COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa side of a pedestrian bridge that connects Omaha, Nebraska, to Council Bluffs will soon be closed for construction. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Council Bluffs side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge will close Monday and Tuesday.

Bridge users will still be able to access the Nebraska side of the bridge and can enter and exit the bridge on the Omaha side. On the Iowa side, the bridge starts at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Two people were injured during a collision late Friday evening between a pickup and two tractors, in Carroll County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of the pickup, 58-year old Ronald Lee Meister, and the operator of the tractor, 43-year old Robert Joe Mohr, Jr., both of Glidden, were hurt and transported by Carroll Rescue to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Carroll.

The accident happened east of Lidderdale at around 10:10-p.m. Officials say the 2003 GMC Sierra pickup and the tractor, which was pulling another tractor, were traveling east on Carroll County Road E-26. Meister didn’t see the tractor in front of him as he approached from behind. His pickup hit the rear of one of the tractors, causing both machines to separate. Robert Mohr, Jr. was thrown from the tractor he was driving and became trapped underneath the pickup truck. Rescue crews used mechanical means to free him from the vehicles’ undercarriage.

The accident remains under investigation.

Police in Council Bluffs say speed and alcohol are being investigated as contributing factors in a crash that took place early this (Saturday) morning. Officials say 44-year old Antwane Curtis, of Omaha, was driving a 2002 GMC Sierra pickup southbound on Interstate 29 at around 2:20-a.m., and exiting onto Avenue G, when the pickup went out of control and left the roadway to the right. The vehicle is believed to have rolled at least once before coming to rest against a fence and trees.

Curtis and his passenger,42-year old Lee Vaughn, Jr., of Omaha, were transported to Creighton Medical Center by the Council Bluffs Fire Department for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening at this time.

Over the past few weeks, Iowans may have spotted a bald man in a long orange robe walking along the highway, sidewalk or bike trail. The man known as The Walking Monk has completed his trip across the state and is heading into Nebraska. Bhakti Marga Swami says he took up the tradition of extreme walking some 20 years ago.

“I’m walking to connect with people and to make a green statement,” Swami says. “I’m trying to say it’s not a bad idea to use this body a little bit more of what it’s meant for, it’s meant for walking. Getting back to basics, that’s the message. Slow down. We’re moving a little too fast. Take some time for self-reflection.”

Swami has spent 43 years as a Hare Krishna monk and started this latest walk in Boston. He’s seen plenty of Iowa landscapes since mid-July while following the Old Lincoln Highway route. “Lots of corn,” he says. “I really enjoyed the bike trails. I find the people in the Midwest are really sweet. They’re really nice to me. There’s not going to be a strong judgemental attitude towards me, even though I’m wearing my orange robes which is part of our tradition as a monk.”

Swami says a sense of humor is key as that orange robe has led to him being mistaken for a prison escapee several times along the way. This is his first time walking across America. “People have been really nice and if the big American dream is somewhere, it seems to me so far, it’s in Iowa and it seems to me, people are leading a pretty neat life,” Swami says.

His walking travels have taken him to Israel, Ireland, Trinidad, Guyana and he has walked across Canada four times.

(Radio Iowa)

Red Oak Police report two arrests took place Friday. At around 11:10-p.m., officers arrested 21-year old Timothy Allen Stubbs, of Red Oak, on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Providing False Information. Stubbs was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond. And, at around 5:15-p.m. Red Oak Police arrested 45-year old Angela Kay Shetterly, of Red Oak, for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was also being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

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

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people have died in a small plane crash north of Indianola. Warren County Sheriff Brian Vos told KCCI-TV the crash happened a few miles north of Indianola. The names of those killed haven’t been released.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is accusing President Barack Obama of lying to the American people about the circumstances surrounding a $400 million payment to Iran. The White House has insisted the payment had nothing to do with the release of four American hostages being held in the country.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwest Iowa say they are investigating the discovery of a human skull near the Raccoon River in southern Sac County. The skull was found Monday afternoon.

PELLA, Iowa (AP) — A Pella woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her 13-month-old daughter, who was left in a bathtub and drowned. Pella police say 28-year-old Anna Nicole Sothman pleaded guilty Friday in Marion County Court to child endangerment causing death following a six week investigation of the death of Elaine Sothman. The conviction includes a penalty of no more than 50 years. The investigation began after police responded June 20 to a report of an unresponsive child in Pella. She died June 23.

We’re at the mid-point of summer, but the summer travel season is almost over as many kids will soon be returning to school. Gasoline prices in Iowa dropped 15-cents a gallon in the past month and one fuel analyst says summer travel hasn’t been this cheap in more than a decade. Gail Weinholzer, at Triple-A-Iowa, says prices at the pump will likely stay low for the duration of the season.

“We will go through the switch-over as we always do in the fall from the summer to the winter grade of fuel,” Weinholzer says. “That also reduces prices.” Gas prices in Iowa are averaging two-ten a gallon, down from two-25 a month ago and down from two-67 a year ago. Weinholzer predicts little change in the weeks to come. “The only thing to keep an eye on during this time frame is the hurricane season,” she says. “As we know, that can be quite devastating to the gas supply and crude oil supply in the United States.”

Hurricane Earl swept through the Gulf of Mexico, across Mexico and parts of Central America this week. It’s been downgraded to a tropical storm, but had little impact on U-S oil operations in the Gulf. The national average price for gas is two-12 a gallon, two cents higher than Iowa’s average.

(Radio Iowa)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, rallied with nearly two-thousand people in downtown Des Moines this (Friday) afternoon. Trump called his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton the “queen of corruption” and accused her of being a “weak” secretary of state. “After Hillary Clinton, the world went up in flames,” Trump said. “…This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton. It’s called death, destruction, chaos and weakness.”

In addition, Trump railed about the news coverage he’s been getting. “It’s so disgusting what’s going on with the media,” Trump said. “That’s why we have to win.” His 70 minute speech concluded with a request: “Let me just tell you: I hope you can get out on November 8th and vote for Trump,” the Republican presidential nominee said to loud cheers.

Iowa is considered one of the few truly toss-up states in the General Election.

(Radio Iowa)