DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) – Improvements will be made to the downtown area in two Harrison County communities, thanks to the awarding of Main Street Iowa challenge grants. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports Gross and Company of Dunlap received $75,000 toward continued renovation of its building, while Main Street Woodbine received $3,900 to help downtown retailers.

Brad Gross says the $75,000 challenge grant will go toward a $305,500 renovation of the second floor of the red brick building, where his accounting firm is housed. Gross and Company is putting up the remaining $230,500. The second floor will feature one- and two-room apartments, along with one or two temporary-stay rooms available for short-term rent.

In Woodbine, the challenge grant will help downtown businesses improve the look and atmosphere of their stores.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The governors of Nebraska and Iowa have ordered flags flown at half-staff in memory of the late astronaut-hero John Glenn. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday ordered U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset the day of Glenn’s burial. The orders were in keeping with President Barack Obama’s proclamation issued in the wake of Glenn’s death on Thursday at the age of 95.

Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, and was the oldest man in space, at age 77 in 1998. A U.S. Marine and combat pilot, he also served as a Democratic U.S. senator, representing Ohio, for more than two decades.

Interstate 80 was the scene of multiple accidents Saturday morning, stretching from just west of Shelby to near Anita. In an accident involving a semi, a van an a Chevy Suburban that took place 1.5-miles west of the Anita east, three people died and eight others including two juveniles, were hurt. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the injured were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, with at least one of those persons flown from CCMH to a hospital in Omaha.

The crash happened a little after 9-a.m., when a westbound semi went out of control, crossed the median and collided with an eastbound mini-van. The semi jack-knifed and ended up in a ditch. An eastbound Suburban then collided with the semi’s trailer.

The driver of the semi was not injured. No names have been released at this time. The Interstate remained closed in both directions as of 2-p.m. between Exit 64 (Wiota) and Exit 70 (Anita). Depending on their direction of travel, motorists were being rerouted off the Interstate at Highway 148 (Exit 70) to Anita, or N-28 (Exit 64) to Wiota, to Highway 83 and then back to I-80 via either Hwy 148 or N-28.

Both directions of Interstate 80 between exit 64 (Cass County Road N-28) and exit 70 (Iowa 148) in the Anita area are now closed. The closure may last several hours. Multiple crashes in the area, one involving hazardous materials, have caused all traffic to be detoured. Avoid the area if possible.

For anyone who is traveling today, please slow down and allow plenty of space between vehicles if there is winter weather. Check for update on this situation at www.511ia.org.

Persons planning on traveling should avoid interstate 80 eastbound between the 70 and 64 mile markers due to multiple accidents including at least two fatalities. Law enforcement reports the interstate will be closed for at least 2 hours in the crash areas.

Multiple crashes are being reported this morning, as motorists fail to exercise their winter driving skills. A crash that happened at around 8:35-a.m. on Interstate 80 westbound one mile west of the Anita exit, has resulted in a woman passenger in a semi being injured. The trailer of the semi tipped over onto its side, spilling corrosive and flammable materials. The roadway is blocked eastbound. Firefighters from Atlantic are being assembled to handle the chemical spill.

A second, serious accident on I-80 in the same area, involved a semi and a car. Multiple injuries were reported. Several rescue squads and law enforcement were on the scene. Additional information is not available.

Rescue personnel from Shelby responded at around 8:30-a.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 31, with unknown injuries at the initial report. The roadway is blocked due to the crash.

Other, non-injury accidents have occurred, with vehicles spinning off into the ditch off I-80.

Rescue crews are responding to two separate accidents on Interstate 80. Emergency personnel from Anita and Wiota were called to I-80 westbound at the 65 mile marker at around 8:35-a.m. for a semi tractor trailer that rolled into the north ditch. The trailer was on its side. The rig was carrying flammable and corrosive materials, some of which were spilling onto the ground. A female passenger in the cab suffered from head injuries. The driver was not hurt. (Update 9:17-a.m.: The crash is between Exit 64: County Road N28 and Exit 70: IA 148; County Road F58 (1 mile west of the Anita area). The road is blocked due to a crash.)

And, rescue personnel from Shelby responded at around 8:30-a.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 31, with unknown injuries at the initial report. The roadway is blocked due to the crash.