AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lawmaker says he’s taking full responsibility for his decision to drive drunk. State Rep. Francis “Chip” Baltimore, a Republican from Boone, was arrested Friday morning in Ames near Interstate 35. His blood alcohol tested out at nearly twice the legal limit, and a pistol was found under the driver’s seat.

Baltimore told station WOI that he “made a very, very bad decision to get behind the wheel.” Baltimore, an attorney, is serving his fourth term as a state representative. He is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a legislative body that has advanced legislation in recent years to add more penalties for individuals arrested for drunken driving.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Ames company where a worker was fatally injured says a safety device fell on him. Danfoss Power Solutions said in a news release Sunday that a preliminary investigation determined that a safety hood on a motor testing operation struck 45-year-old John Lavery. The Ames resident died about 4 p.m. Thursday at the hydraulic motors plant.

The company says it is replacing all the other safety hoods with a new design that the company says will prevent similar accidents. Federal officials have joined the accident investigation.

A single-vehicle accident in Shenandoah, Sunday afternoon, left one person dead and a 15-year old injured. Both were from Shenandoah. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 24-year old Tyler L. Gobert was driving a 2005 Honda Element eastbound on Nishna Avenue, when for reasons unknown, Gobert lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle drove through a yard and crossed south Elm Street before hitting a tree and sustaining severe damage. The accident happened at around 3:10-p.m. Gobert, who was not wearing a seat belt, and his unidentified teen passenger who was properly secured in the vehicle, were transported by Shenandoah Rescue to the Shenandoah Hospital, where Gobert was pronounced dead.

The accident remains under investigation. Authorities say the State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Page County Sheriff’s Office, Shenandoah Fire, Police and EMS.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CST

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (KJAN) – One person died and a teen was injured Sunday afternoon, during a single-vehicle accident in Shenandoah. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a 2005 Honda Element, 24-year old Tyler L. Gobert died, and his 15-year old passenger was injured in the crash. Both are from Shenandoah. The accident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans are wading through the realities of mid-year budget cuts, and some have reservations about a proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds to reduce $10 million from the state’s Medicaid program. Reynolds’ staff claims the cut won’t impact the health care program’s services for the poor and disabled, but the governor must convince members of her party. Many Republicans already appear wary of removing money from a program under scrutiny for reports of reduced services under privatization.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Forecasters expect a major winter storm to dump snow on most of Nebraska and parts of Iowa and Kansas, and the storm could make travel difficult. The National Weather Service says the storm is already moving across Nebraska, and blizzard conditions are expected at times.

NASHUA, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have identified a man shot by police earlier this week in northeast Iowa as a Minneapolis resident. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said late Friday that 29-year-old Jihad Merrick died after being shot on Highway 218 in Bremer County in a standoff with police and after he had hit an officer with his car. The names of the officers involved haven’t been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A commission has told lawmakers that repeated cuts to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources threatened its ability to protect the state’s air and water as the reductions have forced the agency to leave more than 100 positions vacant. The Des Moines Register reports an Environmental Protection Commission report noted the Iowa DNR’s budget had been cut from $22 million in 2009 to $11.17 million in the current budget year. The cuts have come amid rising concerns about Iowa’s polluted waterways.

Iowa Third District Republican Congressman David Young took to social media sites Sunday afternoon to announce “Due to the federal government shutdown, upcoming Coffee With My Congressman town halls may be postponed.” Young said “As long as the federal government is shutdown, I will remain in Washington, D.C. working with my colleagues to reopen the federal government.”

Locally, Town Hall meetings were set to take place this week: Monday morning, in Underwood, and Monday afternoon in Henderson; and, Wednesday afternoon, in Griswold. Those meetings will be rescheduled.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans are wading through the hard realities of mid-year budget cuts, and some are expressing reservations about a proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds to reduce $10 million from the state’s Medicaid program.

Reynolds’ staff claims the cut won’t impact the health care program’s services for the poor and disabled, but the governor still must convince members of her party. Many Republicans already appear weary of removing money from a program under scrutiny for reports of reduced services under privatization.

The Iowa Department of Human Services says a decline in Medicaid enrollment means less financial need. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says while enrollment is down, it’s too early to know the implications of a reduction.

Iowa’s roughly $4 billion Medicaid program is funded through the federal government and the state. Iowa’s share is expected to be about $1.6 billion.

The Cass County Conservation Board has a couple of events for you to mark on your calendar. A Full Moon Owl Prowl Hike will be held at the Cold Springs Park in Lewis,  on Thursday February 1st 2018 at 7 PM. And, a Sweethearts Snowshoe Hike will be held at the Pellett Memorial Woods outside of Atlantic, on February 17th 2018 at 7 PM.

Come out for a great night hike, who knows what nature has waiting for you! The Full Moon will light the way! Together, you and Conservation staff will hike and try to call in various species of Owls that may be in the park that night! All ages are welcome!

Snowshoes (in a variety of sizes) will be available for the Showshoe Hike. The event WILL be CANCELLED with “NO SNOW!” Both events FREE, Dress for the weather!

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

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A winter storm has Nebraska and parts of Iowa and Kansas in its crosshairs. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for most of Nebraska, starting Saturday evening in western Nebraska and continuing through Sunday night across much of the state. Much of Iowa and a section of Nebraska from north of Omaha to an area south of Hastings could see a wintry mix and freezing rain.

NASHUA, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have identified a man shot by police earlier this week in northeast Iowa as a Minneapolis resident. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said late Friday that 29-year-old Jihad Merrick died after being shot on Highway 218 in Bremer County in a standoff with police and after he had hit an officer with his car. The names of the officers involved haven’t been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A commission has told lawmakers that repeated cuts to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources threatened its ability to protect the state’s air and water as the reductions have forced the agency to leave more than 100 positions vacant. The Des Moines Register reports an Environmental Protection Commission report noted the Iowa DNR’s budget had been cut from $22 million in 2009 to $11.17 million in the current budget year. The cuts have come amid rising concerns about Iowa’s polluted waterways.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A homeless shelter in western Iowa will be starting a Girl Scouts troop. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Micah House in Council Bluffs will begin holding troop meetings next month. The shelter received a $1,000 grant from the Pottawattamie Youth Council to start the troop. The shelter’s executive director was inspired after reading about a troop expanding to homeless shelters in New York City.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A winter storm has Nebraska and parts of Iowa and Kansas in its crosshairs. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for most of Nebraska, starting Saturday evening in western Nebraska and continuing through Sunday night across much of the state. The service says up to a foot of snow could fall on Scottsbluff, Chadron and other western cities. The service says up to 8 inches of snow could hit central and northeastern parts of the state, as well as in northwestern Iowa on Sunday into Monday.

Other parts of Iowa and a section of Nebraska from north of Omaha to an area south of Hastings could see a wintry mix and freezing rain. A winter storm warning has been issued for the northwest corner of Kansas, with an outer band extending to Garden City up through the north-central border included in a winter weather advisory.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state commission told lawmakers repeated cuts to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources threatened its ability to protect the state’s air and water as the reductions have forced the agency to leave more than 100 positions vacant.

The Des Moines Register reports the Environmental Protection Commission’s annual report to the Legislature noted the DNR’s budget had been cut nearly in half, from $22 million in 2009 to $11.17 million in the current budget year. The cuts have come amid increasing concerns about the state’s polluted waterways.

The DNR handles permitting for livestock operation, enforces state and federal air and water regulations, licenses hunting and fishing and manages parks, forests and trails.

Agency cuts have come as state revenue shortfalls have forced lawmakers to repeatedly cut the budget.