MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – Monarch butterflies will be the focus of a workshop at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge near the Iowa-Nebraska border. The workshop will be held at the refuge on Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. After learning about the butterflies, participants will help catch and tag the butterflies.

The refuge is located north of Omaha, Nebraska, along on U.S. Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Iowa. An entrance permit is required for all vehicles. Participants must register ahead of time by calling (712) 388-4800. More details about the refuge are available online at www.fws.gov/refuge/Desoto .

Two passengers in an SUV were injured Sunday night, when their vehicle was rear- ended by another SUV on northbound Interstate 29 in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2015 Ford Explorer driven by 36-year old Russell D. Hill, of Omaha, rear-ended a 2000 Ford Explorer, driven by 43-year old Jeremy Ewoldt, of Persia. The accident happened at around 9:33-p.m. Sunday, near mile marker 42.

Following the collision, Hill’s SUV came to rest in the median, facing south. Ewoldt pulled his SUV onto the right shoulder of I-29 and stopped. Two passengers in his Explorer were transported by EMS to a local hospital. Their names were not immediately available.

The accident remains under investigation.

A collision between a car and an SUV Sunday night in Mills County, sent two people from Nebraska to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports the drivers of the vehicles, 42-year old Ko Be, and 23-year old Johnathan Lindeman, both of Omaha, were transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs and the UNMC in Omaha, respectively, with Lindeman transported to the UNMC by LifeNet, and Ko Be transported to Mercy, by Pacific Junction Rescue. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

The Patrol says Ko Be was traveling north on Interstate 29 at around 10:15-p.m., when Be fell asleep at the wheel of a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The SUV struck the rear of a 2002 Ford Escort, driven by Lindeman, near mile marker 34.5, causing the Ford to leave the road to the right and rollover, before coming to rest on the edge of a farm field.

The Toyota also left I-29 and came to rest near the edge of a farm field.

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies, Sunday night, arrested a central Iowa woman on drug charges late Sunday night. 19-year old Skyler Rose Suzanne Wambold, of Ames, was pulled over for speeding and an insufficient number of headlights, at around 11:42-p.m., at the intersection of Highway 25 and 240th Street.

While speaking with Wambold, Deputies detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, which resulted in the discovery of numerous items of drug paraphernalia, a small amount of marijuana, and several rolled marijuana joints.

Wambold was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her cash bond was set at $1,300. A juvenile in the vehicle was cited into court for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state agency is collecting data to understand whether the Iowa Legislature’s move to cut funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers is resulting in less access to reproductive health care. The Department of Human Services has been compiling data on its state-run family planning program since it took effect in July. It follows a decision to forgo federal funding and spend state money on a family planning program that excludes clinics affiliated with abortion services.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sexual assault cases move ahead slowly in Iowa because of a testing backlog at the state crime lab. The Des Moines Register reports that 405 sexual assault cases were waiting for DNA testing at the state crime lab at the end of August.

WOODWARD, Iowa (AP) — A trail bridge in central Iowa will go dark 90 minutes earlier in hopes of curbing loud noises and vandalism, a move welcomed by residents but that some cyclists say is disappointing. KCCI-TV reports that the Boone County Conservation Board decided to start turning off the lights on the High Trestle Trail near Woodward at 10:30 p.m. starting Sept. 25. Some who live near the trail say the noise level has gotten out of control. Others say the change is punishing people who don’t break the rules.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — Monarch butterflies will be the focus of a workshop at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge near the Iowa-Nebraska border. The workshop will be held at the refuge on Sept. 23 at 10 a.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sexual assault cases move ahead slowly in Iowa because of a testing backlog at the state crime lab. The Des Moines Register reports that 405 sexual assault cases were waiting for DNA testing at the state crime lab at the end of August. That’s up from the end of 2014 when 265 cases awaited processing.

The delays mean that victims of sexual assault in Iowa may have to wait months for testing before an arrest can be made. Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper says the delay is the worst part for victims waiting for their cases to be resolved.

At the same time, the lean state budget makes it difficult to fill openings at the lab or add new positions.

