The Iowa Judicial Branch lost one of its Justices Friday night to a sudden heart attack. Officials have confirmed 66-year old Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady died in Des Moines. In a statement, the Iowa Judicial Branch wrote “He was a wonderful individual and exceptional judge, respected and beloved by his fellow jurists. His passing is a great loss to the court and the state he so loyally served. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Becky and his family.” Cady and his wife have two children and four grandchildren. His family said in a statement also, “Tonight, the state lost a great man, husband, father, grandfather and jurist.”

Justice Cady was well known for his opinion in Varnum v. Brien, the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in 2009. He also supported an increase of technology in the court system. His career started in 1978 when he was a law clerk in District 2. He spent years as an associate judge, district court judge, Iowa Court of Appeals judge before he became chief justice in 2011.

Cady was born in Rapid City, South Dakota. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Drake University. He spent more than 30 years as an adjunct faculty member at Buena Vista University and served as a member of its President’s Advisory Council.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

FORT DODGE, Iowa – Multiple media outlets reported overnight that Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, who served on the state’s top court for more than a decade, died Friday of a heart attack. He was 66. “Tonight, the state lost a great man, husband, father, grandfather, and jurist,” his family said in a statement. Cady, born in Rapid City, S.D., but living in Fort Dodge, was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1998 by then-Gov. Terry Branstad. Cady is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A supervisor in the Iowa public defender’s office has resigned his side job as a police officer after critics said it created a conflict of interest. Mike Adams, supervisor of the special defense unit, resigned last month from the Colfax Police Department, where he worked as a reserve officer. His resignation comes after The Associated Press reported on concerns about Adams’ work as an officer in a jurisdiction where his office represents low-income criminal defendants.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Organizers of a new statewide bicycle ride are changing the date of their planned event so it doesn’t conflict with an annual ride that dates to the 1970s. Organizers of Iowa’s Ride announced Friday on the group’s Facebook page that the ride would be held from July 12 to July 18, a week earlier than previously planned. The change means the ride won’t overlap with the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI, scheduled for July 19 to July 25.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kamala Harris faces a challenge as she reorients her campaign to focus almost exclusively on Iowa, which holds the first-in-the-nation caucus in February. The people who come to see her walk away impressed. But that’s not translating into a groundswell of support. Her aides say a top-three finish in Iowa is necessary to keep her bid alive, and they project confidence she can again rise to the top. They note polling shows only about a third of Iowans are committed to a candidate.

ALBIA, Iowa (AP) — A south-central Iowa woman convicted in September of killing her husband has been sentenced to life in prison. The Daily Iowegian reports that 47-year-old Barbara Pasa, of Centerville, received the mandatory life sentence on Friday. The badly burned body of Tim Pasa was found in a bed on May 5, 2018, and investigators determined the fire at the Centerville home was started intentionally. An autopsy determined his death was related to an injection of an anesthetic, propofol.

Officials with South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 Democratic Presidential Campaign say “Mayor Pete,” as he’s known, will make a stop in Atlantic on Monday, Nov. 25th. Buttigieg will be in town for a conversation about social security and long term care planning.

The event will be held from 3-until 5-PM at The Venue, 307 Walnut Street.  It will be free and open to the public.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Nov. 15, 2019 – Construction crews will open new northbound Interstate 29 lanes in Council Bluffs next week, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 construction office. To prepare for these changes, temporary, daytime and overnight lane and ramp closures are needed. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider an alternate route, slow down and follow detours.

Monday, November 18 Impacts

• All eastbound I-80 traffic will be consolidated into one lane between southbound I-29 and Madison Avenue (Exit 5). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Single lane closures will be needed on westbound I-80 Express, west of the East System Interchange (Exit 4).

Tuesday, November 19 Impacts

• Alternating lane closures will be needed along northbound I-29 between U.S. 275/Iowa 92 (Exit 47) and South Expressway (Exit 49). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• U.S. 275/Iowa 92 ramp to northbound I-29 is expected to close at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday.
  • Access to northbound I-29/westbound I-80 is expected to re-open at 6 a.m., Wednesday.
  • Access to eastbound I-80 is expected to re-open at 3 p.m., Wednesday.
• Northbound I-29 traffic will shift to new, permanent pavement and a new ramp from northbound I-29 to westbound I-80 Express lanes will be opened.

Wednesday, November 20 Impacts

• The U.S. 275/Iowa 92 ramp to eastbound I-80 remains closed and is expected to re-open at 3 p.m., Wednesday.
• Alternating lane closures will be needed along northbound I-29, south of U.S. 275/Iowa 92 (Exit 47). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Alternating lane closures will be needed on eastbound I-80 between southbound I-29 and Madison Avenue (Exit 5). Expect delays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Eastbound I-80 ramp to Madison Avenue will be closed from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Eastbound drivers will need to use an alternate route to access Madison Avenue.
• The new ramp from northbound I-29 to eastbound I-80 will be opened.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

All dates and events may change due to weather and field conditions. Iowa DOT encourages motorists to plan ahead, avoid distractions, follow signs and use caution while becoming accustomed to new traffic patterns.