SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City’s long-planned viaduct over railroad tracks could be in jeopardy after a federal agency rejected a request for nearly $15 million in funding. The Sioux City Journal reports the U.S. Department of Transportation denied the bid for a $14.8 million grant that would have covered nearly three-quarters of the estimated $20.7 million project.

Officials have long supported the viaduct, which they say would eliminate lengthy delays by motorists waiting for trains and could spur more growth in an industrial area bordering the Floyd River. City Manager Bob Padmore says the project is “pretty cost-prohibitive” without federal funding.

Economic development department Director Marty Dougherty says the city will seek federal money for the viaduct next year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A small plane has crashed at a Des Moines street intersection near the airport, but no one was seriously injured. The Des Moines Register reports the crash happened at the intersection of Southwest 56th Street and Park Avenue around 10 a.m. Saturday just after taking off from Des Moines International Airport. Officials say the pilot and three passengers, all members of same family, made it out of the prop plane before it was engulfed in flames.

Officials say the pilot experienced some type of mechanical malfunction and was able to deploy a parachute, which helped slow the plane. Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says Park Avenue will be closed until Sunday as emergency crews investigate. Officials did not release the names of the pilot or passengers.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for fondling a 14-year-old girl last year. The Sioux City Journal reports 27-year-old Federico Jimenez-Hernandez was sentenced Thursday after he pleaded guilty in Woodbury County District Court to one count of third-degree sexual abuse.

Jimenez-Hernandez must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will also remain on lifetime parole. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be returned to prison. His sentence will be served at the same time as a three-year federal prison sentence for selling methamphetamine.

Court documents say Jimenez-Hernandez fondled the girl after entering her room while she was sleeping.

A Council Bluffs man who glanced down at his cell phone ended-up in a crash Saturday morning. According to Bluffs Police, 27-year old Ryan Wendt was traveling south on 25th Street at around 11-a.m., Saturday, when he became distracted by his cell phone. When he looked up, Wendt swerved to miss a vehicle in traffic and his vehicle hit a utility pole in the 1000 block of 25th Street. The pole was sheared-off, but still upright, with all the lines still intact.

Wendt initially refused medical treatment at the scene, but was later transported to a local hospital for precautionary reasons. Police cited him for failure to maintain control of his motor vehicle. Traffic flow in the area was rerouted for two hours while the utility pole was rendered safe by MidAmerican Energy.

Authorities remind you: Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting or dialing on your phone. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. Don’t be a distracted driver!

The Red Oak Police department released details on multiple arrests on Friday night.

At 4:00pm officers arrested 38-year-old Anthony Anderson of Villisca for Trespassing onto a property in the 600 block of East Joy Street in Red Oak. Anderson was arrested in the 1200 block of North 6th Street in Red Oak and was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

Also around 4:00pm Officers with Red Oak Police arrested 33-year-old Joseph Aaron Nelson of Red Oak for 5th Degree Criminal Mischief (a Simple Misdemeanor) and 54-year-old Dawn Terese Nelson of Red Oak for Domestic Assault (a Simple Misdemeanor).  Both individuals were arrested in the 400 Block of East Nuckols Street in Red Oak.  Both were transported to the Montgomery County Jail where Joseph was held on $300 cash bond and Dawn was held on no bond until seen by a magistrate.

Then at 11:19pm Officers arrested 34-year-old Jared Michael Nyquist of Red Oak on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Contempt.  He was arrested in the 100 block of West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 cash only bond.