In an update to our story this (Thursday) morning, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a north east Iowa man escaped injury after he crashed the semi he was driving on Interstate 80 near the Marne interchange. Officials say Cass County deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80, just after 4-a.m.

The 2007 semi driven by 48-year old Robert Alan Patterson, of Aplington, was eastbound on I-80 when Patterson fell asleep at the wheel. The semi drifted to the right and struck a guardrail and passing beneath the overpass.

Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $7,500. Damage to the guardrail is estimated at $1000. Patterson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Police in Council Bluffs have released the identity of a man who died following a rollover accident Wednesday evening on Interstate 29. Officials say 41-year old Michael Bachmann,  of Council Bluffs, died at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, following the crash on I-29 at around 4:45-p.m., Wednesday. Bachmann was partially ejected from the vehicle as it rolled.

The crash happened at about the 55-mile marker, located between the North 35th and North 25th Street exits. Authorities suspect speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.

Northbound traffic on I-29 was blocked at North 35th Street. All lanes were open again by 7:20 p.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Friday night’s drawing for the Mega Millions lottery game will be for an estimated $400 million. Mary Neubauer, spokesperson for the Iowa Lottery, says “It’s the second largest jackpot in the history of the Mega Millions game and it’s number five on the list of the world’s largest jackpots.” There was no jackpot winner in Tuesday’s drawing, meaning a winner tomorrow (Friday) could choose a $400 million annuity or a cash option of just over $216 million. A Mega Millions jackpot hasn’t been won since October 1st.

The game is offered in 43 states. A lot of Iowans will be buying tickets for the drawing, which falls on a Friday the 13th, which some might associate with bad luck. “We’re choosing to think of this Friday as ‘lucky Friday the 13th,'” Neubauer says. She also notes that big lottery jackpots have become somewhat of a tradition around the holidays.  “This is the fourth year in row where there has been a big jackpot at holiday time. Obviously, we’re not planning that out, that’s just how it’s happened,” Neubauer says. “It’s just interesting that on top of the holiday rush, we’re adding the jackpot mania in there too.”

Although there wasn’t a single ticket matching all five numbers in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing, more than 37-thousand (37,000) tickets purchase in Iowa won prizes. “Those ranged from just $1 for matching the Mega Ball by itself — up to $5,000 with those folks matched four of the first five numbers,” Neubauer said.

Ticket sales for Friday’s drawing end at 8:59 p.m. that day.

(Radio Iowa)

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The 2013 Iowa Land Value Survey says farmland values rose 5.1 percent from last year, setting another record.  The Des Moines Register says the new survey shows farmland values rose to more than $8.700 an acre. It was the fourth year in a row that farmland values rose in the Iowa State University survey of nearly 500 real estate experts. Last year’s figure was nearly $8,300 an acre.

Despite the new high, some of the experts say values may be eroding. Land demand could slow because Iowa farmers are concerned about lower commodity prices and a proposed rollback in the mandate for corn-based ethanol. There’s also uncertainty over interest rates and over the prospects for a new farm bill.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The governor has filled a judgeship opening in Iowa’s 5th Judicial District. The office of Gov. Terry Branstad said Wednesday that he selected Jeffrey Farrell to become a district court judge. Counties in the 5th District are Adair, Adams, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Guthrie, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Warren and Wayne.

Farrell is chief administrative law judge at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Farrell fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Christopher McDonald to the Iowa Court of Appeals.

Authorities in Red Oak report the arrest early this (Thursday) morning of a Clarinda man. 19-year old Christian Lane Clark Latham was taken into custody following a traffic stop at around 1:45-a.m. near the intersection  of West Maple and North Broadway Streets, in Red Oak. An investigation determined Latham was driving with a revoked license. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was taken into custody following a rolling domestic incident on Interstate 29, Tuesday. Authorities say deputies were called to I-29 near Bartlett after they received word a female was screaming for help from a moving vehicle. An investigation after the vehicle was pulled over in the 2600 block of 310th Street near Hamburg, resulted in the arrest of the passenger, 26-year old Christopher James Wyland, of Hamburg.

Wyland was charged with Domestic Assault by Strangulation, Domestic Assault/Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, Domestic Assault/Serious Injury, Possession of  Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also wanted on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County. Wyland was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $10,300 bond.

Rescue crews from Marne and Atlantic along with Medivac Ambulance and law enforcement responded to a reported accident early this morning on Interstate 80. The crash was reported just after 4-a.m. with a person calling 9-1-1 saying there was a vehicle in the ditch and debris on the roadway. The accident happened at around the 51-mile marker eastbound. Officials reported there were no injuries. The lone occupant of the vehicle was said to have refused treatment at the scene.

Additional details were not immediately available.