The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office in Atlantic says in recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week, the Iowa Department of Transportation wants to bring attention to the 2017 construction season for the Council Bluffs Interstate Improvement Program. A public open house meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18th, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program’s office, located at the Mall of the Bluffs (1751 Madison Ave., Suite 750), in Council Bluffs.

The public is invited to attend and discuss the upcoming construction activities. Iowa DOT staff will be present to explain the impacts to people traveling on the interstate and to local businesses in the areas of interstates 29 and 80 in Council Bluffs. Two short presentations are planned for 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; the public may join either presentation.

The meeting space is accessible for persons with disabilities. For those who cannot attend the open house, an online meeting will be available beginning April 18 and can be accessed by visiting the project website, www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov, and clicking the online meeting link on the home page.

2017 construction projects include:

• East system interchange of I-80/I-29.
• Dual divided freeway.
• West system interchange of I-80/I-29 and I-29.
• U.S. 275/Iowa 92 interchange.

An update will also be provided on the ongoing environmental study and preliminary design alternatives for the I-29/I-480/West Broadway project. Scott Schram, Iowa DOT District 4 engineer, says “The Council Bluffs Interstate Improvement Program will continue to make progress reconstructing I-80 and I-29 in Council Bluffs that will potentially impact travel and local businesses in the area. The meeting on April 18 will provide details on what drivers can expect during the busy construction season.” Schram says they “Encourage motorists to use extra caution when traveling through work zones.”

Construction during the 2017 season is part of the Iowa DOT’s Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program. The program is the single largest project in the Iowa DOT’s fiscal year 2017-2021 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program.

Visit the Iowa DOT’s project-related public involvement event website at www.iowadot.gov/pim for information about scheduled public meetings and hearings, and opportunities to offer input to the Iowa DOT during the development of certain projects.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a traffic stop this (Wednesday) morning near Thurman, resulted in a Nebraska man’s arrest on drug and weapon charges. The Fremont County K9 unit conducted the traffic stop at around 3-a.m.

An investigation ended with the arrest of 45-year old Rafael Petitphait, of Omaha, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia, and a Carrying Weapon charge. Petitphait was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $1,300 bond.

Rafael Petitphait

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 8:55-p.m. Tuesday, of a Red Oak man. 47-year old Mark Douglas Berggren was taken into custody on a valid Montgomery County bench warrant for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond.

After five years of lobbying, the “Iowa Army of Pink” has won its battle at the statehouse. “This is the day I’ve prayed about for so long and I can’t believe it’s finally happening.” Bridget Pargulski of Johnston was part of the group that’d been asking legislators to force health care providers to let a woman know if she has dense breast tissue, so she can get an ultrasound in addition to a mammogram. This year, the bill has easily passed the Senate and House and is headed to the governor.

The legislation sets up new rules for health care providers, so women will be given information about breast density and the increased risks that may be associated with it. Representative Brian Best of Carroll paid tribute to one of the bill’s long-time advocates. “Today I want to call this bill ‘Patty’s Bill’ after Patty Bernard,” Best said. “She’s been at the capitol advocating for this bill year after year. She’s here again today. She has a nine-centimeter tumor missed on a mammogram and she now has stage four cancer. Patty, this bill is for you and for all of the Army of Pink.”

Bernard and other women dressed in pink who’ve lobbied for the bill for years were seated in the House balcony as the bill passed the House, Tuesday. Bernard was surprised when Best mentioned her during House debate. “I was shocked. I had no idea,” Bernard says. “I’m honored.” Bernard, who is from West Des Moines, says she didn’t know dense breast tissue could prevent some tumors from being visible in a mammogram.

Pargulski got involved in the lobbying effort because for four years in a row her cancer was missed in mammograms because her breast tissue was dense. She wore a pink sweater with “Army of Pink” lettering, Tuesday. “To get such a landslide vote was just amazing,” Pargulski says. The bill passed the House on a 95-to-two vote. It unanimously cleared the Iowa Senate in mid-March and Governor Branstad is expected to sign it into law.

(Radio Iowa)

Davenport police have released the name of a highway worker killed in an overnight accident Monday. It happened a little before 11-p.m. Monday on Interstate 80 near the Interstate 74 overpass. Police say a pickup truck being operated by an employee of Hawkeye Paving Corporation of Bettendorf backed onto the traveled portion of the highway. It was struck by a semi. The driver of the semi suffered non-life threatening injuries, but the driver of the pickup truck died. She was identified as 54-year-old Jacklyn Ferguson from New Windsor, Illinois. The paving company was doing maintenance work on the highway at the time.

