One person was injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident early this (Friday) morning, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened at around 12:40-a.m. in the 1900 block of Highway 2, west of the Interstate 29 interchange. Authorities say a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by 20-year old Jacob Cain, of Sidney, was traveling east on Highway 2, when the SUV went out of control and entered the median before rolling several times, and coming to rest on its top partially in the roadway. Cain was transported to Grape Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Authorities say seatbelts were not in use and alcohol is believed to be factor in the crash. Percival Fire and Rescue and Sidney Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.  The vehicle was a total loss.

Just after midnight, Thursday, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a report of debris in the roadway in the area of the 12-mile marker northbound Interstate 29. Upon deputies’ arrival, they discovered a one-vehicle rollover accident in the area. The driver of a 2009 Dodge Avenger, 22-year old Ulises Susano, of Fremont, Nebraska, was driving southbound on Interstate 29 when he lost control and entered the median.  The vehicle struck a bridge barricade and became airborne, entering the northbound lane, and rolling several times, coming to rest in the east ditch of the northbound lane. Susano was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident. He refused medical treatment and was placed under arrest for Failure to Maintain Control and Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense.  Susanso was later released on $1,000 bond. Percival Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.  Alcohol is believed to be a factor.  The vehicle was a total loss.

And, Tuesday morning, deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a vehicle in the ditch near the intersection of Highway 59 and 270^th Street in Fremont County. A 2007 Lincoln Town Car driven by 86-year old Howard Carlisle, of Tarkio, Missouri, was traveling southbound on Highway 59, when he attempted to pass a 2007 Peterbilt Semi operated by 50-year old Scott Blazer, of Mound City, Missouri.  Blazer was also attempting to pass a slow moving vehicle, when he swerved to avoid a vehicle entering the roadway from 270^th Street.

Blazer’s semitrailer, struck Carlisle’s vehicle, causing the Town Car to leave the roadway and enter a field southeast of the intersection. Blazer continued southbound. He told deputies that he did not know he struck the vehicle until a later time. Carlisle was transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The Town Car was a total loss. Charges are pending at this time.

A handful of forums featuring Iowa candidates seeking federal office are being held this month, but there will be no debate in Iowa’s fourth congressional district.  “You can probably rest pretty easy that we’ll get to November 8th without one.” That’s Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron. King is on the 2016 ballot, seeking an eighth term in the U.S. House representing northwest and north central Iowa. King DID debate his Democratic opponents in 2012 and 2014, but not this year.

“What would be the purpose of having that kind of a face-to-face discussion? People know what I’m for. I’m for the repeal of ObamaCare. I’m for strong ag policy and I’ve been pro-trade every year that I’ve been in congress. I’m pro-free enterprise, of course; for a strong national defense; pro-life; pro-marriage; pro-constitution; pro-strict constructionist on the courts,” King says. “Most of what I’ve said it’s been reported to me that my opponent disagrees with, so it shouldn’t be very hard for people to make up their minds when they go to the polls on November 8th. They should be informed by now.”

Kim Weaver of Sheldon is the Democrat challenging King in 2016. Weaver says a lack of debates “is a problem” because she’d like to challenge some of King’s votes. “Most people are familiar with the offensive things he says,” Weaver says. “…What they don’t know is that we’re happy that he’s ineffective because the votes that he has cast would hurt our state.” Weaver cites King’s support for “privatizing” Social Security and his vote to convert Medicare into a voucher program, so seniors would buy insurance for themselves on the open market. Weaver says King’s opposition to immigration reform has been a boost to her candidacy.

“People I talk to — Republicans and Democrats — do believe that we need a path to citizenship,” Weaver says. “…Real people aren’t as polarized as the politicians and they’re trying to use this, I believe, as a sensationalist scare tactics, you know, ‘The big, bad people are coming to get us,’ when I don’t think it’s true.” Weaver made her comments during a recent appearance on Iowa Public Television.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents has ordered an audit of every flight that Iowa State University President Steven Leath has taken on the school’s two airplanes, citing possible misuse. Board President Bruce Rastetter said Thursday that he’s extremely disappointed that Leath has used the planes on multiple occasions in ways that appear “questionable at best.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — International Automotive Components in Iowa City will lay off more than 400 workers because it will stop supplying parts used in the Dodge Dart and Jeep models. Company spokesman David Ladd told KCRG the job cuts were necessary because Fiat Chrysler was phasing out the Dodge Dart and moving the production of the Jeep Compass and Patriot out of Illinois, beyond the shipping radius for the Iowa City plant. The company will continue making parts for General Motors, Ford, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo’s police chief is reaching out to convicted felons as part of an effort to rebuild community trust in the police department. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Safety Director and police chief Dan Trelka is putting together an advisory team of people who have been incarcerated to help him review police department policies, especially those involving use of force. Each person’s felony conviction must be at least two years old.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Burlington man has surprised the elementary school he attended by writing a $700 check to pay for students’ overdue school lunch bills. Jerry Fenton says the money will be used to help children at Grimes Elementary School who haven’t been able to pay for lunch, but are fed anyway. The Des Moines Register reports that Fenton was inspired to make the donation after hearing about a boy who brought two lunches to school so he could give one to a friend.