The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports (as of 9-a.m.), the East Nishnabotna River was continuing to rise in the Elliott and Red Oak areas. Officials say they have exceeded the original crest limit from last night and are awaiting additional details from the National Weather Service for more updates. The City of Red Oak has started flood pumping operations along the Red Oak Creek as well. Updated road closures below.

NEW – FULL HARD CLOSURE on Highway 48 west of Elliott. Detour being established by Iowa DOT. Please check www.511ia.org for more information once available.

NEW – J Ave between Highway 48 south past the Schildberg quarry drive near 144th street.

ANTICIPATED & EXPECTED TO CLOSE SHORTLY – 250th Street between Evergreen and Railroad Tracks.

145th Street at Stennett is CLOSED due to water over the roadway. The closure is between 148th St x 150th.

Cass County Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon reported that (as of 9-a.m.), Highway 48, near Elliott, is closed due to flooding. Numerous other roads in the listening area are closed or covered with flood debris as the waters recede.

Beto O’Rourke has begun campaigning in his 2020 presidential bid with his first trip to Iowa. The former Texas congressman announced his White House run Thursday morning and stopped later in a coffee shop in Keokuk. He promised to offer the kind of bipartisan, optimistic vision for the future that helped him nearly upset Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in deeply red Texas last November.

O’Rourke told the Iowa crowd: “I could care less about your party persuasion, your religion, anything other than the fact that, right now, we are all Americans.” His comments were carried live on several cable television networks, something other Democrats in the already crowded White House field haven’t had. O’Rourke has three days of campaign events in Iowa planned and has promised to travel the country listening to would-be voters.

Two people being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail were served with warrants Wednesday, for additional offenses. 25-year old Tyler Jordan Myers, of Council Bluffs, who was being held on charges that include Interference with Official Acts, and two counts of Eluding, was presented with a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury/1st offense. And, 22-year old Alison Kay Frank, of Council Bluffs, who was being held on felony Theft and Burglary charges, in addition to other Theft and Burglary charges, was presented with a warrant charging her with three counts of Credit Card Fraud, each under $1,000. Her total bond was set at $10,500.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), said two people were injured during a three-vehicle collision Tuesday evening. Authorities say at around 5:10-p.m., a 2007 Hyundai driven by 44-year old Veronika Pinkerton, of Omaha, was stopped at a red light at the Highway 34 eastbound and 188th Street. A 2012 Chevy driven by 63-year old Philip Mather, of Pacific Junction, was behind her. A 2001 Ford driven by 41-year old Corrienne Gray, of Glenwood, was traveling eastbound and approaching the intersection. Due to the fog, Gray was unable to see the stopped vehicles ahead of her.

Her Ford rear-ended the Chevy, causing it to rear end the Hyundai. Philip Mather was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Gray was transported by her spouse to the Bellevue Medical Center. Gray was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured, Clear Distance.