Police in Council Bluffs say one person was arrested on drug charges early this (Monday) morning, following a foot pursuit. Just before 3-a.am., Officers approached a man and woman standing near the intersection of 1st and Kanesville, in Council Bluffs. As the Officers exited their vehicle, the male subject took off on foot. He was apprehended a short time later in the 100 Block of Vine St. The man was identified as 23 year old Christopher Durrett, of Council Bluffs.

Christopher Durrett

Durrett was in possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine at the time of his arrest. He was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and booked in on the charges that include Possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm, eluding, interference with official acts, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Iowa State Patrol, Sunday, identified three people injured in a crash late Saturday night on Interstate 80, west of Avoca. A fourth person died in the crash. Officials say a 1996 Honda Passport driven by 26-year old Jesus German was traveling east on I-80 at around 9-p.m., when the car went out of control and entered the median, where it rolled over several times. The person who died was ejected from the car. Their name was withheld, pending notification of family.

Jesus German, and his passengers, 20-year old Steven Baney, and 26-year old Antonio Aguilar, all of Talmage, NE., were injured in the crash. Baney was not wearing a seat belt. The Patrol says the other two men were buckled-up. Authorities say alcohol and speed were considered to be factors in the crash, which remained under investigation.

German was transported by helicopter in serious condition, to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Baney and Aguilar were taken to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, by Avoca Rescue. Authorities say charges are pending against Jesus German, while they awaiting the results of a toxicology report.

Baney and Aguilar were later released from the hospital, but Aguilar was being held in the Shelby County Jail, while awaiting extradition to Nebraska, where a felony warrant had been issued for his arrest from Otoe County.

Sheriff’s Deputies from Pottawattamie and Shelby County assisted at the scene, along with rescue personnel from the Avoca and Walnut Fire and Rescue Departments.

Five MILLION Americans have already voted in this year’s election. The latest data shows more than a quarter of a million Iowans had voted by absentee ballot by the close of business on Friday. Secretary of State Paul Pate says the pace is “not as high” as it was in the last presidential election year. “The political parties drive that because of what they do,” Pate says. “I think the Democratic Party has done probably at least three, maybe four mailings. The Republicans, I know, have done one.” Linn County Auditor Joel Miller says the absentee ballots that are being mailed to county auditors’ offices are placed in secure storage. “We count them on Election Day,” Miller says. “They are the first results that are reported at 9 p.m. on Election Night.”

In 2012, 43 percent of the ballots cast in Iowa were “early” votes cast BEFORE Election Day. The state’s top election official is predicting around 40 percent of the votes in Iowa for the 2016 General Election will be cast before November 8th. “It is a little slower than what we had four years ago,” Pate says. “…Let’s watch this week’s numbers.”

Secretary of State Pate and the Linn County auditor made their comments Friday during an appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program.

(Radio Iowa)

The two major party candidates in Iowa’s third congressional district answered 18 questions in an hour-long radio debate Sunday night. Republican Congressman David Young expressed support for the T-P-P. “There’s a unique opportunity with the Trans Pacific Parternship, just that Asian ring out there of 12 countries, right? We need to get our goods there. We need to get our services there. We need to get our values there and also strategically China is right there in the background, o.k.?” Young said. “We need to get there before China does.”

Jim Mowrer of Des Moines, Young’s Democratic challenger, called the T-P-P a “bad deal. “We need to have trade deals that have environmental standards, that have labor standards and will pay off for the American economy in a big way,” Mowrer said. “…Even people like Donald Trump know that the TPP is bad for our country.”

Last (Sunday) night’s debate was held in the K-M-A studios in Shenandoah and broadcast live. The two candidates will debate again this Wednesday in Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The nation’s smallest nuclear power plant is set to permanently shut down today (Monday). The Omaha Public Power District’s board decided earlier this year that the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant is no longer financially sustainable. But the shutdown is only one of the first steps of a decommissioning process that could stretch on for as many as 60 years and cost more than $1 billion.

During that process, the utility will have to decontaminate and disassemble elements of the power plant. The nuclear plant sits on the Missouri River across from Iowa and is about 15 miles north of Omaha.

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

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — Businesses in northwest Iowa are getting a boost when construction workers building the Dakota Access oil pipeline arrive in town. Local officials have noticed an increase in activity at hotels and restaurants near the oil pipeline. It’s hard to quantify the economic benefit to communities, but local businesses have noticed the increase in sales.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa school districts are holding more than $145 million in their accounts, but superintendents say restrictions on that money is making it hard to spend. The Des Moines Register reports the money in dozens of different funds has grown since 2013 when the total was about $130 million, so school officials are lobbying for more flexibility.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Number of flood insurance policies sold in Iowa declines 22 percent in recent years to 13,872, but the reason for the decline wasn’t immediately clear. Officials say some homeowners may have dropped coverage when premiums increased, and people who paid off their homes might have dropped the insurance. Buyouts of homes in flood-prone areas may have also contributed to the declining number of policies.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Labor union officials are criticizing staffing levels at Iowa Medical and Classification Center prison, but the state defends its hiring and says prison is filling its vacancies. Union president Danny Homan says the reduced staffing contributed to a recent incident where four inmates tested positive for methamphetamine.