Police in Council Bluffs report a man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning, on Eluding and other charges, following a foot chase that began with a traffic stop for a seat belt violation, at around 8:10-a.m. Officials say a front seat passenger in the vehicle, 25-year old Gary A. Schultz, of Council Bluffs, took off on foot, after it was learned the driver, had a valid No Contact Order against Schultz.

Gary A. Schultz

Schultz ran north through a field and into the Indian Creek ravine. Due to the frigid temperature of the water, Schultz surrendered and was assisted out of the water. He was transported by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, where Schultz was treated for hypothermia.

He was later released from the hospital and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail, where he was charged with Violating a No Contact Order, Eluding and failure to wear a seat belt.

Atlantic Police report seven arrests over the past couple of weeks. Yesterday (Monday), 28-year old Kayla Millam, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). On Sunday, 32-year old Adam Morris, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense.

Last Friday, 29-year old Ryan Juhl, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for two counts of Possession of Drugs with Intent to Deliver, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana w/the intent to deliver, and a Drug Tax stamp violation.

On Dec. 27th, 35-year old Aaron Latus, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. On Dec. 24th, 23-year old Austin Alff, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. And on Dec. 23rd, 18-year old Skyler Peters, of Atlantic, was arrested after he turned himself-in on charge of OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance. That same day, 26-year old Devin Register, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation.

All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says it “makes sense” for Iowa to consider legislation that would require voters to show identification when casting an election ballot. The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday that such a requirement would ensure voters are valid and aren’t voting in more than one state. State officials do not track voter fraud statewide, but cases of fraudulent voting are exceedingly rare in Iowa.

Branstad says the state Secretary of State’s Office is working with members of the Iowa Legislature to introduce legislation that could make changes to Iowa’s voting system, though details are still being sorted out. Branstad says the goal is voter integrity, though it’s still unclear if voter identification will be included in any proposed legislation.

The new GOP-majority Legislature convenes Monday.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests over the holiday weekend. Officials say 23-year old Brandon Bradley Pospisal, of Avoca, was arrested Friday night following an investigation into a reported disturbance at a residence in the 200 block of N. Maple Street, in Avoca. The caller advised the man was threatening them with a kitchen knife and acted like he was going to harm himself. Pospisal placed under arrest without incident at around 11-p.m. for Domestic Assault with Intent or weapon.

Saturday afternoon, 40-year old Daniel Patrick Campbell, of Walnut, was arrested in Walnut for OWI/1st offense, Eluding and Driving While Revoked, after a deputy saw Campbell driving a moped without registration or a required flag. When he attempted to stop the moped, Campbell refused to stop, and eventually dumped the machine in the yard of a residence in the 700 block of Pacific Street. He then fled on foot into his home, where he was apprehended. In addition to the arrest charges, Campbell was cited for no registration, failure to provide proof of insurance, and failure to maintain control.

Just before 2-a.m. Sunday, a Deputy in Pottawattamie County arrested 21-year old Drew Michael Mohr, of Oakland, for OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, following a traffic stop south of Oakland, near the intersection of Highways 59 and 6. Authorities say Mohr was in possession of 2.8-grams of marijuana at the time of his arrest.

A man who had residences listed as being in Omaha and Harlan was arrested Sunday night for OWI/2nd offense and Harassment in the 2nd Degree, after a 2000 Pontiac he was driving allegedly tried to run a man over in the 100 block of N. Chestnut Street, in Avoca, and that the occupants of the vehicle was threatening or harassing the resident. The vehicle was located after it broke down on the road. As the driver, 38-year old Joseph Duane Cue, was being questioned, the deputy noticed the man had an odor of alcohol, bloodshot and watery eyes. He acknowledged his license had been suspended. In addition to the charges, Cue was cited for careless driving, operating a vehicle without registration, and driving while suspended.

And, a Council Bluffs man was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. today (Tuesday), for Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to deliver, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 29-year old Joshua M. Brizendine was pulled over for failure to have a functioning license plate light. Brizendine was arrested after he was found to be in possession of 15 grams of methamphetamine and a meth pipe.

Atlantic, IA – The Cass County Memorial Hospital Obstetrics (OB) Department will be hosting the first “Love Steps Up” Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group on Thursday, January 5^th at 7 pm. Kate Nachtman, RN, says “As OB nurses, we work directly with patients who suffer miscarriages and still births. But we’re also moms who have experienced losses, too, and we know how critical it is to feel supported and loved when you are grieving the loss of a baby.”

The support group will meet every other month. Nachtman said “We hope that parents will come and make connections to other parents and resources.”  The group will meet in Conference Room 7. Attendees are asked to use Parking Lot C and come in through the Emergency Department Entrance. All parents and those affected by a loss are welcome to attend.

There is no fee required, and registration is not necessary. Questions can be directed to the CCMH OB Department at 712-250-8862.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports two arrests took place over the holiday weekend. At around 11-p.m. Monday, 50-year old Timothy Nathan Turner, of Kimballton, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd offense, following an investigation into an incident that allegedly took place at his residence. Turner was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released, after appearing before the Magistrate.

And, Saturday night, 23-year old Jarrett Douglas Christensen, of Exira, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense and Possession of Marijuana. His arrest was the result of a traffic stop at around 8-p.m. on Littlefield Drive. Christensen was also later released from custody, after appearing before a Magistrate.

Popular new transportation services like Uber face new state regulations, which backers say will help protect drivers and passengers alike. Under a law that took effect January 1st, the companies will have new requirements for insurance, background checks, and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use. Acting Iowa D-O-T director Mark Lowe says Uber and the other companies will no longer have to negotiate standards with every city or town that signs up for the service.

Lowe says, “The specific thing that this legislation did was that it made those regulations apply statewide and it really eliminated the city’s right under their home rule authority to independently regulate transportation network companies.”

The new transportation option uses a smart phone app to connect riders to a taxi-like service. Under the new law, cities can still regulate taxis but they can’t require tougher standards for drivers than the new Uber standards. Lowe says the new law spells out insurance requirements which up until now have been unclear.

“If I get in this car, I may not be covered if the car has an accident or if that car hits another motorist,” Lowe says, “or even to the protection of the driver themselves who might be unaware that although they had insurance, it wasn’t going to be available to protect them.”

The law mandates certain equipment on each vehicle and background checks for drivers, and bans discrimination against riders. Under the bill, Uber and the other companies will face the same standards in every Iowa community that adopts the service, instead of negotiating separate rules in every town.

(Radio Iowa w/thanks to Joyce Russell at Iowa Public Radio)