SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say there may be a delay in starting repair work on a bridge that spans the Big Sioux River, connecting Sioux City to North Sioux City, South Dakota.

The Sioux City Journal reports the anticipated five-month closure of the Military Road bridge may not happen until 2019. The city had originally slotted the work to begin this year but says a languishing permit process through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could push back the start date.

Sioux City submitted a required permit application to the Corps in February. Civil engineer Brittany Anderson says the Corps ran into funding issues that hampered its ability to approve and review the permits, leaving the city’s permit application backlogged among several other project permits.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Iowa say three people have died and three others have been injured in the head-on crash of a sport utility vehicle and a car. Police say the crash happened Friday evening in Cedar Falls.

Cedar Falls police say in a news release that the westbound car on Viking Road was speeding when it crossed the center line and hit the eastbound SUV. Police say three people in the car were ejected and were killed. Three people in the SUV were hospitalized with what officials believe are non-life-threatening injuries.

The names of those involved had not been released by midday Saturday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 2-year-old girl found unresponsive along with her mother in a Council Bluffs apartment fire has died. The Omaha World-Herald reports that A’Nyia Patton died Friday night at Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was taken after being found by firefighters in the burning apartment Wednesday morning. An autopsy has been ordered.

The girl’s mother, 37-year-old Michelle Patton, remained in critical condition at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Firefighters were sent to the blaze 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Within minutes, they had the fire under control and found the mother and child in a bedroom. At the time, neither had a pulse and CPR was started to revive them.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Those parking at some downtown Des Moines meters will soon have to pay for extended hours. The Des Moines Register reports that parking meters in downtown Des Moines’ Court Avenue entertainment district will begin charging on nights and Saturdays starting Wednesday. With the change, meters will charge for parking from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Currently, the meters stop charging at 6 p.m. on weekdays. There is no charge for weekend parking. Free on-street parking on Sundays will remain.

The change is part of the city’s Park Downtown Des Moines program intended to move long-term parkers into parking garages. As part of the program, Des Moines will lower the hourly rate it charges at city-owned parking garages by $1.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An officer for a contractor who admitted falsifying and submitting invoices that resulted in nearly $808,000 in overcharges to the Iowa Transportation Department has been sentenced to supervised release. Federal prosecutors say 31-year-old Jenna Wilson, of Sergeant Bluff, was sentence Friday in Sioux City’s federal courthouse. In addition to two years’ supervised release, she was ordered to pay a nearly $34,500 fine.

Court records say Wilson raised the per-unit price on expanded polystyrene fill used in the 2016 reconstruction of the Interstate 29 interchange at Salix. The polystyrene fill was properly invoiced by its original supplier. Wilson pleaded guilty in August to making false statements.

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

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources wants to know residents’ thoughts on improving water quality in the state. The DNR is conducting its triennial review of water quality standards. Iowa residents can attend one of three meetings across the state. The meetings allow Iowans the opportunity to provide the DNR with information to help in setting the goals for streams and rivers.

The meetings are set for 4 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Urbandale, Jan. 24 in Washington and Jan. 25 in Harlan. The public can also submit written comments by mail to Matthew Dvorak with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources or by email at matthew.dvorak@dnr.iowa.gov .

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

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A van and an SUV collided Friday afternoon in northwest Iowa’s Cherokee County. The accident resulted in the drivers of both vehicles being transported to the hospital. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2007 Dodge Caravan driven by 26-year old Elizabeth Timmins, was traveling west on Highway 3 at around 3:15-p.m., when it crossed the center line of the road and side-swiped a 2013 Chevy Traverse SUV. The SUV was driven by 65-year old Constance Mohn. Both woman are from Cherokee.

Following the impact, the van came to rest in the westbound lane, and the SUV entered the south ditch. Both women were transported by ambulance to the Cherokee Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Timmins was charged with Driving the wrong way on a two-lane highway.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former lawmaker says the Iowa Legislature has done nothing “to prevent additional inappropriate behavior and ensuing problems” after sexual misconduct allegations were reported in the Republican Senate caucus. Republican Mary Kramer was tasked with reviewing policies and released her report Friday. She says a formal process needs to be made in which all employees at the Capitol can file misconduct complaints. She says there also needs to be assurance the complaints will be fairly investigated.

DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man’s body has been found inside a house that burned down in northeastern Nebraska’s Dakota City. The Sioux City Journal reports that the fire was reported late Thursday night. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters who arrived to battle the blaze found the body inside. The body was taken to Sioux City, Iowa, for an autopsy. Officials say the victim was Native American, but do not yet know his identity.

NASHUA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man plowing snow has been killed in a crash with a train in northeastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 64-year-old David Zwanziger, of Nashua, was driving a grader and plowing along a county road when he was struck by a westbound train at a crossing around 7:45 a.m. Friday. Officials say Zwanziger died at the scene.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — Police in the Des Moines suburb of Pleasant Hill are looking for a man suspected of firing a gun he found in an unlocked car at a homeowner who confronted him. Television station KCCI reports that that the victim, Billy Sowder, found the man rummaging through a neighbor’s truck early Thursday morning. Sowder says he took his own rifle with him to confront the man. He says that’s when the thief turned and fired a handgun. No one was hurt.