(Onawa, Iowa) – An SUV that failed to yield was struck by a train this (Friday) afternoon, in Monona County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2001 Ford Expedition driven by 40-year-old James M. Ball, of Onawa, was traveling east on Emerald Street in Onawa at around 1:15-p.m.  Ball stopped, but then proceeded without yielding to the oncoming train before his vehicle was struck on the passenger side near the intersection with 9th Street. The impact sent the SUV into the northeast ditch.

Ball was transported by Burgess Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. No one on the Union Pacific train was injured. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the crash scene.

(Radio Iowa) The Board of Regents heard the first presentation this week of proposed room and board rate increases at the three state schools. University of Iowa vice president for student life, Von Stange (Stang-EE), says increasing staff is part of the reason they are requesting a four-point-nine-percent increase.

Stange says labor costs, material costs and supply chain issues have increased their construction costs for keeping housing and dining facilities up to date.

He says seven of the 11 residence halls are between 55 and 70 years old, and two more are more than 85 years old, and the dining operations were renovated 20 to 25 years ago. Stange says increased demand for housing has led to the decision to operate they Mayflower dorm for another year. Michael Harwood from the Iowa State University Department of Residence says they are seeking a room and board increase of five-point-eight percent as they face increased costs for labor and supplies.

Harwood says student leaders approved a resolution saying they would support the increase.

Harwood says they began this year at 98 percent of capacity for the year with more than 94 percent of the first year class living on campus, and an increasing number of students wanting to return to live in the halls. The University of Northern Iowa’s Nick Raffaello says they are seeking a three-point-five percent increase as they face an increase is students wanting to live in the dorms.

He says it doesn’t look like the demand will let up.

The Board of Regents will not take any action on the proposed rates until their April meeting.

(Urbandale, Iowa) – A crash between two stolen vehicles this (Friday) morning in Polk County, resulted in the death of one of the drivers. The accident happened as the vehicles were being pursued by an Urbandale Police Officer.

According to Urbandale Police, officers spotted a white 2017 Hyundai Elantra that had been reported stolen traveling south in the 4300 block of 86th Street around 3:30-a.m., Friday. The Elantra was traveling alongside a black 2015 Kia Soul. According to police, an officer was preparing to activate his lights and sirens when both vehicles sped away.

The Iowa State Patrol reports the Hyundai was driven by 18-year-old Sheldon Christopher Ballentine, of Des Moines, and the KIA was driven by 22-year-old Jeffrey Lionel Smith, Jr., of Des Moines. Both vehicles were traveling southbound on 86th Street at a high rate of speed, when the Hyundai went out of control and bounced into the KIA.

The Hyundai then went back over the center divider, across the northbound lanes, and up an embankment, before coming to rest in a private parking lot. The KIA left the road and struck a tree. The Patrol says Smith died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. Ballentine was not injured. He was arrested at the scene on charges that include:

• Homicide by Vehicle – Attempt to Elude
• Eluding – Speed 25+ Over Limit
• Theft – 2nd Degree
• Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana
• Failure to Use Headlamps When Required

(Massena, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier report, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), said one-person was transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, following a collision that occurred at around 7:50-a.m., Friday.

Authorities say local first responders were called to the area of 750th and Richland Road for a vehicle accident with minor injuries.  Investigating Deputies found that a black 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, being operated by Gerald Wessels, of Anita, was sitting at a stop sign on 750th St. facing South at the intersection with Richland Road.

Wessel failed to yield the right of way and proceeded South through the intersection.  At the same time, a 2010 KW Construct T8 semi tractor / trailer being operated by Bradley Ruth, of Orient, was traveling West on Richland Road approaching this intersection.  As Wessel entered the intersection southbound in his Chevrolet Colorado, Ruth’s vehicle struck Wessel’s vehicle in the rear driver-side quarter panel.  The impact cause Wessel’s vehicle to spin within the intersection before it came to rest in the South West ditch.

Wessel was transported to the hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries.  His vehicle sustained approximately $15,000 worth of damage, while the semi tractor-trailer sustained approximately $5,500 worth of damage.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that’s cleared the Iowa House would require state inspectors to conduct twice-a-year training sessions for Iowa nursing home staff to review the most common citations issued against nursing homes. The bill also changes the timelines for when inspectors from DIAL — the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing — conduct site visits to review operations or investigate complaints. Representative Tom Moore, a Republican from Griswold, says the bill addresses some of the concerns that have been raised about Iowa nursing homes.

Rep. Thomas Jay Moore (R-Griswold) (official photo)

Representative Megan Srinivas (SREE-nih-vahss), a Democrat from Des Moines, says the state needs to hire more nursing home inspectors — and quit paying private companies to investigate complaints. “I think we’re all in agreement here that our nursing homes are in trouble, that we need to do something to fix the disasters that we’ve been seeing happen throughout our state. Unfortunately this bill does not solve the problem sufficiently,” Srinivas said.

The bill passed on an 87-to-eight vote earlier this week. It’s been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee for consideration.