In an update to our earlier report, KCCI TV in Des Moines says two Des Moines Police officers were killed in the line of duty this morning while transporting a prisoner. Des Moines Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Paul Parizek told the station the officers were driving eastbound, returning a prisoner from Council Bluffs to Des Moines when they were struck head on by a vehicle driving the wrong way on the interstate. The prisoner and the driver of the second vehicle involved were also killed. The crash happened on Interstate 80 near the Waukee exit at mile marker 117 around 12:40 a.m.

The crash is being investigated by the Iowa State Patrol.Des Moines Police say the names of those killed in this crash are being withheld pending notification of their families. A news conference with the Des Moines Police Department and Iowa State Patrol will take place Saturday at 10 a.m.

One of the legislature’s leading gun rights advocates is taking aim at a group called “Iowa Gun Owners”. The legislature has voted to legalize gun silencers or “suppressors” AND let landowners carry loaded guns when they drive ATVs and snowmobiles on their property. But both bills were scaled back to win passage. A fundraising email from the Iowa Gun Owners group accuses the “naive…establishment gun lobby” of getting hoodwinked by the “gun grabbers” in the legislature.

Representative Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley — a trained gunsmith — says he wants to set the record straight. “When you get those emails that tell you the sky is falling, send somebody money because they’re the only ones that can fix the problem…don’t be fooled by those scam artists,” Windschitl says. “Don’t be fooled by those charlatans.” Windschitl praises the Iowa Firearms Coalition and the National Rife Association for their work on the bills.

“Are we fighting on every front to try and advance every possible piece of legislation to enhance your Second Amendment rights?” Windschitl asked. “Absolutely.” Windschitl works in his family’s gun store in Missouri Valley. Iowa Gun Owners touts itself as the only “no compromise” gun group in Iowa and it vows to defeat “anti-gun” legislators this fall.

(Radio Iowa)

(Update 6:37-a.m. – All lanes open)

A fatality accident early this morning on Interstate 80 near the Waukee exit blocked both east and westbound traffic for about three-hours. Eastbound traffic was being detoured at Exit 117 as of 5:30, but by 6:30-a.m., all lanes had been re-opened.

No other details concerning the accident are currently available. The original road closure notice was posted at 2:32-a.m.

(WAUKEE) — Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa State Patrol early this (Saturday) morning, were urging motorists to avoid the area of Interstate 80 at the 117 mile-marker (Waukee exit), as it is closed in both directions as the Iowa State Patrol investigates a fatality crash. Traffic is being detoured off of the interstate in that area. No other details were immediately available. The notice was posted at 2:32-a.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City hospital is warning patients that some of their personal information may have been accessed through a computer virus. An investigation revealed that a computer virus designed to capture personal data had infected some computers in January at Mercy Iowa City and Mercy Clinics. The information may have included patient demographics such as addresses, clinical information such as treatments and medications, health insurance information, and Social Security numbers.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — State officials say an unknown amount of industrial cleaner has reached Storm Lake. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a pump failure caused a small amount of fluid from the Tyson-Hillshire plant to reach a storm sewer that flows into the Iowa lake.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says suspects from Wisconsin and Illinois who allegedly operated a car insurance fraud ring can be prosecuted in Iowa even though they never set foot in the state. The suspects allegedly staged fake accidents in Chicago, then filed claims with multiple insurers. They were charged in Iowa based on giving false information to a Davenport, Iowa-based employee of Sentry Insurance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Texas man, accused of helping a former lottery official in Iowa attempt to collect fixed lottery ticket jackpots, has lost an appeal of his extradition to Iowa but continues to fight. Robert Clark Rhodes, of Sugar Land, Texas was charged last year in Iowa with fraud.

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Gill finished with a season-high 23 points, Mike Tobey came off the bench to score 18, and top-seeded Virginia beat Iowa State 84-71 in the Midwest Region semifinals on Friday night. The Cavaliers (29-7) withstood a second-half push by the fourth-seeded Cyclones (23-12) after grabbing a big lead in the early going and advanced to their first regional final since 1995. Georges Niang had another big game for Iowa State, finishing with 30 points after scoring 28 in each of the first two rounds.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa State Patrol early this (Saturday) morning, were urging motorists to avoid the area of Interstate 80 at the 117 milemarker (Waukee exit), as it is closed in both directions as the Iowa State Patrol investigates a fatality crash.

Traffic is being detoured off of the interstate in that area. No other details were immediately available. The notice was posted at 2:32-a.m.