WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) — An investigation continues into a wrong-way accident that killed three people on an Iowa interstate highway. The Des Moines Register reports that the accident happened about 4:30 a.m. Monday on Interstate 80 near the town of West Branch in Cedar County. The Iowa State Patrol says 20-year-old Eric Nunez of Plano, Illinois, was driving a 2015 Nissan Altima eastbound in the westbound lanes when the car struck a Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 70-year-old Robert Larson of West Liberty.

Nunez, Robert Larson and Teresa Larson, 68, also of West Liberty, all died in the crash.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Rita Hart is asking the U.S. House to investigate and overturn the race that Iowa says she lost by six votes, arguing that 22 ballots were wrongly excluded and others weren’t examined during the recount. The campaign provided the notice of contest to The Associated Press and announced its filing Tuesday morning. In the document, Hart argues that she would have netted 15 votes and defeated Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks had the 22 ballots been counted in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

Hart is asking the Democratic-led House to count those votes and conduct a uniform recount throughout the district’s 24 counties. She says she is confident she will be ahead after that process and declared the winner.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. (AP) — A jury trial is scheduled for February for a man accused of killing his step-sister in Iowa nearly 22 years ago. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports that an attorney for Matt W. Kennedy entered a not guilty plea on his behalf on Friday. Court records show the trial will begin Feb. 2. Kennedy remains jailed on $1 million bond. Kimberly Ratliff’s body was found inside her car on Jan. 12, 1999, in Council Bluffs. Police say Ratliff’s throat had been slashed.

Kennedy, who is now 52, was arrested in October. An arrest affidavit says advancements in DNA technology enabled police to link him to the killing.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the Board accepted the resignation of Chase Wallace as Middle School Boys Track Coach, and approved the hiring of Matt Spunaugle to fill the position. The Board also received an update on the status of COVID-19 in the District. Henrichs said they discussed the current positivity rate in Cass County, which, as of Monday was 14.9%.

Henrichs said the Board over the past few months been discussing having their remote learners return to school, unless they have a medical exemption.

In other business, Business Manager Dan Rold presented information with regard to the closing of the FY 2020 Financial Books. The report showed the District’s Spending Authority increased from $1.1-million to $1.4-million, and the Solvency Ratio went from 12.48% to 20.87%. Henrichs said for schools their size, the range should be between 15 and 20-percent, so they feel good about that. They also had what Henrichs described as an “Outstanding” Audit Report.

The Griswold School Board approved the District’s Developed Special Education Plan. Henrichs said also, there will be Special Joint Board meeting with Lenox on January 6^th, to look at continuing the shared Superintendent’s position. And a Work Session will be held 4:30-p.m. January 6^th, for the purpose of a facilities assessment.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen reports, beginning Wednesday (12/23) at 10:00 am, the Sunnyside Park Roads will be closed for the winter. The main road to the Park House will remain open as well as the rest of the park. The Parks Dept. thanks you for your cooperation, and hope you get out and enjoy the parks over the winter months.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department Tuesday (today), said 39-year old Abraham Schweers, of Lenox, was arrested at around 2:24-a.m. Monday, on a Union County Warrant for Theft 5th Degree. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond. There were two incidents of theft reported recently, to Creston Police.

Authorities say a woman residing in the 400 block of New York Avenue said Monday, that at around 1:15 AM Monday, someone came onto her property and took a radiator that was sitting outside next to the garage. The loss was estimated at $300. And, Sunday morning, a man residing in the 800 block of N. Lincoln, in Creston, told Police that sometime in the past 24 hours, someone had broke into his vehicle while it was parked in the lot at his apartment building. The man advised that a Seiko Watch and a handicap placard were taken from the vehicle. Those items were valued at $75.

(Radio Iowa) A 900-billion-dollar federal stimulus package includes additional relief to help restaurants make it through the next stage of the coronavirus pandemic. The bill allows small businesses to apply for a second forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program. Most businesses can apply for an amount equal to two-and-a-half months of payroll. But Jessica Dunker, president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, says restaurants can ask for more. She says since they’ve had such a big hit they’ll be able to have three-and-a-half months of payroll that they’ll be able to borrow and have forgiven as long as we use it in appropriate ways.

Sixty percent of the loan must be used to pay employees. Dunker estimates that even with the relief money about one thousand restaurants and bars across the state will close because of the pandemic. ” Nonetheless, the timing of it will help a number of restaurants get over that hump and into the spring when the vaccine is more widely available and we’re able to open our patios back up,” Dunker says

Dunker Iowa’s hospitality industry is estimated to have lost nearly one-point-five billion dollars in revenue in 2020.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)