A pedestrian who ran out in front of a semi while crossing a street was struck by a van Tuesday night. Creston Police say 40-year old Trisha Lynn Gaiser, of Creston, suffered possible/unknown injuries, and was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston.

Authorities say the accident happened at around 7:27-p.m. near the intersection of W. Adams Street and Highway 25. According to Police, a semi and trailer had stopped for the red light while traveling south. Gaiser got out of the semi and ran in front of it before being struck by a 2009 Dodge Journey driven by 18-year old Wesley Matthew Davis, of Fontanelle. Davis had the green light and tried to stop. His van skidded a short distance before hitting the woman. Authorities say he had no chance of stopping before striking Gaiser.

No damage to the van was reported, and no citations were issued.

(7-a.m. News)

A 25-to 35-year old black male riding bicycle was struck early this (Wednesday) morning in Council Bluffs, by a vehicle that left the scene. Bluffs Police says emergency crews responded at around 4-a.m. to the area of S. 13th and 6th Avenue in Council Bluffs, following a report of a man lying on the curb with a bicycle. A preliminary scene investigation indicated the bicycle was struck from behind by a vehicle while it was traveling south. The victim suffered head trauma and was transported to CHI Creighton University Medical Center. Authorities say his identity is currently unknown.

The man was riding a red, black and silver mountain bike and carrying a Star Wars backpack. Anyone with information in reference to this crash is urged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Traffic Unit at (712) 328‐4948 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328 ‐ STOP (7867).

An accident Tuesday morning on Interstate 29 in northwest Iowa’s Monona County has claimed the life of a man from South Dakota. The Iowa State Patrol reports a tow truck with its warning lights on was parked partially in the left lane of I-29 southbound at the 106.35-mile marker, with the operator working to remove a vehicle that had earlier entered median.

For reasons unknown, a 2010 Dodge pickup driven by 50-year old Darwin Knutson, of Webster, South Dakota, failed to move over, slow down or take evasive action for the tow truck, as required by Iowa law. The pickup, which was traveling in the left lane, struck the tow truck on the right rear side. The accident happened at around 6:24-a.m., Tuesday. After the collision, the pickup went off the road to the right and into a farm field.

Knutson, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to a hospital in Onawa, where he died from injuries suffered in the crash. The operator of the tow truck was not injured.

A man from Adams County was arrested Tuesday night in Red Oak, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, after he allegedly vandalized a vehicle by coloring a registration tag. Red Oak Police say 24-year old Cody Dean Johnson, of Corning, was taken into custody at around 11:50-p.m., after officers responded to 1804 E. Summit Street, for a report of a man violating his No Trespass Order.

When they arrived, officers found Johnson sitting outside of 1802 E. Summit. He was placed into custody and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where bond was set at $300.

Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.

Last (Tuesday) night, Governor Terry Branstad formally presented legislators with his plan to ensure the current year’s state budget does not slip into a deficit. A three-member panel of experts threw the current year’s spending plan into disarray by reducing the “official” estimate of state tax revenue by 131 million dollars. Branstad, as expected, says it’s time to dip into the state’s cash reserve to cover THAT expected shortfall. “It’s not an easy situation,” Branstad said during his weekly news conference on Monday.)

Republican legislative leaders have indicated they’re also willing to use the state’s cash reserve fund to keep the state budget in the black. The budget documents Branstad’s staff released last (Tuesday) night also show the governor has pared more than 173 million dollars from his initial budget plan for the NEXT state fiscal year that begins July 1st. There’s nearly 15 million dollars of unspecified trimming throughout the executive branch of state government. Branstad has reduced his initial budget plans for the three state universities by 12 million dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

Five counties in Iowa have now approved minimum wage increases that are higher than the statewide minimum wage of $7.25. The Lee County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to raise the local minimum wage to $8.20 on May 1.

