(Radio Iowa) — The two Iowans who represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate will have new leadership positions in 2019.

Republican Chuck Grassley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, making him the Republican with the longest tenure there now. Because of that seniority, Grassley will become the Senate President Pro Tempore in January. It means he will be third in line of succession to the presidency, behind the vice president and the speaker of the U.S. House.

Joni Ernst, Iowa’s other senator, has been elected vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference. She now ranks sixth on the leadership roster for Senate Republicans. She’s the first woman to be elected to Senate G-O-P leadership since 2010.

Senator GRASSLEY’S staff says it’s been 100 years since an Iowan served as Senate President Pro Tempore. Albert Cummins had been a three-term governor before he was appointed in 1909 by the General Assembly to serve as a U.S. Senator. Cummins served in the U.S. Senate until his death in 1926.

One person was transported to the hospital to be checked for injuries following a chain-reaction collision in Creston, Wednesday afternoon. According to Creston Police, 36-year old Joel Juarez-Lopez was driving a 2006 Hyundai Tucson northbound on N. Sumner Street at around 4-p.m., and braked to yield for another vehicle. 67-year old Linda Ibbotson, of Creston, was driving a 2003 Dodge and also slowed. A 1994 Ford pickup driven by 54-year old Douglas Brightwell, of Creston, was traveling behind the Dodge and struck it from behind.

The impact caused what Police said was a “Pinball-like accident,” where Ibbotson’s vehicle was shoved into the Juarez-Lopz Hyundai. Brightwell was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance. He complained of pain following the collision, and was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. Ibbotson also complained of pain, but refused medical transport. Damage from the crash amounted to $11,000.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota woman who authorities say sent 696 text messages to a northern Iowa man in April has taken a plea deal. Winnebago County District Court records say 34-year-old Katie Christian, of Emmons, Minnesota, filed a written guilty plea Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. Prosecutors agreed to recommend suspended jail time and two years of probation in return for her plea. The records don’t list a sentencing date.

A criminal complaint says Christian also made 10 phone calls and went to the man’s Lake Mills house three times in an attempt to make contact with him or his daughter.

(Radio Iowa) — Whatever the weather, Iowa’s highways will be humming with heavy traffic next weekend as people head off to be with loved ones and to share a Thanksgiving feast. Nick Jarmusz, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says they’re forecasting a near-five percent boost in travel for the long holiday weekend, what promises to be the busiest Thanksgiving since 2005.

“Building off of what’s really been a big year for travel, throughout the summer and now heading into these year-end holidays,” Jarmusz says, “about 54.3 million Americans are going to be taking a trip of 50 miles or more from home at some point between Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.”

Gasoline prices have dipped substantially in recent weeks, which is welcome news before Iowans fill up their tanks.  “Gas prices are certainly a nice bonus for the folks who are going to be traveling, especially the 48.5 million that are going to be traveling by car, but that’s not really the reason that they’re making the trip,” Jarmusz says. “Americans love to go home for the holidays. They want to visit family and friends and we know if they have the means to do it, they will.”

Consumers have plenty for which to be thankful this holiday season, including higher wages, more disposable income and rising levels of household wealth, Jarmusz says. Plus, those lower prices at the pump.”In Iowa right now, we’re looking at a statewide price for unleaded averaging at $2.51,” Jarmusz says. “That’s down 34-cents from this time a month ago and it’s only three-cents off from where we were at this time last year.”

In most cases, he says the best days to travel will be Thanksgiving Day, Friday or Saturday. Drivers will likely see increased travel times on Sunday, Jarmusz says, as most holiday travelers will be making their way home after the long weekend.

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

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa police say they’ve arrested a man in the death of a woman found not breathing at a central Iowa home nearly two months ago. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a news release that 32-year-old Zachery Bassett was arrested Wednesday in St. Joseph, Missouri, on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder in the death of 50-year-old Andrea Sokolowski. Investigators say Bassett called Webster City police on Sept. 22 to report that his girlfriend was not breathing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines resident has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for breaking into the man’s home and stabbing him to death. Television station KCCI reports that 20-year-old Magai Anai Kur was sentenced Wednesday. He was convicted in September of robbery and first-degree murder in the September 2017 death of 77-year-old Robert Howe.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman who shared a nearly $700 million Powerball lottery jackpot has donated $500,000 to a veterans group. Lerynne West announced on the Ellen DeGeneres Show broadcast Wednesday that she gave the money to the Travis Mills Foundation. The Maine-based organization offers programs for disabled veterans. West says it’s important “that we never forget the sacrifices our soldiers and families make for our country.” Robert Bailey of New York City bought the other winning ticket.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met in a regular session Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center. The Board approved a handful of resignations, include: Craig Fredin, 9^th Grade Girl’s Basketball Coach; Pam Russell, At-Risk Student Advocate; David Eckles, Transportation Director, and Sam Hoover, Bus Driver. They also approved several contract recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment, with one late addition: Shelby McCreedy was added as Freshman Girls Basketball Coach.

The Board approved requests for the Debate Team to compete in Marshall, MN, January 25^th and 26th, and a trip for Middle School Students to visit Washington, D.C., in June, 2019. The trip to D.C. is offered every other year for those students.

And, the Atlantic School Board approved the Early Retirement Incentive program as presented during previous discussions. It will be offered until Jan. 3, 2019 only for a select number of persons who have 10-years of service to the district and are at least 55-years of age by June 30, 2019. If selected, they would receive $25,000 over a three-year period.

Those funds would be paid into what is called a “Health Reimbursement Arrangement,” (Or, HRA), which allows the participants to continue their health insurance, as long as they pay the monthly premiums, for a maximum cost to the District of up to $250,000 over a three-year period starting in FY 2020.