Here are the stories keeping our reporters busy Wednesday:

• A man slammed his van into a truck and then a pole, and then he tried to run away before cops caught up with him Wednesday.

• A town is spending nearly $1.4 million to repair roads and buildings and strengthen a creek bed. But that's much less than it expected to pay.

• Police were called to the same address twice in seven minutes to calm a woman's rantings. Now she faces charges.

• Get the latest on the search for a 5-foot-long snake missing since she slithered away from the owners who had taken her on an outdoor excursion.

Look for these stories and more in Thursday's Press Enterprise.