Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans hoping that March would usher in warmer spring-like weather following what has been a brutal winter will no doubt be disappointed today. Parts of the state were expected to get about half-a-foot of snow this weekend, along with bitter cold temperatures below zero Sunday.
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Winnebago County voters will decide the fate of a $5.25 million bond proposal that would fund a proposed 20,000-square-foot jail and law enforcement office center. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that voters go to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to approve the bond. The center would be built in Forest City and would house a 22-bed jail and offices for the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department.
BELMOND, Iowa (AP) — The police chief in the northern Iowa town of Belmond has announced his plans to retire this month. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Chief Frank Beminio will retire at the end of March. Mayor Al Mattison said he hopes to appoint someone from within the police department as the new chief soon.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Minors who head into tanning salons to bronze their skin could no longer use the facilities under a plan being considered by Iowa lawmakers. A bill would order tanning salons to ban anyone under age 18 from using commercial tanning devices and would require salons to post and hand out written warnings to customers. Democratic Senator Herman Quirmbach, who sponsored the bill, says reducing the risk of skin cancer in any way is crucial.But pro-tanning groups worry that the benefits associated with indoor tanning, such as vitamin D development, are being ignored.