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

BEVINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A head-on crash has injured three people and blocked the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 south of Des Moines. Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig says the crash happened Friday afternoon just outside Bevington, about 20 miles south of Des Moines. Ludwig said three people were injured in the two-vehicle crash, which happened in a construction zone. The state patrol initially said one person had died but later said that wasn’t correct.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids is conducting an inventory of its street-side trees in order to evaluate the plants’ health. KCRG-TV reports that the city hired California-based ArborPro to assess the trees for $189,000. A city arborist says knowing how diverse its urban canopy is and the population numbers of its different species will allow the city to lay out a more exact plan for when and how it’ll remove ash trees, which are currently threatened by the emerald ash borer.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — The school district superintendent in Bettendorf has been chosen to head the school district in Marshalltown. The Marshalltown Community School District has offered Theron Schutte a contract, and the school board is expected to make the hiring official Monday. Schutte, who graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1981, will begin his new job July 1.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man is in critical condition after being shot multiple times in Waterloo. Authorities say Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Deputy Harold Oliver was on his way to work Thursday morning, when he saw 40-year-old Andrew Spates shot multiple times as he sat in a car in a Kwik Star parking lot.

A vehicle reported stolen from Red Oak, today (Friday), was recovered, but authorities still need your help in finding the person or persons responsible for the theft. The dark red, Chevy Impala was stolen sometime between 10:30-a.m. and 1-p.m., from the 2200 block of Eastern Street in Red Oak, but later found abandoned.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Red Oak Police at 712-623-6500.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports, weather permitting, a bridge deck replacement project on the U.S. 71 bridge over the Nishnabotna River one mile south of Iowa 44 in Audubon County will require closing of the bridge to traffic, from Tuesday, May 31st, until mid-September. Motorists will be detoured at U.S. 71 and Interstate 80 using Iowa 44 and Iowa 173.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Creston Police today (Friday) said a teen received two citations following a hit-and-run accident Sunday morning. Officials say 16-year old Tyreese Goodwin, of Creston, was cited for Reckless Driving, Failure to hold a valid driver’s license and failure to show proof of insurance. The citations were the result of an investigation into an accident at the intersection of W. Adams Street and Sumner Avenue.

The collision happened at around 9-a.m., Sunday, as a car driven by 70-year old Linda Huffman, of Creston, was waiting at a stop light. An SUV driven by Goodwin was traveling north on Sumner Avenue and turning left onto Adams Street, when the vehicle hit Huffman’s 2005 Buick on the rear passenger door. Goodwin then fled the scene, but officers were able to locate him and the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer he was driving.

Damage from the collision amounted to $6,500.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A woman accused of stealing more than $38,000 from a Sioux City law firm has pleaded not guilty. Court records say Kristen Hermelbracht entered a written plea to the theft charge Wednesday, and her trial is scheduled to begin July 5th.

Authorities say that between July 2013 and November 2015, she stole the money by forging a partner’s signature on the law firm’s checks. She also is accused of using the firm’s money to buy prepaid debit cards.

The law firm Otto, Lorence & Wiederstein, P.L.L.C. would like to welcome Mark Bosworth as their new Associate Attorney. Mark comes from Marks, Clare & Richards law firm in Omaha. He graduated from the Creighton University School of law in 2014. Mark and his wife, Dusti, are originally from Logan, Iowa; joining them in Atlantic are their three daughters, Briley (5), Nora (4) and Claire (2). Mark joins the practice along with David Wiederstein, Jody Lorence, and John Otto.

Atty. Mark Bosworth

Mark’s career in the legal field began in 2009 when he joined the Douglas County Child Support Office as a caseworker specializing in enforcement and collections. While working for the Child Support office, Mark was responsible for the management of over 1,000 cases; serving as the primary contact for clients. During this time, Mark developed a passion for problem solving and for helping clients and families navigate through the legal system. After seeing various issues and problems which required the skills of a private attorney, Mark enrolled at the Creighton University School of Law in the Fall of 2011.

While at Creighton, Mark focused his studies in Litigation. He graduated from Creighton with a designation as Lyle E. Strom Scholar in Trial Advocacy and earned a degree concentration in litigation. Mark earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2008, with a double major in English and Journalism.

In his free time Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters. Mark also enjoys watching Hawkeye sports and maintaining an active lifestyle.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The lawsuit filed by the Des Moines Water Works in federal court against several upstream agriculture drainage districts has been delayed by nearly a year. Originally scheduled for trial in August, a judge rescheduled the three-week trial for June 26, 2017.

Water Works Board Chairman Graham Gillette says that will give the Iowa Supreme Court time to resolve constitutional questions the federal judge posed to it prior to trying the case. Gillette says a delay also gives state leaders time to reconsider providing money for agriculture practices that would reduce water pollutants.

The water utility for about 500,000 central Iowa customers blames farmland runoff for high levels of nitrate that cost millions of dollars to remove. Water Works officials want farm drainage districts regulated under the federal Clean Water Act.

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

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Police in Creston say a woman residing at an apartment in the 700 block of W. Adams Street reported this (Friday) morning, someone had stolen a drug used to control seizures and prevent panic attacks. The woman said the theft of an unknown amount of Clonazepam, tools, a necklace with charms and a feather attached, and one set of blue, round earrings, occurred sometime late Thursday night or early this (Friday) morning. The loss was estimated at $42.

And, an Adams County woman was arrested early this (Friday) morning, in Creston. 51-year old Roxann Boyce, of Corning, was taken into custody at around 3-a.m., for Driving While Suspended. She was later released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

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

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