After two weeks of searching for a new Superintendent for the Tri-Center Community School District, the District’s Board of Education has offered the job to one of their own administrators. According to the Daily NonPareil, Angela Huseman, secondary principal for the Tri-Center Community School District, has accepted the offer, and will take over as superintendent July 1st, replacing Tony Weers. Weers has resigned to take a job across the Missouri River as director of secondary education for the Millard Public Schools, in Omaha.

Dr. Anegla Huseman (Image from the Tri-Center web site)

The details of a contract, including a salary, will be worked out in the coming days before being presented for board approval. Huseman has been the district’s high school principal for more than 17 years, and this year she added the middle school to her responsibilities. Her daughter Savanna is a senior at the high school and grew up in the Tri-Center schools.

Community college students in Iowa can expect to shell out more money for their tuition next year. The Daily NonPareil reports colleges under stress of producing a budget are basing tuition increases on Governor Branstad’s proposed 1.5 percent increase in State Aid for community colleges. The Iowa Legislature may up that to somewhere between 1.5-and 3-percent, but most educators are preparing for the at least the lower figure. In addition, enrollment at Iowa Western is down 5-percent. Those two significant factors could shift the budget up or down.

A preliminary budget however from Iowa Western Community College presented Monday afternoon, anticipates a $10 per credit hour tuition increase to address the shortfall largely created by an anticipated 5 percent enrollment decline. Odds are the state’s other community colleges also will consider tuition increases, after each of the 11 institutions raised rates for this school year. Iowa Western’s $11 a credit hour jump last year was the second largest in the state, representing a 7.2 percent increase compared to Western Iowa Tech Community College’s 13.2 percent hike.

For the current school year, resident tuition is $149 per credit hour, and nonresident tuition is $154. If the rates assumed by the preliminary budget ultimately are recommended, a $10 per credit hour increase would translate to a 6.7 percent overall increase to resident tuition. Iowa Western does receive proportionally less state support and more local support – tuition income, largely – than the community college system as a whole. Property taxes only account for about 5 percent of overall funding.

The property tax levy for Iowa Western will grow next year, although that’s largely a one-time increase to pay for an early retirement program that will net $650,000 in savings annually for the college’s general fund, representing a tax savings going into future years, according to Eddie Holtz, IWCC’s vice president of finance. Property taxes are slated to go up by 37.602 cents per $1,000 in taxable valuation next year, with about 90 percent of the increase connected to early retirement buyouts. The college can replace those senior employees with new hires who command significantly less in salary, and other positions could be left vacant to save costs as well.

Holtz said Iowa Western will continue to look for cost savings in the next few months, as the Iowa Legislature works on setting how much community college and other educational institutions – both K-12 schools and the regent institutions – will receive in funding next fiscal year. The board is expected to vote on adopting the budget next month and likely will set tuition rates in the spring, probably at either the April or May board meetings in Council Bluffs.

A public hearing on the budget is planned for the college’s meeting on Monday, March 14, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Shelby County Center, 1901 Hawkeye Ave. in Harlan.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — One of three men initially charged in the death of a Council Bluffs man has pleaded guilty to lesser charges as a part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Twenty-two-year-old Sarael Duncan, of Omaha, Nebraska, pleaded guilty to theft. He was originally charged with murder in connection with the August death of 20-year-old Jacob Combs but that charge has been dropped.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The Black Hawk County Gaming Association board has given $750,000 to Waterloo’s Fourth Street canopy bridge project, although few members offered resounding support of it. The board gave its unanimous approval to split the grant into two payouts, which will fund about 50 percent of the $1.5 million project. The project, set the start this spring, will rehabilitate the walkway portion of the Fourth Street bridge that crosses the Cedar River.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say the record Powerball jackpot in January helped send lottery ticket sales soaring to new records. The Powerball jackpot grew for more than two months before it reached a world-record level of nearly $1.6 billion. It was split three ways in the Jan. 13 drawing by tickets purchased in California, Florida and Tennessee. Iowa lottery sales in January exceeded $54 million, topping the previous monthly sales record of $42 million set in February 2006.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel has advanced a bill that would make it a hate crime in Iowa to commit an offense against a person because that person identifies as transgender. The bill would make it a hate crime if an offense is committed against a person or their property because of the person’s gender identity or gender expression. Current language in Iowa code includes multiple characteristics, including sexual orientation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — One of three men initially charged in the death of a Council Bluffs man has pleaded guilty to lesser charges as a part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Twenty-two-year-old Sarael Duncan, of Omaha, Nebraska, pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft. He was originally charged with murder in connection with the August death of 20-year-old Jacob Combs but that charge has been dropped.

