The Iowa Department of Transportation is updating its rules for young drivers to reflect changes in law approved by the Iowa Legislature.  Sara Siedsma with the motor vehicle division says one update involves the restriction on passengers. She says a person under 18 with an intermediate license is restricted to driving with one unrelated minor passenger when driving without supervision unless the parent waives the restriction at the time the license is issued.

Drivers must have an instruction permit for one year without an accident or conviction for traffic offense before getting an intermediate license. Siedsma says drivers have to wait six months after a conviction before the clock can start again, but the year period does not have to be 12 consecutive months. “They would be able to count valid periods of hold that instruction permit prior to a conviction and then after a conviction,” she explains.

They’ve also updated the process for parents seeking a waiver of driver’s education. “Currently that must be submitted on a department form. This change would allow a parent or guardian to sign a written statement at the school rather than having to do the form,” Siedsma says. There’s also a change designed to give more flexibility for school permits.

“For minor children who have divorced or separated parents, they would be able to drive from the school and either parents’ residence —   as long as the parent resides in the district of enrollment, or a contiguous district,” Siedsma says. She says the students often alternate staying with each parent and this allows them to still drive using their school permit as long as they meet the requirements.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities are expected to resume their search of the Missouri River today (Friday), for a teenager who went under while swimming on the north end of Omaha. Rescuers were called to the scene north of Omaha’s N.P. Dodge Park around 7 p.m. Thursday. A helicopter, boats and a dive team were deployed without success before darkness.

Family members say the 17-year-old was on a sandbar before going into the river. They say he went under the water and didn’t resurface.

Police in Red Oak responding to reported domestic disturbance Thursday evening, arrested a man for aggravated assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and child endangerment charges. Authorities say 39-year old Michael Lee Butcher, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 7:15-p.m. in the 600 block of E. Hammond Street, after officers investigated a call about a domestic disturbance involving a man threatening people with a machete’. Butcher was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

In an update to our story Thursday morning about two Creston men arrested Wednesday evening on drug charges, authorities said later, that 39-year old Steven Knowles and 18-year old Kane Allen Michael Farlow were taken into custody following a pursuit. Creston Police say Farlow was driving a 2004 Nissan Ultima that was being pursued by law enforcement.

The car was traveling about 60-to 70-miles per hour in a 45-mph zone, when it went out of control at around 6:10-p.m., Wednesday. The vehicle hit a curb and concrete sewer before coming to rest in a field near the intersection of Highway 34 and Industrial Parkway. Farlow was transported by law enforcement to the Greater Regional Medical Center in  Creston, to be treated for a wrist injury. His passenger, Steven Knowles, had minor injuries that did not require a trip to the hospital.

Both men were arrested for Possession of Marijuana, Meth and Drug Paraphernalia. Farlow was served a warrant while being detained at the Union County Jail, for violation of Pretrial release on an original charge of Felony Eluding. He was also charged with Eluding causing bodily injury and Reckless Driving. Farlow may face an OWI charge as well, pending the result of lab tests.