DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Dubuque City Council is moving ahead with having staff draft an ordinance that would ban retailers from using plastic shopping bags. The Telegraph Herald reports that council members voted 4-3 in favor of the plan Monday night. Council members Luis Del Toro and David Resnick argued the city would be better served by a less heavy-handed approach and recommended finding ways to encourage retailers and residents to voluntarily lessen plastic bag use.

A memo from Cori Burbach, the city’s sustainable community coordinator, says charging shoppers more in an effort to curb the use of plastic checkout bags would require a substantial amount of work. City Attorney Crenna Brumwell says the city could be exposed to litigation if a fee were implemented improperly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans who hold majorities in the Iowa Legislature are moving quickly on a bill that public employee unions say would gut Iowa’s collective bargaining law.

The 68-page bill was filed Tuesday in the House and Senate. Republican leaders say they intend to approve procedural votes Wednesday and Thursday. Full votes in both chambers could happen next week under that schedule.

The bill would allow employers to fire public workers without proper cause, and it would prohibit unions from bargaining over several issues that are now covered.

Republicans say the bill would create competitive wages for the best workers, an assertion several union leaders say isn’t true. Democrats say they didn’t see the bill before Tuesday.

Dozens of union workers gathered Tuesday at the Capitol to voice opposition to proposed changes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Senate subcommittee has approved a proposed ban on medical research using fetal tissue despite objections it could jeopardize life-saving cures.

The Republican-controlled panel agreed Tuesday that the use or transportation of fetal tissue should be largely prohibited. The legislation is similar to a bill passed in the Iowa House last year that banned the use of aborted fetal tissue for research. That bill failed in a Senate controlled by Democrats, but with Republicans now controlling both chambers, the measure could see greater support.

The Iowa Board of Regents requested an amendment that would allow researchers to use fetal cell lines, permit medical donations and allow pathological study. Legislators didn’t OK the amendment but say they could consider it later.

The bill moves to the Senate Human Resources committee.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Corning man on Tuesday.  At 1:00pm Deputies arrested 28-year-old Christian May of Corning for Indecent Exposure and Harassment. May was taken to the Adams County Jail and booked in.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he stole a skid loader in an effort to free a stolen pickup truck stuck on railroad tracks.
The Sioux City Journal reports that 36-year-old Nicholas Penny entered the pleas Monday to charges of theft, burglary and criminal mischief.

Police say Penny drove the stolen truck over tracks and became stuck Jan. 26. Police say Penny then walked to a nearby Bobcat dealership and stole one of the dealership’s skid loaders. Police say he damaged a fence when he drove the skid loader through it and also damaged the loader’s door.

The Atlantic School Board will meet in a regular session Wednesday in the High School Media Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m. On their agenda is a presentation with regard to the Girls Golf Team, followed by approval of the first reading of Board Policies pertaining to Student Conduct, and, a Negative Balance. The Board is also expected act on approving the purchase of a 2017 Chevy Suburban from Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny, for $31,938, which is reduced $7,600 thanks to proceeds from insurance.

The District’s 2005 Suburban was totaled during an accident in Dubuque on January 10th. The 2005 vehicle will be repurchased by the District for the salvage value of $1,050, and repaired, since Transportation Director Dave Eckles thinks it can be made road worthy again. It would only be used as a staff vehicle, however, and not to transport students.

Among the items up for discussion during Wednesday’s meeting, is an update on the 2017-18 Certified Budget, and Summer 2017 Capital Projects.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest just before 9-a.m. today (Tuesday), of 36-year old Deena Morales, of Corning. Morales was charged with Harassment and brought to the Adams County Jail, where her bond was not set.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge says the second trial of a Sioux City man charged with murder will be held in Council Bluffs. On Friday the judge granted 48-year-old Elias Wanatee’s request for a change of venue, citing pretrial publicity. The judge said Monday the trial will be held in Pottawattamie County District Court, starting Feb. 28.

Wanatee’s first trial ended in a mistrial in December after jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. Wanatee is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 17, 2016, stabbing death of 50-year-old Vernon Mace in Sioux City. There were no eyewitnesses, and police never found the weapon. Defense attorney Jason Dunn has suggested that Wanatee acted in self-defense.