DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to $970 million, inching ever-closer to the $1 billion mark. Officials raised the estimated jackpot Thursday for the second time due to strong sales ahead of Friday night’s drawing. The prize is the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history, behind only a $1.6 billion Powerball prize won in 2016. No one has matched all six numbers and won the Mega Millions grand prize since July 24. That reflects the game’s long odds , at one in 302.5 million.

The $970 million refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years. Most winners take the cash option, which would pay an immediate $513 million. About half of the jackpot winnings would go to taxes.
Mega Millions is played in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Judicial Branch has started tracking legal deadlines for judge appointments amid uncertainty over whether Gov. Kim Reynolds made two picks on time.
The governor has 30 days to appoint a judge once finalists have been submitted by a nominating commission. After that, the authority falls to the chief justice. The requirement has come into focus after the liberal blog Bleeding Heartland reported that Reynolds informed Judge Jason Besler of his appointment days after the deadline. An attorney has filed a complaint alleging Besler is unlawfully holding office.
Now questions are being raised about the June 21 appointment of Judge Michael Jacobsen.

A nominating commission signed a letter addressed to Reynolds 35 days earlier, on May 17, recommending Jacobsen and another attorney. But the letter apparently was never sent, and the commission chair waited until May 22 to email the names to the governor’s office. Jacobsen was appointed 30 days later. Davis says the court system is now formally tracking submission dates, which it didn’t do previously.

Emergency crews are on the scene late this morning, of a collision between a semi and cement truck. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports one lane of Interstate 80 westbound was closed as of 11:24-a.m. The crash occurred about one-half mile west of the exit to Highway 71 (59.9 mile marker), in the north ditch.  Kennon says two people were hurt and transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by ambulance. The accident was reported at 10:55-a.m.  We’ll have more information when it becomes available.

Ric Hanson photo

Mike Kennon photo

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance have been called to the 60-mile marker of Interstate 80 westbound for an accident involving two semi’s. Unknown at this time if there are any injuries. The accident was reported at 10:55-a.m.  We’ll have more if information becomes available.

(Radio Iowa) — A rare disease that causes muscle weakness, loss of reflexes and even paralysis has appeared in Iowa — twice — in recent weeks and the experts are puzzled. State health officials confirm two cases of a rare polio-like illness which attacks the nervous system called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. The first case is a three-year-old boy in Grimes, while the second is in a person under 18 in western Iowa. Minnesota reports seven cases of AFM since mid-September, while 62 are reported nationwide in 22 states.

There is no known cure and federal investigators haven’t been able to identify a common cause in the cases which usually start as a cold.