The 7:30-a.m. report on the latest area and state news, as well as area funeral announcements, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:30 a.m. CST

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say this year’s deer harvest is slightly down this year with a little more than two weeks left in the season. The Quad-City Times reports that Iowa’s second shotgun season ended Sunday. Hunters have until midnight Monday to report their harvests. Between both shotgun seasons, hunters reported 5 percent fewer deer than last year’s seasons

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A vaccine that an Iowa company helped develop is expected to stop one of the world’s deadliest viruses. The Des Moines Register reports that a study published Thursday shows the vaccine is 100 percent effective in protecting people against Ebola, an infectious virus that has killed thousands and traumatized millions. Ames-based NewLink Genetics helped test and refine an Ebola vaccine that was invented by Canadian scientists.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Cedar Rapids brain and spine surgeon who was accused of gross malpractice has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine and refrain from performing surgery. The Des Moines Register reports that David Segal reached a settlement with the Iowa Board of Medicine. The board, which licenses physicians, filed administrative charges against him in 2015 alleging that he failed to prevent excessive infections among his patients.

BLAIRSBURG, Iowa (AP) — A Clarion woman was killed in a in a car crash two days after she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. Authorities say 24-year-old Andrea Urrutia Matul was driving north on Highway 69 on Monday when she crossed the center line and hit a southbound vehicle near Blairsburg, in Hamilton County.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports one person was arrested on an OWI charge late Christmas Eve night, following an investigation into a single-vehicle accident near Randolph. 32-year old Justin Guy Bodfield was taken into custody for OWI. His Blood Alcohol Content (Or, B.A.C), was found to be nearly four-times the legal limit of .08 for intoxication. Bodfield was being held in the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center on $1,000 bond.

Justin G. Bodfield

Sheriff Aistrope says Deputies located Bodfield in his vehicle, which was in the north ditch off 120th Street, in the 3000 block of 120th. Their investigation determined he was driving eastbound on 120th, when he lost control of the vehicle.

Dense fog was partly to blame for several accidents in a portion of Fremont County, Saturday. The Sheriff’s Office says at around 11:50-a.m., they received a call about a feed truck on fire in the 1100 block of Highway 275, just south of the Fremont-Mills School. Before emergency crews could arrive on the scene, the Sheriff’s Office received word a head-on crash had occurred at the same location.

Moments after a deputy arrived, another, rear-end crash occurred at the same location. Poor visibility because of fog and smoke, along with slick roads made the accident scene treacherous, according to authorities.

Officials said a 2016 Dodge Charger driven by Brandi Beem, of Tabor, was traveling northbound and came upon the burning feed truck. Fearing she would be rear-ended in the dense fog and slick roads, Beem tried to go around the truck. Her car hit a southbound 2013 Hyundai Accent head-on. That vehicle was driven by Keri Hawhee, of Omaha. Shortly after that crash, a 2017 Hyundai driven by Kaylee Bartholomew, of Essex, that was also northbound on Highway 275, was struck by a 2005 Ford F-150 driven by Alex Donnelly, of Shenandoah. Amazingly, no injuries were reported from any of the collisions.

The accident remains under investigation by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and authorities say citations may be issued at a later date. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Tabor Police, and the Iowa State Patrol, along with Rescue crews from Tabor and Sidney Fire and Rescue.

Police in Creston are investigating a hit-and-run property damage accident that occurred at around 12:45-a.m., Thursday, in a parking lot near the intersection of E. Montgomery and N. Pine Streets. Officials say a 1988 Dodge Caravan was facing south in the parking. After it was struck it ended-up facing east. A 2008 Dodge Caliber was also parked in the lot and facing south, when it was struck in the rear.

The vehicle that struck the other vehicles is believed to be a white Chevy truck, but the driver and a further description of the vehicle is not available. Damage from the incident amounted to $1,800.

A crash involving four vehicles Saturday morning in northwest Iowa’s Sac County resulted in one person dead and five others injured. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at around 8:24-a.m., about one and one-quarter miles west of Lake View, on Highway 175.

According to the report, a semi-tractor trailer was traveling west on Highway 175 when it attempted to pass a car in front of it. As it was passing the car, the semi collided head-on with a pick-up that was traveling eastbound. A passenger car following the pickup rear-ended the pickup.

The driver of the pickup and two persons in the car, along with the driver and a passenger in the semi were transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City. Two of the five transported to Loring suffered critical injuries, and were later transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. A female passenger in the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. Names of those involved were being withheld pending notification of family members.

The car that has been passed by the semi sustained damage subsequent to the collision, but the driver was not injured. At the time of the crash, visibility was reported as being near zero because of fog.

The accident is under investigation by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Officers with the Iowa Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. Lake View Police, Lake View Fire, Wall Lake Fire and ambulances from Lake View and Sac City all responded to the scene.

(In an update to our earlier post and reports) Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen reports the Harlan Fire Department was dispatched to a Structure Fire at 1510 Erie Drive at around 5:25-p.m. The house was vacant, and upon arrival there was light smoke coming from the structure.

Bissen said the first engine crew on scene made entry and found no fire but smoke throughout the structure. At around 5:38-p.m., Westphalia Fire was dispatched to assist, and Medivac Ambulance was placed on standby. All crews were assisted at the scene Officers with the Harlan Police Department.

The Chief said the fire was caused by a dehumidifier in the basement, and the flames had also self extinguished prior to arrival of crews.

About one in every 12 Iowans has asthma and winter can be the worst season for many sufferers, as simply breathing cold air can trigger an asthma attack. Being cooped up indoors can be difficult too, with exposure to triggers like pet dander and smoke. Allergist Dr. David Slade offers tips on keeping your asthma symptoms in check. “If at all possible, try not to use or be around things like wood-burning stoves, even kerosene heaters or fireplaces, just to avoid the strong odors or chemicals they that they produce,” Slade says. “It’s also important to avoid things like irritating sprays, hairspray, indoor air fresheners.”

Slade says there are ways other actions you — and others — can take to better cope. “Ask your family members to try to limit their use of perfumes or anything with a strong scent,” he says. “The most important thing is that if you have asthma and you smoke, the best thing you can do is quit and ask people not to smoke around you.”

If you’ve been inside where it’s warm, simply going outside and having the super-cold air hit your lungs could bring on an episode. Slade says it’s important to cover your nose and mouth with a scarf when you’re outdoors, especially on very cold, windy days. “If you’re thinking of fun things to do outside this winter, try to plan them when you’ll have the least exposure to your asthma triggers,” Slade says. “Keep an eye on the weather so that you can monitor your asthma by tracking days that symptoms most occur.”

Also, he says to talk with your doctor on developing a plan that really keeps your symptoms under control and establish a routine that works best for you.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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Governor Terry Branstad is signalling that he’ll ask his fellow Republicans in the legislature to provide a state funding boost for Iowa’s K-through-12 public schools. Branstad’s FORMAL state budget recommendations will be made on January 10th, the second day of the 2017 legislative session — but the governor’s suggesting he’ll probably recommend a two percent increase in general state aid for schools.

“It is my hope that we will pass a two-year budget and that we will approve supplemental state aid in the first 30 days,” Branstad says. “And I have said, ideally, I’d like to get to two percent. That’s not going to be easy in light of the budget limitations that we’re facing.”

The official estimate of state tax collections has been lowered for the CURRENT budgeting year by 100 million, forcing Branstad and legislators to make cuts. The prediction of state tax revenue for the following year has been pared down as well, but Branstad says he wants to make school funding a priority.

(Radio Iowa)