Two men were injured in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 29 Northbound on Wednesday. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash occurred at the 78 mile-marker at about 11:20 p.m.

A 1999 Ford F-150 driven by 35-year-old Paul A Vail of Council Bluffs was northbound on I-29 and attempted to take the exit ramp Vail lost control and left the roadway, striking a light pole and two trees. Vail and a passenger 61-year-old Jeffrey W. Nielsen were both injured during the crash. Nielsen was flown by UNMC Helicopter to UNMC in Omaha. Vail was transported by Missouri Valley Fire and Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Nielsen was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash and Vail’s life was believed to be saved by having his seatbelt on.

Vail was being investigated for being intoxicated while driving.

At their meeting on Wednesday night the Atlantic City Council set the dates for fireworks usage in the city.  The ordinance that is currently in place allows fireworks use on July 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The council decided at the meeting that they would shift the dates to July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th this year due to the 4th being on a Saturday. The idea was to alleviate having fireworks discharged on a Sunday. The hours on the set dates for usage will be 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The Council also decided that they will set the dates for fireworks discharge in the city on an annual resolution basis.

The Council also reminded residents that the annual city fireworks display will be held on July 3rd at the AMU well fields next to the Atlantic Little League Complex.

(Radio Iowa) — The Internal Revenue Service is renewing its warnings for Iowans to beware of crooks who are trying to pry away their personal financial data. I-R-S criminal investigator Steve Slazinik says more cons are appearing every week during the pandemic.  “As you know, scammers will take advantage of any situation they can to make money,” Slazinik says, “and a worldwide health pandemic is no different.”

Criminals are sending out bogus emails and texts claiming to have a cure for COVID-19, or they’re pretending to be I-R-S agents seeking personal identification so taxpayers can receive their coronavirus stimulus checks. “If it does sound suspicious, it likely is,” Slazinik says. “For instance, the IRS will not call or ask you to verify your payment details. So do not give out your bank account information or other account information, even if someone claims it’s necessary to get the check or to get the payment.”

Slazinik says there are so many scams emerging, it’s difficult to identify and prosecute all of them. He advises anyone with questions to contact the agency directly at irs-dot-gov.

ELDRIDGE, Iowa (AP) — Wildlife officials in eastern Iowa are warning people to stay away from cornfields near Eldridge, where a roaming black bear has been drawing crowds of sightseers. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources say those who ignore the warning could end up being ticketed. The bear — a rare sight in Iowa — showed up in recent days and has been spotted munching on corn and taking frequent naps.

Wildlife officials say sightseers pose a safety threat to the bear, because they’re interfering with officials’ efforts to guide it back north and that could mean they would have to euthanize the animal.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In 2016, President Donald Trump carried Iowa by nearly 10 points. That’s a larger margin than he won Texas. At the time, Iowa’s status as a swing state seemed questionable. But now, there are signs that Iowa may be competitive again as the president’s popularity there has waned. And that sentiment has spread to other races, with Republican Sen. Joni Ernst facing a surprisingly strong challenge as she makes a bid for a second term.

The shift appears to be propelled by the president’s uneven handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his aggressive response to protests over the death of George Floyd. And Democratic voter registration in the state has increased.

ANKENY, IA — Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced two grants for airports in Iowa’s Third Congressional District to provide direct assistance to offset loss of revenue from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The Polk County Aviation Authority received $69,000 for Ankeny Regional Airport, and the City of Shenandoah received $20,000 for the Shenandoah Municipal Airport.

“Airports like Ankeny and Shenandoah help keep our local economies moving, and with the diminished demand caused by COVID-19 they need our help to stay afloat,” said Rep. Axne. “I’m glad to see more of the funding from the CARES Act coming back to Iowa to help our communities deal with the deep ripple effects of this public health crisis.”

 The grants were awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – and were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which passed unanimously through Congress in March. With the addition of previous grants announced in April, the total grant awards for airports in central and southwest Iowa is now $23,415,329.

Details about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s aid programs in Iowa can be found in Rep. Axne’s Iowa COVID-19 Response Tracker.