A traffic stop Friday evening on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of a man from California on a drug charge. Deputy Brian Miller pulled over a 2017 Kia Optima at around 6:05-p.m. for excessive speed, and while speaking with the driver, detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and resulted in the discovery of a duffle bag in the trunk containing several bags of marijuana.

The driver, 28-year old Ryan Matthew Klein, of Los Angeles, CA., also had a marijuana cigarette in a vacuum sealed bag tucked inside his backpack. In all, about 11-pounds of marijuana was located. Klein was arrested for Possession/Delivery of marijuana. An investigation into Klein’s activities is on-going.

And, a man from Omaha was arrested early Friday morning in Pott. County, after a deputy stopped to check on a 2006 Chevy Malibu that had two flat tires. The driver, 23-year old Jorge Vital, of Omaha, reportedly displayed signs of impairment, and was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was also in possession of 5.3-grams of marijuana at the time of his arrest. Vital was subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. His arrest took place on I-80 near mile marker 23, at around 4:15-a.m., Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A trial has begun on the sexual harassment lawsuit by a former Iowa Senate Republican Caucus aide. The trial opened Monday in Polk County District Court on the lawsuit filed in October 2014 by Kirsten Anderson. Anderson contends that she was fired from her job as caucus communications director because she complained that for years, she had been subjected to sexual harassment by male aides and lawmakers.

She says that after she complained, her supervisors began nitpicking her work and eventually fired her. Republican officials deny that she was harassed and say she was fired because of poor job performance.

The defendants include the state of Iowa, the Senate, the caucus and several officials. The lawsuit seeks unspecified amounts in back pay and damages but not reinstatement to her position.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a woman from Latimer was cited Saturday afternoon, following a non-injury accident in Lorimor. 25-year old Danielle Laura Piotrowski, was cited for Driving Under Suspension and Failure to Maintain Control, after the 2000 Pontiac van she was driving went out of control as she was turning from 5th Street onto Minnesota Street. The van took out a stop sign, resulting in a loss of $200 to the City of Lorimor. The van was not damaged during the mishap that happened at around 3:15-p.m., Saturday.

The Iowa Department of Transportation says with all the electronic gadgets that help you navigate the highways and byways, one of the DOT’s most popular publications is still the paper version of their transportation map. The DOT recently released the 2017-2018 version in the standard fold-out paper form. For those techies out there, electronic and mobile app versions of the map are also available on the internet. (https://iowadot.gov/maps/digital-maps/state-maps/iowa-transportation-map)

This was the second map printed on a two-year cycle. Mark Hansen, from the Iowa DOT’s Office of Systems Planning, oversees the map production and said, “While it’s true many people access the map online and via the mobile app, we still have thousands of requests every year for the printed version. Printing on a two-year cycle continues to serve the needs of those customers who rely on the paper copies, while saving tax dollars.”

Because the transportation system is always changing, the Iowa DOT makes several hundred changes to the map with each printing. While the map is printed every two years, the online and mobile app versions are updated annually.

The cover of the 2017-2018 Iowa Transportation maps shows the beauty of rural Iowa, one of the state’s breathtaking bridges, the future of our state and, our children. There is also a message from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg.

The map shows all highways, airports, rail lines, lakes, rivers, and major county roads. Detail maps are shown for the state’s 16 largest cities that identify highways, major streets, and city boundaries. The map information also includes a chart to find mileage between select Iowa cities; and an index listing the cities shown on the map, along with their populations and map location.

Copies of the 2017-2018 map are available at Iowa DOT’s driver’s license service centers, county treasurer’s offices, all six Iowa DOT district offices, Iowa’s welcome centers, and the state’s rest areas. The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Tourism Office also distributes maps to all travelers requesting tourism information online and by phone. To order a free Iowa travel packet that includes the new map and Iowa Travel Guide, visit traveliowa.com.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police say a hit-and-run driver caused $1,000 damage to an illegally parked car, Sunday morning. The 2008 Dodge Caliber was parked on Summit Street. It was struck sometime after 10:30-p.m. Saturday and 9:30-a.m. Sunday.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 63-year old Scott Coleman, of Creston, was arrested this (Monday) morning, on a charge of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. Coleman was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, where he was being held pending a bond hearing.

Authorities said also, that at around 1:50-a.m. Sunday, 32-year old Cateya Phipps, of Creston, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, and at around 3-a.m. Sunday, 26-year old James Randolph, of Columbus, OH., was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, OWI/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. Randolph’s bond was set at $1,000, while bond for Phipps was set at $300.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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CORYDON, Iowa (AP) – Two people have been injured in the crash of a small plane in southern Iowa. Des Moines television station KCCI reports the crash occurred Sunday afternoon near Corydon. Wayne County authorities say one of the people was taken to a Des Moines-area hospital and the other taken to a Wayne County hospital. Their names haven’t been released.

The crash cause and other information haven’t been released. Federal safety officials will be investigating.

An investigation into several vehicles parked at the Plum Creek Spillway in Fremont County Sunday night, resulted in one arrest. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says after Deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit arrived at the area in the vicinity of 142nd Avenue and Plum Creek Road, the K9 indicated to the presence of controlled substances in a 2004 Jeep parked on the roadway in the area.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies observed several items of drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.  The driver, 18-year old Daniel Stephen Kruger, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Kruger was later released on $300 bond.

Kruger