COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Oct. 26, 2017 – The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting Thursday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. to discuss the proposed improvements and right of way needs of the Interstate 29/480/West Broadway interchange area in Council Bluffs from just north of the Union Pacific Railroad’s crossing to just south of the 25th Street interchange. The area also includes the I-29 and I-480 interchange.

All interested persons are invited to attend this meeting at the Council Bluffs Interstate Program Office in the Mall of the Bluffs, 1751 Madison Ave., in Council Bluffs. The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be available to informally discuss the proposed improvements anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. No formal presentation will be made.

The meeting space is accessible for persons with disabilities. However, if you require special accommodations at the meeting, please notify the Iowa DOT contact listed below by Oct. 30.

For general information regarding the proposed improvements or public information meeting, contact Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E. Seventh St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, phone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, email scott.schur@iowadot.us.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has outlined priorities for combating opioid abuse in the state, but she stopped short of offering specifics on future legislation or whether there will be additional state money available.

Reynolds told reporters Thursday she will prioritize existing initiatives in Iowa that aim to prevent and treat opioid abuse, including increasing participation in a prescription monitoring program and expanding education on decreasing opioid prescribing.

A Reynolds spokeswoman says the governor is still formulating her 2018 legislative package. Reynolds’ comments come on the same day that President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency. Trump’s declaration includes no new money, and a state health official says it’s not immediately clear how it will impact Iowa.

ALTA VISTA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have charged a northeast Iowa couple with murder in the death of their 4-month-old son, whose maggot-infested body was found in a baby swing in the family’s home.

Twenty-year-old Cheyanne Harris and 28-year-old Zachary Koehn were arrested Wednesday on charges of child endangerment and first-degree murder in the death of their son, Sterling Koehn. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2.

Authorities say in court records that deputies and medics called to the couple’s Alta Vista apartment on Aug. 30 found Sterling dead in the swing. A medical examiner found maggots in his clothing and skin that indicated he hadn’t had a diaper change, bath or been removed from the seat in over a week.

Police in Sac City report a man who allegedly tried to break into an apartment was shot twice by a man who lives there. Authorities say Bendji Joseph, of Fort Dodge, was breaking into the apartment at 211 S. 5th Street, around 4 a.m. Wednesday when he was shot. Joseph, who allegedly intended to commit a serious or aggravated assault, was shot with a .9mm pistol by Miguel Alcantara.

Joseph was transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City, for treatment, and was later life-flighted to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City, where he is believed to be in stable condition. The man faces Felony charges of Burglary in the Third Degree, and Burglary in the First Degree. Assisting the Sac City Police Department during the incident, was the Lake View Police Department, the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sac County Attorney’s Office.

The investigation is ongoing.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says a gender-fluid Iowa teenager was kidnapped, suffocated and executed by two cousins who believed the teen was a cute girl. Prosecutor Christopher Perras detailed the 2016 death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson in opening statements Thursday at the trial of Jorge Sanders-Galvez. Perras said Johnson “was a friendly high school student with a bright future” who sometimes dressed as a girl. Relatives say Johnson identified as both male and female.

Perras says Johnson was wearing a pink headband and hair extensions when Sanders-Galvez and his cousin saw the teen at a store. Perras says the men followed Johnson in their car, then took the teen to a Burlington home. He says a struggle ensued during a sexual encounter, and the men suffocated Johnson, shot the teen and dumped the body in an alley.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University administrator is suing the school, saying it gives students accused of sexual assault more protection than victims. The lawsuit filed by Robinette Kelley alleges the university blocked her attempts to properly investigate sexual assault complaints and stopped her from ensuring the university was Title IX compliant.

The Des Moines Register reports Kelley was the university’s equal opportunity director and federal Title IX coordinator for more than two years. The lawsuit is requesting that the university be required to develop a strategic plan for sex discrimination-related cases and to allow the Title IX coordinator to act independently from other university officials. A university spokesman denies that Kelley was treated “in any way that was retaliatory, discriminatory, or otherwise illegal.”

Kelley was fired in October 2015. She now works at North Carolina State University.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has adopted new rules to prohibit the use of handcuffs, chains and other restraints for juveniles appearing in court unless a judge approves in advance. Currently juvenile officers determine whether a child is restrained during court appearances. An order signed by Chief Justice Mark Cady on Wednesday says the rules will become effective Jan. 1 unless a legislative council objects. Cady’s order says the rule is flexible enough to deal with juveniles at risk of fleeing or endangering themselves or others.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and a children’s rights group at the Drake Law School pushed for the changes last year. They say at least 28 states ban or limit the use of restraints on children in juvenile court hearings.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three men were arrested Monday in connection with a break-in and burglary at the CAM School in Anita, on Oct. 20th, during which tools, welders, and other industrial items were stolen. As the result of a search warrant, 18-year old Kane Melvin Cooley, of Anita, 33-year old Daniel Eugene Long, Sr., of Anita, and 19-year old Jacob Hoyt Way, of Guthrie Center, were arrested on Felony charges that include:Theft 1st Degree, Conspiring to Commit a Nonforcible Felony, and Burglary 3rd Degree.

Jacob Way

Daniel Long, Sr.

Kane Cooley

In addition, Long faces a felony charge of Theft 2nd Degree with regard to a reported burglary and theft in Anita on September 11th, 2017. He was also arrested on three previous District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Cooley was additionally charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, which took place earlier in the day on October 23rd.

All three men were taken to the Cass County Jail. Cooley remains held on $23,000 bond; Long remains held on $31,000 bond; and Way remains held on $20,000 bond.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were arrested Wednesday on separate charges. At around 4:30-p.m., 28-year old Joseph Cody Foster, of Shambaugh, was arrested on an Adams County Warrant for (felony) Burglary 1st degree, and Eluding Law Enforcement. Foster was arrested at a residence in Shambaugh and later turned over to Adams County authorities.

A little after 10-p.m. Wednesday, Page County Deputies arrested 32-year old Laura Christine Hartman, of Coin, on a Page County warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Probation violation. Hartman was arrested at a residence in Coin and transported to the Page County Jail where she is currently being held on a $2,000 cash only bond, pending future court proceedings

Timothy Blank

Michael Rose

Laura Hartman

Joseph Cody Foster

Just after 8-p.m., Wednesday, Deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42-year old Michael Lee Rose, of Hepburn, at his residence in Hepburn. Rose was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Probation violation. Rose was transported to the Page County Jail. Rose posted $1000.00 Cash bond and was released pending future court proceedings.

On October 25, 2017 at approximately 6:37 PM Deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year old Timothy Jay Blank, of Coin, at his residence in Coin. Blank was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault display or use weapon 1st offense and Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. The warrant stems from an incident at Blank’s residence in Coin on October 21st, 2017 where he allegedly assaulted his brothers with a weapon, causing injuries to them. Blank was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held without bond pending appearance before a Magistrate Judge.