Officials with the Atlantic High School have announced the District is excited to be joining more than 100 schools, in implementing the nationally recognized AOPA STEM (Aviation Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) program in the 2019-2020 school year. Approximately 20 students will be participating in the curriculum which will be taught by Mrs. Staashelm. The program course features two Career and Technical Education pathways: Pilot, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones).

All curriculum materials are provided to schools at no cost, thanks to generous donations made to the AOPA (The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) Foundation. The organization has representatives based in Frederick, MD, Washington, D-C, and seven regions across the U-S.  According to a 2018 Boeing study, there is a growing demand for qualified people to fill aviation industry jobs. Globally, 635,000 commercial aircraft pilots, 622,000 technicians and 858,000 cabin crew members are needed within the next 20 years.

Schools nationwide will be implementing the ninth- and tenth-grade curriculum in the 2019-2020 school year. In addition, 25 schools will be testing the 11th-grade curriculum. AOPA will release subsequent courses each year until curriculum is completed for grades 9-through 12. To learn more about AOPA’s high school aviation STEM curriculum, go to https://youcanfly.aopa.org/

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who are searching for that special someone through an online dating service are being warned about Valentine’s Day scammers. Bess Ellenson, at the Better Business Bureau, says e-daters need to use caution, especially if the person you’re chatting with starts to mention a crisis in their life that requires some kind of financial help. Ellenson says, “People fall for it because they believe this person actually exists, and either after a payment is made, or a couple of payments are made, the person usually tends to disappear.”

Ellenson says there are other red flags you should watch for if you’re trying to find love online. “If the person is really trying to move too fast, or just suddenly gets off the site, they’ll still communicate with you, but they just no longer have an online profile,” Ellenson says. “They like to talk about trust. That’s usually the first step in getting them to give them money.”

Other possible warning signs include profile photos that look too manicured or if the person keeps finding ways to put off meeting face-to-face.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines suburb of Clive plans to buy and demolish two dozen homes and businesses that have been repeatedly damaged by flooding. The estimated cost for all the properties is $11.3 million. They’re all situated in the Walnut Creek flood plain, which has been inundated six times since 1986. The latest flooding occurred June 30 , during which Clive Library and Clive Aquatic Center also were damaged.

Clive community development Doug Ollendike told The Des Moines Register the city will acquire the property over several years, using a priority list based on the risks to life and on damage severity. The city is offering 110 percent of each property’s assessed value. Projected prices range from $85,250 for a small office building to $7 million for property occupied by a vending machine supply company.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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AMES, Iowa (AP) — A software company wants more than $2.5 million in state aid to expand in Ames. Station KCCI reports that the Ames City Council voted Tuesday to endorse the aid application by Vertex Software, which says the expansion could bring 300 new jobs to the area. Many of the jobs would pay more than $100,000 a year. The company says it’s developed a cloud-based software product that lets users securely share 3D product data to any computing device.

Founder and CEO Dan Murray wants to build a 60,000-square-foot building in Iowa State University’s research park. Ames finance director Duane Pitcher says it’s “a good news story for Ames, a homegrown company.”

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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(Radio Iowa) — Whether it’s covered with melted cheddar and grilled onions or just topped with the traditional ketchup, mustard and pickles, Iowans are being enlisted to help find the state’s best burger. Kylie Peterson, spokeswoman for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, describes the qualifications for the annual Best Burger Contest. “The burger can have any combination of condiments and toppings but the burger is judged based on the taste of the patty and the appearance and the proper cooking temperature, which is 160-degrees,” Peterson says. “We’re also looking for a patty that is 100% beef.”

Learn more about the contest and cast a vote at: i-a-beef-dot-org. The deadline for entries is March 11th and Peterson says the finalists will be named a week later. “The top ten will be announced on March 19th and after that, a secret panel of judges will visit each top ten restaurant to help determine the winner of the Best Burger Contest,” Peterson says. “The winner will be announced to kick of the start of May Beef Month on May 1st.”

2018 Best Burger Winner

Last year’s winner was Café Baudelaire in Ames. In 2018, nearly 10,000 nominations from around 700 restaurants were received for the contest.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — A September trial has been scheduled for an Iowa woman accused of using pajama pants to strangle her 5-year-old daughter. Wapello County District Court records say 23-year-old Kelsie Thomas, of Ottumwa, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. Her trial start is set to start Sept. 10. Police and medics were sent July 19 to Thomas’ home in Ottumwa after a 911 call. Her daughter, Cloe Thomas, was pronounced dead later at a hospital. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has said Kelsie Thomas told investigators that she killed Cloe.

(Radio Iowa) — A senate committee will soon consider a plan to have Iowans on public assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps to submit documents every three months to prove they’re still eligible. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, is the bill’s sponsor. “I am going to do whatever I can try to find savings for taxpayers if somebody’s defrauding them,” Schultz says. “I don’t think this will hurt anybody who is legitimately on the program.”  Under the plan, a private company may be paid to process the information and cross check for identity theft or people claiming benefits in other states. Critics say Iowans who qualify for public assistance may unfairly lose their health care coverage or food stamps.

Laura Hessburg of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence says welfare fraud isn’t a huge problem in Iowa. “I don’t know why in an effort to save taxpayers’ money by finding five people who commit fraud we are going to kick off thousands from the benefits they need,” Hessburg said, “and for some people this will be a risk to their health and their life.” Tyler Raygor of Americans for Prosperity says 10 other states have passed similar legislation. “Public assistance programs should be narrowly tailored to those who need them,” Raygor says, “and for those who don’t, we should be encouraging those folks to get back in the workforce.”

The proposal is scheduled for debate in the Senate Labor Committee next week. Senator Schultz, who is chairman of that committee, has tabled a separate plan to require Iowa food stamp recipients to show some sort of photo I-D at the check-out counter. “The rules are fenced in so tight,” Schultz says, “this is one of those deals that states don’t have any say on.” Schultz says he was trying to address misuse of the cards by people who are not eligible for the benefits. “These are taxpayer dollars and I was looking for ways to safeguard them,” Schultz says.

Schultz considered having the recipient’s photo on the “SNAP” benefit cards — which look like a credit card. According to the Iowa Child and Family Policy Center, food stamp benefits are issued to the head of household, but anyone in the home may use the card to buy food. Requiring a food stamp beneficiary to show a driver’s license or some form of photo I-D in order to use their card at a store is not allowed under federal regulations.

(Radio Iowa) — A senate committee has unanimously approved more than tripling the fine for people caught handling their smart phone while driving. Drivers gripping their cell to text or talk when they’re involved in serious accidents could have their driver’s licenses suspended for three months if the bill becomes law. Senator Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, says modern technology provides plenty of “hands-free” options for drivers.”I am a fire fighter,” Danielson says. “…It is a pretty common occurrence on accident scenes to see the phone somewhere on the dash, in the driver’s seat on and clear that they were using it during the accident.”

Senator Mark Lofgren, a Republican from Muscatine, says as a runner, he’s worried about drivers distracted by their smart phones.  “It’s dangerous out there,” Lofgren says. “The last few years, as I run through intersections and everything, you have to be really careful.”

The current fine for drivers caught texting and driving is 30 dollars. This bill would raise that to 100 dollars. Drivers involved in serious accidents while they’re texting or handling their cell phone could be fined five-hundred dollars. If the accident causes a death, the fine would jump to one-thousand dollars. The bill cleared the Senate Transportation Committee Wednesay afternoon and is now eligible for debate in the full Senate.