SALIX, Iowa (AP) — Authorities closed Interstate 29 in western Iowa after a truck veered off the freeway and caught fire. The Sioux City Journal reports the driver of the truck was found dead, but it’s possible he had a medical condition that led to the Thursday morning crash.

The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened when the truck, which was hauling a trailer filled with hamburger, veered off I-29 near Salix, south of Sioux City. The truck crossed a shallow ditch, came to rest in trees and caught fire. Both southbound lanes of the freeway were closed while crews fought the fire. Traffic was routed into Salix. One lane was reopened several hours later.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislative leaders say they agreed before the current session started to arrive at broad budget figures on which Republicans and Democrats could agree to prove that divided state government can work. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, said yesterday that record low public disapproval of Congress gave state leaders impetus to work together.

SALIX, Iowa (AP) — Authorities closed Interstate 29 in western Iowa after a truck veered off the freeway and caught fire. The Sioux City Journal reports the driver of the truck was found dead, but it’s possible he had a medical condition that led to the crash. The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened Thursday when the truck, which was hauling a trailer filled with hamburger, veered off I-29 south of Sioux City.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man has been accused of trying to conspire with his teenage daughter to get his wife to take harmful pills. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 55-year-old Michael Schoonover was arrested Tuesday morning. He faces a charge of solicitation to commit a felony.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Egidijus Mockevicius tied a career-high with 19 points, had a career-best eight blocks and grabbed 10 rebounds as Number 9 seed Evansville defeated eighth-seeded Drake 69-61 in the opening round of the Missouri Valley tournament last night. Richard Carter scored 26 points and Jordan Daniels finished with 11 to lead the Bulldogs in St. Louis.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislative leaders are telling the greyhound racing industry and casinos that want to end dog racing to work out their differences soon. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Council Bluffs Democrat, says he’d like to see a deal that provides a “soft landing” for the greyhound industry that support the state’s two remaining dog tracks at casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque. Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen agrees.

The casinos, which provided $10 million last year to subsidize dog racing want the tracks to close. The greyhound industry says it employs 1,200 workers in Iowa and hopes to keep a track operating somewhere in Iowa.

A bill that has passed the committee level requires the casinos to pay the dog industry $70 million over six years to shut down racing.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests this week. Authorities said Thursday that 44-year old Tammy Darleen Flathers, of Cumberland, was arrested Tuesday on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear to Serve Jail Time. Flathers was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was being held until the completion of her jail time.

And on Wednesday, 29-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of Aggravated Domestic Abuse Assault. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – A Cedar Falls lawmaker is pushing for legislation that would help low-income families pay for child burials.  The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Democratic Rep. Bob Kressig’s bill would give qualifying individuals up to $2,000 for funeral expenses after the death of a child. The measure has been assigned to an appropriations subcommittee.

Kressig says the legislation was inspired by Sing Me to Heaven, a nonprofit group in northeast Iowa that raises money to help pay for such funerals. Group organizers say the cost of a funeral can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more.

The bill would provide $100,000 to be administered through the state Department of Public Health. The amount is not expected to be used up within a year, and the funds would not necessarily be recurring.