At least two people were injured during a collision that took place about 2 1/2 miles south of Elk Horn, Saturday evening. The crash was reported to have occurred on Highway 173 at the intersection of 400th Street, at around 5:37-p.m.  Elk Horn Rescue, as well as Medivac Ambulance crews from Atlantic and Harlan were called to the scene. Dispatch reports indicated four persons were involved in the accident, with airbags having been deployed, but as of the latest dispatch, only two were injured. The injured were transported to CCMH in Atlantic.

Additional information is not currently available.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City casino open fewer than two years is seeking approval to expand its main floor to include high-stakes gambling. The Sioux City Journal reports the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is planning a $5 million, nearly 8,000-square-foot addition to its downtown casino. In addition to a high-stakes gambling area, the expansion would include a wine bar and a private lounge. The new gambling area will include 50 new slot machines and two blackjack tables.

Casino general manager Todd Moyer says that since the casino opened in August 2014, visitors have requested more gambling and drinking options. The Sioux City Council is scheduled to discuss the expansion at a meeting Monday. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval.

An attorney retained on behalf of Cass County Health System CEO Todd Hudspeth, Thursday, entered a written Alford Plea for Hudspeth, on his felony charge in Buena Vista County, of Forgery. Legal experts say an Alford Plea is a guilty plea by a defendant who proclaims he is innocent of the crime, and admits that the prosecution has enough evidence to prove that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is entered when the accused, together with his attorney, has made the calculated decision to plead guilty because the evidence against him is so strong that it will likely lead to conviction. Typically, it results in a guilty plea of a lesser crime

A jury trial was set to begin in Hudspeth’s case on July 12th, but with his plea, a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) will now take place August 1st, during what’s called a “Plea taking.”

CCHS CEO Todd Hudspeth

Last month, Hudspeth had entered a written plea of Not Guilty to the Forgery charge filed against him in Buena Vista County Court. Storm Lake Police had earlier arrested Hudspeth after he allegedly presented a $10,000 check with a forged signature at Storm Lake MetaBank. Hudspeth has said the check was deposited into a checking account to pay for his son’s college expenses. Hudspeth later acknowledged he had made a poor decision in endorsing a disbursement check that included his name, and that of his ex-wife. Hudspeth admitted that he took “A foolish shortcut to expedite” the process of transferring funds for his son’s expenses.

Hudspeth faces a similar felony charge in Cass County, filed in May. That charge was based on the Forgery case filed by the Storm Lake Police Department. Hudspeth entered a written plea of Not Guilty in his Cass County case.  A waiver for his preliminary hearing was submitted May 24th .

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man accused of a fatal hit-and-run in western Iowa is set to stand trial later this summer. The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs reports 44-year-old Tracy Peniska has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident and obstructing prosecution. His trial has been set for Aug. 9th. If convicted, Peniska could face up to seven years in prison.

Police say Peniska was driving his car March 9 on the Interstate 480 bridge in Council Bluffs when he hit a pedestrian, 29-year-old Brett Jensen. Police say Peniska reported his car stolen to Omaha police later that night, but eventually told police he had made up the stolen-car story.

Peniska is free on $5,000 bail.