(Hancock, Iowa) – A blaze that destroyed a two-story home in Hancock early this (Friday) morning, also claimed a life. According to Hancock Fire Chief Josh Billings, one person was found deceased inside the home located in the 300 block of Kimball Street. The blaze was reported at around 3:15-a.m. The structure was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived.

Hancock Fire received assistance at the scene from the Avoca and Oakland Fire Departments. The victim’s name has not been released, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Photo Credit: Alexa Brink

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop this (Friday) morning in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police say a little before 8-a.m., Red Oak Police conducted a traffic stop in the 1300 block of N. Broadway Street. Upon further investigation, the driver of the vehicle, 40-year-old Christopher Robert Fowler, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, Friday (Today), said “In observation of National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 15th-19th)” they want to remind motorists about the “Move Over Law,” in Iowa.  Lt. Jill Knotek says the law found in the Code of Iowa, states “A driver shall change lanes when approaching a stationary vehicle with hazard or other lights flashing on the side of the roadway. If this is not possible, then the driver shall reduce the speed of their vehicle as they pass.” (the Iowa DOT’s full synopsis of the code can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/yx2jd84u.)

In 2022, there were 8921 people killed and over 37,000 injured within work zones nationally.

On April 17, 2024, Council Bluffs Police Department partnered with Carter Lake Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and Arrow Towing, to focus on “Move Over violations,” and speeding on I-80 and I-29. The project took place from 8-a.m. until Noon. Authorities say during this four-hour period, there were a total of 151 citations and warnings issued, with 62 of those issued for failing to move over, and 39 for speeding.

The highest recorded speed was by the driver traveling nearly 30-miles per hour above the posted speed limit (91-mph in a 65-mph zone). Despite the project, officers are still observing high speeds on the I-80 Express lanes. Therefore, Police say they “Will continue to work with speed enforcement to bring those numbers down to a reasonable speed. We urge drivers to remember to Move Over when they see a vehicle on the shoulder.”

Officials with Triple A report as of today (April 19th), the price of regular unleaded gasoline had fallen 2 cents over the past week, to an average of $3.33/per gallon across Iowa. Gas prices are down 22 cents from a year ago. The national average is $3.68/gallon, up 5 cents from last week.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa are nearly steady, with a statewide average of $3.79/gallon. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.95 in Iowa.  The current Iowa diesel price is 26 cents lower than the national average of $4.05. The national price is 15-cents less than last year at this time.

Natural gas prices fell 21 cents.

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, this week, announced two district associate judge appointments. Ashley Stewart was appointed as a district associate judge in Judicial Election District 5C.  Stewart, a resident of Des Moines, is an assistant appellate defender for the Iowa Public Defender’s Office.  She received an undergraduate degree from University of Houston and her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.  Ashley Stewart fills a vacancy created following the resignation of the Hon. Christopher Kemp. Judicial Election District 5C includes Polk County.

The Governor also appointed Jordan Brackey, of Des Moines, as a district associate judge in Judicial Election District 5C.  Brackey is an assistant Polk County attorney for the Juvenile Division.  He received an undergraduate degree from University of Iowa and his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.  Jordan Brackey fills a vacancy created following the retirement of the Hon. Romonda Belcher.  Judicial Election District 5C includes Polk County.