The Labor Day weekend is typically one of the most dangerous holiday periods of the year on Iowa roads. Patrick Hoye, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says traffic crashes over this last holiday weekend of the summer often involve drunk drivers. “For example, in 2016 over the Labor Day holiday, we had three traffic fatalities and two of them involved alcohol-impaired drivers,” Hoye said.

Nationally, statistics show around 40-percent of crash fatalities over this holiday involve an impaired driver. Police across Iowa have pledged to step-up enforcement efforts through Monday.”You’ll see additional officers out,” Hoye said. “Through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, we provide funding to make sure that there are additional officers out during this high travel, high crash time.”

Hoye says they’ll place an emphasis on impaired driving. He pleads with Iowans to plan ahead – and avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking. While there were just three fatalities on Iowa roadways over the Labor Day holiday last year, Hoye noted there were seven people killed in crashes in Iowa over the same period in 2015.

(Radio Iowa)

A car rear-ended a motorcycle Thursday night in central Iowa’s Warren County, leaving the operator of cycle dead. The Iowa State Patrol reports 56-year old James Dugan, of Indianola, died at the scene of the accident, which took place at around 8:30-p.m. on Highway 65, near the intersection with Nevada Street, in Indianola.

Officials say Dugan was southbound on Highway 65 and preparing to turn east onto Nevada Street, when the 1986 Harley Davidson FX-RT he was riding was hit from behind by a southbound 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The driver of the car, 18-year old Austin Beener, of New Virginia, was not injured.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Indianola Police and other emergency personnel.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s treasurer is warning that the state should borrow money to ensure it can pay its bills on time amid a potential budget shortfall, but Gov. Kim Reynolds argues the move is politically driven. Fitzgerald, a Democrat, announced Thursday that he had asked the Republican governor to authorize borrowing. He argues it would be a “sensible way” to manage “uncertainties.” Brenna Smith, Reynolds’ press secretary, says Fitzgerald is engaging in “headline-grabbing scare tactics.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is seeking federal approval to cut a key Medicaid health care benefit for the elderly and poor in an effort to save money. The state has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to eliminate a provision that allows a person to get Medicaid coverage three months before he or she submits an application to join the program. DHS estimates $36.7 million would be saved, including $9.7 million for the state. The policy would impact new Medicaid patients.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 51-year-old Clinton gun shop owner has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to federal firearms violations. The Quad-City Times reports that Brad Ries was sentenced Wednesday in Davenport to two six-month prison sentences _ to be served at the same time _ for knowingly transferring a firearm without a background check and making a false statement to an ATF agent.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa hospital plans to construct a $9.78 million building that will be able to serve more behavioral health patients. The Globe Gazette reports that officials from Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason announced details about the 27,200 square-foot facility Wednesday. The project will be funded by donations from the Jan Again Foundation and through a reinvestment of the hospital’s funds and capital. The hospital is expected to be completed by 2019.

An accident Thursday morning involving a semi and a tractor northeast of Treynor resulted in three people being injured, one of them seriously.  According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, 54-year old Brian Lockwood, of Oakland, was driving a 2011 Kenworth semi tractor-trailer westbound on Highway 6 at around 9:45-a.m., and was trying to pass a Kubota tractor, at about the same time the tractor was making a left-hand turn. The vehicles collided near the intersection with 330th Street.

During the collision, 51-year-old Craig Rath, of Treynor, who was driving the tractor, was ejected from the machine and landed on the roadway. The tractor was split in half and also came to rest in the roadway. Rath suffered serious injuries, and was flown from the scene to a trauma center. Lockwood, and a passenger in the semi cab, 85-year-old Ronald Lockwood, of Oakland, were treated at the scene and released.

The accident remains under investigation.

A man from Guthrie County died during a single-vehicle rollover accident Thursday afternoon, in Guthrie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 23-year old Tyler Rutherford, of Guthrie Center, was ejected from his pickup truck and died at the scene of the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Rutherford was driving a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup northbound on Frontier Road at around 1:30-p.m., when the truck dropped onto the right shoulder and went out of control. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest in the east ditch.

