(Updated 6:37-a.m.)

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in a motorcycle accident that took place early this (Friday) morning in Council Bluffs. The crash resulted in what were described as serious, but non-life threatening injuries to a Nebraska man. Council Bluffs Police say 59-year old Michael Sowl, of Kearney, Nebraska, was thrown from the motorcycle he was driving after the machine went out of control in the area of S. 35th Street and Nebraska Avenue. The accident happened at around 2:37-a.m.

Authorities say Sowl was traveling south on S. 35th Street when his cycle hit the median. After being thrown from the machine, Sowl landed on the traveled portion of the road. He was taken by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to Creighton University Hospital, for treatment.

Officials say charges in the crash are currently pending.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Virginia say two Iowa residents set for sentencing in a sex trafficking case tortured their victim. Aldair Hodza and Laura Sorensen will be sentenced today (Friday) in U.S. District Court in Richmond. The Clive, Iowa, residents previously pleaded guilty to sex and transporting a person across state lines for prostitution.

Court records show Sorensen and Hodza held a 20-year-old woman captive on a trip to Virginia and forced her to have sex with men who answered online ads. Prosecutors say Hodza and Sorensen burned the woman with lit cigarettes and other heated objects, drove nails into her feet and poured bleach into her wounds.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors are recommending prison terms of 35 years — 11 more than the top end of the sentencing guideline range.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CLARINDA – Members of the Midwest Regional Dive Team from Cass and area Counties, were searching the West Nodaway River on the east side of Clarinda late Thursday night for a possible drowning victim. The team was searching in an area near a dam north of the E, Washington Street Bridge.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton has snagged a big endorsement as she brings her presidential campaign to the Iowa State Fair. Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is endorsing Clinton’s bid for the Democratic nomination, writing in the Des Moines Register that Clinton is “a fighter who has a record of getting things done.”

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A broken sewer pipe under a street in on the east edge of Dubuque has caused a release of untreated wastewater into a storm sewer. City public works officials say they discovered the wastewater leak Thursday afternoon. Crews are working to identify the exact location of the broken pipe.

PILOT MOUND, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa district court judge says a man is obligated to let a company survey his land as part of a proposal for an oil pipeline. The Messenger reports Judge John Haney says in a ruling filed this month that Dakota Access LLC has the right to temporarily enter Laverne Johnson’s property in Boone County to examine the land, which is in the path of the proposed pipeline. Haney says the move does not interfere with fundamental property rights.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A 38-year-old man in an Iowa jail has been accused of setting fire to a car outside the Texas Capitol on August 7th. A Texas Department of Public Safety statement issued Thursday says Iowa resident Michael Patrick Wagner was arrested in Marion, Iowa on an unrelated charge.

(Update 9:40-p.m. No injuries reported)

Anita and Wiota Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of an accident Thursday, at around 9:30-p.m. According to dispatch reports, a semi struck a bridge on Interstate 80 westbound at the 72 mile marker. Following the crash the truck entered the north ditch and remained upright.

Additional details are not currently available. Please check back later.

Members of the Midwest Regional Dive team, including those with Cass County Sheriff’s Department, were called to the scene of a reported, possible drowning on the east side of Clarinda, Thursday night. The page went out at around 9:15-p.m.

The incident reportedly occurred near a dam just north of the East Washington Street bridge over the West Nodaway River. The team was still on the scene early this (Friday) morning.

No other details are currently available. The Midwest Regional Dive Team is comprised of members from Cass, Adams and Ringgold Counties, as well as the Clarinda and Red Oak Fire and Rescue Departments.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Food banks nationwide are dealing with rising demand despite the growing economy, leading some charities to reduce the amount they offer each family. U.S. food banks are expected to give away about 4 billion pounds of food this year. Feeding America, the nation’s primary food bank network, says that’s more than double the amount provided a decade ago. The group gave away 3.8 billion in 2013.

Food bank reliance exploded when the economy tanked in 2008, but groups say demand still rises each year. Some economists say the increased demand is surprising because the economy is growing and unemployment has been cut nearly in half since the recession. But many people who have found jobs are working only part-time or for low wages, and others have stopped looking for work.

The Chairpersons for the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations are reminding non-profit organizations in the two counties, that the deadline to apply for funds through the online grant application process is September 1st.

Cass County has been allocated $28,000. The amount of funds available in Audubon County is $41,170. Only those organizations providing services in Cass County and Audubon County respectively are eligible for the funds in each respective county.

Organizations must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter. Requests for general operational funds will not be considered. Application procedures and grant guidelines can be obtained online at www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/casscef, or www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/auduboncef.

Click on the “Grant Information” tab or contact any board member for additional information. Detailed instructions are provided in a downloadable form, as well as a link to the online application. Only online applications will be considered.

Funds are made possible by the generosity of the Cass County and Audubon Community Foundation donors. Persons wishing to donate to Community Foundations in Southwest Iowa are eligible for a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit. Contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 or dennis@omahafoundation.org or Denise Cardos at denise@omahafoundation.org., with grant application specific questions.

All completed applications will be considered at the October board meeting with notification of results the end of October.

The Denison Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday, of James Bernard Schiltz, of Denison. Schiltz was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, Driving While Barred and cited for having No Insurance.

James Schiltz (Denison P-D photo)