w/ Ric Hanson

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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.

No injuries were reported following a collision between a car and a pickup Thursday afternoon, in Red Oak. Authorities say the accident involving a 2001 Hyundai Elantra, driven by 16-year old Macy Vaughan Kaiser, and a 2004 Chevy pickup driven by 17-yearold William Russell Stanley, both of Red Oak, happened at the intersection of north 5th Street and east Elm Street, at around 4:35-p.m.

After an investigation, officers determined Stanley was traveling south on 5th Street. As he approached the uncontrolled  intersection, Kaiser, who was traveling west, failed to yield.  She was given a written warning for failure to yield to the vehicle on the right. Damage from the accident amounted to $5,100.

Four accidents were reported by the Harlan Police Department within the past week. On February 22nd, 43-year old Michelle Ritter was arrested after the vehicle she was driving slammed into the Casey’s General Store. Ritter was charged with OWI/2nd offense and Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the building was estimated at $8,000.

That same day, vehicles driven by Jason Taylor of Bellevue, NE and Randy Kool, of Adel, collided as Taylor was taking a wide turn off of Chatburn Avenue, to pull into the Subway parking lot. As he was turning, a vehicle driven by Kool continued traveling  straight in the outer lane and then struck the trailer of Taylor’s vehicle at the halfway point. Both vehicles sustained minor damage that amounted to $5,000.

Two accidents occurred on February 23rd in Harlan. According to Harlan Police, a 2000 Chevrolet being driven by Carole Thraen of Harlan was driving eastbound on Chatburn Avenue on the inside lane when a vehicle driven by Bol Thouc Youl Mok of Denison, driving on the outside lane on Chatburn Avenue, made an improper left turn in front of Thraen’s vehicle. Mok was cited for turning from an improper lane and no insurance.

Another accident that same day, was a result of icy road conditions. Ashton Weyer of Harlan was driving southbound on 18th Street, when her vehicle hit a patch of ice, went out of control and hit a fire hydrant, in at yard of 2007 18th Street.

The Harlan Police Department Thursday, released their arrest report for the past week. Officials say two arrests were reported on February 24th. One of the arrests occurred when Officers were called to the Myrtue Medical Center emergency room for a female who had received injuries during an altercation. The victim, Johana Torres of Harlan was treated for minor injuries and released. Twenty-four year old Theodore Behrens of Harlan was later located, arrested, and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault.

The second arrest that same day, happened following a traffic stop. Twenty-nine year old Sean Gifford of Harlan was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance/Methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver/Marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and prohibited acts penalties. Gifford was also cited for driving under suspension and failure to use a seat belt.

On February 26th, two people were taken into custody after Officers were called to Casey’s General Store for a possible assault. After investigating, 42-year old James Delaney-Stevens of Omaha was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail for allegedly assaulting 23-year old Janice Massey of Brayton. Massey was subsequently arrested for public intoxication, and also transported to the Shelby County Jail.