The Harlan Police Department reports one arrest, and several citations were issued.  On May 16th, 31-year old Linda Frances-Anna Hemminger, of Harlan, was cited driving under suspension, operating a vehicle without registration, and failure to prove security against liability. The citations were issued following a traffic stop at 6th and Baldwin, in Harlan.

On May 12th, 21-year old Cassie Kaylynn Swensen, of Harlan, was arrested on several outstanding Shelby County warrants. On May 22nd, 56-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Harlan, was cited for driving while suspended, failure to prove security against liability, and failure to use child restraints. She was issued the citations following a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Chatburn Avenue.

And, on May 22nd, 48-year old Michael Allen Schuemann, of Harlan, was cited for Driving Under Suspension, following a traffic stop at 12th and Chatburn. Harlan Police said also, no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident May 16th on Exchange Street. Adam Nelson, of Irwin, was traveling southbound when he took the second corner too sharply. His 2012 Timpte trailer struck a utility pole on the west side of the road.

Red Oak Police today (Wednesday), arrested a man with two valid protective orders against him, following an incident involving a female. Officers were called to a location on E. Valley Street at around 11:30-a.m., for a report of a man and woman verbally fighting. Upon arrival, officers say 58-year old Thomas Oscar Anderson, of Red Oak, and the woman protected by the order, in the garage area. Anderson was arrested for Violating a No Contact Order, and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

The Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season and it will definitely feel like summer across Iowa. Temperatures will climb well into the 80s today and tomorrow (Thursday) and National Weather Service Meteorologist Roger Vachalek says it’ll turn even hotter for the weekend. “Into the weekend, we may actually see some spots topping the 90-degree mark Saturday, Sunday, and possibly even into Monday,” Vachalek said. This will be the first prolonged heat episode of the season so Vachalek suggests those planning outdoor events should stay hydrated, take breaks, and apply sunscreen.

“Of course, the first event of the year is maybe a little more traumatic for people because they’re not used to it,” Vachalek said. In addition to the warm and humid conditions, there are some storm chances – particularly during the late afternoon and evening hours Thursday and Friday. “Given the fact that we’re now getting into some hotter weather and also more humidity, there’s a little better chance of seeing some brief heavy downpours and also maybe some hail with those storms,” Vachalek said.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of State has been running a political action committee that’s supporting his campaign despite a law that appears to ban the practice. Jim Mowrer has continued to serve as treasurer of The Majority Rules, which he created after the 2016 presidential election to seek the abolishment of the electoral college. The PAC has donated to and endorsed Mowrer’s campaign. It’s also made payments for consulting services to a company Mowrer manages.

Iowa law states that candidates for state office cannot “establish, direct, or maintain a political committee.” The Republican Party of Iowa filed a complaint Tuesday alleging that Mowrer is breaking the law, seeking an investigation and “all appropriate sanctions and penalties” for any violations found. A lawyer for Mowrer’s campaign says he doesn’t believe the state law applies because The Majority Rules is a federal PAC.

A motorcyclist who authorities say was going too fast for conditions, lost control of his machine and suffered undisclosed injuries when he was ejected. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was notified at around 8-a.m. Monday about the crash on M Avenue, near 220th Street, or about a mile southeast of Yorktown. Authorities say 25-year old Daniel Nathan August, of Clarinda, was southbound on M Avenue and attempting to navigate a curve in the road to the left (east), when he braked and skidded on the damp/wet pavement. The motorcycle slid on its side, ejecting August,  who was not wearing a helmet.

He was transported to Clarinda Regional Health Center by Clarinda Ambulance. Damage to the motorcycle is estimated at $ 5,000. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Clarinda Fire Department and the Clarinda Ambulance service. No citations were issued.

A traffic stop early this (Wednesday) morning in Walnut resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a deputy stopped a 2011 Chevy Malibu at around 12:07-a.m., in the area of Antique City Drive and Park Streets, in Walnut. The vehicle was pulled over for having a broken tail lamp. The driver, 47-year old Christopher James Binns, of Walnut, displayed numerous clues of impairment and was placed under arrest for OWI 2nd offense.

