DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say a surge in construction projects and an increase in miles driven by motorists have led to a high number of people dying in road construction work zone crashes this year. The Des Moines Register reports that 10 people have died in work zone crashes this year, compared to 13 deaths last year. Department officials say speeding and distracted driving are contributing factors.

State officials say that the overall number of traffic fatalities across the state is declining. So far there have been 295 traffic fatalities this year, which is 55 fewer than the same time last year.

The Iowa Department of Transportation will spend $680 million on construction projects this year, compared to $695 million spent on road projects last year.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says cyber security is a “constant challenge” and it’s “vital” that his office get more state tax dollars in the next budgeting year. Pate says the I-Vote system that handles voter registration data needs attention. “That’s a system that was built over 15 years ago and obviously elections have changed dramatically since then,” Pate says. “It needs some serious upgrades if we’re going to go forward and we need to look at replacing that system in the coming years.”

Pate is asking the governor and legislators to provide his office with an additional one-point-75 MILLION dollars for the budgeting year that begins July 1st. He’d spend much of it on upgrades for the voter registration system. Earlier this year, lawmakers set aside more money to replace a different computer system in Pate’s office. It’s the one used by people filing out the online forms to start a new business. “A new fast track filing system that’s going to provide Iowa’s business community with service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” Pate says. “Whether it’s three o’clock on a Friday afternoon or 3 am on Christmas morning, they’ll be able to access it and do business.”

That system should “go live” something this spring. Pate’s office handled the records for more than 20-thousand businesses that were launched in Iowa this past year. That’s an all-time high in new business filings. Pate says the number of Iowa businesses being dissolved is declining, too. The Iowa Secretary of State’s office has an elections division, but it also has a business division that handles documents for non-profits, corporations, partnerships that operate in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Two separate traffic stop early this (Saturday) morning in Fremont County resulted in three arrests. It also involved one accident. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports his Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 29 southbound, near mile marker 8. The Fremont County K9 Unit conducted a search, during which methamphetamine and marijuana were found. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Missouri. The license plates on the trailer being hauled by the stolen vehicle, had also reported stolen. 38-year old Joshua Lanning, of South Sioux City, NE, and 49-year old Jerry Lee Bossow, of Green Valley, MO.,  were arrested on numerous charges, to include the stolen property and drugs. Lanning’s bond was set at $6,000, while the bond for Bossow was set at $12,000. He was also being held on a Parole Violation warrant out of Missouri.

Not long after the previous incident was wrapped-up, Fremont County Deputies received word a vehicle was traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-29. Deputies were able to intercept the vehicle north of te Hamburg exit, but as they tried to get it stopped, the vehicle continued southbound and struck a vehicle head-on. Minor injuries were reported from the accident. The driver of the wrong way vehicle, 23-year old Daniel Kauffman, of Thurman, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense, and numerous traffic citations.  His bond was set at $1,000. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.