OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – It looks like Nebraska and Iowa are in for some stormy weather this weekend. The National Weather Service says some Saturday afternoon thunderstorms could be seen in western and central Nebraska, with a chance of severe thunderstorms developing late Saturday night in eastern Nebraska.

On Sunday, there is high chance for thunderstorms statewide, with high winds in parts of eastern Nebraska.  In Iowa, sunny skies will turn cloudy by Saturday night, with thunderstorms expected to move into western Iowa by around 9 p.m. Storms will move across the state overnight into Sunday, and could bring heavy rain, hail and high winds. The Des Moines area could see about 2 inches of rain, while parts farther east could up to 2 1/2 inches of rainfall.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Shenandoah teen was arrested on drug charges Friday night. According to Red Oak Police, 18-year-old Travis Cole Sunderman was taken into custody at around 11-p.m. on Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges.

Sunderman was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With Iowa lawmakers expecting to adjourn within days, some are already looking forward to next year and the chance to renew efforts to pass legislation that failed this session. That includes several high profile bills, including proposals to toughen penalties for offenders in kidnapping cases involving minors and prohibit the use of webcams or teleconferencing as a means of dispensing abortion-inducing drugs to patients in remote locations.

Sheriff’s officials in  Adams County say a 6-year old boy has died from injuries suffered during an ATV accident. Hazer Michael Stanley, of Lenox, was found unresponsive following the accident near his home at 3179 Adams-Taylor Street at around 2:19-p.m., Friday. Life Flight was called and life saving measures were taken, but Hazer’s injuries were too severe and he died at the scene.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City will soon start hiring employees. Officials say they will hire more than 500 people for a variety of positions at the casino and hotel. The casino’s website has a careers section that allows visitors to submit an application. A career center in Sioux City will open Monday and offer a computer terminal.

The estimated $120 million project is scheduled to open this summer. The construction schedule was briefly in jeopardy after the developers’ casino license was challenged in court by the owners of the nearby Argosy riverboat casino.

The riverboat casino has been ordered by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to close this summer, but owners say they plan to fight to stay open.

The last two southwest Iowa Counties with bans in-place for open burning have been rescinded. The State Fire Marshal’s Office Friday, announced bans which had been in-place since March 19th for Mills and Page Counties were removed today (Friday, April 25th).

And, while there are currently no counties in Iowa under a Burn Ban, area fire officials are asking residents to be very careful when making the decision to conduct controlled burns. Area grass lands and fields are still very dry. Low humidity and forecast strong winds this weekend can cause a controlled burn to quickly become uncontrolled. Care should also be used when using fire pits and grills.

Rain in the forecast for later in the weekend should help to minimize the threat of any explosive fire danger.

The planned burn-down of a vacant elementary school in Exira this weekend has been postponed due to forecast windy and dry conditions. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes said Friday that Sunday’s event will take place on May 4th, instead.

The former Exira Elementary building has sat empty for three years. The building was to have been set on fire and burned to the ground, instead of using a demolition team. The burn also will allow Exira firefighters an excellent training opportunity. The decision is expected to save the district 50-to 60-thousand dollars.

The May 4th controlled burn will cost about $7,000, plus a fee to an agency that will oversee the operation. Multiple fire departments and emergency personnel will be on hand for the event.

Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation report two arrests have been made in what is now being ruled a homicide that took place in Taylor County.The Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny has determined 56-year old Steven C. Malson, of Bedford, died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Cindy Malson

Zach Malson

Taken into custody Thursday night in connection with his death, was Malson’s wife, 47 year-old Cindy L. Malson and the couples’ son, 24 year-old Zachary Malson. Both were charged with 1st Degree Murder and were being held in the Taylor County Jail awaiting their initial appearances.

Steven Malson’s body was found at a residence in Bedford, on April 23rd.

A U-S District Court Judge in Council Bluffs has sentenced a Mills County woman to prison for her role in methamphetamine distribution in southwest Iowa. 38-year old Heather Jean Reekers, of Glenwood, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert Pratt to 60 months in prison, and five years of supervised release, following the period of imprisonment, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

On January 3rd, 2014, Reekers pled guilty to the charge, which resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration into the distribution of methamphetamine from the Southwestern United States into Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa. Reekers’ co-defendant, Jose Raul Guevara, was sentenced previously by Senior Judge Robert Pratt to ten years in prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood, Iowa, Police Department, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 49-year old Franklin D. Schmidt, of Atlantic, was sentenced today (Friday) to 10-years in prison on a drug conviction. Schmidt was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert Pratt for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Pratt also ordered Schmidt to serve five years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment.

On April 26th, 2013, Schmidt obtained methamphetamine from his South Omaha source and was stopped by law enforcement before he could distribute it in and around Cass County, Iowa. The investigation revealed that Schmidt was also responsible for distribution of marijuana along with methamphetamine.

On December 5th, 2013, Schmidt pled guilty to the charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which resulted from an investigation by law enforcement into the transportation and distribution of methamphetamine from South Omaha, Nebraska to Cass County, Iowa.

The investigation was conducted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlantic, Iowa, Police Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.