Authorities say the accident on Frontier Road happened just north of 280th Street, about seven-miles north of Adair. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and Adair Fire and Rescue assisted the State Patrol at the scene.

An Atlantic man will appear in court on November 13th for a sentencing hearing related to three OWI offenses that occurred earlier this year. On Monday, 50-year old Rex Dean McDermott entered a plea of guilty to the charges, thereby avoiding a trial that had been scheduled for Sept.  12th.  Department of Corrections officials will prepare a pre-sentence investigation for the court, prior to his actual sentencing.

McDermott was arrested in connection with OWI offenses that took place March 23rd, May 7th and June 29th. The latest incident resulted in McDermott suffering severe injuries after he was ejected from a UTV that crashed near 10th and Mulberry Streets. McDermott was driving the machine southbound on Mulberry, when he crossed the street and hit a utility pole guide wire, causing the UTV to flip on its side and land on a driveway.

He was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital and later flown by helicopter to an Omaha Hospital for extensive treatment.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of three people accused of trying to pass counterfeit cash at Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has pleaded not guilty in the case. The Sioux City Journal reports that 27-year-old Jackelen Hartsock, of Le Mars, Iowa, entered her written plea Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of forgery.

Hartsock was arrested on Aug. 9 after police say she, 26-year-old Kurt Jones and 29-year-old Brittany Derby made several cash transactions at the casino on Aug. 5. The bills were later found to be counterfeit. Jones and Derby, also both of Le Mars, are each charged with forgery. They have yet to be arraigned.

A Shelby County man was arrested Wednesday night. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says 57-year old Mark William Tearney, of Tennant, was arrested at around 9-p.m. on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault (Displaying a weapon), after Deputies were called to the 500 Block of 8th Street in Tennant, for a family disturbance.

Upon arrival and further investigation, Tearney was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was held without bond pending an appearance with the magistrate. Tearney appeared in front of Shelby County Magistrate today (Thursday), and was being held under a $2,000 Cash/Surety Bond.

Tearney

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports 10 people were arrested by his officers over the past couple of weeks. On Wednesday, 52-year old Michael Rowedder, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug paraphernalia.  On Tuesday, Atlantic Police arrested 48-year old Joel Brannan, of Audubon, for Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or subsequent offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Last Saturday, 35-year old Chad Wilcox, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. On. Aug. 25th, 45-year old Jesse Simmons, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred. On Aug. 24th, 21-year old Blake Zweck, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI, Assault on a Person in Certain Occupations, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. That same day, 25-year old Alejandro Ovalle, of Lansing, MI., was arrested by Atlantic Police for Public Intoxication.

On Aug. 23rd., officers with the A-PD arrested 33-year old Stephen Foote, of Atlantic, for Lottery Forgery or Theft or Tickets. On Aug. 21st, 45-year old Lisa Shrimpton, of Omaha, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. On Aug. 18th, 39-year old Alysha Steece, of Jefferson, was arrested in Atlantic for Shoplifting (4th degree Theft).

And, on Aug. 16th, 31-year old Justin Howd, of Manilla, was arrested by Atlantic Police on Cass County warrants for Theft in the 1st degree and Burglary in the 3rd degree.

All suspects were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

A traffic stop at around 12:10-a.m. today (Thursday) in Page County resulted in the alleged assault of a Deputy and the arrest of a woman on a trio of charges. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a pickup truck was pulled over for a traffic violation, and the driver, 39-year old Jill Christine Currin, of rural Braddyville, was given tests for driving while under the influence.

During the arrest, Currin assaulted the Deputy, causing injury to the Deputy.  Currin was taken to the Page County Jail on charges of Interference with official acts, Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence 1^st offense, Criminal mischief 5^th degree, and Assault on persons engaged in certain occupations (a Peace Officer).

She was unable to post the $4,000 cash only bond, and is currently being held in the Page County Jail.