“I’m extremely happy that it passed. I think this is a win for the working class people in Lee County.” That’s Lee County Supervisor Gary Folluo. The move follows the Iowa Legislature’s passage of a bill to prohibit minimum wage hikes by local governments. If Governor Terry Branstad signs the bill into law, the wage increases in Lee, Johnson, Linn, Polk, and Wapello counties will be reversed. Folluo said he’s not worried about the legislature’s actions.

“I think this sends a pretty strong message about how we feel in Lee County, as far as the leadership is concerned. I hope they listen to that and I hope the Governor thinks about that a little bit,” Folluo said. Ron Fedler was the only supervisor in Lee County to vote against the increase. Fedler said he supports an increase in the minimum wage, but feels it should be up to the state or federal government.

(Radio Iowa)

A proposed ban on abortions if the fetus has a detectable heartbeat is SCHEDULED for debate this (Wednesday) afternoon in a House committee. Republican Representative Shannon Lundgren of Peosta is the chief spokeperson for the proposal. “We ran on pro-life issues and I think our voters, our constituents are looking to us to make a very bold statement this year,” Lundgren says. Earlier this month the Republican-led Iowa Senate endorsed a ban on abortions after the 20th week of a pregnancy.

Democrats say a timeline that’s connected to the detection of a fetal heartbeat would set the ban at the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy, before some women realize they are pregnant. Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames says “This bill would take away a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions before she would have known she had a decision to make.”

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake, the top Republican in the legislature, says there enough votes on the committee to pass the fetal heartbeat proposal. “Life is an important topic to Iowans,” Upmeyer says. “We hear that at the doors, at forums, so this is another opportunity to pass a bill, perhaps, that is a pro-life bill and we’ll see where it goes.” Wessel-Kroeschell says the bill would not grant exceptions if a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. “The extreme legislation would make most safe, legal abortions illegal in Iowa,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. “Clearly, we are very concerned…This is an all-out assault on women and a sneak attack from Republicans at the last minute.”

This Friday is the deadline for an abortion policy bill to clear the House Human Resources Committee and Democrats complain the proposal was not revealed until Tuesday afternoon. Upmeyer says compared to the idea of passing an abortion ban based on the moment of conception, an abortion ban based on the time a heartbeat can be detected is an easier concept. “You know when that point in time is,” Upmeyer says. Lundgren says a heartbeat is a “concrete” measurement.

“Life at a heartbeat. It’s hard to deny it. It’s there,” Lundgren says. “…We use the detection of a heartbeat or lack of a heartbeat at the end of life. It makes common sense to use the detection of a heartbeat at the beginning of life.” Democrats say court challenges in two other states have derailed similar abortion bans that were based on the time a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Wessel-Kroeschell predicts this bill would face a similar fate if it becomes law in Iowa.

We can’t take away the decisions that women make about their health care,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. “It’s just not right.” G-O-P leaders in the House say Republicans at least want the proposal considered this year.

(O.Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are backing newly filed legislation that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which would be the strictest ban in the country if enacted. A GOP-led House committee had been set to vote on the provision Tuesday night but lawmakers later adjourned without a decision. It’s expected to be taken up again today (Wednesday). The provision could ban abortions as early as six weeks in a pregnancy.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A top Iowa regulator has maintained a busy and profitable private law practice even as she’s been responsible for complex matters such as the Dakota Access pipeline and renewable energy policy. A review by The Associated Press shows that Iowa Utilities Board chairwoman Geri Huser has been involved in 50 matters as an attorney during her two-year tenure, signing documents and occasionally appearing at hearings during normal workhours. The outside work adds income to her $128,900 state salary.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has unanimously voted for a bill that would add restrictions to how authorities can seize money and other items from people suspected of illegal activity. The legislation passed Tuesday and now heads to the House. Civil forfeiture is a legal process that allows law enforcement to take money or property from a person suspected of illegal activity. The bill in Iowa would require seized cash or property to be returned if it’s valued at less than $5,000 and there’s no conviction.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with stabbing his sister to death has chosen to have a judge, not a jury, decide his fate. The Sioux City Journal reports that 34-year-old Thomas Bibler on Friday waived his right to a jury trial in Plymouth County District Court.