The Cass County Board of Supervisors will receive the initial bargaining proposal Wednesday, from the Union representing the County’s Secondary Roads Department. After the Public Professional and Maintenance Employees (PPME) Union presents its proposal, the County will offer its initial proposal. No action is expected to be taken at this early stage of negotiations.

In other business, the Board will hear a request from CADCO Executive Director Russell Joyce, with regard to the establishment of Enterprise Zones. That will be followed by action on approval of applications for the establishment of enterprise zones for the Midtown Apartments and Regency Villa. And, approval of two sub-recipient agreements for the federally funded Project Walker Street, upper story apartment rehabilitation, in Woodbine.

The meeting begins at 9-a.m., at the Cass County Courthouse.

Members of the City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission are set to meet this (Tuesday) evening, at City Hall. New business on their agenda includes a review of the Namanny Subdvision preliminary plat. Old business will cover progress on updating the Zoning Ordinance. The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office is tightening up a state law designed to make sure students get the best deals on student loans. The law prevents lenders from giving gifts to colleges and universities in exchange for being added to a list of “preferred” lenders the schools give to students. Bill Brock, with the Attorney General’s consumer protection division, says there used to be problems in Iowa and even worse abuses elsewhere.”We even had situations where lenders might be providing funds to employees in student aid offices so they could attend conferences and that sort of thing,” Brock says. “It’s something that Congress dealt with by banning it.”

Brock says the idea is to make sure students understand they should shop around for their loans and not just rely on that list. Brock says, “And that if a lender is on a preferred lender list, it’s there because of the terms of the loans it offers and not gifts that go to the school.”

The original Iowa law was created a few years ago after allegations surfaced about questionable practices at the Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation. The change is designed to make the law stronger by requiring lenders to report any gifts to colleges and universities, even if the contributions have nothing to do with student loans.

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a one-year old boy from Bellevue, NE, was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan Monday, following an accident near Avoca. Pott. County Sheriff’s Department investigator, Sgt. Dwayne Riche, told KJAN News the accident happened at around 3:45-p.m., just off the Interstate 80 exit to mile marker 40.

Riche says 31-year old Erica Velasquez, of Bellevue, NE, was driving a 2009 Subaru Impreza, while a 2013 Ford Explorer was being driven by William Michaels, of Forest Lake, MN. Both vehicles had exited the interstate and stopped at the intersection, with the intention to turn right onto Highway 59. The Subaru proceeded into the intersection, but due to confusion with oncoming semi traffic, Velasquez could not continue, and had to stop again. At that time, her car was rear-ended by the SUV.

A passenger in the Subaru, 1-year old Xander Velasquez was transported to Myrtue Hospital by Shelby Rescue, to be checked for injuries. Authorities cited Michaels for following too close. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $4,000.