COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Nov. 15, 2019 – Construction crews will open new northbound Interstate 29 lanes in Council Bluffs next week, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 construction office. To prepare for these changes, temporary, daytime and overnight lane and ramp closures are needed. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider an alternate route, slow down and follow detours.

Monday, November 18 Impacts

• All eastbound I-80 traffic will be consolidated into one lane between southbound I-29 and Madison Avenue (Exit 5). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Single lane closures will be needed on westbound I-80 Express, west of the East System Interchange (Exit 4).

Tuesday, November 19 Impacts

• Alternating lane closures will be needed along northbound I-29 between U.S. 275/Iowa 92 (Exit 47) and South Expressway (Exit 49). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• U.S. 275/Iowa 92 ramp to northbound I-29 is expected to close at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday.
  • Access to northbound I-29/westbound I-80 is expected to re-open at 6 a.m., Wednesday.
  • Access to eastbound I-80 is expected to re-open at 3 p.m., Wednesday.
• Northbound I-29 traffic will shift to new, permanent pavement and a new ramp from northbound I-29 to westbound I-80 Express lanes will be opened.

Wednesday, November 20 Impacts

• The U.S. 275/Iowa 92 ramp to eastbound I-80 remains closed and is expected to re-open at 3 p.m., Wednesday.
• Alternating lane closures will be needed along northbound I-29, south of U.S. 275/Iowa 92 (Exit 47). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Alternating lane closures will be needed on eastbound I-80 between southbound I-29 and Madison Avenue (Exit 5). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Eastbound I-80 ramp to Madison Avenue will be closed from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Eastbound drivers will need to use an alternate route to access Madison Avenue.
• The new ramp from northbound I-29 to eastbound I-80 will be opened.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

All dates and events may change due to weather and field conditions. Iowa DOT encourages motorists to plan ahead, avoid distractions, follow signs and use caution while becoming accustomed to new traffic patterns.

(Radio Iowa) — A report from a non-profit group shows nearly one in ten Iowa babies were born pre-term this year. That’s up from 9-point-2 percent last year and is the highest rate in a decade. Plus, the rate is much higher for babies born to black mothers. Stacey Stewart, president of the March of Dimes, says one reason for the disparity is that research shows black women often report they don’t feel as respected in health care settings.

Stewart says, “We have to make sure that the health care system is responsive to them, is meeting them where their needs are, and is responding to them in a respectful and responsive way.” The March of Dimes report gave Iowa a “C” grade. Stewart says pre-mature births are linked to a number of health issues for children.

Stewart says, “Often they face lifelong health conditions like cerebral palsy, vision problems, cognitive delays, developmental delays, and other and other health challenges that are with them for the rest of their lives.” While the state’s overall pre-term birth rate is nine-point-nine percent, it shows the rate is 33-percent higher for black women.

(Reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Friday), announced the first flu-related deaths of the 2019-2020 influenza season. They include an older adult (61-80 years of age) from Central Iowa, and an elderly (81+ years of age) Northwest Iowa woman. Both women had underlying conditions or contributing factors.

Officials say this week flu activity in Iowa has increased to local spread, indicating that the virus is present in Iowa communities. IDPH Medical Director Dr. Caitlin Pedati says these deaths are an unfortunate reminder that flu can be a serious illness. “The flu virus does have the potential to cause severe illness and death, especially in the very young, very old, or those who have underlying health conditions. This is a great time to get the flu vaccine to prevent yourself and your loved ones from becoming sick before flu activity increases further.”

The CDC recommends that essentially everyone over 6 months of age should receive the flu vaccine. It takes up to two weeks after vaccination for the body to achieve full benefit against the flu virus. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. Symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days.

To learn more about influenza in Iowa, visit http://idph.iowa.gov/influenza.

(12-p.m. News) COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum today (Friday), announced that on November 12, 2019, 24 year-old Javon Joshua Jennings was sentenced in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to 57 months in prison, for one count of Tampering with a Witness, and one count of Retaliating Against a Witness. Jennings was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release for each count, to run concurrently, following the period of incarceration.

The sentence was also ordered to be served consecutive to a sentence imposed in state court in April, 2019, for Child Endangerment Causing Death and Involuntary Manslaughter. An inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail was served a subpoena by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in April, 2019, and when the inmate informed his family in a telephone conversation other inmates overheard the conversation. Shortly thereafter, Jennings repeatedly assaulted the inmate that had been served with the subpoena.

The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Nevada today (Friday), identified the person who died in an industrial accident at a biofuels plant. KCCI reports Carlos Mauricio Partillo Montufar, of South West City, MO., died Thursday afternoon at Verbio North America’s Biorefinery in Nevada. Coworkers said he is a native of Honduras.

According to Nevada officials, he was an employee of Midwest Tank Company, a subcontractor of Weston &Associates LLC, Navarre, Ohio. An investigation into the fatal accident is ongoing, and additional details have not yet been released.