OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Federal money will be used to help Omaha’s bike share program double its number of stations in 2016. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a $900,000 federal grant administered through the Nebraska Department of Roads will help Heartland B-Cycle expand from 31 stations with 150 bikes to nearly 70 stations across the city.

Ben Turner, B-cycle’s coordinator, says the expansion will give Omaha much more connectivity.
Stations are currently scattered in downtown, midtown and north downtown, as well as Aksarben Village. Those interested in using the bike sharing program must buy a daily, monthly or annual pass. They can check out a bike from any station, ride it and return it to any station in Omaha or Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A man from Pottawattamie County was arrested late Saturday morning in Montgomery County, following a traffic stop. Sheriff’s officials say 41-year old Chad Randall McAlpin, of Underwood, was stopped at around 11:35-a.m. and subsequently charged with Driving While Barred, with 19 withdrawals in effect. McAlpin was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond. In addition, he had a one-day jail sentence to serve on a previous violation of No Contact protective order.

LE GRAND, Iowa (AP) — Law enforcement officials say they found nine rifles and shotguns in a storage unit rented by a man accused of threatening reporters. The Des Moines Register reports that officials found the guns, as well as ammunition and drug paraphernalia, Thursday night in storage units rented by 27-year-old Chad Bryant, of Le Grand.

News crew members of Des Moines television station KCCI called police Thursday, saying Bryant poured water over a cameraman’s head and brandished what looked like a rifle outside of a Le Grand home.

Reporters were at the home following Bryant’s arrest Wednesday on a false imprisonment charge and various other crimes in connection with a claim that a 16-year-old boy was being held against his will at the residence.

Police are still searching for Bryant.

Several hundreds of  riders on horseback from across the state are saddling up for the journey to Camp Sunnyside near Ankeny this Easter weekend. For 47 years, the riders have traveled to the Easter Seals facility, bringing with them money from dances, toll roads and other fundraising activities. Tim Allen of Whittemore is the president-elect of the Pony Express Riders of Iowa.

“We start in different towns and we all end up at the John Deere plant in Ankeny,” Allen says. “We relay it, mile for mile, on horseback along the side of the road with pilot cars and escorts.” More than 280-thousand dollars was raised last year by the Pony Express Riders to help with the camp that has been in operation for 80 years. After the ride to the camp, Allen says there’s a celebratory dance.

“It’s just a big thank you to all of the volunteers,” he says, “because everything that the Pony Express Riders do, everybody that’s part of that is a volunteer. There’s no kickback. Their time, their fuel, everything is volunteered.” Allen expects between 200 to 300 people will be riding their horses as part of the event this weekend. The ride has been held every year since 1968. Allen has some advice for motorists this holiday weekend.

“If you see a horse out on the highway, respect it,” Allen says. “There are going to be a lot of horses throughout the whole state. They’re going to try to be as safe as they can be but they’ll also appreciate it” if motorists use extra caution. Learn more at: www.ponyexpressridersofiowa.org.

(Radio Iowa)