DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ruled that an Iowa Transportation Department officer didn’t have legal authority to issue a speeding ticket. Polk County District Court Associate Judge Heather Lauber said in her Thursday ruling dismissing the citation that the Iowa Supreme Court declared nearly 70 years ago that the department officers didn’t have power over most moving violations.

The Des Moines Register reports that if Lauber’s ruling survives a possible appeal, legal challenges could follow on thousands of tickets issued by Transportation Department officers. Sixteen-year-old Peyton Atzen and his parents fought the ticket, fearing he could lose his license. The officer ticketed Atzen on May 27 after he was clocked going 84 mph in a 55 mph zone. Atzen says he was speeding but doesn’t think he was going that fast.

Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday night, arrested a man wanted on a valid warrant for Eluding and Possession of Methamphetamine. 34-year old Samuel Jacob Whiteaker, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11:20-p.m., and brought to the Montgomery County Jail. His bond was set at $2,000.

One person was injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident early this (Friday) morning, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened at around 12:40-a.m. in the 1900 block of Highway 2, west of the Interstate 29 interchange. Authorities say a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by 20-year old Jacob Cain, of Sidney, was traveling east on Highway 2, when the SUV went out of control and entered the median before rolling several times, and coming to rest on its top partially in the roadway. Cain was transported to Grape Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Authorities say seatbelts were not in use and alcohol is believed to be factor in the crash. Percival Fire and Rescue and Sidney Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.  The vehicle was a total loss.

Just after midnight, Thursday, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a report of debris in the roadway in the area of the 12-mile marker northbound Interstate 29. Upon deputies’ arrival, they discovered a one-vehicle rollover accident in the area. The driver of a 2009 Dodge Avenger, 22-year old Ulises Susano, of Fremont, Nebraska, was driving southbound on Interstate 29 when he lost control and entered the median.  The vehicle struck a bridge barricade and became airborne, entering the northbound lane, and rolling several times, coming to rest in the east ditch of the northbound lane. Susano was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident. He refused medical treatment and was placed under arrest for Failure to Maintain Control and Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense.  Susanso was later released on $1,000 bond. Percival Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.  Alcohol is believed to be a factor.  The vehicle was a total loss.

And, Tuesday morning, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a vehicle in the ditch near the intersection of Highway 59 and 270^th Street in Fremont County. A 2007 Lincoln Town Car driven by 86-year old Howard Carlisle, of Tarkio, Missouri, was traveling southbound on Highway 59, when he attempted to pass a 2007 Peterbilt Semi operated by 50-year old Scott Blazer, of Mound City, Missouri.  Blazer was also attempting to pass a slow moving vehicle, when he swerved to avoid a vehicle entering the roadway from 270^th Street.

Blazer’s semitrailer, struck Carlisle’s vehicle, causing the Town Car to leave the roadway and enter a field southeast of the intersection. Blazer continued southbound. He told deputies that he did not know he struck the vehicle until a later time. Carlisle was transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The Town Car was a total loss. Charges are pending at this time.

A handful of forums featuring Iowa candidates seeking federal office are being held this month, but there will be no debate in Iowa’s fourth congressional district.  “You can probably rest pretty easy that we’ll get to November 8th without one.” That’s Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron. King is on the 2016 ballot, seeking an eighth term in the U.S. House representing northwest and north central Iowa. King DID debate his Democratic opponents in 2012 and 2014, but not this year.

“What would be the purpose of having that kind of a face-to-face discussion? People know what I’m for. I’m for the repeal of ObamaCare. I’m for strong ag policy and I’ve been pro-trade every year that I’ve been in congress. I’m pro-free enterprise, of course; for a strong national defense; pro-life; pro-marriage; pro-constitution; pro-strict constructionist on the courts,” King says. “Most of what I’ve said it’s been reported to me that my opponent disagrees with, so it shouldn’t be very hard for people to make up their minds when they go to the polls on November 8th. They should be informed by now.”

Kim Weaver of Sheldon is the Democrat challenging King in 2016. Weaver says a lack of debates “is a problem” because she’d like to challenge some of King’s votes. “Most people are familiar with the offensive things he says,” Weaver says. “…What they don’t know is that we’re happy that he’s ineffective because the votes that he has cast would hurt our state.” Weaver cites King’s support for “privatizing” Social Security and his vote to convert Medicare into a voucher program, so seniors would buy insurance for themselves on the open market. Weaver says King’s opposition to immigration reform has been a boost to her candidacy.

