BIG SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) – Officials have reopened Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 in the Nebraska Panhandle after closing it for several hours because of a snowstorm in Wyoming. KNEB reports both westbound highways were reopened Sunday afternoon. They had been closed at Big Springs because of road closures in Wyoming. Wyoming transportation officials requested the closures because of the heavy, wet snow that is causing problems in southeast Wyoming.

BIG SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) — Officials have closed Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 30 in the Nebraska Panhandle because of a spring snowstorm in Wyoming. KNEB reports both westbound highways were closed Sunday at Big Springs because Wyoming officials had already closed both highways at the state border.

Wyoming transportation officials requested the closures because of the heavy, wet snow that is causing problems in southeast Nebraska. The highways will likely be closed for much of Sunday.

Authorities in Iowa are searching for a woman who failed to return from a furlough for work release. 42-year old Shannon Balava VanArsdale failed to return Saturday to the Waterloo Women’s Center for Change Work Release Facility. She was serving a 30-year sentence for Burglary in the 1^st degree, Assault on a Peace Officer with Injury, Escape of Felon and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Her sentence began Sept, 2004.

Shannon Balava VanArsdale

VanArsdale was described as being an African-American female, 5-feet four-inches tall, weighing 219 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes, a scar on her right forearm, tattoo on her neck. Both of her ears are also pierced.

She was placed on Work Release February 8, 2016 following a parole revocation. If you have any information as to her location, contact the Waterloo Police Department of Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office (or, dial 9-1-1).

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Despite all the attention on water quality initiatives at the Iowa Legislature this year, it appears unlikely lawmakers will reach consensus before adjournment over how to pay for it. Leaders in the split Legislature have fundamental differences over whether to use existing funds or to generate new dollars to deal with longstanding issues over Iowa’s polluted waterways. There is no indication they will reach a compromise soon.

Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House propose a plan that would use special infrastructure money and a tax on water use. Gov. Terry Branstad backs the plan, though it differs from his proposal to use money from an education infrastructure fund. Leaders in the Democratic-majority Senate have floated ideas that would use surplus dollars from the budget or increase the sales and use tax.

Two people were arrested on alcohol-related charges late Saturday night, in Red Oak. According to the Police report, 45-year old Shelby Joann Olivares was arrested at around 11:15-p.m., and 22-year old Dalton Paul Valentin, both of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:45-p.m.  Each was charged with Public Intoxication. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:40 a.m. CDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man granted a new trial after initially being convicted and sentenced to 50 years for the death of his infant daughter has now pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and been released from prison. Paul Hill, 26, was released from prison Friday after spending nearly six years behind bars. An appeals court had ruled that police obtained statements from Hill in violation of his right to remain silent.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The Cedar Rapids Community School District will cut teachers and programs before the next school year starts in the fall to deal with a budget shortfall. Television station KCRG reports that the district has announced it will eliminate 10 elementary school and 13 high school teaching positions. It’s also getting rid of the Foreign Language in Elementary Schools program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A psychiatrist says he plans to continue working as an expert witness in Iowa trials even though he no longer has a medical license. The Des Moines Register reports that Michael Taylor, of Cumming, surrendered his state license on April 8. The Iowa Board of Medicine says Taylor failed to maintain proper medical records on 11 patients.

SHERRILL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say fire has caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to a Canadian Pacific railroad bridge in eastern Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the fire occurred Friday afternoon. No one was injured. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department says the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters in Atlantic were called to the scene of a house fire, Saturday afternoon. The call amount smoke coming from all sides of the home at 602 Spruce Street, came in at around 2:53-p.m.  Heavy, brown smoke was pouring from the structure when law enforcement and fire crews arrived on the scene. All the residents were out of the home and there was no report of injuries.

Discarded smoking materials may have caused the blaze, according to officials, but the exact cause remained under investigation. Firefighters were on the scene for just under two-hours.

Ric Hanson (Photos)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of dollars donated to help an Iowa motorcyclist who lost a leg in a crash have been stolen. Now, the Des Moines motorcycle community is stepping up to help. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that thieves stole more than $2,000 collected since last month to help 33-year-old Matt Brooks, who remains hospitalized following his March 17 crash.

Brooks’ friend, Bruce Cronk, says the money was collected in jars and containers and taken to Brooks’ mother’s house, where she kept the money in a safe. Police say it was stolen by two people who kicked in the woman’s back door on Friday. Cronk and several friends are now selling T-shirts and preparing benefits to help raise more money for Brooks.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Sioux Gateway Airport board has approved an agreement with the 185th Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard for a proposed $4 million taxiway project. Airport director Mike Collett tells the Sioux City Journal that the project will replace a current taxiway connector on the far north end of the main runway. Collett says the Guard’s refueling tankers require a wider taxiway.

Under the agreement approved Thursday, the 185th would pay $1.8 million of the total cost. The Federal Aviation Administration would front $2 million, and the city of Sioux City would pitch in the remaining $200,000. The agreement is expected to be presented to the City Council later this month for final approval.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — Don’t tell Clark Voge, of Cherokee, Iowa, that lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. The Sioux City Journal reports that the northwest Iowa man has hit two $30,000 lottery jackpots in as many months. Voge claimed a $30,000 prize Wednesday from a scratch-off ticket. He did the same thing just a month earlier. Both winning tickets were bought at Sparky’s, a convenience store in Cherokee.

The Iowa Lottery says the odds of winning the jackpot on that scratch game are 1 in 120,211. Voge says he plans to save most of his winnings.