SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say an officer fired at another vehicle after it struck the officer’s unmarked car during a traffic stop in Sioux City. Station KTIV reports the officer positioned the car to block the vehicle from fleeing Wednesday night. But the vehicle then hit the officer’s car, prompting the officer to fire. Police say the other vehicle left the scene but was soon found and the driver taken into custody. Two passengers in the vehicle were questioned as well. No injuries have been reported. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

(Radio Iowa) — MidAmerican Energy Company is launching what it calls a first-of-its kind network of electric vehicle fast-charging stations in more than a dozen cities throughout the state. MidAmerican spokesperson, Tina Hoffman, says the plan is to have the chargers available ever 50 miles. “One of the barriers to electric vehicle adoption is something they call range anxiety,” according to Hoffman. “If people feel like they don’t know where the next charger will be or how far they can get before they need to recharge to reach their destination — there’s a fear in investing in that vehicle.”

MidAmerican wants to install D-C fast-charging sites in Altoona, Avoca, Carroll, Clarinda, Davenport, Dexter, Early, Emmetsburg, Iowa City, Fort Dodge, Little Sioux, Oskaloosa, Sheldon, Sioux City and Waterloo, which are all within the company’s service territory. She says they are looking for partners to host the chargers so people can use them to charge their electric cars. Hoffman says this type of charger can get people on their way after a short stop. “Those can generally charge an electric vehicle in about 20 to 45 minutes. So, a stop at the gas station, or you can run into the store, and you car will be charged by the time you get out,” Hoffman says.

She says they will leave it up to the partners who provide the chargers to determine the cost of a charge. Hoffman says the company is also providing grants to help people buy electric cars. “MidAmerican Energy customers who buy or lease a new electric vehicle can get a 500 dollar rebate incentive for doing that,” Hoffman says. She says the company is also providing 15-hundred dollar rebates for those who install a “Level 2” charging station, which generally charge electric vehicles in four to eight hours. The company plans to begin building the charging network by the end of the year. Hoffman says encouraging the use of electric vehicles goes along with their plan to eventually provide 100 percent of the electricity to their customers from renewable sources. Hoffman says the company now provides on average through the year more than 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.

District Court records in Page County indicate a Red Oak man accused of murder in Shenandoah, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping in another case. 34-year-old Toby Lee McCunn was arraigned Monday on a charge of first-degree kidnapping that was filed in early July. Documents show McCunn’s attorney filed a plea of not guilty in the case. A pre-trial hearing on the matter takes place Sept. 23rd, with trial set for October 8th.

McCunn still faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the April 22nd shooting death of 33-year-old Joshua Lyle Jordan. His trial in that case is scheduled for 9:30-a.m. August 5th. McCunn was being held in the Page County Jail.

BRITT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were injured by an explosion at a business in northern Iowa. The blast occurred around 9:10 a.m. Wednesday at Miller & Sons Golf Cars just south of Britt. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says the explosion was accidental and didn’t cause a fire. The cause is being investigated. The names of the injured and the extent of their injuries haven’t been released.