Authorities have arrested a Nebraska man who allegedly drove the wrong-way on Interstate 29 in Iowa and crashed into a sports utility vehicle. Authorities say 32-year-old Nickolas Kevin Diediker, of Concord, is accused of driving southbound in the northbound lanes of I-29 around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the Sioux City Journal. Authorities say Diediker collided with an SUV and continued driving in the wrong direction. The SUV driver was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A Sioux City police officer reportedly spotted the pickup running into a concrete barrier before turning back northbound with its headlights off.

(Radio Iowa) — The former Wing Commander of the 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing has been promoted to Brigadier General and given new duties. Former Colonel Larry Christensen received his star in ceremonies at the 185th Sunday afternoon. “This wasn’t just about me. This was about my team and the people I have around me. The Midwest work ethic is alive and well today,” Christensen says. “The 185th Air Refueling Wing is a fully operational unit that travels all over the world pretty much all year round. It shows, because this is the third year that we’ve won the outstanding unit award.”

Brig. General Larry Christensen.

Christensen was presented his promotion by Major General Moe Sauley, a longtime friend.  “If you look at his biography and the jobs that he has held around the wing — he is the most well-prepared person I have seen to become a general officer,” Sauley says.  Christensen talks about his new duties. “I’ll be the chief of staff down at the Joint Force Headquarters in Des Moines. I’ll still be representing the 185th here in Sioux City, the 133rd in Fort Dodge and the 132nd in Des Moines,” Christensen says.

Christensen is a Sergeant Bluff native who began his military career as a fighter pilot. He has flown the U.S. Air Force A-7 Corsair, the F-16 Falcon and the KC-135 Stratotanker.

An eastern Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder for a shooting that killed his nephew. The Quad-City Times reports that 51-year-old Brian Francisco Duque, of Riverdale, was being held without bond at Scott County Jail. Authorities say they were called to a house shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Sheriff’s deputies attempted to revive 32-year-old Terry Warner, but he had already died from his wounds. According to an arrest affidavit, Duque was arguing with Warner, his nephew who also lived at the house. Duque allegedly grabbed a 9-millimeter handgun from his bedroom and shot Warner once.

Officials in Marion are moving forward with plans to build a new city library with public funding. The Gazette reports that city council members authorized city staff Thursday to work with a bond lawyer and start a public notice process for issuing up to $7 million in debt to help finance the project. Advocates say the expanded space is badly needed to meet growing demand. The city’s action comes after years of debate and false starts.