A man and woman from Nebraska were arrested on drug charges early this (Tuesday) morning, following a traffic stop in Fremont County. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports deputies conducting an investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine in Sidney, stopped a vehicle occupied by 44-year old Crystal Green-Creek and 47-year old Cal Creek II, both of Nebraska City, NE.

During the traffic stop, the pair were found to be in possession of meth, marijuana, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and drug currency. They were arrested without incident and transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where they were charged with Delivery of Meth. Bonds for Crystal Green-Creek and Cal Creek II were set at $100,000 each.

Crystal Green-Creek

Cal Creek II

Governor Terry Branstad’s plan for erasing the anticipated red ink in the current year’s state budget may be overhauled by legislators.  “We’ve been warning that the level of spending was culminating to a point where this kind of crisis was going to occur and we’re prepared to fix it.” That’s Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock. While there’s not as much tax revenue as originally predicted, Dix says the state is still collecting more taxes this year.

“We only have so much money,” Dix says. “…I would suggest that should be plenty for us to find a way to accomplish a balanced budget that treats the state budget like a family budget.” Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns about the depth of Branstad’s proposed cuts to the agencies that run the state’s prisons and put troopers on the highways. Others have suggested the governor’s proposed cut to the judicial branch is too steep.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, isn’t ready to share details, but she does confirm legislators will adjust Branstad’s plan. “We’ve got a couple of different ideas than the governor, so we’ll have those conversations and by early in the week we’ll be able to hopefully file a bill and get it moving through committee and get it done,” Upmeyer says. Other issues are on hold, so legislators can make this budget decision first.

Upmeyer says the longer legislators wait, the worse the current year’s budget dilemma will be.”It’s tough. We know that, so we want to make sure we get it done and we get it done as quick as we can.” Branstad has proposed 110-million dollars in cuts to the current year’s state budget.

Republicans will match that. Some Republicans are even hoping to award MORE tax cuts to small business and farmers for the depreciation of equipment. The governor did not include that tax adjustment in his budget outline.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:38 a.m. CST

WALNUT, Iowa (AP) — Residents hope streetscape work and building renovations will help return their small town of Walnut to its former glory. The Pottawattamie County community of around 775 residents has long been known as the Antique City for its many antique shops. Mayor Gene Larsen told The Daily Nonpareil that the project is part of the community’s effort “to maintain the vitality of the antique trade.”

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled to begin Feb. 14 for the last of three people accused of kidnapping an Ottumwa woman. Court records say Joel Herrarte Jr. has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. Two others convicted already have been sentenced.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have listed an inmate as escaped from the state work release facility in Waterloo. The Iowa Corrections Department said in a news release Monday that Shawn Washington didn’t return Sunday from a furlough. Washington was convicted in Black Hawk County of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, ongoing criminal conduct and with prohibited acts.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A driver has died at a hospital after his vehicle was hit by a train in Marshalltown. The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports that the accident occurred around 8 p.m. Saturday. . Authorities say Kyle Quick was driving across tracks when his vehicle was struck. Authorities say he died Sunday at a Des Moines hospital.

A federal report finds the problem with pregnant women abusing opioids and other prescription drugs is worse in rural farm states like Iowa than in more populous urban states. U-S Surgeon General Doctor Vivek Murthy says the problem is only continuing to grow as more babies are born with symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

“This is a real tragedy,” Doctor Murthy says. “I’ve visited hospitals and heard from neonatal ICU nurses and doctors and about how heartbreaking it has been to see children who are withdrawing from opioids in the first hours and days of their lives.” A new report found five out of every one-thousand births in urban areas involve babies suffering from opioid withdrawal symptoms due to the mother’s abuse, while in rural areas, the figure rises to eight in every thousand.

He says women with addictions owe it to their unborn babies to seek help immediately. Murthy says, “Treatment can help pregnant women who are dealing with addiction to opioids and it can reduce the liklihood their children will have adverse affects when they’re born.” The trouble is, rural areas may offer few treatment facilities, if any. Murthy says the first step is for the mothers to admit they have a problem.

(Radio Iowa w/thanks to Karla James in Omaha)