Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she was aware of the landing of the gyrocopter on the west lawn of the U-S Capitol Wednesday. “This was just a very, very odd situation,” Ernst says, “and so we were tracking it of course. We were moving about the capitol throughout the day.” Ernst says she did not feel that she was in any danger. “It was very unfortunate and it does raise some different issues on security, which I think the capitol police did do a good job of handling this situation. But again, we have lots of visitors who come to the capitol every day. We have our lawmakers busy at work, we have a number of administrative workers who come to the capitol, and we must make sure that they are secure,” Ernst says.

A 61-year-old postal worker from Florida piloted the gyrocopter onto the capitol lawn in what he says was a way to draw attention to campaign finance corruption.  “I think that could have been done in a much better forum. I am anxious to see what the fallout is with the actions he took,” Ernst says. She says the man’s ability to fly through protected airspace raises some questions that she hopes will be answered in the follow up.

“I know that the capitol police are going to be doing after-action reviews on this incident — and again I will have to wait and see what their response to the situation is — but that does give me concern,” according to Ernst. The Republican from Red Oak has just finished her first 100 days as a U-S Senator.

(Radio Iowa)

A southwest Iowa man was arrested on kidnapping and other charges, following an incident that occurred Wednesday evening in Page County. Authorities say 26-year old Shaun Michael Savala, of New Market, faces charges that include 2nd Degree Kidnapping, 1st Degree Harassment, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

Shaun Michael Savala. (Photo courtesy Page County Sheriff’s Office)

His arrest followed a report to authorities that Lacey Malson, of Page County, was being held against her will in a vehicle driven by Savala. A knife was allegedly used during the incident. Malson was later found safe in Clarinda.

Savala was located and taken into custody without incident in Taylor County, with assistance from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $25,000 cash bond.

Clarinda Police and the Iowa State Patrol also assisted Page County authorities in handling the incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Legislature has passed a bill that would expunge the records of people with not-guilty verdicts and dismissed criminal charges. The Senate voted 42-0 Thursday for the bill. The chamber already had approved the bill but had to vote again after the House made changes, including adding a 180-day waiting period for the records to be expunged. The House approved its version 96-0 Tuesday.

Current law allows such information to remain on a person’s records indefinitely. Supporters say the bill would help people applying for a job or renting a home, since those actions often require some type of background check. The bill now heads to Gov. Terry Branstad. A spokesman says the governor will review the bill.

Whether you need to find immediate shelter in a flash flood, you need to know what to do in an earthquake or you want to learn how to give a dog C-P-R, a new all-encompassing emergency smart phone app is available. Kara Kelly, spokeswoman for the Iowa office of the American Red Cross, says the free application aims to answer just about every possible question you’d have about urgent situations, from fires to first aid.

“The great thing about this app is it really is an all-in-one emergency app,” Kelly says. “It has preparedness information, weather alerts, safety tips for 14 different emergencies. It’s really a great tool to have on your phone.” Life-saving information is just a few taps away on your mobile device with the app, which Kelly says is designed so you can familiarize and prepare yourself ahead of time for a host of emergencies, or to use during the real thing. It also lets users customize more than 35 emergency alerts so they will know what to do no matter where they live or travel.

“If you have a smart phone or a tablet, this is a really easy thing you can set up for yourself,” Kelly says. “What’s really cool about this app is you can actually monitor your friends and family members who maybe don’t live by you. You can set up alerts and there’s a ‘family safe’ feature so you can keep track of folks in your family who don’t live nearby.” The Red Cross has released several apps in recent years and Kelly says this new one can replace them all.

“The emergency app is free for Android and Apple devices, either on iTunes or the Google Play store,” she says. “You don’t necessarily need to get rid of all the other Red Cross apps if you have them, but this certainly could free up some room on your phone as it truly is all-in-one.” There’s also a “Make a Plan” feature to help families plan what to do and where to go if a disaster strikes. Learn more at: redcross.org/apps

(Radio Iowa)

Both lanes of Interstate 80 westbound in Cass County were closed for several hours this (Thursday) morning, following a fiery, semi tractor-trailer accident. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Freightliner semi driven by 31-year old Fernando Hernandez, of Montebello, CA., was westbound on I-80 near the Wiota turn off (exit 64), when the left front tire on the tractor blew out, causing the semi to go out of control. The accident happened just after 3:30-a.m.

