The Iowa Department of Transportation reports Interstate 80 eastbound near the Highway 25 overpass, is completely blocked (as of 9-a.m.) due to a crash involving two semi-tractor trailers. Eastbound traffic is being re-routed around the crash scene via the Exit 86 off-ramp, across Highway 25, and then back down the entrance ramp to I-80 eastbound. The accident reportedly occurred at around 6-a.m.

Additional information is not currently available.

A task force will soon meet in Des Moines looking for new protections for children living in homes where caregivers are involved with illegal drugs. The working group was authorized after legislators failed to pass a bill this year governing so-called “drug-endangered” children. Dale Woolery, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, says the panel will include child welfare advocates, substance abuse experts and law enforcement officials.

Woolery says, “The concerns generally are for the welfare, what’s best for children, who may be exposed to drugs that wind up in their system or are living in an environment where drugs are used or sold or in some cases manufactured.”

Child welfare advocates say fewer children are being tested for drugs in their systems under a new child abuse investigation protocol at the Iowa Department of Human Services and a D-H-S spokeswoman says more families are taking advantage of services under the new system. Woolery says child welfare is at stake.

“Once someone knows that caregivers have been drug-involved is that child or are the children in that home are they safe, are they safe a month from now, six months from now?” Woolery says. “What’s happening to intervene in that situation?”

A bill which failed to pass the legislature this year would have required notifying law enforcement if investigators determine that a child is “drug-endangered,” which would be a new term in Iowa law. Now, law enforcement is notified if a child is in imminent danger.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Creston say a resident in the 400 block of N. Vine Street reported this (Thursday) morning, that sometime during the overnight hours Wednesday into this morning, someone opened a dog pen on his property and took his female Collie. The dog is wearing a pink/purple collar. The animal was valued at $400. If you have any information about the location of the dog, contact Creston Police. 

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst told a reporter for the Washington, D.C. publication “Politico” that she can provide the best “assistance” to Donald Trump as a senator rather than as his running mate. Ernst spoke briefly with Radio Iowa early Wednesday afternoon, saying she was “very impressed” with Trump after meeting privately with him Sunday.

When asked directly if she could envision being Trump’s vice president, Ernst said “any number of Republicans” could fulfill that role. “That’s entirely his decision and he will most certainly pick the right person for his ticket and I look forward to supporting that ticket,” Ernst said. Ernst told the Politico reporter she is just getting started in the U.S. Senate and expects to be an “advocate” for Trump on the campaign trail.

The New York Times is reporting the Trump campaign will give Ernst a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland later this month.

(Radio Iowa)