w/ Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Almost 100 Iowa school buses have been repeatedly labeled unsafe to transport children in the past five years. The Des Moines Register reports that gaps in the bus inspection system make it possible for busses to return to service without being fixed. Iowa rules don’t require re-inspections of buses that have been deemed unsafe, so it’s up to school districts to make sure repairs are done.

The state inspectors also don’t keep detailed records about what repairs are needed after the inspections of more than 7,500 school vehicles are done. And, there are no penalties for districts with repeat safety problems. Among the 67 districts that had at least one bus cited with the same serious category of mechanical or safety deficiencies in multiple, consecutive inspections during the past five-years, according to a Register review of records, is…Audubon, AHST, Carroll, Corning, Creston, Fremont-Mills, Guthrie Center, Lenox, Lewis Central, Logan-Magnolia, Panorama, West Central Valley, and Woodbine.

Iowa Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City, says the Register’s findings suggest that state bus inspection rules may need to be reviewed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Two Lincoln,NE.,  residents have been arrested on bank robbery allegations.  Lincoln Police Capt. Jason Stille says 51-year-old Cameron Mitchell was picked up Friday after he was spotted at motel on the west side of Lincoln.  Stille says Mitchell is suspected of robbing U.S. Bank and Union Bank branches in Lincoln, as well as other robberies in Omaha and one on Friday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Forty-five-year-old Ruth Cecetka also was arrested Friday. Cecetka is suspected of aiding Mitchell in the robberies.  Both people remain in custody.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton Boards of Education will hold a joint meeting tonight at the High School in Elk Horn. During the 7-p.m. session in the Family and Consumer Science Room, the Board will discuss their goals for 2012-2013, Sports facilities and distribution of games, Activity Account balances and location, and Reorganization.

The reorganization portion of the discussion includes AEA informational meetings, District community meetings, and Whole Grade Sharing versus Reorganization. Along those same lines, the boards of education will discuss the timeline for reorganization, including petitions and voting.

Their next, regular, joint session is slated for 7-p.m. November 27th in Exira.

The Audubon City Council will hold a series of public hearings tonight on resolutions pertaining to the  authorization of a combined $1.9 million loan agreement. The funds will be used for several projects, including pool repairs, the airport runway, water plant and tower repairs, and refunding of the Streetscape project.

The Council will also hear from Lucas Billesbach, a representative with the JEO Consulting group, who will speak with regard to the water tower repair and improvement project. Afterward, the Council will act on authorizing the Mayor to sign an engineering agreement with JEO for the project. They’ll also hold a vote on the second reading of a No Parking ordinance, for a portion of the 700 block of North Division Street in Audubon.

The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Audubon City Hall.

A motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon in western Pottawattamie County resulted in one person being sent to the hospital in critical condition. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the accident happened at around 1-p.m. Sunday, near 205th Street and Hawk Lane, between Council Bluffs and Underwood. The driver of the motorcycle was taken to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Additional information is likely to be provided by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, later this morning.

The Harlan Police Department reports one person was arrested last Monday (August 20th), on drug charges. Officials say 57-year old Bradley Norton, of Harlan, faces two-counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and a single count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges. Norton was taken into custody after officers were called to a disturbance in the 700 block of Broadway Street.

The meeting for the Sunnyside Skate Park in Atlantic that was scheduled for 10:00am Saturday has been rescheduled to Monday, August 27th at 6:00pm at the skate park.  The meeting had to be moved due to the rain on Saturday.  Anyone intending to utilize the skate park facility should plan on attending and parents are encouraged to attend as well.