to helping you avoid a crash and keeping everyone in the area safe, the main priority of the Iowa Department of Transportation. Last year we told you about a program that added a loud noise to a piece of equipment known as an attenuator. An attenuator is typically a trailer pulled by a large truck. Their purpose is to block oncoming traffic from entering a work zone and they are designed to take a hit instead of a worker if a driver happens to not be paying attention. While we’ve seen success with adding sound to this equipment, the next step to keeping you safer on the road is to automate the triggering of the noise.

Des Moines – The Iowa Insurance Division is reminding customers that may have been harmed by Andrew Joyce or Joyce Funeral Home in Emmetsburg to complete the claims process.   The claims process began in September and all claims must be submitted on or before Monday, November 7, 2022. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said “Letters via postal mail have been sent to those known to have been harmed in this case, however, there may be more people still out there that have not yet come forward. I encourage any and all Iowans that believe they have been harmed to fill out a claim form either online or via mail for our office to review.”

Customers harmed may submit a claim online or by sending the Iowa Insurance Division a completed paper claim form.  Claims must be submitted on or before Monday, November 7, 2022.
Submitting any supporting documentation with the claim form will help the Iowa Insurance Division evaluate and process the claim.  Customers harmed may still make a claim even if they do not have all or any of the documentation for the claim. 

If you have any questions regarding the claims process, contact Connie Dykstra by email at connie.dykstra@iid.iowa.gov or by phone at 515-314-9380.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Traffic Unit are asking that anyone who may have witnessed a fatal crash on Interstate 29 this weekend, to please call them. At around 4:10-a.m., Sunday, Officers were dispatched to I-29 northbound at mile marker 50, for a reported vehicle fire. The caller advised “A vehicle is on fire on the side of the Interstate,” they were not sure at the time, if anyone was inside.’

When police and firefighters arrived, they found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames. After the blaze was extinguished by Fire Department Personnel, a body was found inside. Authorities say the vehicle appeared to have struck a sign pole on the side of the roadway and split apart, causing a large debris field.

Council Bluffs PD Shield

The accident remains under investigation. If you have any information about the crash, please contact the Council Bluffs PD’s Traffic Division at 712-328-4948 or 712-890-5169.