OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man accused of causing a fatal crash while driving the wrong way on Interstate 480 has pleaded not guilty to felony charges. Victor Perez is charged with motor vehicle homicide while drunk and leaving the scene of an accident. A judge on Friday set his bail at $250,000. Police say the 24-year-old Perez was driving the SUV that struck Mickey Riesberg, who was riding a motorcycle. Riesberg was pronounced dead at Nebraska Medical Center.

Perez was arrested shortly after the crash after he pulled into the Ameristar Casino grounds in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Prosecutors say his blood alcohol level was 0.191 at the time of his arrest, more than twice the legal limit to drive. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Republican Party has voted to replace its current chairman with a former state lawmaker. The state central committee on Saturday chose former state Rep. Jeff Kauffman, of Wilton, as the new party chairman. Kaufmann replaces Danny Carroll, a former lobbyist for the Family Leader, a conservative Christian group.

The vote came after new committee members were elected earlier this year, with the support of Gov. Terry Branstad. Branstad wants the party unified to protect Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Kaufmann, a loyal Branstad supporter, says he will work to unite the party, raise money and get Republican voters to the polls. Kaufmann set an immediate goal of raising $300,000 over the next three months.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED SEVERE THE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHICH HAD BEEN IN EFFECT FOR ADAIR DALLAS GUTHRIE MADISON RINGGOLD AND UNION COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA.

ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. DAMAGING WIND…LARGE HAIL AND A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALL POSSIBLE SUNDAY. SUNDAY NIGHT THE THREAT WILL MAINLY BE DAMAGING WIND. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL OCCUR WITH STORMS AND FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE.

ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY WITH DAMAGING WIND THE MAIN THREAT. HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO LIKELY WITH THUNDERSTORMS.

Multiple rounds of severe weather are expected starting this (Saturday) afternoon and going through Monday for Iowa. Sunday afternoon looks to be the biggest threat. Please stay weather aware this weekend, especially if you are outdoors!

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New state laws aimed at corn growers, drones and electronic cigarettes are set to go into effect Tuesday in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports) that the laws will allow for potential increases in Iowa’s corn promotion check-off, impose new restrictions on e-cigarettes and prohibit the state and local governments from using drones to enforce traffic laws.

Another law will allow consumers to use gift certificates indefinitely. The state Board of Educational Examiners will also receive the power to discipline teachers who engage in relationships with recent former students.

Iowa will also allow household pets to be included in protection orders in domestic abuse cases. The state will also provide services for minors forced into prostitution, instead of prosecuting them.

w/ Chris Parks

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DEXTER, Iowa (AP) – Officials say a leaking pipe has caused wastewater to discharge near Diamondhead Lake in Guthrie County.

The state Department of Natural Resources says wastewater from a sanitary sewer line began bubbling up Friday morning from an underground pipe on the west side of Diamondhead Lake.

Officials believe the pipeline leak occurred after the installation of a power pole. Wastewater is discharging about 300 feet from the lake but has not reached the water.

The Diamondhead Lake Sanitary District expects the discharge to be ongoing until at least Saturday. Residents are being encouraged to avoid swimming and wading near the area.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man for Theft in the 5th Degree early Saturday, June 28th at 12:57am.  Officers observed 31-year-old Joseph Aaron Nelson of Red Oak carrying a large storage box on his bicycle.  After making contact with Nelson, he stated that he had taken the box from the 400 block of East Coolbaugh Street.  Nelson was then taken into custody and taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department responded to a call of a fight in progress on Friday, June 27th at 11:15pm in Red Oak.  After a brief investigation officers arrested Todd Allen Gilleland of Red Oak for Domestic Assault First Offense.  Gilleland was taken to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and is being held with no bond.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will be in the KJAN listening area next week. The Republican Governor will take a tour of the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, beginning at 8:45-a.m., Wed., July 2nd. At 11-a.m., he’ll be in Harrison County to attend the “Leadership Harrison Class of 2014” graduation ceremony at Smalls Fruit Farm in Mondamin.

Afterward, he’ll travel to Onawa for a tour of Burgess Health Center at 1:30, and from there it’s on to Guthrie Center, where he and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will tour Rose Acre Farm, at 4:30-p.m. The events are open only to the media and select officials.