FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A Colorado man faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly throwing water on Iowa Rep. Steve King while the Republican congressman was eating lunch in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Blake Gibbins was arrested Friday at the Mineral City Mill and Grill. The 26-year-old from Lafayette, Colorado, is charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

Fort Dodge police say in a news release that Gibbins approached King’s group and asked King who he was. When King replied, Gibbins allegedly threw a glass of water on him. Police say others seated at the table also got wet.

King has drawn criticism for racist statements. House Republican leaders this year stripped King of his committee assignments. Still, the nine-term congressman has said he will seek re-election in 2020.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An estimated $625 million jackpot is on the line in Saturday’s Powerball drawing. It would be the seventh-highest U.S. lottery jackpot ever. The estimated lump sum payout would be $380.6 million before taxes. The odds of winning are roughly 1 in 292.2 million.

No one has won the Powerball jackpot since the day after Christmas. Twenty-four drawings since then have failed to produce a winner, including the drawing on Wednesday.

The buyers of three tickets shared the country’s largest jackpot. It was a nearly $1.59 billion Powerball prize drawn on Jan. 13, 2016. A South Carolina purchaser won a $1.54 billion Mega Millions jackpot. That was the nation’s second-largest lottery prize ever.

AMES, Iowa – March 23, 2019 – NOON – The Iowa Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has reopened northbound I-29 from the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood) to the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs). This location was previously closed due to flooding.

Interstate reopenings at this time:

• I-29 in both directions between the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood)
• The I-29/U.S. 34/ U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34 near Pacific Junction) is only open to I-29 traffic exiting to go east on U.S. 34 toward Glenwood.

Interstate closures remain in place for:

• I-680 in both directions between the Nebraska border and I-29 near Crescent (Mormon Bridge).
• The North portion of I-680 between I-80 and I-29 remains open for northbound traffic..
• I-29 in both directions between the I-680 interchange (near Loveland) and North 25th Street in Council Bluffs.
• I-29 in both directions between the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood, IA) and U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO)

Several road closures remain in western Iowa and throughout the state. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for current flood-related closures and detour routes.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Roadways can turn hazardous and deadly during winter’s wrath, and a project under way in Iowa is looking at one possible solution: Heating the pavement. The Ames Tribune reports that the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State University are working together on heated pavement technology. ISU engineering professor Halil Ceylan is also director of the Institute for Transportation’s program for sustainable pavement engineering. He is principal investigator of the heated-pavement project, which began as class project.

Lab tests and studies began in 2013. The first testing was at the Des Moines Airport. That caught the attention of the Iowa Department of Transportation, which along with the Highway Research Board, now provides funding for the study.

One person died following a single-vehicle accident Friday night, in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol says 40-year old Melissa Jean Sears, of Ankeny, died when the 2002 Jeep Liberty she was driving failed to negotiate a curve in the road as she was traveling north on Ute Avenue, north of Booneville. The SUV struck a sign near the intersection with 340th Trail and then a tree. Sears – who was wearing a seat belt — died at the scene of the crash that happened at around 11:25-p.m.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputies and Waukee Police.

DES MOINES – Effective immediately, Iowans can call 211 with questions or concerns about the massive flooding and what steps they can take toward recovery. The Flood Hotline is open 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. In addition, Governor Kim Reynolds also launched an easy-to-navigate website at floods2019.iowa.gov.

The 2019 Iowa Floods website includes sections on:

·         Recovery resources- Grant programs, housing, rebuilding, staying safe, farming and agriculture resources, and replacing documents.

·         Travel information

·         Latest news

·         Social media information

·         Additional resources and information will be added to the website on a continuing basis

The Iowa Department of Transportation, reports this (Saturday) morning, that in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has reopened southbound I-29 from the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood). This location was previously closed due to flooding.

Interstate re-openings at this time:

• Southbound I-29: Between the I-80/I-29 interchange (in Council Bluffs) to the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood)
• The I-29/U.S. 34/ U.S. 275 interchange (exit 34 near Pacific Junction) is only open to southbound I-29 traffic exiting to go east on U.S. 34 toward Glenwood.

Interstate closures remain in place for:

• I-680 in both directions between the Nebraska border and I-29 near Crescent (Mormon Bridge).
• The North portion of I-680 between I-80 and I-29 remains open for northbound traffic.
• I-29 in both directions between the I-680 interchange (near Loveland) and North 25th Street in Council Bluffs.
• Northbound I-29 between U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO) and the Iowa 92/U.S. 275 interchange (in Council Bluffs).
• Southbound I-29 between the U.S. 34 interchange (near Glenwood, IA) and U.S. 71 in Missouri (north of St. Joseph, MO)

Several road closures remain in western Iowa and throughout the state. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for current flood-related closures and detour routes.