Republicans in the Iowa House have voted to make a five-MILLION dollar reduction in state support of Iowa’s nine Area Education Agencies. Representative Ken Rizer, a Republican from Cedar Rapids, explained the plan during House debate.

“Administrators for these AEAs are extremely capable, highly educated and very well compensated,” Rizer says. “I think they have all the capability in the world to decide how to interpret this…Special ed is the top priority of all the services AEAs provide.” The Area Education Agencies help educate students with disabilities who require “special education” classes.

Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, opposes the G-O-P budget plan. “That means that we’re talking about cuts to speech language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, special education consultants and other experts who support autism, challenging behaviors and reading instruction.” School districts forward local property taxes to the Area Education Agencies based on a “per pupil” formula and the state provides additional taxpayer support.

Representative Patti Ruff, a Democrat from McGregor, suggests there will be staff layoffs soon as well as temporary closures at the Area Education Agencies this fall, due to the timing of when A-E-As get property tax payments. “Iowa’s future’s not going to be very bright if our children do not have the services that they need to be able to learn,” Ruff says, “and for some of our children those are services provided by our AEAs.”

In addition to “special education” services, A-E-As provide technology assistance, like paying the licensing fees on computer software that is used by all schools in the area. A-E-As also offer professional development for teachers. Rizer says the state has “sometimes” provided more and “sometimes” provided less to the A-E-As. “It’s actually been at this same level in the past and I was unaware that at that time that there were a high number of jobs that were lost,” Rizer says.

Rizer says legislators have limited resources and most of the “new” tax revenue coming into the state will be spent on the state’s K-through-12 schools.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Members of a legislative committee in the Democratic-majority Senate say they’re hearing reports of problems with Iowa’s Medicaid program under private management. Lawmakers in the Senate Human Resources Committee said Wednesday they’ve received complaints from Medicaid service providers and program recipients. State officials and representatives for the insurance companies say they’ll investigate any ongoing complaints.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say about 60 gallons of diesel fuel that spilled during an Urbandale crash is expected to reach a central Iowa creek and may even flow into the Raccoon River. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Wednesday that an accident involving a car and a semi-truck caused a leak in the truck’s fuel tank. Although fire crews were able to contain most of the spill, some fuel reached a storm sewer.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the man who fled from police on a motorcycle and died after a crash in Council Bluffs. Police say an Iowa Transportation Department officer was trying to pull over two motorcyclists around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday near the Pottawattamie County Jail when they sped away. One soon went out control and crashed. The driver, 18-year old Lance McCormick, of Carter Lake, died later at a hospital. The other motorcyclist fled the area.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa would not allow state funding of Planned Parenthood under a bill passed Wednesday in the Republican-controlled House, but the measure is expected to hit roadblocks in the Democratic-majority Senate. Republicans in the House have proposed similar measures in previous sessions with little success in the split Legislature.

As part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Council Bluffs Police Department will participate in the event sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency. The event is designated as “Council Bluffs Operation Medicine Cabinet” and involves the collaboration of several community organizations, volunteers, and the City of Council Bluffs Recycling Center. The rain or shine event will be located at Walgreens, 535 East Broadway in Council Bluffs, on the west side of the store next to the drive‐through lanes on Saturday, April 30, 2016, between 10:00 am. and 2 pm.

Citizens are simply asked to drive through a designated lane, hand over their unused, expired prescription or over the counter drugs with no questions asked. You can drop off the drugs anonymously.

The Council Bluffs Police Department has helped organize and promote 12 Prescription Drug Drop Off events since 2010. The past events have collected more than 3,300 pounds of prescription drugs from more than 2, 000 residents. Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this drug drop off is a great opportunity for citizens of Council Bluffs and anyone else to help reduce this threat. Please clean out your medicine cabinets and make your home safe from potential
drug theft and abuse.

Medicines that remain in home cabinets are highly susceptible to theft, misuse or abuse. Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate, as are the numbers of accidental poisonings and overdoses. Studies show many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinets. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, which are both potential safety and health hazards.

