BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – The city council in Burlington has voted down an ordinance that would have required people to use carrying cases to take toy or replica guns out in public. The Hawk Eye reports the proposal drew a huge outcry from people, many outside Burlington, who wrongly believed it would ban toy guns altogether. Still, council members voted down the ordinance 4-1, saying it was too vague.

Police Chief Doug Beaird (bayrd) suggested the ordinance because he said the department is getting more calls reporting young people carrying pistols or assault rifles. He’s concerned that police officers or adults may not be able to tell whether a gun is real or fake.

He says the situation is a disaster waiting to happen.

w/ Ric Hanson

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A low bridge in Council Bluffs is proving challenging to motorists. Drivers of tall vehicles have hit the train bridge twice this week and at least five times this year. Pat Miller, of the Council Bluffs Public Works Department, told the Daily Nonpareil motorists don’t realize their vehicles won’t fit under the 8-foot 8-inch bridge. New signs and flashing lights have helped, but people still smash into the span, owned by Canadian National Railroad.

Last week, George Weber of South China, Maine, took off his RV’s air conditioning unit, causing about $2,000 damage to his vehicle. He told officers he didn’t realize the RV was so tall. Council Bluffs Police Traffic Division Sgt. Jason Bailey says the bridge rarely suffers damage. He notes, “usually the vehicles lose that one.”

As Iowans try to have fun in the sun, some of them may resemble walking bullseyes to bees and wasps. The experts at the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center say summer is the busiest time of year for their hotline and they’re prepared to handle an influx in calls about insect stings. If you’re getting buzzed by a bee or yellow-jacket, registered nurse Joan McVoy says prevention may be the best medicine.

“If you’re around bees, don’t swing or strike at them or run away from them as the quick movements provoke them,” McVoy says. “If you’re eating outdoors, make sure you cover your food, especially your fruit and soft drinks. Avoid perfumes, after shave lotions, things like that. Avoid wearing real bright or colored flowery prints. It just attracts them.” If your child gets stung, don’t panic, but call the Poison Center hotline right away. McVoy says you need to watch for signs of an allergic reaction, especially within the first hour after a sting.

“You start to feel dizzy, faint, you start sweating, you start to wheeze or have trouble breathing, definitely give us a call,” McVoy says. “If people get stung several times, like over ten times, that’s going to be a trip to the emergency room, but most of the time, we’ll be able to watch you at home, carefully, and tell you what to watch for and what to do.” Most insect repellants that target mosquitoes will not work on stinging insects like bees. McVoy says one application of bug spray or lotion will typically last for some time, and she warns, you can overdo it by slathering on too much, too often.

“The ones that contain DEET, you want to make sure if you’re using them, especially with children, try to get the ones with the lower concentrations of less than 10%,” McVoy says. “They’re found to be just as effective as the higher concentrations. Be cautious with repeat applications. Really, one application of DEET should last you four to eight hours.” If you’re going on vacation this summer, she recommends programming the Poison Center hotline into your phone before you leave. The number is 800-222-1222.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Atlantic report two people were injured when a SWITA bus and a passenger car collided Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 7th and Laurel Streets. The crash was reported at 3:48-p.m. Officials say the SWITA bus was southbound on Laurel and stopped at the stop sign, but did not fully yield to an eastbound car. The vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection. The driver of the car and a passenger on the bus were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Their injuries were not life threatening. The names of the drivers and victims will likely be released later this (Thursday) morning.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A jury will resume deliberations today at the trial of an Iowa man charged with killing his pregnant wife. Jurors are considering whether Seth Techel is guilty of first-degree murder and nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy. The 23-year-old faces life in prison if convicted in his wife’s 2012 shooting death in rural southeastern Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City lawyer will serve as a judge in eastern Iowa’s 6th Judicial District. Lars Anderson was appointed by Governor Terry Branstad to fill the vacancy left by retired judge Marsha Beckelman. The 6th Judicial District includes Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Tama counties.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — The mayor of Clinton has refused to attend two closed sessions of the City Council saying he learned a valuable lesson from a recent open meetings lawsuit the city lost. Mayor Mark Vulich stepped out of two separate closed sessions on Tuesday. One involved a salary increase for the city administrator and the other an undisclosed legal matter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man facing lawsuits involving a 2012 boat crash that killed four people and injured six others on the Mississippi River has agreed to hand over $300,000 from an insurance policy. But he wants a judge to absolve him of future damages if he does. An attorney representing Joseph Schier Junior has proposed the deal in court documents.

