Voters in the Red Oak Community School District, Tuesday, overwhelmingly approved at Public Measure pertaining to a 10-year extension of a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and a PPEL Income Surtax. According to unofficial results from the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, “Proposition A” received 391 Yes votes and 154 No votes, or 71.74% to 28.26%. A simple majority was needed in order for the measure to pass.

The levy of $1.34 per thousand dollars taxable property valuation will be used for building and grounds maintenance and construction, plus transportation, equipment and technology purchases. It becomes effective on June 30^th 2021, while the Income Surtax starts December 31^st for each calendar year, and commencing with the 2020 calendar year.

Meanwhile voters in the Hamburg School District, Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a $4.3 million bond issue for a renovation and expansion of Marnie Simons Elementary School. Unofficial results from the Fremont County Auditor’s Office show the bond issue was rejected by a 367-to-274 vote. The referendum received only 42.75% of the vote–well short of the 60% super-majority necessary for its passage.

School officials proposed the project in order to make it more compatible for middle school students. Marnie Simons became a K-8 facility earlier this year. Opponents argued the expansion was unnecessary for the district’s small enrollment, and that the building was in good shape. They also believed the bond issue was too big of an expense for taxpayers.

Governor Terry Branstad says the bill his fellow Republicans in the legislature have crafted to change bargaining rights for public employee unions includes “many of the changes” HE has wanted to make for years. “I’m proud of the fact we have people in the legislature that are willing to do the right thing and are not going to be threatened or intimiated by anybody,” Branstad says. “We have a responsibility to the people that elected us.”

In 1974, Branstad was one of the few legislators who voted AGAINST the state’s current collective bargaining law for government workers and teachers in Iowa. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the changes in this year’s bill are “necessary” because public employees in Iowa are being rewarded for “time served” rather than “merit.”

“It’s just simply not fair and it really demonstrates, I think, how far out of whack in the disparity and the differences that are taking place with the current collective bargaining law,” Reynolds said, “and how it has become in favor of the unions and their special interests.” In a rare move, Reynolds and Branstad held an afternoon news conference WITH the Republican leaders in the House and Senate to discuss the legislation. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says this bill should be “no surprise” since House Republicans tried to make many of these changes six years ago.

“The goal is to take another look and make some changes to a process that hasn’t been looked at very thoroughly in 40 years,” Upmeyer says. Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, a Republican from Shell Rock, says the bill “is a better deal for Iowa taxpayers. “The proposal before us is about local control…It gives school boards the opportunity to improve student achievement by keeping the best teachers in the classroom,” Dix says.And Dix says getting rid of seniority will let school officials fire “the occasional…bad apple” in the teaching profession.

Tammy Wawro is president of the Iowa State Education Association, the union that represents 34-thousand teachers.  “I am beyond angry today,” Wawro said during a statehouse news conference. “I am actually mortified.” Wawro is urging union members to talk with their co-workers and explain the scope of the legislation. “When you’re talking about removing seniority, when you’re talking about not being able even to have a conversation about what your insurance might look like, that doesn’t just impact union members,” Wawro says. “That impacts every public sector worker and employee.”

Iowa Federation of Labor president Ken Sager says isn’t just about STATE employees and teachers. The bill will hit 184-thousand Iowans, including those who work for cities and counties. “There’s been an ongoing effort, an ongoing vendetta if you will to penalize the very people in this state who provide the necessary services to provide for a civilized society,” Sager says. “There’s something fundamentally wrong with that.”

Danny Homan is president of AFSCME Council 61, the union that represents the largest share of state workers. “The Republicans in the House and Senate have cowardly crafted this legislation behind closed doors,” Homan says. “They have been hiding from those that this affects because it’s easier to betray working men and women without having to look them in the eye.”

During a statehouse news conference, the three union leaders said they were NOT planning mass protests at the capitol. Instead, they’re urging union members to attend weekend forums legislators hold in their home districts. Police and fire fighters in Iowa would retain many of their current bargaining rights under the proposed legislation, but fire fighters and police officers were among the union members who flooded the capitol yesterday to object to the bill.

