Several central and northern Nebraska highways remain covered with snow, but Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 have been reopened. The Nebraska Transportation Department listed nearly two-thirds of the highways as partially or fully covered with snow Friday morning from a winter storm system that howled through the state Thursday. The department pulled its plows from clearing highways in parts of northeast Nebraska because visibility was so limited. Several cities declared snow emergencies, and many businesses remained closed for the day. Numerous traffic accidents were reported as well.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The attorney for a man charged with the 1979 slaying of a Cedar Rapids high school student says his client will plead not guilty. Leon Spies is the attorney for Jerry Lynn Burns, and Spies told The Des Moines Register Thursday that Burns will enter the plea at his arraignment. The 64-year-old Burns is being held on $5 million bail . Police arrested the Manchester resident on Dec. 19, charging him with first-degree murder 39 years to the day after 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was killed. Her body was found early the next day inside her family’s car parked at a shopping mall.

She had stab wounds to her face and chest. Police say they matched a blood sample from the crime scene with a sample taken from the suspect.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Patrol says a Fort Dodge motorist was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Thursday afternoon on Highway 17 just north of the Hamilton-Boone county line. The victim is identified as 47-year-old Heidi Beisch. Reportedly, a southbound 2009 Nissan Quest driven by Beisch lost control and spun counter clockwise into the path of a northbound 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, driven by 30-year-old Emily Loughry, of Webster City. The Loughry van struck the passenger side of the Beisch vehicle. Beisch was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Loughry and her three children were transported to the Boone County Hospital for treatment of non-life -threatening injuries.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa could close 2018 with its lowest traffic fatality figure in over seven decades. Patrick Hoye, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says around 312 people have died in crashes on Iowa roads this year. That puts the state on pace to improve on a low fatality count posted five years ago. “In 2013, there were 317 fatalities. Before that, you’d have to go all the way back to 1944 when there were 310 fatalities,” Hoye said. It’s no cause for celebration, but Hoye credits the dip in fatal crashes this year to several factors – including changes in traffic laws. “Whether it be the ignition interlock law or the primary texting law that were passed – we’re seeing that those are having some impact,” Hoye said. “The educational message going out on texting and driving, the seriousness of that offense, we believe those are all some positive influences.”

A law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. Prior to that, police could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for another offense. Hoye believes more Iowans are staying off their phone when they’re behind the wheel. “The overall consensus is that it has improved slightly, but when we talk to all of our law enforcement partners they tell us it still is a major concern,” Hoye said. Motorists who are caught texting while driving in Iowa can face a fine of over $100.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 8:10-p.m. Thursday, of 45-year old James Reed Mitroff III, of Red Oak. Mitroff was taken into custody for Public Intoxication, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.