The DNR said Wednesday, it was investigating an anonymous complaint about runoff from a cattle feedlot about three miles southwest of Carson, in Pottawattamie County. DNR field specialists identified two sources of runoff, Cyclone Cattle and a facility owned by Aaron Vorthmann. Both are cattle open feedlots. With DNR’s advice, the producers successfully stopped runoff from each facility.

Previously, an unknown amount of runoff flowed from each operation into the same field, then into a grass waterway before reaching an unnamed tributary of the Nishnabotna River. DNR staff will continue to monitor the situation, including any impacts on water quality or aquatic life. DNR will consider appropriate enforcement actions.

Anyone who notices a spill or fish kill should call the DNR’s 24-hour emergency response line at 515-725-8694.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says recent rain and the greening-up of brush and grassy areas, has allowed the grassland and field fire danger index rating in Shelby County to be moved to “Low.”

Seivert says “I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation with this program. It is very unique in Iowa. It allows us to keep the public up to date on conditions which could otherwise be a surprise, when burning brush and cleaning up after the winter. We have shown this program reduces the number fire calls. The process of calling in your controlled burn, works very well. We will begin this, again, as the drying out for harvest occurs this fall.”

Police in Council Bluffs have identified the operator of a motorcycle that crashed Tuesday night during a pursuit. Officials say 18-year old Lance McCormick, of Carter Lake, died at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs following the crash that happened at around 10:19-p.m. Authorities are still looking for the driver of the other motorcycle involved.

According to Bluffs Police, the pursuit began when an officer with the Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVE) Division attempted to stop two motorcycles on Big Lake Road, near the Pottawattamie County Jail. Both motorcycles eluded the officer and drove westbound on Nash Blvd at a high rate of speed. McCormick, who was driving a 2006 Yamaha, lost control of the motorcycle approximately 3 blocks west of the intersection of 16th Street and Nash Blvd.

The motorcycle went over the curb and stuck a fence separating the city street from the interstate. McCormick was ejected from the motorcycle. The second motorcycle fled the area. The MVE Officer witnessed the crash and immediately stopped and rendered aid. McCormick was not wearing a helmet. He had no identification on him, and the motorcycle was reported to have been stolen.

A hit and run accident was reported to Red Oak Police on Wednesday at 10:31am at the intersection of Highway 48 and Highway 34.  Upon arrival Officers spoke with Sarah Nicole Behrens who was driving a 2003 Dodge Stratus northbound on Highway 48 and stopped at the intersection with Highway 34 behind a semi-tractor trailer.  The Semi, which had a maroon cab and silver box trailer, backed into Behrens’ Dodge and then proceeded eastbound on Highway 34 without stopping.

Red Oak Police Officers and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were not able to locate the semi-tractor trailer and damage to the Dodge Stratus was estimated at $4,000.

Red Oak Police announced the arrest Wednesday of 21-year-old Tyler Christian Palmer of Red Oak for Driving while Revoked.  Palmer was arrested at 12:40pm at the intersection of N. 6th and E Corning Street.  Palemer was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers is warning business owners about the IRS phone scam that’s making rounds at both residences and businesses. Brothers said Businesses in Clarinda are receiving pre-recorded phone calls stating the IRS needs the owner to call back immediately at the number provided.

Brothers called the number and quickly determined the person he was speaking with was in a “Boiler room”-type call center in a foreign country. The Chief warns persons receiving these types of calls, NOT to return them. They are NOT from the IRS, and furthermore, the IRS would not conduct business in that manner.

The IRS handles matters through personal, confidential mail.

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County arrested an Anita man Monday on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault (a Serious misdemeanor). 33-year old Ancherson Alvios William was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Tuesday on $1000 bond.

And, deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) morning, about two-miles east of Atlantic. Officials say the collision happened at around 7:30-a.m. on White Pole Road, at the intersection with 650th Street. A 2003 Ford Mustang owned and driven by 21-year old Tayler Michael Murphy, of Anita, was westbound on White Pole Road when it was struck by a 2007 Buick Terraza owned and driven by 62-year old Jacqueline Kay Stetzel, of Audubon. Stetzel was traveling east on White Pole Road and attempting to turn left onto 650th Street when the accident occurred. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $8.500.

Deputies cited Stetzel for Failure to Yield.