(Radio Iowa) The State Board of Education gave preliminary approval today (Thursday) to a change in state rules that would require seatbelts to be installed in all new school buses. Department of Education transportation director, Max Christensen, told the board the National Transportation Safety Board recommended last may that lap-shoulder belts should be required.

“Currently school districts are allowed to order buses with lap-shoulderbelts if they so desire — but it’s not a current requirement here in Iowa. There are eight states in all new school buses,” Christensen says. He says they have a group that reviews proposed changes, and they unanimously voted in favor of requiring the belts. Some schools are already requesting them when they get new buses.

“We do have I believe 16 districts in the state that are ordering all of their new buses with lap-shoulderbelts. And in conversations with them, they are very, very pleased with those lap-shoulderbelts,” Christensen says. Christensen says those districts have found a side benefit to the lap belts along with the safe travel.

“For one thing, it reduces the student discipline problem on schools buses by about 80 percent,” according to Christensen. “So that alone is certainly worth looking at.” Information presented to the board shows the lap-shoulder belts cost around 123 dollars each, and that would add about 84-hundred dollars to the cost of an average new school bus.

Christensen says that breaks down to about four-and-a-half cents a day for each student on a bus. There has long been a debate about adding the lap-shoulder belts to school buses — with the thinking that it made it more difficult to get kids out of the bus in an emergency. Christensen says the thought process has changed.

)”If you look at especially school buses that maybe roll over — probably you’ve all seen the videos on tv that shows the kids inside the school bus — it’s like clothes inside a dryer, around and around they go. Consequently they are going to be injured,” Christensen says. “The current thinking is that it is better to have kids in seatbelts that aren’t injured trying to get them out — than it is to have kids who are injured and trying to get them out.”

Christensen says another factor is kids now have grown up with seatbelts and are very familiar with their use and how to get out of them. The Board of Education voted to move ahead with the change and there will now be a public hearing on the proposal June 25th at 10:00 a-m at the board office in Des Moines. You can also send the board written comments and those and the comments at the hearing will be considered when the board takes final vote on the issue.

A man from Newton, Kansas ignored a Road Closed barricade sign Wednesday evening in Mills County, and ended up with his vehicle in the water. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 35-year old Samitrio Sanchez was westbound on Jesup Avenue from the City of Pacific Junction, when he drove a 2004 Hyundai around the barricade at around 5:15-p.m..

Officials say there were corn stalks washed onto the roadway, and water surrounding the road. Sanchez continued driving west on Jesup Avenue until he drove into a washout just before the bridge. His vehicle came to rest nose first in the water.

The man refused medical treatment and was issued a citation for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

Two people from Shenandoah were arrested on drug charges, Monday evening. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday (today), that 26-year old Shelby Lynn Ross and 37-year old Dustin Eugen Kalkas were taken into custody at around 7:25-p.m. following a traffic stop on Highway 275. Both face charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Ross was additionally charged with two counts Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Providing False ID information. She was also wanted on a warrant out of Fremont County for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $5,000. Kalkas was charged with Speeding and Failure to provide proof of insurance. His bond was set at $1,300.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 31-year old Nashae Amberly Nothwehr, of Clarinda, was arrested today (Thursday) for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000. 37-year old Sherice Nicole Dismang, of Omaha, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $10,000.

On Tuesday, 18-year old Dalton Alexander Bedsole, of Emerson, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree, and trespassing. (Bond $3,000). 30-year old Joshua Jon Lebuagh, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. (Bond $300).

And on Monday, 54-year old Jeffrey Allen Fink, of Silver City, was arrested for Driving While Denied or revoked. (Bond $1,000)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — State detectives are investigating a shooting that involved Iowa City officers. The Iowa Criminal Investigation Division says in a news release that officers were sent a little before 2:30 a.m. Thursday to check a business burglar alarm. The news release says two officers opened fire after they arrived there and wounded at least one person, who was taken to a hospital.

