OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska and Iowa Army National Guard units have delayed drills this month because of a federal funding shortage that has affected thousands of Army National Guard units across the country.  Nebraska National Guard spokesman Kevin Hynes said Tuesday that the delays affect about 20 Nebraska Army Guard units – about half of the state’s total. The state has about 3,500 soldiers in the Army Guard.

Col. Greg Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard says the delays affect most of the state’s 7,200 Army National Guard members. The states’ Air National Guard units are not affected.

A $101 million funding gap has led to postponed Guard drills nationwide. Efforts are underway in Congress to get funding reallocated so drills can be held and National Guard members can get paid.

In a delayed report, Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County said today (Tuesday), two Audubon County residents were injured during a motorcycle accident in Pott. County Saturday afternoon. The cycle, operating by 61-year old Ronnie Riesgaard, of Exira, was traveling east on Magnolia Road when the cycle went out of control near a curve and came to rest in the middle of the roadway.

Riesgaard was airlifted to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha. A passenger on the cycle, 54-year-old Lorena Riesgaard, also from Exira, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs by Underwood Rescue. A report on their conditions is not available

The accident remains under investigation.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa will seek approval from the Board of Regents for an institute dedicated to driverless cars and other automated vehicles. The institute would be based on a partnership with a private company, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported. The university’s proposal cites its own National Advanced Driving Simulator, along with the state’s open spaces, as ideal for testing and commercializing the driverless technology.

“It’s bold but well thought out, and it’s perfectly timed for where the university is at and where the industry is at,” said Mark Nolte, president of the Iowa City Area Development Group. “So I hope the regents are supportive.” The Board of Regents is set to consider the proposal Wednesday.

Supporters of the Autonomous, Intelligent Machines and Systems Institute, a proposed nonprofit funded primarily through federal grants, are asking the board’s approval for $3 million over a three-year period. The institute would have a governing body comprised of industry and university officials.

David Conrad is the university’s assistant vice president for economic development. He said initial funding would be used for personnel, equipment and infrastructure costs for the institute. Conrad said it would be ideally located at the university’s Research Park. Last week, Carnegie Mellon University engineers successfully transported a Pennsylvania congressman in a driverless 2011 Cadillac SRX more than 30 miles to an airport.  “So there’s a lot of work that has yet to be done, but the technology is there and it’s getting better every day,” Nolte said.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say no injuries were reported following a single vehicle accident Monday afternoon. Authorities say a 2004 Kenworth concrete mixing truck driven by 27-year old James Orville Irvin, of Corning, was traveling east on 110th Street at around 12:15-p.m., when the vehicle got too close to the side of the road. The truck entered the ditch and rolled onto its side. The vehicle sustained $15,000 damage. No citations were issued.

A quarrel between family members late Sunday night in Clarinda led to the arrest of two people. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says officers were dispatched to 312 North 20th Street at around 11:15-p.m.  The officers were sent to investigate a report that 38-year old  Jason William McCollum, who lives at the address, had been threatened with a handgun during a family quarrel.

Police subsequently arrested 23-year old Tera Dawn Lutz, of Clarinda, for going armed with intent, aggravated assault, and illegal carrying of a concealed weapon. The complaint alleges the woman displayed a handgun during a family quarrel. Brothers said his officers also arrested 56-year old Terry Lynn Layne, for aggravated assault.

An investigation determined Layne and McCollum reside at the residence and had been involved in an argument earlier in the day on Sunday, and that Layne had eventually left the residence. Layne and Lutz returned to the residence later in the day on Sunday to retrieve some personal property at which time Lutz allegedly displayed a handgun and pointed it at the male who resides at the residence.

McCollum was not injured during the incident and no shots were fired. A small caliber handgun that was believed to have been used by Lutz was recovered. Lutz and Layne were taken into custody without incident. They were booked into the Page County Jail and held on $5,000 bond, pending an appearance before the Page County Magistrate. The matter has been referred to the Page County Attorney’s office for review and the filing of formal charges.