(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, to honor the murdered and injured in Saturday’s tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagouge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s order to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

A woman from southwest Iowa was injured during a collision Saturday afternoon, in northern Iowa’s Webster County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2002 Chevy Sonic driven by 18-year old Madison Godfread, of Essex, failed to yield at a stop sign on Webster County Road D-14 at Nelson Avenue, north of Fort Dodge, at around 12:45-p.m., Saturday. Godfread attempted to turn left onto Nelson Aveue, when her car collided with a southbound 2014 Toyota Avalon, driven by 46-year old John O’Halloran, of Des Moines.

Godfread, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by Fort Dodge EMS to Trinity Regional Hospital. A report on her condition was not available. Fort Dodge Fire and Rescue and Mid-Iowa Towing assisted the State Patrol at the scene.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Buses in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids will offer free rides to people headed to the polls on Election Day. The cities issued releases saying leaders decided to offer the free rides on Nov. 6 to give as many voters access to the polls as possible. Rides will be free on the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Transits all day, with no proof of voter registration or destination required.

Polls are open in the state from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Buses in Cedar Rapids stop running at 6:15 p.m., and at least one precinct — at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area — in Iowa City is not on the city’s bus route.
Residents are encouraged to find their polling place online before Election Day.

The winning Powerball ticket sold in Iowa marks the largest lottery prize ever won in the state, even though the $688 million jackpot will be split with another winning ticket holder in New York. Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich said Sunday that even state lottery officials are stunned that one of the tickets was sold in the rural Iowa town of Redfield. Lottery officials encouraged the winner to consult a financial adviser before coming forward. Rich says anyone who recently played Powerball should double-check their tickets. The winning numbers in Saturday night’s drawing were 8, 12, 13, 19 and 27, and Powerball 4. Powerball winners have a year to claim the prize. Rich says the identity of the Iowa winner will be made public under Iowa law.

The winning Iowa ticket was sold at Casey’s convenience store in Redfield. A store clerk declined comment Sunday. Casey’s will receive $10,000 for selling the winning ticket. The other winning ticket was sold at West Harlem Deli in New York City. The co-owner of a Manhattan deli where someone purchased one of two jackpot-winning Powerball tickets says he likely sold the winning ticket but has no idea who won. Jose Espinosa and his father own the West Harlem Deli in New York City. The 41-year-old joked Sunday while helping customers that he knows he sold the winning ticket because he’s always working. But he says he has no idea who purchased the lucky ticket.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa conservation groups are working together to turn a 506-acre site into a natural area that will be transferred to the state to manage and allow for public use. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa purchased the Green Hill Ranch just south of Council Bluffs in 2017, The Daily Nonpareil reported . The area is split between Pottawattamie and Mills counties and features hills, oak savanna and pockets of prairie. “There is a big demand for more natural land near Council Bluffs,” said Kristin Aschenbrenner, state director for The Nature Conservancy’s Iowa program.

The groups have raised about two-thirds of the $3 million needed to fund the project through grant funding and private donations. The area will serve as a haven for birdwatchers, hunters and hikers, said Joe McGovern, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. “You come off the highway and you don’t even see half the property. You climb up, and there’s an oak-lined ridge top. From there you can see Folsom Point and beyond Folsom Point, the skyscraper of Omaha,” said Graham McGaffin, Loess Hills project director for The Nature Conservancy. “You feel miles away from the highway and the metro.”

Ownership and management of the site will be transferred to the state Department of Natural Resources once fundraising is complete. Pottawattamie and Mills county conservation boards will also participate in the restoration efforts. Matt Dollison, Nishnabotna Wildlife Unit Biologist for the Iowa DNR, will oversee the restoration work.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of an Emerson woman early Sunday. At 2:09am Officers arrested 32-year-old Claire Ashly Thalken of Emerson in the 1600 block of North Broadway Street in Red Oak on a valid Mills County Warrant for Violation of Probation. She was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $2,500 bond awaiting extradition to Mills County.

(Radio Iowa) — Many Iowans will be donning creepy masks and spooky disguises as they head out for this weekend’s Halloween parties. Dan Garst, who runs Party Productions in Fort Dodge, says one of this year’s top adult costumes isn’t scary at all, unless you’re a criminal. “We see policemen, men and women, officers seem to be very popular,” Garst says. “I’ve sold several outfits and I’ve rented some and I’ve seen them at the parties already.”

Store employees are getting into the spirit by slipping into costume to wait on customers. Garst notes there’s one costume category that’s a favorite every year, for adults and kids. “If you get into the traditional, your Spiderman, Superman, any of the superheroes, they’re always popular,” Garst says. “Like I said, even our gals are dressed up. One day, we had the Hulk running around the store.” While Star Wars characters are an annual fixture, so are Batman and Wonder Woman, along with other comic book figures.

“We have the newer ones, the Black Panther is in, if you’re into that, and Venom if you’re a Venom fan,” Garst says. “We try to have the current as well as the traditional. You can go back and be a gypsy, you can be an Arabian knight.” Garst says the store has costumes for those wishing to dress up from the 1800s or well into the future, or even as any of the characters from the Wizard of Oz.

(A Radio Iowa Special Feature) — The Democrat who’s Iowa’s attorney general faces a Libertarian opponent in 2018, but no Republican challenger. 1974 was the last time a Republican won the statewide race for attorney general and the Iowa Republican Party does not have a nominee for the post this year.

Democrat Tom Miller was first elected as Iowa’s attorney general in 1978. Miller ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990. In 1994, Miller won a fourth term as attorney general. He’s seeking a 10th term this year. Miller, who is 74 years old, has indicated this will be his last campaign. “I love this job. I think it’s extremely rewarding,” Miller said about the job during an appearance on Iowa Public Television. “…The job as I see it is representing the interests of ordinary people. If you’re going to practice law, that’s where I want to practice and that’s what we’ve done.”

Marco Battaglia of Des Moines is the Libertarian Party’s nominee for attorney general. He touts his non-lawyer status. “Few lawyers with JDs know and understand the historical context surrounding the Constitution,” Battaglia said during an appearance on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. “Instead, they are taught case law which is extremely divergent from the founders’ intent.”

Battalia is an independent journalist and musician.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Corning man after a traffic stop early Saturday. At 1:09am Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Fred Ehrman of Corning. After investigation Ehrman was arrested for OWI 3rd or subsequent offense and Driving Under Suspension. Ehrman was also issued a citation for Open Container-Driver. Ehrman was booked into the Adams County Jail.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of an Elliott man on Friday night. At 9:14pm Officers arrested 38-year-old Timothy George Myers of Elliott in the 400 block of Jennifer Circle in Red Oak for Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Myers was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and booked in on $300 bond.