OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held next week for the grand opening of an $11.5 million housing facility for people and their families traveling to Omaha for cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society broke ground in late 2016 on the Hope Lodge Nebraska, located just off of Dodge Street near the Nebraska Methodist Hospital System. Lodging there will be free of charge for patients and their families traveling more than 40 miles for treatment. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Tuesday.

The three-story lodge includes 32 private rooms with baths. Sitting/television areas and laundry facilities are located on each floor. Common areas include kitchen, dining room, library, conference, exercise, game and meditation rooms. Free transportation will be available to local treatment centers for patients staying at the Hope Lodge.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of tissue samples from hunted deer in Iowa have been turned over to be tested for chronic wasting disease. The samples are part of a nine-day collection effort by deer hunters and state officials that ends Sunday. The first weekend of the effort in Allamakee and Clayton counties provided 54 samples.

Chronic wasting disease is a neurologic disease of deer, moose and elk that is always fatal for the animals. The disease first appeared in Iowa’s wild deer herd in 2013 and each year since. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has placed extra emphasis on tracking the movement of the disease with the cooperation of hunters.

Last year, two deer tested positive for the disease as part of the effort in the same counties.

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

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SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A former northwest Iowa fifth-grade teacher charged with multiple acts of sex abuse and released on bond last November is back behind bars on new charges. Sioux City television station KTIV reports that 36-year old Curtis Van Dam was arrested Friday morning at his Sioux Center home on a federal warrant charging him with sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.

Van Dam has already pleaded not guilty to 146 Iowa counts, including 73 counts of second-degree sexual abuse. His trial on the state charges is set to for March 6. Police say the charges stem from incidents involving numerous children over four years and that the crimes occurred at various locations, including Sioux Center Christian School, where Van Dam worked.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A new trial has again been set for a northwest Iowa man accused of fatally stabbing his sister. Trial had been set to begin Jan. 30 for 35-year-old Thomas Bibler. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts in the June 11, 2016, stabbing death of 27-year-old Shannon Bogh, of Le Mars. He was arrested that day after a short standoff at his Le Mars apartment.

The Sioux City Journal reports that a judge a judge on Friday set Bibler’s trial for May 15. Previous trial starting dates for Bibler were Dec. 19, May 16, Feb. 14 and Dec. 13, 2016. The latest delay came after Bibler’s defense attorney said he needed more time to switch expert witnesses.

A call about an assault Friday evening at William’s Recreation Parlor, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 44-year old James Reed Mitroff the 2nd, of Red Oak. According to the report, Red Oak Police, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Iowa State Patrol responded to the business at around 6:31-p.m.  Mitroff II was taken into custody and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was charged with Assault on a Peace Officer (no injury), and Disorderly Conduct (fighting or violence). His cash bond was set at $1,000.

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

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A suburban Des Moines Walgreens has been forced to evacuate after several people inside became ill. The incident happened Friday afternoon. Hazmat crews were called to a Walgreens on University Avenue in Clive after several people became ill in the pharmacy area of the store. The Des Moines Register reports that six people in the store were taken to a hospital.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A new trial has again been set for a northwest Iowa man accused of fatally stabbing his sister. Trial had been set to begin Jan. 30 for 35-year-old Thomas Bibler. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts in the June 11, 2016, stabbing death of 27-year-old Shannon Bogh, of Le Mars. The Sioux City Journal reports that a judge a judge on Friday set Bibler’s trial for May 15.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new report on the rapid expansion of hog farms in Iowa calls for a moratorium on new barns concluding that the state’s regulatory system is failing to protect the environment and public health for the sake of profit of the politically powerful livestock industry. “A tipping point has been reached. Rural Iowans have every reason to be concerned,” said the report released Thursday by retired University of Iowa professors James Merchant and David Osterberg.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman convicted of murder in the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter has been given three life sentences. The sentences were handed down Friday to 43-year-old Nicole Finn of Des Moines. Authorities say Natalie Finn weighed only 85 pounds when she died in October 2016. Experts testified that her siblings, Mikayla and Jaden, were at risk of starving to death as well and spent months recovering after Natalie suffered cardiac arrest.

Beginning July 1, 2018, the Cass County Landfill will begin sending a per-capita fee to each of the eight entities in Cass County that are members of the landfill’s 28-E agreement. Each entity is responsible to pay the fee to help offset future expenses that have outpaced the landfill’s current revenue source, the tipping fees.

John Danos, from Dorsey and Whitney Law Firm in Des Moines, will be present during a Cass County elected officials Landfill Workshop, to discuss the legalities of collecting this fee. The Workshop takes play 5:30-p.m. January 31st, in the City Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Please note that although this is an open meeting, and the public is welcome to attend, there will be no public forum, and the public may not have the opportunity to speak.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports  bridge demolition work on Interstate 29 bridge over Floyd Boulevard in Sioux City, will require closing Floyd Boulevard beginning 6 a.m. Saturday, February 3, until 6 p.m. Sunday, February 4, weather permitting.

Work will be performed 24 hours a day to minimize the length of this closure. Floyd Boulevard traffic will be asked to follow a detour route during this project. (See map for more information about the detour routes for this project.) The trail along Floyd Boulevard will also be closed while the bridge work is being performed.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey 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.

Police in Council Bluffs say minor injuries were reported Friday, after a moped collided with a vehicle. The accident happened at around 1:45-p.m. near 2nd Avenue and S. 9th Street. Upon officers arrival, they made contact with the driver of the vehicle and asked what happened.

The driver stated the moped pulled off to the side of the road to let traffic go by. After the first vehicle drove by the moped, the moped reentered the roadway without looking and collided with another vehicle. The driver of the moped had minor injuries and was transported to UNMC by the Council Bluffs Fire Department for further medical evaluation.

Authorities say this is a good reminder for drivers to make sure they have plenty of distance before entering the roadway.