FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A Colorado man faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly throwing water on Iowa Rep. Steve King while the Republican congressman was eating lunch in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Blake Gibbins was arrested Friday at the Mineral City Mill and Grill. The 26-year-old from Lafayette, Colorado, is charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

Fort Dodge police say in a news release that Gibbins approached King’s group and asked King who he was. When King replied, Gibbins allegedly threw a glass of water on him. Police say others seated at the table also got wet.

King has drawn criticism for racist statements. House Republican leaders this year stripped King of his committee assignments. Still, the nine-term congressman has said he will seek re-election in 2020.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An estimated $625 million jackpot is on the line in Saturday’s Powerball drawing. It would be the seventh-highest U.S. lottery jackpot ever. The estimated lump sum payout would be $380.6 million before taxes. The odds of winning are roughly 1 in 292.2 million.

No one has won the Powerball jackpot since the day after Christmas. Twenty-four drawings since then have failed to produce a winner, including the drawing on Wednesday.

The buyers of three tickets shared the country’s largest jackpot. It was a nearly $1.59 billion Powerball prize drawn on Jan. 13, 2016. A South Carolina purchaser won a $1.54 billion Mega Millions jackpot. That was the nation’s second-largest lottery prize ever.

AMES, Iowa – March 23, 2019 – NOON – The Iowa Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has reopened northbound I-29 from the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood) to the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs). This location was previously closed due to flooding.

Interstate reopenings at this time:

• I-29 in both directions between the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood)
• The I-29/U.S. 34/ U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34 near Pacific Junction) is only open to I-29 traffic exiting to go east on U.S. 34 toward Glenwood.

Interstate closures remain in place for:

• I-680 in both directions between the Nebraska border and I-29 near Crescent (Mormon Bridge).
• The North portion of I-680 between I-80 and I-29 remains open for northbound traffic..
• I-29 in both directions between the I-680 interchange (near Loveland) and North 25th Street in Council Bluffs.
• I-29 in both directions between the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood, IA) and U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO)

Several road closures remain in western Iowa and throughout the state. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for current flood-related closures and detour routes.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Roadways can turn hazardous and deadly during winter’s wrath, and a project under way in Iowa is looking at one possible solution: Heating the pavement. The Ames Tribune reports that the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State University are working together on heated pavement technology. ISU engineering professor Halil Ceylan is also director of the Institute for Transportation’s program for sustainable pavement engineering. He is principal investigator of the heated-pavement project, which began as class project.

Lab tests and studies began in 2013. The first testing was at the Des Moines Airport. That caught the attention of the Iowa Department of Transportation, which along with the Highway Research Board, now provides funding for the study.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

One person died following a single-vehicle accident Friday night, in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol says 40-year old Melissa Jean Sears, of Ankeny, died when the 2002 Jeep Liberty she was driving failed to negotiate a curve in the road as she was traveling north on Ute Avenue, north of Booneville. The SUV struck a sign near the intersection with 340th Trail and then a tree. Sears – who was wearing a seat belt — died at the scene of the crash that happened at around 11:25-p.m.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputies and Waukee Police.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES – Effective immediately, Iowans can call 211 with questions or concerns about the massive flooding and what steps they can take toward recovery. The Flood Hotline is open 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. In addition, Governor Kim Reynolds also launched an easy-to-navigate website at floods2019.iowa.gov.

The 2019 Iowa Floods website includes sections on:

·         Recovery resources- Grant programs, housing, rebuilding, staying safe, farming and agriculture resources, and replacing documents.

·         Travel information

·         Latest news

·         Social media information

·         Additional resources and information will be added to the website on a continuing basis

The Iowa Department of Transportation, reports this (Saturday) morning, that in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has reopened southbound I-29 from the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood). This location was previously closed due to flooding.

Interstate re-openings at this time:

• Southbound I-29: Between the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood)
• The I-29/U.S. 34/ U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34 near Pacific Junction) is only open to southbound I-29 traffic exiting to go east on U.S. 34 toward Glenwood.

Interstate closures remain in place for:

• I-680 in both directions between the Nebraska border and I-29 near Crescent (Mormon Bridge).
• The North portion of I-680 between I-80 and I-29 remains open for northbound traffic.
• I-29 in both directions between the I-680 interchange (near Loveland) and North 25th Street in Council Bluffs.
• Northbound I-29 between U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO) and the Iowa 92/U.S. 275 interchange (in Council Bluffs).
• Southbound I-29 between the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood, IA) and U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO)

Several road closures remain in western Iowa and throughout the state. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for current flood-related closures and detour routes.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest on drug charges Friday afternoon, of 26-year old Justin Lewis Marsden, of Red Oak. Marsden was taken into custody at around 4:25-p.m. following an investigation into an incident that took place Thursday evening. Authorities say at around 6:10-p.m. Thursday, Marsden was at a convenience store in Red Oak, when he accidentally dropped a baggie onto the counter in front of the clerk. The baggie allegedly contained a considerable amount of methamphetamine. Marsden ran out of the store, but was apprehended Friday and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/meth, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $1,000.

A traffic stop Friday afternoon in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 33-year old Colbie Jo Sue Hunter, from Red Oak. Hunter was taken into custody for Driving While Barred, after officers — who knew she had a barred driver’s license – saw her driving on a public highway. Hunter was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Red Oak Police said there were two, injury accidents Friday. The first happened at around 10:50-a.m., in the 400 block of E. Hammond Street. Officials say upon further investigation, it was determined a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by 44-year old David Fussell, of Red Oak, was traveling eastbound, when Fussell suffered from an apparent, unknown medical event that caused him to lose control of his vehicle. The SUV struck the left side of a legally parked 2003 Saturn Ion, and the front of a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, before coming to rest in a yard. Fussell was transported by ambulance to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Damage from the collisions amounted to $9,000. No citations were issued.

The second accident took place at around 5:30-p.m., Friday, at the intersection of Highway 34 and N. 8th Street, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 2004 Dodge Durango driven by 30-year old Krista Lynn Straight, of Red Oak, was stopped at the intersection and waiting to turn south onto N. 8th Street, when her SUV was struck on the passenger side rear, by a 2014 Buick Enclave that was driven by 28-year old Brittany Dawn Eberly, from Gravity. The accident happened when Eberly failed to notice the stopped Dodge. She swerved to avoid a collision, but was unsuccessful. Eberly was transported to MCMH after complaining of pain.  She was cited for Following too Close. Damage from the collision amounted to $28,000.