Officials with the Harlan Police Department say they have been receiving numerous calls with regard to the phone calls being made to citizens, from persons claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The caller demands payment or says that they will be arrested if the person called doesn’t pay. THIS IS A SCAM. Simply hang up. Don’t give out any information or send any funds of any kind. The SSA will never contact you by phone.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Board of Education has adopted new rules that would require lap-shoulder seat belts on all new buses bought by school districts and state-accredited nonpublic schools. The administrative rules adopted Thursday are still subject to legislative review. Other safety equipment required includes one additional stop arm per bus, hand rails, exterior boarding lights and fire-resistant crash barriers between the front bus seats and the bus drivers.

Districts won’t have to retrofit their current fleets. The rules apply to new buses manufactured on or after Oct. 2, the date the new rules are scheduled to take effect. In 2018 the National Transportation Safety Board recommended lap-shoulder seat belts on all new school buses.

The pursuit of a semi this (Thursday) morning in Polk County ended with the driver being tased. According to WHO-TV in Des Moines, the pursuit began  just east of Altoona in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80, near mile marker 143. Sgt. Nathan Ludwig with the Iowa State Patrol, told the station when a state trooper tried to pull the semi over at around 6:30-a.m., the driver took off.

A pursuit that followed went on for about 13 miles before the rig stopped just short of stop-sticks on I-80/35, under the 86th Street Bridge. The driver of the semi, 46-year-old Ryan Tourtillott of Apple Valley, California, refused to leave the vehicle, and was not responding to the six officers ordering him to get out of the truck. After officers deployed a Taser, Tourtillott was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa is falling short on deterring kids from using tobacco, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. Danielle Oswald-Thole, the organization’s Iowa government relations director, blames the state’s tobacco tax, which can help push kids away from smoking, though Iowa’s tax is far below the national average. “We haven’t passed a significant increase in the tobacco tax since 2007 when we passed a dollar increase,” Oswald-Thole says. “So, that’s over 12 years ago, even though we know that that is an evidence-based policy that would save lives and save money.”

The annual report ranks how well states are implementing policies to reduce cancer rates. Danielle Oswald-Thole says it estimates more than a quarter of cancer deaths in the state are connected to tobacco. “Fifty-one-hundred Iowans are estimated to die this year because of tobacco-related illness and disease,” she says, “and 55,000 Iowa kids alive today will die prematurely if we do nothing and we continue the status quo.”

The report estimates nearly 18,000 Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

(Thanks to Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — Attorneys for the State of Iowa are challenging a jury’s verdict against former Governor Terry Branstad. The jury awarded Christopher Godfrey one-and-a-half million dollars after concluding Branstad retaliated against the former Workers Compensation Commissioner because he’s gay. After taking office in 2010, Branstad asked Godfrey to resign in the middle of Godfrey’s six-year term. When Godfrey refused, his salary was cut by a third. Branstad’s legal team argues there was not enough evidence to prove that Godfrey’s sexuality was behind that decision. Godfrey’s attorney, Roxanne Conlin, says that was for the jury to decide.

“There is nothing that anyone can do to change the fact that the jury found that Terry Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, discriminated against Chris Godfrey because he was gay,” Conlin said. The state’s attorneys also argue reducing Godfrey’s pay was within the governor’s authority. In a motion filed Wednesday, they ask the judge to either reverse the jury’s verdict or order a new trial.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Grant Gerlock)

You’re invited to join “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa” for the “Bridgewater Night Out,” Tuesday, August 6th, from 6-until 8-p.m. The event takes place at Bridgewater City Park, and features a
Pot Luck Meal, Fun Activities & Social Time with Good Neighbors. Residents and “Friends of Bridgewater” are WELCOME to attend.

Food served will include: Hot Dogs; Potato Chips; Baked Beans; Lemonade & Ice Tea; Condiments and table service WILL be provided. The meal begins at 6-p.m. You’re asked to please bring a lawn chair and a dessert, salad or side dish to share for the pot luck (if you wish.) Kids should bring a towel if they will be participating in the water fights, which take place after the meal.

