(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has given final approval to a bill that makes changes in Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, raises teacher pay and increases general state education spending. Governor Reynolds says she’ll sign the package into law.

The starting salary for teachers will rise to $50,000 within two years. There are raises for paraeducators along with a 2.5% increase in the state’s per pupil spending for public school students as well as the thousands of private school students who’ll get state-funded Education Savings Accounts this fall.

Republican Senator Lynn Evans, a retired superintendent from Aurelia, added up all
additional spending in the bill. “So when you look at this in its totality: $180 million,” Evans said. “That is a commitment.”

Governor Reynolds proposed an major overhaul of AEAs in January. The legislature’s plan does not go as far as the governor’s, but does shift AEA oversight to the Iowa Department of Education. Schools eventually will have the authority to spend funding for special education, teacher prep and other AEA services outside of the AEA system.

Senator Cherielynn Westrich, a Republican from Ottumwa, said the bill provides needed transparency and accountability for the AEAs. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t stand and say: ‘I did campaign on this subject,’” Westrich said. “…I believe what we’re doing here today is what I had hoped to accomplish and set out to do.”

A dozen Republicans joined Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate to vote against the package because of the AEA changes. Republican
Senator Charlie McClintock of Alburnette said he’d been holding out hope there might be enough votes to block it. “The very idea of dismantling and defunding the Area Education Agencies has upset and offended the people of Iowa to a whole other level,” said McClintoch, who called the bill universally unpopular.

Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, is a special education teacher. “This is worse for our kids, it’s worse for our school districts,” Donahue says, “and it’s really going to hurt a lot of your rural districts.”

Under the bill, 43% of Iowa school districts will get less state support for the next academic year because enrollment is shrinking in those districts.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been called in to investigate after a man was shot to death by a Waterloo police officer.

The D-C-I says officers were called to the Victory Motors car dealership Monday afternoon on the report that 41-year-old John Piazza put a gun to an employee’s face and fired at the property. Employees told police that Piazza, who lived nearby, left and said he was returning with a rifle. Officers arrived at Piazza’s home and say he pointed a rifle out of a window at officers.

One of the officers fired at Piazza and they entered the home and found him dead inside.

Atlantic, IA – The April session of Healthy U will focus on common foot problems and diabetic foot care, presented by Dr. Michael Egertsen. The session will be on Thursday, April 18 at noon in Conference Room 2.

A native of Laurens, Iowa, Dr. Egertsen graduated from the University of Iowa and the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. He completed his residency with the Department of Veterans Affairs — Maryland Health Care System. Before arriving at Cass Health Dr. Egertsen worked for the Washington DC VA Medical Center providing foot and ankle surgery, advanced wound care, limb salvage, sports medicine, and more.

Dr. Egertsen is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, an Associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and board-qualified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Dr. Egertsen

Space is limited! A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Two public hearings will be held Wednesday evening (March 27th), in Atlantic. Both pertain to the Atlantic Community School District. The first takes place at 5:30-p.m. in the Atlantic High School Media Center, and is with regard to the District’s proposed 2024-25 Budget. Notice about the proposed budget was published in the Atlantic News Telegraph on March 16th.

Following that hearing, is a hearing on the proposed 2024-25 ACSD Calendar (as shown in the link below). At either or both hearings, patrons of the Atlantic Community School District, residents or taxpayers, may voice their objections to, or arguments in favor of, the proposed Budget and/or Calendar.

2024-25 School Calendar – Master Final Draft

The two hearings will be followed by a School Board Work Session, which includes discussion with regard to: Summer Projects and Summer Programs, as well as the possible use of purpose of funds such as Management, SAVE, PPEL and Debt Service.

The Work Session will conclude with an exempt (Closed) session for the purpose of a personnel matter (i.e. the professional competency of a person whose hiring, performance or discharge, is being considered, and the person requests a closed session as allowed in the Iowa Code).

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – March 26, 2024 – If you drive on Iowa 39 from Odebolt south to Denison you need to be aware of an upcoming construction project that may impact your trip.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, until late April, weather permitting, the road will be closed as crews work to improve the surface of the road, according to the Iowa DOT District 3 Office. You will be directed to a marked detour route while the roadway is closed.

While the road is closed, you will still be able to get to local homes and businesses.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through 511ia.org.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials in Union County are investigating the attempted theft of two ATM’s from a bank in Creston. According to Creston Police, at around 3:16-a.m. today (Tuesday), an unknown number of individuals attempted to steal two ATM’s from the PCSB Bank in Creston. Entry was gained into one of the machines, with an unknown amount of cash taken. The second machine was recovered nearby, unopened.

