Officials with the American Red Cross say a Blood Drive will be held March 19th at the Underwood High School Gym, in honor of Alexandra “Alex” Peterson, of Neola. Peterson had recently graduated from the Underwood High School and was looking forward to going away to college, when a multiple-car accident in Council Bluffs on July 23rd, 2012 nearly cut the 18-year-old’s life short.

During the accident, Alex’s car was thrust into oncoming traffic and she was broadsided. Her injuries were numerous and life threatening. She stopped breathing and had no pulse for a short time, at the scene of the accident. Emergency surgeries were performed at Alegent Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. and Alex received at least 14 pints of blood as doctors worked to repair her broken body.

Now, after months of rehabilitation, Alex’s family says she is nearly recovered. Alex started taking classes at Iowa State University in January. Alex’s family credits blood donors for their role in her recovery and now encourages others to give blood. The Peterson family is partnering with Red Cross and Underwood High School to help host blood drive in Alex’s honor. Alex and her family will be in attendance to thank those who give.

The Blood Drive will be held from 8-a.m. until 2-p.m. March 19th, at the Underwood High School Gym, 629 North St. in Underwood. To make an appointment, please contact the Underwood High School office at 712-566-2703. Blood collected at the blood drive in honor of Alex Peterson may be used for trauma victims – due to accidents and burns – heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, premature babies, patients with complications during childbirth, and for patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease.

You can donate blood elsewhere, as well. To find more information, simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.  Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s office are expected to release details this morning about an early morning chase that began in Neola, and ended with two arrests. According to authorities, the chase began at around 2-a.m. and lasted for approximately 15-minutes. Two suspects in the vehicle, which reportedly had plates matching a vehicle stolen out of Nebraska, were taken into custody. Additional details are forthcoming.

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Police in Harlan said Thursday they are investigating two burglaries which occurred on February 25th. Officials say two garages were broken into. A power washer was taken from a garage in the 1600 block of 10th Street, and an air compressor was taken from a garage in the 900 block of Victoria. Both cases remain under investigation.

Police in Red Oak arrested one person on trespassing charges late Thursday night. Officials say 28-year old Tasha Renee Smith, of Red Oak, was being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $300 bond, following her arrest at around 9:20-p.m. for a Trespassing Violation. The incident happened at a residence on West Coolbaugh Street.

No injuries were reported after an SUV and a car collided Thursday evening, in Red Oak. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened when the car, driven by 42-year old James Burton, of Plattsmouth, NE, turned in front of the SUV, driven by 58-year old Rodney McAlpin, of Red Oak. The accident happened at the intersection of Highways 34 and 48, at around 4:45-p.m.  Damage amounted to $4,500. No citations were issued.

Police in Council Bluffs, Wednesday, arrested the fiance’ of a woman who, along with her 19-month old son, was shot last month outside of the apartment complex the couple shared. According to the Omaha World-Herald, 31-year old Nathan Underwood, was taken into custody on warrants for allegedly possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a tax stamp violation and three counts of child endangerment. His arrest came nearly three -weeks after 22-year old Heather Wilson was shot eight times, allegedly by 30-year old Ronald Farr, Jr., of Harlan, who faces three counts of attempted murder. The incident happened during the early morning hours of February 12th, as Wilson was putting her son and his 4-year-old sister in a car.

A bill that would prohibit teenagers from using tanning beds has won initial approval in an Iowa Senate subcommittee. Dr. Leslie Christenson of Ames, a dermatologist, says the ultraviolet rays from tanning beds are “a known carcinogen.” “Right up there with tobacco and asbestos,” Christenson says. “The interesting thing is, however, that the FDA regulates them as a Class 1 Medical Device, which is the same as band-aids and…tongue depressors, so we’re a bit behind in how we regulate these.” Dr. Christenson did research on the issue when she worked at the Mayo Clinic and found cases of melanoma skin cancer among young women had increased 50 percent over the past three decades.

“Tanning beds were introduced in the 1970s. By 1988, only one percent of the population had ever used them,” Christenson says. “2007 — by that time — about 27 percent of the population had used them.” The bill under consideration in the Iowa Senate would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from using a commercial tanning bed. “We know when we’re exposed in our youth, our risks are higher,” Christenson said, “so when we are exposed to these before the age of like, you know, 35 — your risk of melanoma is 75 times that as someone who wasn’t exposed to them before the age of 35.” A variety of organizations representing doctors support the bill. Kate Walton, a lobbyist for the Iowa Medical Society, says a variety of organizations representing doctors support the bill.

“In Iowa, you cannot receive a tatoo if you’re under the age of 18. You can’t have body-piercing without parents permission. We don’t permit people to buy cigarettes under the age of 18, alcohol under the age of 21,” Walton says. “There are examples in the interest of the public health that say that a ban like this is a good idea.” But the move has its critics, like Senator Nancy Boettger, a Republican from Harlan. “If it’s a bad thing, let’s just ban it for everybody, but if not, I think it’s the parent’s responsibility,” Boettger said. “Laying on a tanning bed is not as dangerous as having an abortion and we allow that to happen.” Boettger also warns there’ll be a “revolte from prom-goers” if the bill becomes law.

Matt Eide, a lobbyist for the American Suntanning Association, says the tanning bed industry has its own experts who’d like to speak with lawmakers. “We believe that this type of ban will move teenagers to aggressively suntan outdoors and/or turn to unregulated home tanning units where the dangers and risks are higher than we have now with the regulated industry.” Democratic Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames, the bill’s sponsor, scoffs at that. “Outdoor tanning does occur a few months out of the year here,” Quirmback said, “but I doubt that it’s very likely to happen in February.” Quirmbach and another senator signed off on the bill, making it eligible for committee debate next week.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (AP) — Federal budget reductions set to take effect today could fall like a meat cleaver on the small Iowa town of Columbus Junction, where a Tyson Foods hog processing plant dominates the economy. The White House is warning that 6,300 meat and poultry plants could be forced to temporarily suspend production because the cuts may require U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors to be furloughed for 15 days.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — House Republicans are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would require Iowa voters to show photo identification at polling places. Lawmakers in the state government committee approved the legislation in a 12-8 vote yesterday. The measure is backed by Republican Secretary of State Matt Schultz, who has filed identical bills in the House and Senate.

LETTS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in east Iowa say three people have been killed and one injured in a crash involving an empty school bus. Iowa State Patrol says yesterday morning’s crash happened near Louisa-Muscatine High School in Letts. The deceased were from Burlington and have been identified as 78-year-old Katherine Newton, 75-year-old Barbara Higgs and 50-year-old Mark Kaltefleiter.

RITTER, Iowa (AP) — No injuries have been reported in the derailment of a freight train in northwest Iowa. Sioux City television station KCAU reports that 19 cars left the tracks a little before 6:30 a.m. yesterday near Ritter, about three miles north of Sheldon. The cause of the derailment is being investigation.