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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Scaffolding will soon envelop the Iowa Capitol dome as workers continue a $10 million renovation project that won’t be finished for at least a year. Crews began repairs to the 131-year-old building in April but their work will become more evident this week as scaffolding goes up around the dome windows, edging up over lower parts of the Capitol’s gold-plating. The work is needed to fix internal cracks and exterior weathering.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A longtime fixture in Dubuque will leave the Mississippi River for the Ohio as the Spirit of Dubuque paddleboat departs for Cincinnati. Owner Walt Webster tells the Telegraph Herald the dual-paddlewheel boat was expected to leave for its new home in Cincinnati this week. Webster says Dubuque River Rides employed about 25 workers during summer months including employees who work at Ice Harbor Galley, a restaurant he and his wife opened in 2004.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s largest utility is in the midst of a $3.6 billion investment in wind power and intends to keep spending on the towers with a goal of producing 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources. The Des Moines Register reports that MidAmerican Energy plans to build 1,000 more turbines over the next couple of years on top of the more than 2,000 it already has around the state. The utility’s share of its energy that comes from renewable sources will jump from 55 percent to nearly 90 percent.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa City Community School District students snagged an interesting find on a recent nature field trip: a rare Central newt. Chad Swope, who leads the annual field trips, told the Press-Citizen that herpetologists confirmed the small salamander as a Central newt _ a threatened species not native to Johnson County. Fifth-grader Brody Hiscock found the newt in his next as he scooped up turtles, frogs and snails.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Scaffolding will soon envelop the Iowa Capitol dome as workers continue a $10 million renovation project that won’t be finished for at least a year. Crews began repairs to the 131-year-old building in April but their work will become more evident this week as scaffolding goes up around the dome windows, edging up over lower parts of the Capitol’s gold-plating.

The work is needed to fix internal cracks and exterior weathering. Officials hope the external work will be completed by Thanksgiving, but the internal fixes are expected to stretch into next spring. Workers won’t need to re-gild the dome, a task last completed in 1999 at a cost of about $400,000. The gold leaf is expected to last another 10 to 15 years.

A blood drive will take place today (Sunday), in Harlan, in honor of a Harlan High School Math teacher who is fighting cancer. Julie DuVal, who has coached high school volleyball for 19 years in addition to teaching math, was recently diagnosed with Mantel Cell Lymphoma, and will likely need blood products as part of her treatment.

Her friends and co-workers are inviting the entire Harlan Community, especially staff and students at the Harlan School, to support Julie by donating blood in her name during the blood drive which takes place from Noon until 8-p.m. today at Merrill Field at the Harlan High School (1001 Elm St.).

Blood transfusions are often a critical component of treatment for those fighting cancer. With every blood or platelet donation, there could be many families served and given a chance for another birthday.

To make an appointment download call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.

A traffic stop Saturday night in Montgomery County resulted in a woman being taken into custody on drug charges. Authorities say 43-year old Michelle Dawnie Morris, of Des Moines, was pulled over at the intersection of P Avenue and Highway 34, northeast of Stanton. Following an investigation, Morris was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

A traffic stop just before 7-p.m. Saturday on Highway 34 at Mulberry Avenue in Adams County, resulted in 49-year old Royce Dean Boltinghouse, of Clarinda being arrested, after a Deputy smelled alcohol on Boltinghouse and the man refused to take a Field Sobriety Test.

Boltinghouse was brought to the Adams County Jail and charged with OWI. His bond was set at $2,000.

One person from Nebraska died and another was injured during a collision late Saturday night on Interstate 80, in Adair County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2001 Nissan Sentra driven by 45-year old Both Thoch, of Bellevue, NE., died when his car was struck by a 2014 Volvo semi at around 11:30-p.m. on I-80 westbound, about one-mile west of the Adair Exit.

Authorities say Thoch’s car broke down in the right travel lane. The driver of the semi, 44-year old Ken Mmanga, of Niles, MI., didn’t see the car until it was too late. He was not hurt in the crash. Both Thoch died at the scene. A passenger in his vehicle, 42-year old Kek Yok, of Omaha, was injured and transported by Adair EMS to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic. Both men were wearing their seat belts.

