SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of firing at a Woodbury County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with attempted murder. Authorities say 24-year-old Melvin Spencer, of Sioux City, was charged Monday and is being held on $250,000 bail. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press.

Authorities say a deputy had tried to pull over a vehicle carrying Spencer and another man around 3:30a.m. Sunday. The chase ended when the vehicle stopped south of the Sioux Gateway Airport. Authorities say one or both men then opened fire at the deputy, who shot back. The other man was injured during the shootout and was hospitalized. His name hasn’t been released. The deputy and Spencer weren’t injured.

Authorities say Spencer fled on foot but was caught a few hours later.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is sending the following information as a courtesy to the Nebraska Department of Roads: Extended closures of southbound Interstate 480 ramps to eastbound I-80 and southbound U.S. 75 begin Monday, March 6, at 10 p.m. The ramps are scheduled to open prior to the College World Series, which begins Saturday, June 17.

The extended ramp closures are necessary for bridge deck repairs with a 3-inch asphalt overlay on waterproofing membrane, replacing bridge approaches, and remodeling bridge wings and abutments, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads. Cramer and Associates Inc. is the contractor on this project.

(See map below for suggested detour route using eastbound I-480 to southbound I-29 to eastbound I-80 and westbound I-80 to southbound U.S. 75.)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two proposed class-action lawsuits have been filed challenging the University of Iowa’s decision to eliminate scholarships that had been promised to roughly 3,000 students. UI student Jenna Pokorny is the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Johnson County. It claims the university “breached its contractual duties” by eliminating two scholarship awards that helped convince her to attend UI instead of another college.

A separate lawsuit filed Monday in Polk County claims the university’s decision to revoke the scholarships without notice violated students’ constitutional rights. UI student Benjamin Muller is the plaintiff in that case.

UI President Bruce Harreld announced last week that he was eliminating the Iowa Heritage Award, which granted $1,500 per year to students whose parents or grandparents attended the school. Harreld cited a “devastating” $8 million funding cut from lawmakers as the rationale. A university spokesperson declined comment on the litigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks has cleared a Senate subcommittee, joining several GOP-led legislative efforts to restrict abortion in Iowa. The legislation passed the Senate human resources subcommittee Tuesday amid a tight legislative deadline that demands policy bills pass full committees before the end of the week.

Sen. Mark Chelgren, an Ottumwa Republican, says multiple abortion-restriction bills provide greater options in case one is struck down by a court challenge. Joan Thompson, a spokesperson for the Iowa Catholic Conference, calls the GOP majority a “rare opportunity” to restrict abortions in Iowa.

Critics say the bill is unconstitutional and poses a danger to women’s health. Several women testified to the subcommittee about their own experiences with abortion, urging them to reject the bill.

A reminder for residents of Bridgewater and the area who are concerned about the prevalence of methamphetamine in the community: A “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa” meeting is planned fore tonight from 7-until 8-p.m., at the Bridgewater Community Building (605 N. Main Street – the old elementary school). Initiative spokesperson and organizer Douglas Miller, of Bridgewater, says the meeting was prompted by the discovery last Thursday morning, of the spray painted word “Meth” and an arrow pointing to the town of Bridgewater, on the side of a county road rock storage pile at the intersection of Highway 92 and Bridgewater road.

County Road rock pile near Bridgewater (Photo submitted)

Miller started a Facebook page “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa,” which he says has received thousands of hits since its recent inception. The initiative Mission Statement, according to Miller, is: Working in partnership with citizens to address criminal activity and improve the quality of life in and around Bridgewater.

Tonight’s organizational meeting is to essentially organize and strategize for the initiative. A later, public meeting, will be held to moderate discussion and further plan actions for the initiative.

For more information, including this evening’s agenda, visit initiative’s Facebook page.

A joint investigation into illegal narcotics and the distribution of those substances in Harlan, resulted in the execution of a search warrant Monday night at 508 Dodge Street, in Harlan, and the arrest of five people on drug charges. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says after the search was executed at around 11:30-p.m. , 47-year old Michael Schuemann, 26-year old Kaleigh Turner, 30-year old Brian Schueman, 51-year old George Hadfield, and 52-year old Randall Hess, all of Harlan, were taken into custody.

Michael Schuemann and Kaleigh Turner were being held in the Shelby County Jail on charges that include: Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Gathering and Prohibited Acts. Michael Schueman faces additional charges of Distribution of Controlled substances, Assault on a Peace Officer and Interference with Official Acts. Bond for Michael Schuemann was set at $50,000. Turner’s bond was set at $5,000.

Brian Schuemann was being held in the Shelby County Jail on charges of Illegal Gathering and Prohibited Acts. George Hadfield and Randall Hess were being held on a charge of Illegal Gathering. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

The search warrant was conducted by officers with the Harlan Police Department, Shelby and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Harlan Fire Department Tactical Medic team.

(9-a.m. News)