LEWIS, Iowa — A two-day bus trip to various locations in Nebraska in early September will offer beginning and young Iowa beef producers unique networking and educational opportunities. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Chris Clark said the trip is an organized activity of ISU’s Beginning and Young Livestock Producer Network (BYLPN) and includes visits to several operations to provide a wide variety of information, experiences, and discussions.

“We’ll have stops at several different beef operations, a packing facility and the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska,” Clark said. “Our tour guide, Jacob Mayer of Settje Agri-Services & Engineering, Inc. has been very helpful in identifying and scheduling places with different approaches and strengths, and he’ll be able to help facilitate some good discussions on the trip.”

The trip is set for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 4 and 5, with the bus departing from the Cass County Extension Office in Atlantic at 7 a.m. on Sept. 4. Additional pick-up locations may be added as necessary. The group will overnight at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 805 Allen Dr., Grand Island, Nebraska, and return the evening of Sept. 5. A block of rooms has been reserved for Sept. 4 at the Fairfield Inn.

“Participants are responsible for their own hotel room fee and can make reservations at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by calling 308-381-8980 and asking for the group rate for Young Producers Group Block no later than Aug. 8,” Clark said. “After that date, rooms will be on an availability basis only.”

The BYLPN is a strategic initiative of ISU Extension and Outreach, with primary goals of creating regional peer groups of young and beginning livestock producers; and offering education, mentorship, and networking opportunities to participants.

“This bus trip is a fitting activity for those already involved in a BYLNP group, but people don’t need to be members of an existing group to participate,” Clark said. “We would love to see some new faces and get more people involved.”

Preregistration by Aug. 20 is required in order to ensure adequate transportation. For more information or to preregister, contact Clark by phone at 712-769-2200 or by email at caclark@iastate.edu or email Leann Plowman-Tibken at leann@iastate.edu.

In their report released today (Wednesday), the Harlan Police Department said an accident last Thursday (July 17th), caused major damage to an apartment building. Officials say a 1990 Mercury driven by Dallas Havick, of Harlan, was leaving a parking space at 1302 Hawkeye Avenue, when for reasons unknown, the car jolted forward, went over a sidewalk and crashed into an apartment. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. A dollar amount of damage to the structure was not available, but listed as “extensive.” No injuries were reported, and no citations were issued.

The Harlan Police Department has released a list of their most recent arrests and incidents. Officials say on Tuesday (7/22), 45-year old Stephen Weber, of Harlan, was arrested when it was reported that he had violated a no contact order that was in place between him and Katherine Hayes, of Harlan. Weber was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with the violation.

On Monday (7/21), 54-year old Christopher Mathison, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop. Mathison was also wanted on an active Shelby County warrant from October 2013 for operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent. Mathison was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving under suspension and held on the warrant.

Last Saturday (7/19), charges of harassment were filed against 19-year old Dakota Grote, of Harlan, when it was reported to officers that he was sending harassing texts to Heather Frieze, Elk Horn, after paperwork on file had been sent to him instructing him to have no further contact.

And on July 10th, 49-year old Randall Hess, and 46-year old Patsy Nuzum, both of Harlan, were arrested when officers were called to a disturbance at Westridge Acres trailer court. Nuzum was transported to the Shelby County Jail and Hess was allowed to go before the magistrate and was released on his own recognizance. Both were charged with domestic abuse assault

Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report one of their cruisers was damaged this (Wednesday) morning, when an officer went to investigate a suspicious person. Authorities say at around 4:40-a..m., Officers Zach Ward and Brandon Allen were on routine patrol in the area of the Red Oak City Maintenance Yard, when they observed a man wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans, walking north in a grassy area immediately north of the “A” Street entrance to the maintenance yard.

Officer Allen, who was operating the 2014 Dodge Charger patrol vehicle, turned the car north onto the grassy area and began to head toward the subject, when the vehicle hit a low fire hydrant, causing under carriage damage to the car.

The male subject took off running north toward a creek and tree line. He was pursued on foot by Officer Ward, but was not to be found. An item believed to have been dropped by the man was recovered from the scene.

A dollar amount of damage to the vehicle was not immediately available.

(12-p.m. News)