The Iowa Department of Transportation reports that on Wednesday, Dec. 19th, a contractor will shift southbound Interstate 29 traffic in Sioux City off a detour route.  At 9-a.m., the left lane of southbound I-29 will be closed for the application of pavement marking. Later in the morning, Wednesday, the contractor will reopen the left lane and close the right lane, as well as the southbound exit and entrance ramps at Exit 149/Hamilton Boulevard.

While the southbound I-29 right lane is closed, southbound I-29 traffic exiting to Hamilton Boulevard will exit at the southbound Virginia Street exit to Floyd Boulevard and continue to northbound I-29 to Exit 148/Wesley Parkway. Ramp traffic from Hamilton Boulevard to southbound I-29 will go through Wesley Parkway to enter southbound I-29 until pavement markings are completed. Each ramp will reopen as soon as traffic control at that location is complete.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A controversial high-voltage power line across western Wisconsin has been put into service after almost three years of construction. Supporters say the 180-mile, $580 million Badger Coulee line will enable clean and cheap wind energy from Minnesota and Iowa to reach big cities where there’s demand. Opponents consider it an unnecessary expense that guarantees profits for the owners while discouraging conservation and local renewable energy investments.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A spokeswoman for an Iowa college says the school welcomes a student group’s request to withdraw a union petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Grinnell College spokeswoman Debra Lukehart released a statement saying, “The college’s concern has always been about how the expansion of the student union could affect Grinnell’s distinctive culture and diminish educational opportunities for our students.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in Cedar Rapids say a 43-year-old woman has been hurt in an apartment fire. Fire officials say in a news release that the fire was reported around 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Gateway Apartments. Officials say the woman received CPR at the scene, and was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Her condition was not known late Friday afternoon.

UNDATED (AP) — Joe Biden is aware that age is an issue as he ponders a 2020 presidential run. He is talking with friends and longtime supporters about whether he’s too old to seek the White House. That’s according to several sources who have spoken with the 76-year-old former Democratic vice president. It could be the biggest hurdle to launching another bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in an era when many in the party yearn for a new generation of leadership.

(CORALVILLE) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 52-year old Paul Scott Kissel was pronounced dead due to unknown causes early this (Friday) morning. Kissel died at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center. Authorities say that while an autopsy has been ordered, his death is not considered suspicious at this time.

Kissel had been serving a 25-year sentence for the crime of Attempted Murder from Pottawattamie County. His incarceration began on September 25, 2009.

(CEDAR RAPIDS) – The Iowa Department of Corrections report 21-year old Nicholas Robert Campbell-Scott, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree and other charges in Linn and Black Hawk Counties, failed to report back to the Larry A. Nelson Residential Facility as required Thursday night.

Nicholas Campbell-Scott

Campbell-Scott is a black male, 5-feet 7-inches tall. He weighs 184 pounds. Campbell-Scott was admitted to the work release facility on October 11, 2018. Persons with information on his whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) — A central Iowa man will spend 40 years in prison for making child pornography. Thirty-three-year-old Raymond Wayne Eugene Hall pleaded guilty in July to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He admitted to making child pornography with a hidden camera where he engaged in sex acts with a child. He also made videos with his cellphone and stored them on his personal computer.

The judge gave Hall an enhanced sentence since he had been convicted in 2006 in Polk County for collecting child pornography and was required to register as a sex offender. Court information shows the latestest charges stemmed from an investigation that began with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have charged a Johnston man in connection with the accidental gunshot death of another man. The Des Moines Register reports that Urbandale police arrested 19-year-old Kyle Edward McGhghy Thursday on charges of carrying weapons, possession of marijuana and providing a weapon to an individual under the age of 21.

Authorities say 20-year-old Anthony Taylor, of Urbandale, died of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound while at a friend’s house on Sunday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Students at an Iowa college are seeking to end their effort to expand a union representing student workers because of fear a federal board would reject their request and set back unions at colleges across the country. Grinnell College student Cory McCartan helped organize the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers. He confirms Friday that the group has asked to withdraw its petition from the National Labor Relations Board in the face of opposition from college administrators.

A regional official with the board will decide whether to grant the request. A smaller union representing only food service workers will remain. McCartan says his group believes a board appointed by President Donald Trump wouldn’t give them a fair hearing, and a rejection would hurt existing student unions at other colleges.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office report a Nebraska woman was arrested Thursday night on two counts of Assault on a Peace Officer. 23-year old Sharney Alexis Avril, of Omaha, was arrested at around 7:45-p.m. at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. Her bond was set at $2,000.

No other details were provided.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Supreme Court says a home improvement store has to pay state sales tax for labor on some items purchased for homes.  The Department of Revenue determined the Lowe’s stores in the state should have been charging sales taxes on labor for the installation of windows and doors, faucets, toilets, dishwashers, ceiling fans, sinks, vanities, and garbage disposals. Lowe’s said the labor done by its independent contractors for those items fell under a tax exemption for new construction, reconstruction, alteration, expansion or remodeling. But the Revenue Department says the installations did not involve any structural changes and were not exempt.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled the installation of vanity tops, windows and doors involved carpentry alone without electrical or plumbing services and should be exempt. But the court says the other installations still fall under the sales tax and sent the issue back to the district court to decide the final amount. The Revenue Department originally sought around one-point-eight million in taxes and interest. Lowe’s worked with the department and the amount still outstanding was nearly 250-thousand dollars. The district court will now determine how much of that amount is still due.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm is expected to report, Monday, that the Ice Rink at Sunnyside Park, will open Dec. 22nd (weather permitting). That and other information will be presented during the regular monthly meeting of the City’s Parks and Recreation Dept. Board of Directors. In other business, Staashelm will also announce the Schildberg Camp Ground is closed for the season, and Sunnyside Park Roads are closed, but the park remains open for the Winter.

Action and/or new business items on the Board’s agenda, Monday, include:

• Nishna Valley Trails Dedication of a new trail.
• Discussion of a Comprehensive Trail Plan.
• Schildberg Devlopment Project Update
• Nishna Park Water Quality Project, and
• A proposal for Park and Rec Board Member Terms. (Last month the Board approved, a staggered four-year term for Parks Board members, who currently serve a six-year term. A recommendation for the proposed change will be submitted to the full City Council for their approval.)

The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board meeting will be held in the City Council’s Chambers at City Hall, beginning 5:15-p.m., Monday (Dec. 17).