A man from Nebraska was injured during a car versus motorcycle accident early Sunday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 69-year old Gary D. Snell, of Omaha, and a 2007 Ford Taurus driven by 55-year old Janet M. Franks-Bohm, of Omaha, were both westbound on I-680 at around 12:40-p.m., when the Franks-Bohm tried to exit the interstate and struck the motorcycle.

Snell was ejected from the cycle and came to rest in the north ditch, along with his motorcycle. The car came to rest on the right shoulder. Snell, who was wearing a helmet, was transported by Crescent Rescue to UNMC in Omaha.

The accident remains under investigation.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports Stuart Police, last week arrested 22-year old Cody Allen Brommel, of Stuart. Brommel was taken into custody Sept. 13th for Domestic Abuse Assault with a weapon/1st offense, and Harassment in the 1st Degree, after he allegedly struck his girlfriend in the face with a cellphone on September 3rd. After seeing a doctor, the woman learned her nose was broken. On Sept. 12th, Brommel allegedly pushed the woman to the ground, causing injury to her knee. After leaving, Brommel also allegedly left several messages for the woman, stating that she “was dead.” He was brought to the Adair County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

On Sept. 12th, 68-year old Lester John Westphal, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, after he allegedly threw his wife to the ground, kicked her and then tried to throw her out of the home they share. Westphal was later released on his own recognizance.

And, two men were arrested for Driving While Barred, in Adair County. 29-year old Derek Ellis Williams, of Paullina, was arrested by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper, on Sept. 13th, and, 53-year old Ronald Gene Emgarten, of Casey, was arrested by Adair Police on Sept. 15th. Both men were later released on $2,000 bond, each.

Three juveniles were arrested as well last week, but information concerning their alleged crimes and punishment is not available due to their age.

Nearly six-hundred Iowa evangelical Christians rose with enthusiastic ovations when their president was praised Saturday night during the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s fundraiser in Des Moines. Steve Scheffler is the organization’s president.

Scheffler said the people he was “the most disgusted” and “angry with” were Republican senators who have openly questioned Trump’s conservative credentials.

Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann told the crowd he had a “crystal clear” message.

Congressman Steve King spent part of last week sending warning flares on Twitter after Trump met with the top two Democrats in congress about President Obama’s program that protected young immigrants from deportation. King did not mention immigration or say Trump’s name during his remarks.

“We just elected a president and things are working along with some degree of significant success and some degree of frustration,” King said. However, King did Tweet a picture of the event’s organizer and note that Scheffler “triggered a standing ovation” by mentioning Trump’s name. Iowa’s two Republican U.S. senators spoke at the Saturday night event, too. Senator Chuck Grassley used most of his time on stage to talk about political philosophy and the inspiration for his own governing strategy. Senator Joni Ernst mentioned a few issues, like Trump’s roll-back of the “Waters of the U.S.” rule that was unpopular with farmers.

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford was the event’s keynote speaker. Lankford was a youth pastor for 22 years and he began by talking about leading a Christian youth camp for 15 years before his election to congress. “Learning how to deal with thousands of juveniles did prepare me better than you would think,” Lankford said, to laughter and applause. Lankford spent much of his speech, though, urging the crowd of Christians to work “locally and individually” rather than relying upon government to address every societal ill.

(Radio Iowa)

WOODWARD, Iowa (AP) — A trail bridge in central Iowa will go dark 90 minutes earlier in hopes of curbing loud noises and vandalism. Neighbors welcome the move but some cyclists are disappointed. KCCI-TV reports that the Boone County Conservation Board decided to start turning off the lights on the High Trestle Trail near Woodward at 10:30 p.m. starting Sept. 25. The lights have previously been on until midnight.

Some residents who live near the trail say the noise level has gotten out of control. Others say the change is punishing people who don’t break the rules. The conservation board plans to hold a public hearing to get feedback.

The change will be in effect until Nov. 1, when the lights will resume normal winter hours and turn off at 9 p.m.

file photo via City of Ankeny.gov.