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Iowa anti-bullying hotline under consideration

News

April 20th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state hotline to combat bullying is under consideration for Iowa. The idea follows the weekend suicide of a 14-year-old northwest Iowa boy who was bullied after he acknowledged to others that he was gay. At least two lawmakers are checking into whether a hotline can be set up before the legislative session ends. Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, says she’s been thinking about “how isolating it is for kids who are bullied and are scared.”  Mascher and Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, are checking costs and looking into whether an anti-bullying component could be added to the Iowa Suicide & Crisis Hotlines.