NEW YORK (AP) – United Technologies is acquiring Rockwell Collins for $22.75 billion in order to expand its aerospace capabilities. United Tech, which makes Otis elevators and Pratt & Whitney engines, said Monday it’s paying $140 per share in cash and stock for Rockwell Collins, a 9.4 premium over Tuesday’s closing price, when reports of a deal surfaced. Including debt, the acquisition is worth $30 billion.

Rockwell Collins, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, makes flight deck avionics, cabin electronics and cabin interiors for commercial and military customers. Farmington, Connecticut-based United Technologies called the businesses complementary and expects $500 million in pretax savings related to the deal. It reaffirmed its 2017 profit estimates.

The companies expect the deal to close by the third quarter of 2018, subject to approval from Rockwell Collins shareowners and regulators.

Iowa school kids are back in class and one of the biggest challenges some districts are facing now is finding enough people to keep wheels on the buses going round and round. Max Christensen, the executive officer for school transportation at the Iowa Department of Education, says many other states have the same issue. “From coast-to-coast and border-to-border, there’s concern with trying to fill that seat behind the steering wheel on those school buses,” Christensen says.

He says Iowa schools are doing all they can to get out the word. “A lot of school districts are parking buses in parking lots at malls or grocery stores and that sort of and putting banners on advertising that school bus drivers are wanted,” Christensen says. “One school district in northeast Iowa is using a new tactic that I’ve never seen before…its’s kind of low tech. They are actually using yard signs to advertise for school bus drivers.”

He says they have around nine-thousand school bus drivers in the state and around one-thousand leave each year. Christensen admits the challenges involved in driving a school bus may deter some people. “Being a school bus driver is not an easy task. You are driving down the road with a big vehicle and you’ve quite a number of students behind you — upwards of 40 or 50 students sitting behind you,” Christensen explains. Trying to drive the bus and control the kids at the same time is sometimes somewhat challenging.”

But he says you don’t just hop on the bus and drive away. He says there’s training for you and there’s licensing through the D-O-T along with drug, background and alcohol tests before you can take the wheel. Bus driving generally requires a split shift in the morning and afternoon, which rules out a lot of people who have other jobs. “They work very well for stay-at-home mothers or retired people, somebody like that,” Christensen explains. “It’s also very good income for a lot of college students. I know in a lot of college towns, college students drive a lot of school buses. It just depends on your personal schedule whether it will fit. For those it works well for — it’s really a pretty good income.”

He says the driver shortage has caused some districts to offer more pay. “I’ve seen upwards of anywhere from 18 or 19 upwards to 25 dollars an hour — which is really pretty good money to drive a school bus,” according to Christensen. ” If it works for you, that’s certainly good extra income,” Christensen says.  He suggests you check with your local school district if you might have the interest and time to drive a school bus. “Regardless or where you are at in Iowa, I think just about every district will take a look at you if you want to come in and drive a school bus. The shortage is just that severe,” Christensen says.

“School Bus Fleet” magazine recently reported that a school district in Muncie, Indiana canceled the first two days of school because they had a shortage of bus drivers. The state of Hawaii had to consolidate and eliminate some of its bus routes due to a lack of drivers, as did a school district in Oklahoma.

(Radio Iowa)

Shelby County ISU Extension officials invite you to part 2 of a New and Beginning Farmer Peer Group “Commodity Marketing Night,” Thursday, Sept. 7th, from 6-until-8-p.m., at the Shelby County Extension Office (906 6th St., Harlan). The workshop will focus on helping new and beginning crop producers create successful corn and soybean marketing strategies. Part 1 of the workshop was held July 25th. Persons who attended Part one don’t need to attend the second part.

Topics of discussion, Thursday, include:

A corn and soybean market outlook.
Calculating the cost of production.
Commodity marketing strategies.
Developing a marketing plan.
And, resources from ISU Extension and Outreach.

Guest speaker for the session is Shane Ellis, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist. A light meal will be provided, so you’re asked to RSVP by no later than Wednesday, Sept. 6th, by calling (712)-755-3104.

If you have any questions, call Amanda Oloff, Associate Extension Educator at (712)- 755-3104, or Shane Ellis at (712)-520-0601.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two groups of people have traded gunshots in a Sioux City neighborhood.  Investigators are trying to determine whether two people with bullet wounds who were taken to a Sioux City hospital were involved in the gunbattle Monday evening. At least one house was struck by bullets, but police say no one inside was injured.