Other fun activities will include: Parachute – Beach Ball Game; Yard Games; Pedal Go Cart; and “Meet a Cop – Adair County Sheriff’s Department” – Car tours (Tentative); and Kids Prize Giveaways.  Wear your “I Believe in Bridgewater, Iowa” T-shirt if you have one. Free Will Donations are being accepted for “Take Back Bridgewater, Iowa.”

Special Thanks to Bridgewater Fire and EMS, Adair County Sheriff’s Department and Zion Recovery for participating. Take Back Bridgewater, a grass roots non-profit organization, was formed in 2017, working in partnership with citizens, to address criminal activity and improve the quality of life in and around Bridgewater, Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — One of the five people charged with the shooting death of a man during a 2017 Davenport robbery has taken a plea deal. Scott County District Court records say 20-year-old Darrell Williams Jr. pleaded guilty Friday to burglary. The deal says prosecutors will dismiss murder and conspiracy charges in exchange. He’s scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 12. He’s a resident of East Moline, Illinois.

Williams and four other people were charged with the Sept. 22, 2017, slaying of 20-year-old Brady Tumlinson and wounding of Tumlinson’s girlfriend. Tristin Alderman and D’marithe Culbreath were sentenced to life in prison. Nakita Wiseman was given 35 years for his role. Christopher Dixon has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 26.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report several recent arrests:

• A traffic stop at around 11-p.m. Wednesday in Honey Creek resulted in the arrest of 39-year old Jamie L. Jacobsen, of Omaha. Jacobsen was arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice.
• An investigation into an assault in Council Bluffs resulted in the arrest at around 5-p.m. of 26-year old Deon Jarell Fleming, of Council Bluffs. He was charged with Assault without injury on persons in certain occupations.
• Wednesday afternoon, 46-year old Jene Allan Zarbano, of Avoca, was arrested for Violation of Parole, after a Deputy conducted a warrant check at an Avoca hotel.
• Late Wednesday morning, 36-year old Andrew Michael Hasbrouck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was taken into custody at the Pott. COunty Jail, where he was being held on $300 bond for a Criminal Trespass charge.
• 21-year old Lilian Marie Nelson, of Bellevue, NE., was transported from a jail in Nebraska to the Pott. County Jail, Wednesday morning, to address warrants for Assault with intent to inflict serious injury, and Harassment in the 1st degree by threat of a Forcible Felony.
• 27-year old Danielle Renee Davenport was taken into custody Wednesday morning for Violation of Probation.
• and, 30-year old Heather Marie Bills was arrested at the Pott. County Courthouse Wed. morning on a State of Iowa warrant for Assault causing serious bodily injury without intent and domestic abuse assault 1st offense, causing bodily injury.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. Auditor Dale Sunderman reports County Conservation Director Micah Lee presented a 4th quarter FY19 report of activity at county recreational sites (including maintenance activities at Cold Springs, the West Nodaway Area, T-Bone Trail, Pellett Memorial Woods and Outdoor Classroom) and Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning’s environmental education activities. Micah said Kanning presented 131 programs to 2,511 persons.

Lee and two Conservation Board members reported also a proposed project to asphalt the roadway at Cold Springs Park south of Lewis.  The project is estimated cost about $109,000. Lee and the Conservation Board members requested assistance from the County to help fund the project. They suggested the project be paid for with 50% conservation funds and 50% from a ‘general fund’. Their request was taken under advisement.

Cass County Veteran Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes also gave report of 4th quarter and annual FY19 activity.  Holmes said during the quarter, 151 veterans were assisted with Federal VA benefits and/or local general assistance. County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas reviewed current legal activity. Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Deb Schuler also presented report on activity for the month of June.

Sunderman said also, that an employee who was performing some GIS (Geographic Information Services) along with other duties, has moved, and the new employee will not be performing those GIS services.  Therefore, the County is planning to contract for those additional GIS services.  Representatives from Schneider Geospatial (already under contract for other GIS services) and Midland GIS Services presented proposals, which were taken under advisement.  Sunderman said the Board plans to act on the proposals during their next meeting on August 6th.