PCSB Bank, Creston, IA

Anyone with information regarding the incident, is asked to contact the Creston Police Department, at 641-782-8402.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is sponsoring its first annual “Coolest Thing Made in Iowa” competition. A-B-I spokesperson, Kelsey O’Conner says you don’t have to be a member to nominate a cool thing. “We’re joining about 20 other state associations who have hosted a successful competition like this in their state and it’s really meant to highlight all the cool products that the manufacturing industry in Iowa produces,” O’Conner says. She says it also shows the varied jobs available in the state. O’Conner says agriculture is a major part of the state’s economy, but not the only industry.

“We do tend to go the Ag way when we think of what I will produces, as we should, but we also have lots of cool products that are made that support the ag industry and a lot of other industries worldwide,” she says. You can make a nomination at www.coolestthingIA.com. “And under contest information you’ll find the nominate a product tab and you go there fill out the simple form, it’s not too intimidating. We just ask for a logo and an image of the product and a short description and then you submit the nominations and we will review those here at A-B-I,” she says.

They will take nominations through April 8th and then move through until they have a final four. “And once those top four are announced they’ll go head to head with each other all four of them and in the final round of voting and then we will announce the winner at A-B-Is annual taking care of business conference,” she says. “That conference moves around the state different years. This year we’re going to be in the Quad Cities.”

She says the Coolest Things website can also answer any of your questions about the contest.

(Radio Iowa) – A senate committee will likely vote on the governor’s nominee to lead the Iowa Department of Education tomorrow (Wednesday). McKenzie Snow took over as acting director of the department in late June, but she must win 34 yes votes in the Iowa Senate to be confirmed for the role. Taryn Frideres, the governor’s chief of staff, was the first person to testify in favor of Snow at a subcommittee hearing this (Tuesday) morning. “I am here to say she is eminently qualified for the position,” Frideres said, “and exactly the type of leader the department needs at this time.” Iowa State Board of Education president John Robbins, a retired superintendent, also spoke on Snow’s behalf.

“Director Snow’s experience in state agencies in Virginia and New Hampshire along with her experience at the U.S. Department of Education have positioned her to successfully address the unique challenges of state leadership in Iowa.” Critics say Snow is not qualified for the role and its 200-thouand dollar salary because she has never been a licensed teacher or school administrator — at a time when the department is absorbing other agencies. Jackson Kleinmeyer, a student at Kirkwood Community College, is urging senators to reject Snow’s nomination. “You’re going to put a lot of faith in someone to run our entire education system,” he said, “and never mine this person is not legally qualified to run an elementary school.”

Jessica Roman of North Liberty, a special education consultant with the Grant Wood A-E-A, says Snow’s experience lies in policy writing, in four different jobs over the past seven years. “If you’re having heart surgery, who do you want to consult, the surgeon or the person who wrote the hospital handbook?” Roman asked. Snow delivered an opening statement to start the hearing and answered questions from the three senators on the panel. “I’ve heard, maybe a few times, that I didn’t come up through the ranks of education in Iowa and that’s true. I bring something different,” Snow said. “…I am a leader experienced in managing teams of experts and large scale budgets with a track record of results for students.”

Snow was the deputy director of Virginia’s Department of Education when Governor Reynolds hired her.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, during the public comments portion of their meeting today (Tuesday), heard a plea from Barb Nelson, who lives near Stanton, to put discussion and action on an ordinance pertaining to pipelines, on their agenda for the next meeting.

The request was acknowledged by Board Chair Mike Olson, but no action was taken at this time. The Montgomery County Supervisors received a report on the destruction of noxious weeds and passed a Resolution to that effect. Here’s a portion of the Resolution as read by Supervisor Mark Peterson….

The Supervisors also received a report from Montgomery County Zoning Commissioner/Assistant to Engineer Karen Albert, Barry Byers. He said road crews have been spotting rock, conducting cold patching, building equipment maintenance

And, they discussed at length, increasing the County Veterans Affairs Office hours, effective April 1^st. County V-A Executive Director Curtis White requested the change in hours, due to the number of claims and contacts made, and to take care of the added work load.

A motion to set the White’s hours at 30-hours per week through June 30^th (pro-rated), to include sick time, failed. A second motion for 28-hours from April 1^st until June 1^st, with a review to see how that fits in with the FY 25 Budget, after that time, passed as presented.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place, Monday:

At around 11:52-p.m., 22-year-old Hannah Ruth Eakin, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Her bond was set at $2,000.

At around 9:20-p.m., Monday, Mills County Deputies arrested 24-year-old Brandon Lane Good, of Red Oak, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $5,000.

And, at around 7:20-p.m., Monday, 48-year-old Jason Vaughn Young, of Silver City, was arrested for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.