(Radio Iowa)

Republicans in the Iowa House have voted for a 72-hour waiting period before women seeking an abortion in the state may have the procedure performed. In addition, women seeking an abortion in Iowa would have to have an ultrasound and be given an opportunity to look at it. “I stand in support….because seeing is believing.” That’s Representative Greg Heartsill, a Republican from Columbia. Republican Representative Sandy Salmon of Janesville says the House G-O-P’s plan also asks that the woman be given the option of listening to a heartbeat, if one can be detected.

“This will shine the light upon what is really inside the womb of the mother,” Salmon says. Salmon and her Republican colleagues have voted to require that a woman seeking an abortion be given information that encourages her to consider the option of adoption instead. “To help a woman consider and make a good, educated decision for herself and her baby,” Salmon said, “totally appropriate for the life-and-death decision she is making.” All the Democrats in the Iowa House voted against these new abortion restrictions. Representative Amy Nielsen is a Democrat from North Liberty.

“I believe that passing this legislation tells the roughly 1.6 million women in Iowa that they are not intelligent enough to make health care decisions for themselves,” Nielsen says. “What medical decisions do we require a man to take 72 hours to consider before he is allowed to receive the treatment?” Representative Liz Bennett, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, also spoke out against the proposals.

“Let’s keep the scaly tentacles of government out of women’s wombs,” Bennett said. In mid-March, the Iowa Senate voted to ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. That prohibition was at the core of the legislation debated last (Tuesday) night, however the bill was tabled shortly after 10:30 p.m. and no final vote has been taken in the House.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has begun debate on a bill that would ban most abortions in the state at 20 weeks of pregnancy. The GOP-controlled chamber started debating Tuesday night. Republicans are expected to pass the legislation, which would be a victory for Iowa conservatives seeking to restrict abortion. House Republicans expressed interest in changing the bill, which would require another vote from the GOP-led Senate. The Senate passed a version of the legislation last month.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The GOP-controlled Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would make sweeping changes to the state’s gun laws, including adding a stand-your-ground provision. The chamber voted 33-17 Tuesday for the bill. The House, which passed it recently, must vote again because of changes in the Senate. The stand-your-ground provision would allow people in Iowa to use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s largest teachers union has filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s new law that eliminated most collective bargaining rights for public workers. The announcement Tuesday by the Iowa State Education Association marks the second lawsuit by a union against the law, which took effect in February. The association claims three provisions in the law violate the Iowa Constitution.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University is changing discrimination and harassment policies to settle a lawsuit filed last year by a conservative student who wants the freedom to discuss controversial topics of sexuality, abortion and religious freedom on campus without the threat of disciplinary action. Student Robert Dunn refused to sign policy statements that said public discussion of controversial subjects could be deemed harassment by university officials.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Douglas County, Nebraska prosecutor says gun play seems to have led to the death of a 20-year-old western Iowa man in Omaha, and two people have been arrested. Police say 20-year-old Scott Evans, of Council Bluffs, was found dead early Sunday inside a home in north Omaha. Officers were called the house for a report of a shooting.

Officials say 18-year-old Montana Garbez, of Omaha, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and a weapons count, and 19-year-old Serenity Gatan, of Council Bluffs  has been arrested on suspicion of being an accessory. Both were being held in the Douglas County Jail.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine tells the Omaha World-Herald that Garbez and Gaytan appeared to have been using a gun in a game similar to Russian roulette, and Evans was shot in the head.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The GOP-controlled Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would make sweeping changes to the state’s gun laws, including adding a stand-your-ground provision. The chamber voted 33-17 Tuesday for the bill. The House, which passed it recently, must vote again because of some changes in the Senate.

The stand-your-ground provision would allow people to use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety. Opponents warn it would increase gun violence and racial tensions. A similar provision in Florida gained national attention following the 2012 shooting death of an unarmed black teenager.

Advocates call the provision a needed strengthening of Second Amendment rights. The bill would also allow firearms at the Capitol and allow citizens to sue local governments for enacting gun-free zones.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has begun debate on a bill that would ban most abortions in the state at 20 weeks of pregnancy. The GOP-controlled chamber started debating Tuesday night. Republicans are expected to pass the legislation, which would be a victory for Iowa conservatives seeking to restrict abortion.

House Republicans expressed interest in changing the bill, which would require another vote from the GOP-led Senate. The Senate passed a version of the legislation last month. GOP Gov. Terry Branstad, who spoke recently at an anti-abortion rally at the Capitol, has indicated support for a 20-week ban. A spokesman says the governor reserves judgment on the legislation.

The ban on most abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy is based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that stage. Nearly 20 states have passed similar legislation in recent years.