“People I talk to — Republicans and Democrats — do believe that we need a path to citizenship,” Weaver says. “…Real people aren’t as polarized as the politicians and they’re trying to use this, I believe, as a sensationalist scare tactics, you know, ‘The big, bad people are coming to get us,’ when I don’t think it’s true.” Weaver made her comments during a recent appearance on Iowa Public Television.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents has ordered an audit of every flight that Iowa State University President Steven Leath has taken on the school’s two airplanes, citing possible misuse. Board President Bruce Rastetter said Thursday that he’s extremely disappointed that Leath has used the planes on multiple occasions in ways that appear “questionable at best.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — International Automotive Components in Iowa City will lay off more than 400 workers because it will stop supplying parts used in the Dodge Dart and Jeep models. Company spokesman David Ladd told KCRG the job cuts were necessary because Fiat Chrysler was phasing out the Dodge Dart and moving the production of the Jeep Compass and Patriot out of Illinois, beyond the shipping radius for the Iowa City plant. The company will continue making parts for General Motors, Ford, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo’s police chief is reaching out to convicted felons as part of an effort to rebuild community trust in the police department. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Safety Director and police chief Dan Trelka is putting together an advisory team of people who have been incarcerated to help him review police department policies, especially those involving use of force. Each person’s felony conviction must be at least two years old.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Burlington man has surprised the elementary school he attended by writing a $700 check to pay for students’ overdue school lunch bills. Jerry Fenton says the money will be used to help children at Grimes Elementary School who haven’t been able to pay for lunch, but are fed anyway. The Des Moines Register reports that Fenton was inspired to make the donation after hearing about a boy who brought two lunches to school so he could give one to a friend.

Authorities in Carroll are investigating a long string of vandalism that started this summer. The latest was discovered Wednesday morning. The front windows in the youth center run by a Carroll church were shattered. Carroll Police Chief Brad Burke says his department has fielded 25 calls about damage to windows and vehicles since July 23. “It’s pretty random. Daylight hours and nighttime hours, we’re getting calls about both. We can’t pin down a specific time or day of the week that it’s occurring. It’s pretty random at this point,” Burke says. “It’s random around town, too. There’s no set location or targets.”

The damage to the windows appears to be caused by a B-B gun according to the police chief. “We have offered a reward on our Facebook page for any information leading to the arrest or conviction of somebody, so we just want someone to come forward if they do know something, give us a call,” Burke says. “We’ll look into it and see if we can get these stopped.” The latest bout of vandalism struck in a strip mall near a Hy-Vee in Carroll. Ryan Gallegos, lead pastor at Central Church in Carroll, has offered a one-thousand dollar reward for information that leads to the arrest of the vandal who damaged the windows at the church’s youth center.

“Somebody knows something and I want it to stop,” he says. “It’s not fair to businesses or individuals because this stuff costs us money.” Vandalism was also discovered at a vacant building in Carroll on Tuesday morning.

(Radio Iowa)

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Ice cream maker Well Enterprises plans a $40.5 million expansion that will create 81 jobs in Le Mars. The Sioux City Journal reports state documents released Thursday show Wells is seeking about $3 million in state tax incentives to help finance the expansion. Plans include a 6,000-square-foot addition to the company’s South plant and the addition of new production lines.

The city of Le Mars would provide nearly $400,000 in property tax abatement for the project. Wells is known as the maker of Blue Bunny ice cream and frozen novelties. The family-owned company employs more than 2,000 workers. The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board will consider the application for tax breaks at a meeting Friday in Des Moines.

Police in Council Bluffs, today (Thursday), identified the suspect they are looking for in connection with a case of attempted murder. An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for 23-year old Vaughn Dion White, of Council Bluffs. The warrant charges White with two counts of Attempted Murder and one count of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon for the shots fired incident on Park Avenue at around 9:30-p.m., Tuesday.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is seeking the assistance from area law enforcement and the public in locating Vaughn White.

Vaughn White

White is considered armed and dangerous and the public is encouraged to contact law enforcement as to his whereabouts.

Police say White is the man they believe allegedly arrived outside the home at 125 Park Avenue in a light colored four door car.  He got out of the vehicle and displayed a revolver type handgun before firing several rounds at two males standing outside the home. One round entered the home, which was occupied by several people. No one was injured. White fled the area in the vehicle he arrived in. Police believe the intended victim of the attack was 18-year old Nicholas Grant, of Council Bluffs.

The Atlantic Police Department is warning residents about a prize money phone scam. Officials say some residents have received calls advising they have won a large amount of money or a prize, and that the resident needs to go to Hy-Vee or Wal-Mart. The resident is instructed to wire money to the caller in order for them to receive their prize.

If you receive such a call, DO NOT give the caller any personal or banking information. If you have an elderly family member, be sure and tell them not to give out any bank or personal information to someone calling, claiming they have won a prize they would have to wire money for, in order to claim that prize.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was arrested Wednesday evening on a drug charge. 63-year old James Warren Weyer was taken into custody at around 5:15-p.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $5,000.