A subcommittee in the Iowa HOUSE will discuss this collective bargaining bill early this (Wednesday) morning. A SENATE subcommittee has a two-hour meeting on the same bill scheduled to start at 11 a.m. It appears the bill is likely to pass both the House and Senate next week. The governor has indicated he’ll quickly sign it into law.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has told Iowa environmental regulators that changes made to state clean water standards last year violate federal regulations. The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission approved changes in August that eliminated a rigorous environmental assessment before allowing new contaminants to be introduced to streams, rivers or lakes by city wastewater treatment plants or industry.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans 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. The scope of the proposed changes is unclear, and it caused confusion in the initial hours of its release. Union leaders say they’re still reviewing the bill and how it stacks up with efforts around the country to change collective bargaining laws.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Senate subcommittee 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 bill failed in a Senate controlled by Democrats, but with Republicans controlling both chambers, the measure could see greater support.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man accused of stabbing to death his father has taken a plea deal. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Rashod Aldridge entered Alford pleas Monday to charges of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of going armed with intent. Under an Alford plea, a defendant maintains innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for conviction. He’d been charged with second-degree murder in the March 20 slaying of Roosevelt Aldridge.

Iowa’s two U-S Senators both voted to confirm Betsy DeVos today (Tuesday) as the U-S Secretary of Education. DeVos drew criticism for her lack of education background and the vote in the Senate ended in a 50-50 tie that had to be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, released a video message explaining her vote. “Over the last several weeks, I have thoroughly vetted Betsy DeVos, and have found that she shares the belief that those closest to our students — from parents to teachers to local administrators and local elected officials — know what is best for our students,” Ernst says. “Additionally, she has pledged to fight for all students, including those attending public, private, and charter schools.”

Ernst says DeVoss has also pledged to support students who require additional support due to developmental, physical, or other disabilities. She also says she will be sure the DeVos follows through with what she has said she will do. “While I support her confirmation, I will be holding her accountable to the standard she has placed upon herself,” she says.

Ernst acknowledged the controversy surrounding DeVos. “I have heard from folks on both sides of the debate over Betsy DeVos. Good people can disagree with one another and still engage in a civil, productive discourse,” Ernst says. ” An open and honest dialogue is important and it’s critical that I continue to hear from you.”

She finished by saying she looks forward to “working with you to protect our schools, restore local control, and prepare our youth to enter the workforce.”  Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, released a statement on DeVos’ confirmation, saying: “I believe Betsy DeVos will perform the job of U-S Secretary of Education faithfully and well. There’s been a lot of misinformation that Mrs. DeVos opposes public schools. In fact, she’s committed to being an advocate for great public schools. What’s more, her job will not be to oversee public schools. That’s handled at the state and local school board levels. The role of the U-S Secretary of Education is to implement federal education programs, which are largely targeted at providing additional assistance to disadvantaged students and students with disabilities whether they attend public or private schools.”

Grassley’s statement says DeVos has made it clear that her job would be to enforce all federal laws as Congress intended, and says that’s” refreshing in light of recent experience.” Grassley says the Obama Administration overreached in trying to coerce states to adopt its preferred policies and Congress passed safeguards to prevent any future secretary of education from pushing policies not included in federal law.

(Radio Iowa)

Firefighters from Audubon were called to a reported hog barn fire several miles northwest of Audubon, Tuesday night. The call about the fire at 1038 170th Avenue came in at around 5:40-p.m. A person answering the phone at the Audubon Fire Department said a spark from a welder triggered a flash fire in methane pit. The fire blew itself out before firefighters arrived. No damage or injuries were reported. Fire firefighters were back in the station by around 6:35-p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has told Iowa environmental regulators that changes made to state clean water standards last year violate federal regulations. The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission approved changes in August that eliminated a rigorous environmental assessment before allowing new contaminants to be introduced to streams, rivers or lakes by city wastewater treatment plants or industry.

The new so-called anti-degradation standards allowed a focus on cost when evaluating introduction of new contaminants into waterways. Environmental groups opposed the change saying it weakened Iowa’s clean water protections and commended the EPA Tuesday for rejecting the changes.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which enforces state environmental rules, did not immediately respond to a message. It’s not immediately clear if the EPA determination will withstand scrutiny of the new Trump administration.

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.