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Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., May 3rd 2012

News

May 3rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds are OK after their SUV hit a deer on Interstate 35 in central Iowa. Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says Branstad, Reynolds and longtime aide Margaret Hough (huff) were returning to Des Moines from an event in Eldora Wednesday afternoon when the accident happened north of Story City.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislative leaders say an agreement has been reached on education spending and a bill could be ready for debate as early as Monday. Most state lawmakers took the day off Wednesday as conference committees continue to work in closed-door meetings on the major state budget bills. The education bill is one of the largest portions of the state budget, spending more than $850 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Airways flight has safely returned to the Des Moines International Airport after a warning light indicated a wheel problem. Airport officials told The Des Moines Register that Flight 2747 left Des Moines for Phoenix Wednesday afternoon but returned after its nose steering indicator light came on. Airport spokesman Kenneth McCoy says the plane circled the airport for about 30 minutes to burn off some fuel before it was able to land. McCoy says the flight, which had 54 people on board including crew members, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Officials think the problem may have been with the warning system, not the actual landing gear.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has a new chief technology officer, a job created by the Legislature in 2010 to improve the state’s use of technology. Governor Terry Branstad has appointed 55-year-old Robert von Wolffradt, who was most recently the CIO for the state of Wyoming. The position pays $125,000 a year.