Local businesses or others interested in contracting or working with the government, from federal to local, and invited to attend a workshop and Q & A session on Government Contracting on Thursday, June 25th, from Noon to 1 PM, at the Cass County Extension Office. The workshop is offered at no cost to anyone pre-registered, and a light lunch will be provided to all attendees.

Topics covered include how to locate governments in your area and become registered with them, how to research and find government bid opportunities, how to respond to a government solicitation and develop a government proposal as well as more information about Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) services available to your business.

The workshop will be led by Andy Alexander, Government Contracting Specialist with Iowa State University CIRAS. Andy has expertise in bid proposal preparation assistance, government contract counseling and post award assistance, and is a Certified Contracting Assistance Specialist (CCAS) and Certified VA CVE Verification Counselor.

More information on the program is available by calling or stopping into the Cass County Extension office, and can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at www.exension.iastate.edu/cass. Registrations are requested by Wednesday, June 24th at noon. To register, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, or e-mail keolson@iastate.edu.

Authorities in Pottawattamie County arrested a motorist early this (Wednesday) morning, following a two-state pursuit that ended south of Council Bluffs. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the chase began about 2:40-a.m. in west Omaha, around 120th Street and West Dodge Road. That’s where an unidentified motorist failed to maintain control of a Dodge Durango SUV in his lane.

The driver failed to pull over after Omaha police attempted to make a traffic stop, Douglas County emergency 911 dispatchers said the motorist led police to the Missouri River on Interstate 80. Once the pursuit crossed into Iowa, authorities here picked up chase in Council Bluffs.

The motorist finally pulled over and was taken into custody at around 3:10-a.m. on southbound Interstate 29 just south of Council Bluffs. No injuries were reported. The chase involved Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police and deputies with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department.

A woman from Carroll County was injured during a collision between her car and a semi, Tuesday afternoon, in central Iowa’s Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 58-year old Patricia Peters, of Carroll, was traveling west on Highway 30 at around 1:50-p.m., when for reasons unknown, her 2008 Chevy Impala crossed the center line and hit the front, driver’s side of an eastbound 2014 Peterbilt semi, driven by 52-year old William Moffett, of Crane, MO. Following the collision, the Impala came to rest on the north shoulder of the road, while the semi stopped in a corn field, north of Highway 30.

A 2001 Chevy Tahoe traveling behind Peters’ car swerved to avoid the collision, entered the north ditch and rolled over. The driver, 27-year old Paul Daggett, of Minburn, was not hurt. Patricia Peters, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by Jefferson Rescue to the Greene County Hospital. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After a six-day break with no new bird flu cases, the Iowa Department of Agriculture says another egg-laying chicken farm has tested positive. A farm in Wright County with 1 million chickens has experienced increased deaths among the flock and a preliminary test indicates the presence of the bird flu virus. Iowa’s last reported case was June 9.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Three relatives charged in a conspiracy to ship weapons from Iowa to Lebanon are pleading not guilty. Ali Herz; his brother, Bassem Herz; and Bassem Herz’s wife, Sarah Zeaiter, entered the pleas Tuesday in federal court in Cedar Rapids. The fourth suspect, Ali Herz’s son, Adam Herz, is expected to follow suit during an arraignment hearing Wednesday. The four were arrested last month after agents intercepted shipping containers headed from Cedar Rapids to Beirut that had many guns and rounds of ammunition hidden inside construction equipment.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — All new homes built in Waterloo must include garages under a plan approved by the City Council. The council voted to change a zoning ordinance and require all new single or two-family homes built after July 1 to have a garage. Habitat for Humanity has built many homes without garages, but officials say the group was consulted and supported the requirement.

GARWIN, Iowa (AP) — An investigation by the state auditor has found more than $500,000 in improper and unsupported spending by the eastern Iowa city of Garwin. Auditor Mary Mosiman says an audit requested by city officials found $562,089 of improper and unsupported spending. That includes 203 payments traced by credit card statements to former City Clerk Anna Lori Leytham. Payments on those credit card accounts date from December 2000 to September 2013.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a regularly scheduled session Wednesday evening, at City Hall. During the meeting, which begins at 5:30-p.m., Mayor Dave Jones is expected to sign a proclamation declaring June 15th-through the 19th as “Ride SWITA Transit Week.” The Southwest Iowa Transit Agency serves as the public transportation system for Atlantic and the surrounding region, operating under the umbrella of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO). SWITA provides rides to school, work, shopping and medical appointments for local citizens.

The Mayor and Council will also recognize former 5th Ward Councilperson Lori Stuart, for her contributions to the community. Stuart resigned last month and her family moved to Cedar Rapids. The Council approved the appointment of Richard “Dick” Casady to fill her seat on June 4th. Casady hold the position until at least the November General Election.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an order for the Mayor to enter into a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners, Inc., for the Service Line Warranty Program. The Council has stipulated the company should use local contractors for any repairs or warrant work, as much as possible. City Administrator John Lund has contacted three other communities in Iowa to get their opinion on the value of the service USP provides. According to his report, no complaints have been received from the citizens of those communities, but two of the three Public Works officials contacted strongly suggested an informational media campaign be conducted to make the public aware of the optional warranty service.

And, the Council will act on passing a Resolution that repeals and replaces a section of the City’s Personnel Policy manual, with regard to longevity pay. The pay scale section of the Personnel Policy, according to Lund, has not been updated since 1997. Salaried employees and Union members will not be affected by the adjustments, which pertain to 11 employees, and would cost to the City just under $3,800.

Finally, Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, will make a proclamation calling for “No Parking on the entire length of 22nd Street and west of the 900 block of Olive Street.”