Police were uncertain how many people were involved and how many of them fired guns. No arrests have been reported.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:55 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 51-year-old man has been accused of duping a homeowner out of more than $366,000 for unfinished and shoddy repairs. Authorities say Scott Geary, of Clinton, is charged with theft. Court records don’t list an attorney for him. Police say the victim paid Geary and another, unnamed person more than $366,000 for work on a home that’s been assessed at $250,000 for taxes.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Missouri man has admitted robbing a bank in eastern Iowa. Prosecutors say 60-year-old Peter Lundberg, of St. Ann, Missouri, pleaded guilty Friday to robbing a Bank of the West branch in Coralville of nearly $1,100 on April 20. His sentencing is set for Jan. 8.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three neighboring cities are resisting paying Sioux City’s long-overlooked wastewater service charge. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city discovered the neglected charge during an audit and notified officials in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; North Sioux City, South Dakota; and South Sioux City, Nebraska, that it would begin imposing the 7 percent charge. Those cities’ officials worry about having to pass along the cost to their residents.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City woman has been accused of setting fire to a house in the northern Iowa city. No injuries have been reported from the fire, which was reported around 1:50 p.m. Saturday. Jail records say 29-year-old Donyale Jones remained in custody Monday on an arson charge. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney for her.

A man who lost a bag off his motorcycle on Interstate 29 in Harrison County, attempted to retrieve it by pulling over and walking across both the south- and north-bounds lanes of traffic. In doing so, he was partially struck by a pickup driven by a man from Cass County. The Iowa State Patrol says 73-year old Earl Lee Bolls, of Chamberlain, SD, was clipped by the side view mirror of a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 69-year old Lynn Poeppe, of Atlantic. The Patrol says Poeppe came up over a hill on I-29 and swerved to avoid Bolls, but was unable to entirely miss him. The accident happened at around 3:05-p.m., Sunday on I-29 northbound, near the 78 mile marker.

Bolls suffered minor cuts to his hand during the incident. He was transported by Missouri Valley Rescue to the Missouri Valley Hospital for treatment.

A single-vehicle accident Monday morning in Audubon County has claimed the life of a man from northern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports 27-year old Lucas D. Degen, of Ft. Dodge, who was wearing a seat belt, died when the 2001 Jeep Cherokee he was driving, failed to negotiate a curve north of Brayton, on Highway 71.

The southbound SUV went out of control and rolled over into the ditch before coming to rest against some trees. Speed and alcohol were believed to be factors in the crash that happened at around 7:30-a.m., Monday.

Police in Council Bluffs, Monday, arrested a man for Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, warrants and other charges. Officials say at around 11:45-a.m., Officer Mark Archibald from the Council Bluffs Police Department had initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Bucky’s Gas station at 16th and Broadway in Council Bluffs. The Officer was on a department motorcycle and was in the process of dismounting the motorcycle when he noticed the driver looking at him. The driver – later identified as 30-year old Jesse Baker, of Council Bluffs — put the vehicle into reverse and accelerated.

Officer Archibald jump out of the way and the vehicle struck the motorcycle, pushing the motorcycle onto its side for about 30 feet. Baker then fled the scene at a high rate of speed. As officers were responding to the area, witnesses and bystanders were directing officers in the direction of the suspect vehicle. A short time later, Baker ran the stop sign at N. 25th and Ave H striking a 1999 Chevy Tahoe that was being driven by Brianna Johnson of Council Bluffs. Johnson suffered minor injuries and advised officers she would drive herself to the hospital later if needed.

Baker fled the scene after the accident on foot. As officers arrived at the scene, they were directed by neighbors of the location of the suspect. Baker was taken into custody without incident. Baker was taken to the hospital for evaluation as he complained of a previous injury and injuries related to the crash. After evaluation Baker was booked into corrections without incident.

Jesse Baker was charged with Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. He also had warrants for Probation Violation and Escape from Custody as he had walked away from the Residential Correction Facility. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident at 25th and Ave H and after review with the County Attorney’s Office and will pursue charges if necessary.

Pickets and walk-outs are being held in nearly 350 cities across the country, including a few in Iowa, on this Labor Day to show support for raising the minimum wage. Workers at a Burger King that’s a couple of blocks from the state capitol in Des Moines went on strike at midnight, a crowd of over 200 was there at sunrise and the store is closed.

Cathy Glasson, a Democrat who formed an exploratory committee for governor in May, posted video of this morning’s (Monday’s) rally on Twitter. Glasson also rallied with workers at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. She’s a nurse who has been president of her local union at the University of Iowa Hospitals. Other Democratic candidates for governor have been traveling the state yesterday and today (Monday), to attend Labor Day weekend parades, picnics and other events.

(Radio Iowa)

A study conducted at Iowa State University suggests a police officer’s ability to identify someone carrying a gun or bomb is only slightly better than chance. Lead author Dawn Sweet directs ISU’s Body Language and Facial Expressions Lab. She says police need more tools and evidence based training to identify someone might may be concealing a weapon.

“It’s an inherently difficult task and we’re not giving it enough attention,” Sweet said. Reading nonverbal communication is “context dependent,” according to Sweet. She’s now work to develop a standardized approach to evaluating behaviors that predict if someone is concealing a weapon or dangerous device, and therein poses a threat.

“It’s our hope as we continue this line of research we’ll be able to ultimately deliver systematic, evidence-based training to law enforcement officers,” Sweet said. “Because ultimately, it’s not just the law enforcement officers who are going to benefit from that, but it’s us as a society.” Sweet’s study is published in the journal Law and Human Behavior.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Sarah Boden, Iowa Public Radio)