Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:00 a.m. CST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One person is dead and another seriously injured after the stolen SUV they were in crashed during a police pursuit in central Nebraska. WOWT-TV reports that 25-year-old Autumn Stadley of Omaha died at the scene of the crash Friday night, and 26-year-old Luis Elias was airlifted to a hospital. Authorities say a deputy began pursuit of a Dodge Durango stolen from IOWA, when the SUV failed to stop after a traffic violation.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — An extensive restoration of a historic one-room school in an eastern Iowa city now includes power. But lighting and outlets have been hidden to ensure the structure appears as it did in 1923, when there was no electricity. The Quad-City Times reports that the Forest Grove School in Bettendorf was built in 1873 and closed in 1957. The building is being restored through a community effort to return the structure to its 1923 condition. It will open as a museum and interpretive center.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A visit by Santa Claus to a Muscatine City Council meeting ended with police escorting him from the room after he gave council members and the city administrator lumps of coal. The Muscatine Journal reports Muscatine resident Max Kauffman dressed as Santa to deliver the gifts Thursday. Kaufman has been a critic of the council’s efforts to remove Mayor Diana Broderson from office. After giving Broderson candy, Kauffman gave coal to the others before the police chief escorted him from the room.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Insurers for the city of Des Moines paid $2.1 million to a lawyer who alleged he suffered head injuries when he was hit by a falling garbage can. The city this week released a copy of its November settlement with Jaysen McCleary in response to open records requests. McCleary alleged that he was struck in January 2014 by a solid waste container that fell from a city truck collecting it outside his home

A 17-year old female and a 20-year old male were injured during a collision at around 1:40-p.m. Saturday, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say the unidentified teenage female driver was operating a 2002 Nissan Altima eastbound on 9th Avenue, when the car entered the intersection on a red light.

A 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 60-year old Steven Hovey, of Avoca, had exited Interstate 80 northbound to 9th Avenue and entered the same intersection on a green light, when the pickup struck the car on its passenger side. A back seat passenger in the car, 20-year old Cody Mabbitt, of Carter Lake, was ejected from the car an suffered minor, non-life threatening injuries.

The 17-year old and Mabbitt were transported to the UNMC by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue, for treatment of minor, non-life threatening injuries. Hovey was not injured. The 17-year old female was cited for Operating While Disqualified, Obedience to Stop Signs and Signals, and No Proof of Insurance.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One person is dead and another seriously injured after the stolen SUV they were in crashed during a police pursuit in central Nebraska.

WOWT-TV reports that 25-year-old Autumn Stadley of Omaha died at the scene of the crash Friday night, and 26-year-old Luis Elias was airlifted to a hospital in Lincoln.

Authorities say a Merrick County deputy began pursuit of a Dodge Durango when the SUV failed to stop after a traffic violation in Central City. The SUV crashed and rolled near the town of Osceola in Polk County. Both Stadley and Elias were thrown from the vehicle.

Police say the Durango had been stolen in Iowa. Authorities are trying to determine who was driving the SUV.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in Congress are celebrating the signing of President Donald Trump’s tax proposal. The voters who elected Trump seem pleased but far from ecstatic.

Trump was elected with big support from blue collar voters who wanted him to change the economy. Some are not quite sure what to make of a tax bill whose biggest benefits go to corporations and the wealthy.

Most Americans will get a tax break. Some Trump voters in business will see major benefits. And others hope the wealth trickles down to them.

Sam Baker, an Iowa farmer, summed it up when he said: “It’s going to help me a little, I suppose.”

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reminds residents of the community, that iF 1-to 2 inches of snow falls this weekend and accumulates on the streets, that a citywide on street parking ban would be in force until the streets are plowed & the snowfall ends. Vehicles not removed are subject to parking tickets & tow/impound. Brothers said the snowplows are primed and ready to go there is a significant snowfall.  Crews will be monitoring conditions, with staff on standby, if the flakes start to fly.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A visit by Santa Claus to a Muscatine City Council meeting ended with police escorting him from the room after he gave council members and the city administrator lumps of coal. The Muscatine Journal reports Muscatine resident Max Kauffman dressed as Santa to deliver the gifts Thursday night. Kaufman has been a critic of the council’s efforts to remove Mayor Diana Broderson from office, a move blocked by court action. After she was reinstated, she won a second term in November.

Kauffman also has criticized City Administrator Gregg Mandsager, who has sued the mayor and city. After giving Broderson candy, Kauffman gave coal to the others. Upon reaching Mandsager, the administrator asked the police chief to escort him from the room. Kauffman was banned from the chamber for six months.

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

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Insurers for the city of Des Moines paid $2.1 million to a lawyer who alleged he suffered head injuries when he was hit by a falling garbage can. The city this week released a copy of its November settlement with Jaysen McCleary in response to open records requests. McCleary alleges he was struck in January 2014 by a solid waste container that fell from a city truck collecting it outside his home. His lawsuit alleged the city was negligent, and he sought damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering.

During the case, reports from medical experts who evaluated McCleary were inadvertently made public by one of his attorneys. An Iowa Supreme Court justice had ordered the Des Moines Register not to publish the information, but lifted the order Tuesday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge visitor center is closing for the Christmas holiday starting on Sunday. Refuge officials say it will remain closed through Monday and reopen for regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The visitor center will also close for the New Year’s Day federal holiday on Jan. 1. It will reopen on Jan. 2. The seasonal sections of the refuge tour road and refuge grounds will remain open during those federal holidays.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located 25 miles north of Omaha on U.S. Highway 30 between Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Blair, Nebraska.

Thousands of Iowans were expected to be hitting the highways Friday through this weekend, for Christmas activities. The man who oversees the state’s Highway Helper program, Scott Marler, deals with problems throughout the year. He says one of the biggest keys to making sure you get to your destination without problems is to be sure your car is ready. “One of our most frequent items that we see out on the roadsides actually are stalled vehicles,” Marler says.

‘Highway Helper trucks operate on the interstates in the Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area. Marler says a little preparation can prevent problems during busy holiday times, and throughout the year. “Travel prepared and do keep you vehicle maintained,” Marler says, “particularily during these winter months. That’s when we are most concerned with people finding themselves inadvertently in harms way.”

His crews see a lot of other things happening out on the roadways that could lead to problems. Marler says most can be prevented. “Drive alert, don’t drive distracted, put the cellphone down. Buckle up. Every seat every time,” Marler says. “If you do those things, people will get to where they need to go safely.” Marler says the Highway Helpers are out weekdays from five a-m until eight p-m. And he says they are also out sometimes during major holidays when traffic is expected to be heavy.

(Radio Iowa)