ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man is facing charges after trying to evade police at speeds up to 120 mph. Television station KTIV reports that the chase happened on Friday afternoon when the Ida County Sheriff’s Department tried to stop 28-year-old Barry Young, of Galva.

Authorities say Young fled south on Highway 175 and drove erratically while as many as six police cars pursued him. Young is suspected of stealing packages off the front porches of homes.  The Iowa State Patrol says Young drove across a farm field and through a fence surrounding a cell phone tower during the chase.

Young was arrested a few miles east of Onawa. He faces a felony charge of eluding arrest, several drug charges and numerous traffic violations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Most Iowa lawmakers agree that changes need to be made to the state’s system for inspecting school buses, but it’s unlikely a bill will pass this year because lawmakers can’t agree on what should be done. A bill that would help close loopholes in the inspection system by requiring buses with serious problems to be re-inspected before returning to service passed the Iowa Senate on a 46-2 vote.

The Des Moines Register reports some lawmakers now want to shift bus inspections out of the Education Department and into the state Transportation Department. Republican Rep. Kevin Koester, of Ankeny, says school buses should get the same inspections commercial vehicles receive. But former lawmaker Mike Cormack, who works for the Education Department, says moving the inspections would only delay needed improvements.

Authorities in Montgomery County report a joint effort between the Red Oak Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Saturday night, resulted in one person being arrested on drug charges. Authorities executed a search warrant at 1010 Broad Street in Red Oak and arrested 49-year-old Kurtis Jay Davidson, of Red Oak.

Davidson faces charges that include possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, gathering where controlled substances were unlawfully used, and, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also taken into custody on a Montgomery County warrant.

During their search of the home, officials took into evidence a small amount of methamphetamine, marijuana scales, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. Davidson was being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $50,000 bond.

Officials with the Stuart Police Department report officers with the department were called to Menlo, Saturday, to assist rescue unit members who had allegedly been threatened by a man who claimed to possess a firearm.

Photo of the scene near Menlo Saturday (from the Stuart P-D’s FaceBook page)

The situation began to unfold after the rescue unit was called to the man’s home in response to a medical situation. Stuart Officers, Guthrie County Deputies and State Patrol Troopers responded and were able to quickly resolve the matter. No other details were provided.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Human Services is on the verge of taking a less-confrontational approach toward adults accused of minor acts of child neglect.

The state Legislature has approved a bill creating the new process, and it’s now awaiting Gov. Terry Branstad’s signature.

The new approach allows for “family assessments,” in which caseworkers can work with families and let them describe their situation without fear of being placed on the state child abuse registry.

Agency spokesman Roger Munns says the change would better balance the rights of adults with the need to protect children. Cases involving sexual, physical and substance abuse will still require a traditional investigation.

Some child advocates back the change but say the state needs to ensure quick evaluations if there is any risk to a child.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy Co. is seeking permission from the Iowa Utilities Board to increase electricity rates, saying it’s the first base-rate increase the utility has sought since 1995.

The Quad-City Times reports that if approved, the rate would go into effect in August. MidAmerican says the increase would cost the average residential customer an additional $2.73 a month in 2013 and continue to rise over the next few years. By 2016, the average residential customer would be paying about $8 more a month than the current rate.

MidAmerican spokeswoman Tina Potthoff says the rate increase request is not related to the utility’s announcement Wednesday of a $1.9 billion wind energy project.

The Audubon Police Department reports three recent arrests. On Saturday (May 11th), 74-year old Bille Jean Rustvold, of Audubon, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Rustvold was transported and held at the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office. On May 5th, police officers in Audubon arrested 20-year old Dalton Levi Jacobsen of Audubon, for Simple Assault. His arrest was the results of an investigation into an incident that occurred on February 18th, 2013. Jacobsen was cited and released on promise to appear.

And, on May 3rd, 20-year old Aaron Michael Tesdal, an escapee from the Ottumwa Correctional Facility, was apprehended by Audubon Police. Tesdal was held at the Audubon County Jail until released to the Oakdale Department of Corrections.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports an incident in the 100 block of E 2nd Street in Villisca on Friday night (5/10) at approximately 9:29pm resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old woman.  Chelsie Lorraine Westerhausen of Villisca was arrested for simple domestic assault and was taken to the Montgomery County Jail.  She was being held on no bond pending an appearance before a magistrate.

The Red Oak Police Department reports an accident occurred in the 900 Block of Broadway in Red Oak Friday (today). A 1995 Chevy 1500 owned by James Leroy Bentson of Red Oak was being operated by 16-year old Mackenzee Leigh Benston of Red Oak was traveling Southbound on Broadway. A 1993 Chevy S10 owned by James Jayson Davis of Essex, was being operated by 33-year old Morgia Jane England of Essex, who was also traveling Southbound on Boundary, following Bentson.

According to the parties involved, Bentson began to slow for traffic either stopping for the light at Broadway and Corning Street or was slowing for traffic turning into Fareway. England said she looked down for a moment and upon looking back up saw that Bentson had slowed or stopped. England attempted to brake but struck Bentson’s vehicle in the rear causing approximately $1,500 damage.  England’s vehicle sustained approximately $2,000 damage.

England was issued a citation for following too closely. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Red Oak Fire and Rescue assisted the Red Oak Police Department at the scene.

A 59-year old southwest Iowa man was sentenced Thursday to spend six-months in prison for possessing child pornography. Following his imprisonment, Danny Joel Hummel, of Essex, must serve ten years of supervised release.  Hummel pled guilty to the charge of possession of child pornography on February 15th, 2013. The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by law enforcement agencies who were advised by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an Essex resident was in possession of child pornography.

Based on the information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, law enforcement located several computers in Hummel’s residence upon which numerous images and videos containing child pornography were found. While on supervised release, Hummel’s activities will be monitored by officers of the United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Cyber Crimes Unit, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.