The release says no officer was injured. Police have not named those involved or said why the officers used their guns.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on May 4th, of 18-year old Isabelle Narron, of Glenwood. The woman was arrested on a Pottawattamie county warrant for possession of a controlled Substance, with her cash or surety bond set at $1,000. Narron was released to Pottawattamie county, and was being held in the Pott. County Jail.

On Wednesday (May 8th), 40-year old Jacquelyn Pratt, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Pratt was later released on $300 bond. And, 35-year old Rodney Schoening, of Glenwood, was arrested by Glenwood Police for OWI/2nd offense, and Public Intoxication/3rd offense. His cash/surety bond was set at $4,000.

Officials with the Iowa DNR have confirmed a mountain lion has been observed in Des Moines. Video from the area of 31st and I-235 was examined to confirm the presence of the animal. Des Moines Police, the Animal Rescue League, the Iowa DNR, and the Blank Park Zoo are working together to safely resolve the situation. According to the Iowa DNR, mountain lion attacks on people are extremely rare. DMPD is urging residents, particularly those with small children and pets, in the area to exercise caution.

If you do encounter a mountain lion, here are some tips to keep you safe:

Des Moines – The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently announced that 18 Iowa communities have received low-interest water quality loans totaling more than $23.1 million through the State Revolving Fund (SRF). State Revolving Fund Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses. The City of Lewis will use it’s SRF of $120,000 for water planning and design.

Creston City Administrator Mike Taylor says “The City of Creston will use our $3.2 million State Revolving Fund Loan for sewer treatment improvements.” And, the City of Fontanelle will use its $267,500 SRF loan for sewer planning and design.

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities a total of more than $3.3 billion in Construction Loans and more than $240 million through Planning & Design Loans since the program’s inception. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides annual capitalization grants to states. Leveraged bonds and loan repayments expand the reach of the federal investment. More than $3 in assistance has been leveraged for Iowa water quality projects for every $1 of federal funds.

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County report that at around 10:20-p.m., dispatch advised of a check welfare and assist Council Bluffs Police in locating 19-year old Alex Robert Hopkins,​ who was making threats of self harm to his parents and girlfriend. ​Hopkins was located near a residence outside of Underwood. ​Hopkins was allegedly under the influence of marijuana at the time of contact and didn’t appear to need medical treatment for making threats of self harm. ​Hopkins had an active warrant for his arrest for probation violation and was taken into custody and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

A man from Omaha, wanted on Pott. County warrants was transported Wednesday from Douglas County, NE. Corrections to Pott. County. 35-year old Kevin Richard Bequette was wanted for two counts of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations/dangerous weapon, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, Interference with official acts/display of weapon, Theft in the 1st degree, and for driving while license suspended or revoked. His bond was set at $25,000. Three other prisoners at the Douglas County jail were transported to the Pott. Jail, Wednesday:

• 30-year old Brent Lee William Foote, of Council Bluffs, was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 31-year old Delshonte Lavaille Barber, of Omaha, was wanted for felony Escape from Custody. Bond was set at $5,000.
• 39-year old Edgar Gerardo Badillo was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation.

24-year old Joseph William Michael Haugton, of Hamburg, was transported from the Fremont County Jail, Wednesday, to the Pottawattamie County Jail, on warrants for Violation of Probation and Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order-Contempt of Court. His bond was set at $300. 18-year old Isabelle Chen Narron, of Glenwood, was transported from the Mills County Jail to Council Bluffs, where she was wanted for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine-1st offense, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A downtown business group says the economic toll from Mississippi River flooding could run as high as $2.5 million a month. The Quad-City Times reports that the economic impact statement from the Downtown Davenport Partnership doesn’t include property damage. The statement is part of an application sent to state and federal officials for assistance. Factors include sales statistics, lost wages and business activity because of inaccessibility.

A temporary flood barrier failed April 30, allow floodwaters to cover several downtown blocks. The organization’s director, Kyle Carter, says federal emergency officials asked the group to “look at the bigger picture, because there’s just no way to know instantaneously what that impact is.” Scott County officials are still waiting for federal officials to declare the area a disaster zone.

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

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