Progress is being made in reducing the number of preterm births in Iowa, as the state earned a grade of “B” in this year’s report card from the March of Dimes. The report shows the national preterm birth rate is now at 11.4 percent. In Iowa, it’s a little lower at 11.1 percent, although Michelle Gogerty, state director of programs and advocacy with the state chapter of the March of Dimes says, “We have a long way to go. Our goal is for every baby to get a healthy start in life,” says Gogerty. “We won’t stop until we eliminate this problem and certainly, we’re striving for an “A” on the report card.”

Gogerty says the goal is to reduce the preterm birth rate to 9.6 percent or lower by 2020. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive often face the risk of serious and sometimes lifelong health issues. Gogerty notes they often also spend the first weeks or months of their lives hospitalized in intensive care.

“We have some babies that are March-of-Dimes families that have had medical bills over a million dollars,” says Gogerty. “So, it’s huge in comparison to a normal, healthy birth.” Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn’t clear, but factors that may increase the risk include smoking, some infections and chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

(Iowa News Service)

More than 12-hundred people representing most of Iowa’s 340-some school districts will be gathering in Des Moines today (Wednesday) for the Iowa Association of School Boards convention. Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will attend the convention Thursday, from 7:30-a.m. to 9-p.m.

Association spokeswoman Tracy Bainter says this 69th annual convention will center on how the internet and various computer advances have changed the modern classroom.Bainter says, “We’re going to be focusing on all of the changes in technology and the opportunities that unlocks for students, staff and education leaders like school board members.”

Bainter says technology continues to evolve and so does the way students learn.  “We’re looking at being able to connect with students in their homes,” Bainter says. “For their homework, they’re able to connect with schools all around the country. If they’re doing a report on European history, they can connect with a museum in Europe to learn first-hand from historians.”

One of the convention speakers is a “futurist” who will be talking about a re-imagining of the entire concept of school, while there will be a range of workshops during the three-day event.  “We’re going to have some on technology, we’re going to have some on school finance, which is always an important issue for school board members,” Bainter says. “We’ll have a few on legislative issues that are coming up. We’re going to talk with working with a variety of personalities and creating a cohesive team on a school board.”

The convention runs through Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Learn more at www.ia-sb.org.

(Radio Iowa)

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Two Montgomery County men were arrested Tuesday, on drug charges. The Sheriff’s Department says 51-year old Scott Timothy Brown, of Grant, was arrested at around 9:20-p.m., when deputies followed-up on an incident at 108 Adams Street, in Grant. Brown was subsequently taken into custody for Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 cash bond.

And, at around 6:30-p.m. Tuesday, deputies in Montgomery County arrested 36-year old Damyn Carl Stacy, of Villisca, following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 34 and Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. Stacy faces a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and later released on a citation.

A Red Oak man arrested Tuesday evening by Red Oak Police acting on an active warrant, faces additional charges. 24-year old Eric Alan Vannausdale, who is no stranger to local police, was taken into custody at 4:30-p.m. on a warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent.

While being placed under arrest, officers located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Vannausdale’s possession. The man was subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to Montgomery County Corrections and held on a total of $3,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Pharmacy will consider again recommending changing state law to reclassify marijuana so it could be used to treat medical conditions. The board is set to meet Wednesday. Members heard testimony on the issue Monday.

Currently, marijuana is classified under state law as both a Schedule I drug, meaning it is has no medical use, and as a Schedule II drug, which has medicinal value. Advocates want the drug to be moved only to the Schedule II category.

The board recommended that the Legislature make such a change to state law in 2010, but no action was taken. Lawmakers this year approved legislation that allows the use of oil derived from marijuana to treat chronic epilepsy.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’re investigating the deaths of two people found in a motel room in southeast Iowa. Fairfield police say 20-year-old Alexandra Higdon and 24-year-old Casey Griffin were found unconscious Sunday morning at a Super 8 motel room. Autopsies are pending. Fairfield police are seeking help from the public in gathering information about the deaths.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Activists are asking the U.S. Department of Labor to investigate allegations that workers at an Iowa City factory have been illegally denied wages. The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa filed the complaint against RockTenn, a Georgia-based corporation that operates a packing facility in Iowa City. Two staffing companies that recruit temporary workers for RockTenn are also named.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A memo from the Iowa Board of Regents says freezing tuition rates for all students next year would cost $14.5 million in lost revenue for the state’s three public universities. The Iowa Board of Regents is scheduled to set tuition rates Dec. 3. Key members have indicated they would like to freeze tuition for a third straight year for resident undergraduate students.

WAPELLO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say eight students have transported to a Muscatine hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a school bus crash in southeast Iowa. The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office says the driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over. State and county officials are investigating.

Last year, hunters in Iowa killed fewer than 100,000 deer for the first time since the mid-1990s. Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research technician for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says it’s possible hunters will harvest a similar number of deer this season. “We’re right on pace for where we were at this time last year with almost 24,000 deer being harvested so far,” Coffey says. Only bow hunting of deer is allowed right now in Iowa and the bow hunting season is about halfway complete.

The reported number of bucks taken this season has increased by 1,000 compared to last year, while the reported doe harvest is down 1,000. “That’s not too uncommon because of the way we’ve changed regulations this year, plus a lot of our bow hunters are out there seeking that buck,” Coffey says. The number of deer killed by hunters in Iowa has declined for eight consecutive years. But, Coffey says hunters are still getting plenty of chances to fire their weapons.

“We’ve been hearing good reports from our hunters. The deer have been active. The cold spell starting Sunday kind of slowed things down…but with the warm spell coming up this weekend and the rut going on, it’ll be a good weekend to be out,” Coffey says. Iowa’s first shotgun deer hunting season begins on December 6, with the second shotgun season starting December 13. Most hunters are hoping to spot a big buck, but probably won’t see anything like the one shot just southeast of Des Moines back in October.

“Probably the biggest buck that’s been talked about was the one in Marion County. That was shot fairly early in the season and has been creating quite a stir on the Internet,” Coffey said. That buck was shot with a muzzleloader by Joe Franz on his property. The website trophy pursuit dot com ( http://www.trophypursuit.com ) posted video of Franz’s hunt and claims the buck could be “the largest ever taken on professional video.”  You can view the video on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mg7Z4juaGo8