All photos courtesy Richter and Sons Towing.

When the rig hit a concrete bridge barrier, the semi exploded into flames that destroyed both the tractor and trailer. Anita Fire and Rescue and Wiota Fire responded to the scene. The State Patrol was also assisted by deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Hernandez, and a passenger in the cab were not injured. Both lanes of traffic were officially re-opened as of 8:30-a.m. today (Thursday). Traffic caught between the 64-and 70-mile markers waited for about 3 1/2 hours until it was allowed to proceed slowly in the left lane through the scene. The remaining flow of traffic was re-routed off I-80 at exit 70, south to Anita, west to Wiota, and back north to I-80, around the crash scene. The Exit 64 exit ramp westbound is currently, temporarily closed.

More area news from Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston report the arrest Wednesday night, of 46-year old Randy Hall, from Creston. Hall was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hall was later released from the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, at around 5-p.m. Wednesday, 44-year old Lance Lynam, of Lorimor, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a warrant out of Union County. The warrant was issued for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Lynam remains in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, accepted the site plans for a single-family housing development project to be located along Ash Street, between 1405 and 1503 Ash. Boose Building Construction, L.C. has proposed the nearly $1.26-million dollar project, which includes six, single family residential homes, each spanning about1,400-square feet. The homes would feature three bedrooms, two baths, two car garages, and a poured basement. They would be valued at about $200,000 each. The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the site plan during their meeting last week.

Boose is requesting a grant from the City in the amount of $80,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to aid in making the project a reality. The first payment of $40,000 would be paid when public improvements (grading, street, water, sanitary and storm sewer) are installed. Construction of the first house is slated to begin this year, with two more houses next year, and three houses to follow. The second TIF payment of $40,000 would be paid when the third foundation is in place. Boose says the last two houses they completed in past two years sold before they were completed, which is indicative of the need for more, single family homes, according to the company.

While the site plans for Boose were approved, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, tabled a site plan for a 6,183-square foot addition to the Heritage House at 1200 Brookridge Circle. The plan was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission last week, but there were concerns at that time about storm water drainage. The same issue caused the Council to hold-off on approving the site plan until engineers can take a closer look. They should have a recommendation for the Council by the time of their special meeting next week.

And, Mayor Dave Jones reported the contracts for the Highway 6/7th Street reconstruction project have been signed by the company which was awarded the bid for it, but there’s still no word on when the detour signs will go up. A pre-construction meeting will be held soon. Council Chris Jimerson said the Public Safety Commission has proposed drafting an ordinance restricting parking on 10th Street during construction on 7th, as 10th street will be used as a major road for local traffic.

There would also be no heavy truck traffic on 10th, 14th and 22nd Streets, with the exception of local deliveries. Mayor Jones said the reason heavy trucks will not be allowed on those streets is because “They’re not build for it…it’s a residential area in there.” Jones also advised local farmers who normally bring their heavy equipment into town along 7th Street between Olive and Burger King, to plan now for an alternate route. He suggested “If you have to bring a combine in (for repair),” do so now and don’t wait until May.

A fiery semi tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 80 westbound in Cass County has the road blocked this (Thursday) morning at mile marker 64. The accident was reported at 3:34-a.m., with Anita and Wiota Fire and Rescue along with Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responding to the scene. The semi, which was loaded with paper, was fully engulfed in flames under the bridge for County Road N-28 (the Wiota Road), and early reports were there may have been some sort of an explosion.

Flames were said to have reached 30-to 40-feet high, according to the person who reported the incident to Cass County Communications. Neither the driver of the semi,  Ferando Hernandez, of Los Angeles, California, nor his passenger, were injured. According to reports, for reasons unknown, Hernandez lost control of the semi, which hit an inside median guardrail before the rig jackknifed.

Traffic on the interstate west of Exit 70 was at a standstill, but the left lane was expected to have been re-opened to the stalled traffic only. The remaining traffic flow was being rerouted off the Interstate at Exit 70 south, to Anita and west to Wiota, then back north to I-80, while the wreck is cleaned-up.