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

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Travel remains hazardous in parts of Iowa and Nebraska as ice storms move north and east through the states. Authorities say most roadways that have been treated in anticipation of sleet or freezing rain are safe for cautious navigation. But untreated sidewalks, streets and rural roads could be treacherous Monday.

Fears of widespread power outages Sunday and early Monday have not materialized. Major utilities in both states report that fewer than 20 customers don’t have electricity. Air travel is problematical. More than 20 Monday departures have been canceled at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and five at Des Moines International Airport.

National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Boustead says more rain is expected in both states Monday, but the temperature in most spots is hovering above the freezing mark.

A collision Saturday night between a Union Pacific train and a small SUV in Marshall County has resulted in the death of a Marshalltown man. The Iowa State Patrol says 62-year old Kyle Dean Quick died at a hospital in Des Moines after he was flown from the scene of the crash that happened at around 8-p.m Saturday, in Marshalltown.

Quick was driving a 1995 Geo Tracker northbound on 6th Street, when he went around the activated railroad crossing arms and was struck by the train. The accident remains under investigation.

The Shenandoah Police Department and law enforcement in southwest Iowa are searching for a woman wanted in connection with a burglary, theft of property and motor vehicle theft at the City of Shenandoah Cemetery garage. 34-year old Karly Jean Glidden (AKA Karly Parker),, of Shenandoah, has active, nationwide, arrest warrants for the crimes of Theft 1st Degree – a Class C Felony, Theft 2nd Degree – a Class D Felony, and Burglary 3rd Degree (Motor Vehicle) 2nd or Subsequent Offense – a Class D Felony.

If you see Glidden, call 911 immediately or the Shenandoah Police Department at 712-246-3512. Citizens are advised NOT to attempt to apprehend any individuals on their own.

Karly Jean Glidden (Shenandoah P-D photo)

Today (Monday) marks the halfway point between the purchase of a valuable lottery ticket in eastern Iowa and it’s expiration date. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says the $2 million winning Powerball ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Cedar Rapids for the drawing on July 16. After six months, no one has come forward with the ticke “It’s not very often that a prize of this size goes unclaimed for this long,” Neubauer says.

It’s possible the ticket was lost or even thrown away, but Neubauer says it’s not uncommon for frequent players of lottery games to leave the tickets unchecked for long periods of time. “People have said ‘oh yeah, I let them pile up on my dresser’ or one woman who contacted us said she kept her lottery tickets in a cookie jar and she would check the tickets after she got a lot of them in her cookie jar,” Neubauer said.

The $2 million winning ticket will expire at the close of business on July 17, if it isn’t claimed by then. “There are still six months for this particular ticket to go, but with every day that passes, it becomes a little more likely that maybe that ticket isn’t out there anymore,” Neubauer said. “So, we’re just trying to do all we can to get the word out.”

The ticket was purchased at the Hawkeye Convenience Store, 2330 Wiley Blvd. SW in Cedar Rapids. The ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball in the July 16 drawing to win a $1 million prize, but the person who bought the ticket also added the Power Play option to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million. The winning numbers in the July 16 Powerball drawing were: 11-17-40-50-62 and Powerball 26. The Power Play number was 2.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor has proposed cutting funding for needy kids as part of his plan to defund Planned Parenthood. It’s a rare step even as Republican-dominated states grapple with whether to sacrifice federal dollars to lessen the organization’s influence. Iowa receives more than $3 million in federal Medicaid funding that it must spend on family planning services, and some of that is tied to Planned Parenthood.

According to budget projections reviewed by The Associated Press, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has recommended taking $2.8 million previously given to child and family services so it can be redirected to create a roughly $3.3 million program that distributes family planning money to organizations that do not perform abortions.

Branstad is expected to resign soon to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

Due to inclement weather, the City of Council Bluffs Government offices will be closed Monday, January 17th, 2017. Only essential city personnel should report to work.
Regular business hours are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, January 18th, 2017. Officials will evaluate the situation and notify the public if those plans change.

For closing updates, please watch the City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/City-of-Council-Bluffs-Municipal-Government-211670489175832/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Students at two Council Bluffs elementary schools will have the chance to learn more about personal finance by working in bank branches at their schools. The Daily Nonpareil reports First National Bank and American National Bank both recently opened branches in elementary schools.

The Council Bluffs school district now has nine different bank branches open in its schools. The branches are part of a larger effort to teach students about money by giving them the chance to open a savings account and contribute to it.

Carter Lake Elementary Principal Doreen Knuth says opening an account early lets students to watch their savings grow and build good habits.

The Creston Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Wyoming and Taylor Streets. Officials say a a 2007 Dodge Caliber driven by 16-year old Tessi VanScoy, of Creston, was stopped at the controlled intersection on Wyoming Street and proceeded to cross Taylor Street, when her vehicle was hit on the passenger side door by a 2002 KIA, driven by 62-year old Michael Mason, of Creston. The accident happened at around 3:20-p.m., Saturday.

Damage from the collision amounted to $4,000. There were no citations issued.

BUFFALO COUNTY, Neb. (AP) — Officials believe icy conditions contributed to a fiery crash involving two semitrailer trucks on Interstate 80 in central Nebraska. The Nebraska Roads Department closed 15 miles of I-80 after the trucks crashed shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday. The crash happened about nine miles west of Kearney.

Pictures of the crash show the trucks on fire along the road, but it wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was injured. Authorities didn’t immediately release crash details. Highways in central Nebraska are already covered by ice as a major storm moves into the area. Most of the ice accumulation is expected in eastern Nebraska and Iowa later Sunday into Monday.

Ice accumulations of one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch appear likely, making driving dangerous and threatening to bring down tree limbs and power lines.