A traffic stop at around 2:25-a.m., Wednesday, resulted in a passenger in the vehicle being arrested on a warrant. Sheriff’s officials say the traffic stop on a 2001 Buick LeSabre was made at 185th and Honeysuckle. The vehicle was stopped for the driver showing a status of not valid. The driver was identified as Kevin O’Connor and the passenger as 41-year old Tracey McDougal, of Crescent. A records check showed McDougal was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Probation Violation. She was taken into custody without incident, but once at the Pott. County Jail, was found to be in possession of marijuana. McDougal was subsequently charged with Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says it was an “appropriate decision” for Iowa Republicans to accept a $522,000 donation from a disgraced former lawmaker. Reynolds told reporters Wednesday she was “fine” with the Republican Party of Iowa accepting a March 26 contribution from former Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix. The Shell Rock Republican resigned two weeks earlier after video surfaced showing him kissing a Statehouse lobbyist who wasn’t his wife.

A GOP party spokesman on Tuesday defended the donation, saying it will help elect Republicans this fall. Dix faced criticism last year after the state paid a $1.75 million settlement to a former Senate Republican staffer who says she was fired after reporting workplace harassment. Dix claimed the firing was performance related.

Democrats say Republicans should use Dix’s money to reimburse Iowa’s general fund.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Corrections Department says an inmate struck a guard at the state’s medical classification center in Coralville. The department says the assault occurred around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, when the inmate didn’t follow the guard’s instructions. The two clashed and fell to the floor, where the inmate punched the guard several time atop the head. The department says other staffers and another inmate came to the guard’s aid.

The guard was examined at a local hospital and found to have suffered no significant injuries. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education met earlier this week. Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau told KJAN News the Board approved 2018-19 salaries for classified staff. The staff are receiving a .32-cent raise, or about a 3.2-percent increase. The CAM School Board also approved salaries for Teacher Leadership positions and issued contracts to Keslie Kralik and Haley Wollum for those positions. They are Master Teachers/Instructional Coaches.

And, they approve the 2018-19 school calendar, which has minor changes from the current school year. Berlau said school begins Aug. 23^rd, and is based on hours. The Board elected to move the Spring Parent-Teacher conferences to February.

The conferences this year were held in March. And, the Board approved a Sharing Agreement with Atlantic for a Business Manager. Two weeks ago, the Atlantic School District Board approved the agreement, which calls for 70-percent of Sarah Sheeder’s time to be spent in Atlantic and 30-percent in the CAM District. CAM will provide 30% of the cost associated with the shared position. And, since the business manager position is one that fits under the Operational Sharing legislation, each district will receive additional revenue.

Sixty-two communities across Iowa are now qualified for the federal government’s new Opportunity Zones program. The initiative is meant to spark development in certain low-income neighborhoods by deferring taxes for investors. Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, says the effort has great potential. “I think this could really, again, implemented correctly, could really propel forth some pretty transformational projects,” Durham says.

Among the cities qualified for the Opportunity Zones program, is: Atlantic, Council Bluffs, Creston, Denison, Griswold, Harlan, Shenandoah and Winterset.

The state has seen good outcomes from other tax credit investment deals, according to Durham, but she says a lot depends on how the federal government structures the effort. Under the program, people can defer taxes on certain capital gains if they invest in the opportunity zones, selected tracts that have higher poverty levels or lower family incomes. Alan Kemp, with the Iowa League of Cities, says this kind of targeted investment in disadvantaged neighborhoods is novel. “And I think that’s the real benefit of it,” Kemp says. “I think cities can see benefit that they could see investment for new businesses or existing businesses that they might not otherwise be able to take advantage of.”

Kemp says the success of the new federal program relies on how it’s implemented. The U.S. Treasury Department is still developing rules for investors and local agencies.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)