ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – A state board has approved construction of a psychiatric hospital in Bettendorf. The Iowa Health Facilities Council voted 4-1 Thursday at its meeting in Ankeny in favor of the $15 million, 72-bed hospital proposed by Strategic Behavioral Health, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
The project was opposed by two major health care systems in the Quad Cities area. Their officials told the board they already offer sufficient services and would be harmed by a facility built by the for-profit company.

Supporters testified that the hospital would provide desperately needed mental health services for eastern Iowa. The Iowa Health Facilities Council is charged with determining whether large health care projects are necessary or whether they would create expensive duplication of services.

A chase in Council Bluffs early this morning, ended with a man taken into custody on multiple charges. According to Council Bluffs Police, 59-year old Michael J. Flanagan, of Council Bluffs, was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges that include: OWI/2nd offense; Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash; Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash; Eluding; Interference with Official Acts; Driving While Disqualified; No Proof of Insurance – Accident related; and Improper Use of a Controlled Access Facility.

Michael Flanagan

His arrest followed an incident that began a little after 1:45-a.m.. Authorities say a Council Bluffs Police officer, in a fully marked vehicle, was driving north bound on South Expressway. As he was approaching the 900 block of South Expressway. he noted a vehicle, a Gray 2014 Ford Focus, driving directly at him. The vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction, south bound in the north bound lanes. The officer activated his emergency lighting in attempts to warn / stop the driver.

The vehicle continued south bound as the officer pulled to the side of the road to try to avoid being struck. The vehicle sideswiped the police cruiser causing minor damage and continued south bound. After striking the police cruiser, the car then struck another vehicle that was northbound behind the cruiser on South Expressway. The driver of the second vehicle was a 46-year old man from Council Bluffs. The Focus continued south bound after striking the second vehicle.

The officer was able to get turned around on the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on it. The Focus refuse to yield and fled from the officer. Officers pursued after the vehicle and were able to deploy stop sticks on it flattening all four of the Focus’s tires. The vehicle was disabled and came to a stop in the parking lot of Casey’s General Store (at 510 23rd Ave). Officers were able to take the driver, later identified as Flanagan, into custody.

The 46 year old male driver of the vehicle Flanagan struck after striking the police cruiser suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital. The officer struck was not injured.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Thursday evening, of 36-year old Daniel Edward Miller, of Elliott. Miller was taken into custody at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Willful Injury. He remains in the jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Corrections tells The Associated Press that about 80 inmates at a maximum security prison could face disciplinary action in connection to a large fight this month. That’s a far greater number of people than the state corrections department has publicly said were directly involved in the July 1 melee at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The estimate could add weight to union claims that the state agency previously has downplayed the fight.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for four counties in the northeast corner of Iowa that suffered storm damages. The governor’s office said Thursday that the proclamation covers Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Winneshiek counties raked by storms Wednesday. The proclamation allows state resources to be used to aid in recovery efforts. It also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance program for qualifying residents of the four counties.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A Lake Mills man has been found guilty of killing two people and trying to kill another in Mason City last year. The Globe Gazette reports that a jury on Thursday found 31-year-old Peter Veal guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Prosecutors say Veal shot Melinda Kavars and stabbed Caleb Christensen to death and tried to kill a witness, Ron Willis.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Muscatine man has been sentenced to decades in federal prison for possessing and distributing child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says in a news release that 36-year-old Casey John Blain was sentenced Thursday in a Davenport federal courtroom. Prosecutors say Blain admitted to having at least 369 images and at least 267 videos of child pornography that he shared with others on the internet.