As a courtesy to the Nebraska Department of Roads, the Iowa Department of Transportation reports Phase 1 preservation work will require closing the outside lanes of the U.S. 275 South Omaha Veterans Bridge beginning at April 3rd, at 9-a.m. The lane closures are necessary for application of a protective coating to the steel truss and epoxy polymer overlay to the bridge deck surface. The bridge will be closed to all pedestrian traffic.

Phase 2 work will require closing the inside lanes of the bridge. All work is anticipated to be completed this fall. McGill Restoration Inc. is the contractor on this project.

A traffic stop Sunday by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department K9 unit in Hamburg, resulted in two, drug-related arrests. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports 18-year old’s Trace Miller and Dakota Hanika, both of Nebraska City, NE., were arrested for Possession of a controlled substance, after the vehicle they were in was pulled over in the 400 block of Washington Street, in Hamburg. Both men were later released from the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, after posting bond.

Trace Miller

Dakota Hanika

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

AMES, Iowa (AP) — President Steven Leath’s departure will leave Iowa State University seeking a new leader as it faces budget cuts, enrollment growth and fallout from controversies. Auburn University has announced that Leath will be its next president. Leath’s move to Auburn will end his 5 ½ year tenure at Iowa State, which saw the school’s enrollment surge past 36,000 students but also questions about Leath’s travel and personnel decisions.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House passed legislation Monday to shorten the deadline for filing discrimination lawsuits in the state from two years to 90 days. The Republican-controlled chamber voted 58-39 to pass the bill. It now heads to the GOP-majority Senate. Under current Iowa law, people have two years to file lawsuits in district court after discrimination claims are investigated by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which oversees such complaints. The proposed 90-day change aligns with federal guidelines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker has criticized a state agency director for declining to send staff to an informal committee meeting about how the department handles child abuse investigations. Sen. Matt McCoy says Iowa Department of Human Services Director Charles Palmer lied about the agency’s ability to attend and answer questions at the Monday meeting, which was led by Democrats on the Senate Government Oversight Committee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — FBI agents have met with leaders of an Iowa mosque about a threatening note it received in the mail. Dr. Samir Shams, the president of the Islamic Center of Des Moines, says he found the handwritten note Sunday morning. It said Muslims were a “vile” people and that President Donald Trump would “do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews.” An FBI spokeswoman in Omaha says agents met Monday with center members and are assessing the situation.

High school students played key roles as the Iowa House and Senate got underway today (Monday).  As members of the Iowa House recited the Pledge of Allegiance, students from the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs recited it in sign language. In the Iowa Senate, right after the traditional opening prayer, the Oskaloosa High School String Ensemble played “America, the Beautiful.”

The ensemble has been playing throughout the day on the first floor of the capitol, drawing attention to a Mahaska County reception for legislators.

(Radio Iowa)

State tourism officials say they’re fielding “hundreds” of phone calls, emails and Facebook messages, suggesting people are cancelling trips to Iowa because of comments from Congressman Steve King. On March 12th, King tweeted that “we can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” King has said in national media interviews that he stands by the remark and that it wasn’t about race. For the second Monday in a row, Governor Branstad has distanced himself from King’s comments.

“I’m a strong supporter of tourism in Iowa and I think we need to continue to work together in a very positive way to bring tourists and jobs to the state,” Branstad said. “…I don’t think the words of one person, even somebody that’s a congressman, should deter anyone from coming Iowa and seeing the friendliness and hospitality and just the opportunities that are here.” Branstad, though, describes himself as a “team player” and he will not suggest King be ejected from the G-O-P.

“I don’t believe in burning bridges,” Branstad says. According to The Des Moines Register, some participants in the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa are cancelling because this year’s route passes through King’s congressional district. This past Saturday, King tweeted a link to an online opinion piece which praised King for issuing a “Paul Revere-like” warning” about the dangers of a low birth rate among American citizens. The article, which was written by a former Republican colleague of King, suggested the Iowa congressman was a “victim of the merchants of globalism.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department has issued an alert to area citizens about cell and land-line phone scams. Authorities say the new spoofing, or phishing scams happen when a person receives a call from a local number. When those calls are unanswered it leaves the local contact. If you return the call, it goes to a local person who is not involved in the issue and has no knowledge of a call ever being placed.

Other variances of the scam are where you receive a call and your caller ID shows the number is your number calling. Both types of scams are being done with the aid of computers. Some type of variation of Credit Card Services, Card Services, Cardmember Services, or a vehicle warranty renewal is the basis for those who have received the information or messages.

The Red Oak Police Department remind citizens: DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION. Take down the caller information, (including the company name, operator name, reason for the call, and information they have about you). Then, if you feel there is an issue, place a call to your credit/debit card company, warranty company, etc., by using the phone number on your card or your paper work.

After making contact with your legitimate company, you can verify if there is an issue or if you have received a bogus phone call.

Two Glenwood residents were arrested on separate charges over the past few days. The Glenwood Police Department reports 32-year old Justine Banks was arrested Friday on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Theft. Her bond was set at $5,000. And, on Sunday, 18-year old Dylan Barrett was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, along with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,300.