(Radio Iowa) – A John Deere employee was hit and killed by a car early Wednesday morning, as he walked to join fellow strikers at the picket line near a John Deere facility in the Quad Cities. The incident happened before dawn in the middle of the intersection of a four-lane highway and Deere Drive — about half a mile from John Deere’s parts and distribution center in Milan. A union member said picketing was halted for the day at the Milan site, following the accident.

The victim was identified as 56-year old Richard Rich, of Moline, a 15-year employee of Deere’s facility in Milan. A preliminary autopsy showed Rich died from multiple traumatic chest injuries.

The U-A-W and Deere issued statements of condolence to the man’s family, friends and co-workers. Milan’s police chief told The Des Moines Register there is no cross walk at the intersection and the evidence suggests the driver did not commit a traffic violation.

(Creston, Iowa) – The driver of an unknown make/model vehicle left the scene of a property damage accident in Creston, Wednesday afternoon. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a 2018 Cadillac ATS driven by 27-year-old Tania Hernandez, of Osceola, was stopped, facing south on Lincoln Street at the intersection with Adams Street, when an unknown vehicle turned from eastbound Adams Street onto northbound Lincoln.

The other vehicle turned short, and struck the Cadillac, causing $3,000 damage. The other vehicle failed to stop after the collision. No injuries were reported.

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines is urging her fellow Democrats to abandon a plan that would require new reporting from banks and credit unions about customer transactions. Supporters say it would help track tax cheats hiding their income and should be included in the Democrats’ so-called “Build Back Better” plan. Axne and 20 other Democrats in the House say the data banks would turn over to the I-R-S raises privacy concerns. Axne says other elements of the package are higher priorities. “We need to secure quality, affordable child care for working families across Iowa who on average spend 28% of their annual income on infant care,” Axne says. “Investing in child care would not only help our working families, it would add an estimated $1.7 billion in new state economic activity.”

Axne made her comments this week during Progress Iowa’s annual fundraiser and she offered a general defense of the overall package Democrats have struggled to assemble. “The Build Back Better agenda isn’t about creating radical change,” Axne says. “It’s about making sure everyone has what they need to survive in today’s competitive economy and to make sure everyone has a fair shot at making a living.”

President Biden was set to speak privately with House Democrats to convince Democrats in the House, Thursday (Today), to vote for whatever plan Senate Democrats can develop and pass. House leaders have indicated they want a vote this week.

(Creston, Iowa) – An accident in Creston Wednesday afternoon caused a total of $3,500 damage, but no one was injured. Creston Police say a 2021 Chevy Suburban driven by 41-year-old Allison Miller, of Creston, and a 2005 Chrysler 300 driven by 36-year-old Steven Bochniak, also of Creston, were both traveling south on N. Lincoln Street at around 4-p.m., when Miller slowed to turn at the intersection of Manor Drive. Authorities say Bochniak was in the process of slowing his vehicle, when his wet sandal slipped off the brake.

His car rear-ended the Suburban. The Chrysler sustained heavy front end damage, while the Chevy sustained only minor damage. Both vehicles were able to be driven away from the scene. No citations were issued.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County man was arrested twice in one day, Wednesday, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 36-year-old John Lyle Vanscoy, of Lorimor, was arrested at around 2:50-p.m. at the intersection of Fremont and Maple Streets. He was charged with 2 outside agency warrants for Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Misdemeanor. Vanscoy was taken to Union County Jail where he was held without bond until seen by a judge.

At around 4-p.m., Wednesday, Vanscoy was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, where he was charged with: Controlled Substance Violation – Conspire with Intent to Deliver Marijuana; Controlled Substance Violation – Conspire Intent Manufacture/Deliver False Methamphetamine; Possession of Controlled Substance – 3rd Offense; and two counts of Failure to Affix a Drug Stamp. Vanscoy remains in the Union County Jail without bond. Additional charges are expected to be announced on Friday.

And, at around 11:35-a.m., Wednesday, 31-year-old Devon Taylor Keller, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, Strangulation. Keller was taken to Union County Jail. Bond was posted $2000.