Following the collision, both the car and the semi came to rest in the north ditch.

A man from Nebraska was arrested following a high-speed pursuit and crash early this (Sunday) morning, in southwest Iowa. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that at around 2:45-a.m., the Fremont County K9 Unit attempted to stop at BMW driven by 26-year old Erik Kreifels, of Nebraska City, NE.

Kreifels attempted to elude deputies near Farragut, by at times traveling at speed in excess of 115 miles per hour. He was pursued into the 3900 block of Highway 2 before Kreifels lost control of the vehicle, which spun and slid into a field.

Kreifels was arrested at the scene of the crash without further incident. No injuries were reported. Kreifels was charged with OWI/2nd offense and brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center before later being released on $2,300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:30 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s largest utility is in the midst of a $3.6 billion investment in wind power and intends to keep spending on the towers with a goal of producing 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources. The Des Moines Register reports that MidAmerican Energy plans to build 1,000 more turbines over the next couple of years on top of the more than 2,000 it already has around the state. The utility’s share of its energy that comes from renewable sources will jump from 55 percent to nearly 90 percent.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa City Community School District students snagged an interesting find on a recent nature field trip: a rare Central newt. Chad Swope, who leads the annual field trips, told the Press-Citizen that herpetologists confirmed the small salamander as a Central newt _ a threatened species not native to Johnson County. Fifth-grader Brody Hiscock found the newt in his next as he scooped up turtles, frogs and snails.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — A passenger in a March single-vehicle crash has been charged with causing the wreck. The Courier reports that 28-year-old Antonio Raymone Harris, of Waterloo, was arrested Thursday and charged with willful injury and two domestic assault counts. Investigators say Harris grabbed the wheel and pulled it toward the ditch, causing the March 7 crash that seriously injured him. The girlfriend suffered only minor injuries in the crash.

CORWITH, Iowa (AP) — A 5,000-head hog confinement has been proposed in north-central Iowa’s Hancock County. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Grey Owl Farms VI has filed an application to build the hog confinement about four miles east of Corwith. The Hancock County Board of Supervisors will vote during its regular meeting Monday to set up a public hearing for the application.

The Griswold School Board met in a Special Session Friday afternoon at the Middle School/High School Building. Superintendent Dave Henrichs started-off by mentioning three items on agenda would be tabled and discussed at a future meeting. They include Approval of Contract Renewals for Certified Staff, Non-Certified Coaches/Sponsors, Administration, Quasi-Administration and Support Staff, as well as setting the Contract Issue and Return dates.

The Board Friday, approved the resignation of Elementary teacher Veronica McKee at the end of the current school year. And, a potential new hire for the district Teresa Furnas, decided after a week-long trial, she did not wish to continue with the district, therefore she will not be hired. In other business, the Griswold School Board Approved a Reduction in Force, or RIF. Superintendent Henrichs recommended, and the Board approved, the reduction of T-J Quick from a full-time teacher to a 7/8 time teacher.

That’s because he has not kept his license up for a Health Instructor as agreed to in 2014. Henrichs said there currently is no one on staff who is certified to teach a Health course, a required offering The move will allow the District to seek someone who is allowed to teach Heath. Quick will have a chance to get his license renewed and return to full-time.

The Griswold School Board, Friday, also approved offering cash In-Lieu of Insurance, which would save the District over $3,000 per year. Henrichs said staff members currently have no incentive NOT to take single health insurance, but if their staff is covered by a spouses’ or other insurance policy, they can waive coverage and the District would give them $250 per month in cash.

The move affects about six or seven employees, and will not impact the District’s group insurance coverage or policy. The Board also approved what Henrichs called “The concept,” of changes to the Professional Salary Range, because they’ve agreed to have a labor-management committee explore and set the details later. No changes were made to the salary range. The also approved placing limits on the number of paid coaches, based on the number of students participating in a sport.

The final items on the agenda approved by the Board, included Master Contracts with the Certified and Non-Certified staff, which calls for, among other things, NO increase in salaries, with the exception of TSS (Teacher Salary Supplement), but there was a District-wide $16,575 insurance package increase, which is a 25/60 total package increase.

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

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