Caine Peterson, of Council Bluffs, and Christopher King of Lincoln, Nebraska, also were charged with murder but have agreed to plead guilty to amended charges. They are accused of robbing Combs of marijuana. Officials say Combs jumped onto Petersen’s vehicle as the three men fled but then fell or was thrown, suffering head injuries. Combs died in a hospital on Aug. 15.

Student leaders at the state’s three public universities are asking for expansion of mental health counseling services on the campuses in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City. Katie Evans of Dubuque, the president of Northern Iowa Student Government, says two U-N-I students committed suicide last semester and a recent U-N-I graduate she knew committed suicide in December.

“Some legislatures across the country are beginning to make a priority of mental health and hopefully Iowa will follow along,” Evans says. University of Iowa student body president Elizabeth Mills of Johnston got mental health counseling on campus during her first two years at the universities. “Unfortunately our counseling services are gravely underfunded and are needing help and seeking assistance from our university and our state,” Mills says. “At this time a student who needs help, needs that dire assistance, has to wait two to three weeks in order to be seen by qualified staff.”

Josh Schoenfeld — a fifth year medical student at the University of Iowa — is president of the student government for graduate and professional students on the Iowa City campus. He says depression is even more prevalent among graduate-level students than undergrads. “I personally have known three students who have committed suicide during my four years on campus,” Schoenfeld says. Iowa State University student body president Daniel Breitbarth of Saylorville says the stress of “an astounding amount” of student debt is taking a toll.

“This has resulted directly in an increase on the pressure on our counseling staffs at all three institutions,” Breitbarth says. “On average, Iowa State students have to wait an average of 30 days to meet with a mental health service…staff member and this is just way too much time to wait if you are in dire need of help.” The student leaders made their comments during a statehouse news conference Tuesday afternoon.

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on two active warrants Tuesday.  At 3:23pm Officers arrested 19-year-old Cara Belle Hale, of Red Oak, in the 200 block of 3rd Avenue in Red Oak on two active Montgomery County Warrants for Probation Violation.  Hale was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 cash bond.

The City Council in Atlantic will meet in a regular session Wednesday evening at City Hall. During the 5:30-p.m. meeting, the Council will review the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget and 5-year Capital Improvement Plan. They’ll also act on passing a Resolution setting March 9th as the date for a Public Hearing on a proposal to enter into General Obligation Loan Agreements, and the borrowing of money for the agreements.

When it issued Bonds in 2011, the City reserved the right to call the portion of the 2011 Bonds maturing in years 2019 through 2026 for early redemption on any date on or after June 1st 2018. The Resolution (#4-16) proposes the City enter into a General Obligation (G.O) Loan Agreement (Or, “Essential Purpose Loan Agreement”) and to borrow money not to exceed $4.8-million, for the purpose of paying the costs to that extent, of:

• Constructing street and storm water drainage improvements
• Acquiring vehicles and equipment for the municipal fire and police departments
• And advance refunding the Callable 2011 bond.

The City also proposes entering into a G.O. Loan Agreement and to borrow money in a principal amount not to exceed $200,000, for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing improvements to the municipal library. The maximum rate of interest payable for the Loan Agreement is seven-percent.

In the City’s proposed 5-year Capital Improvement Program, City Administrator John Lund reports the City has $10.276-million in proposed improvements. The resources available between incoming cash and renewing existing debts, without raising taxes, is $8.679-million, which leaves the City with a balance of approximately $1.59-million. Lund says the City is currently at 73.66-percent of its bonding capacity, with only two bonds falling off in the next five-years.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Council Bluffs man on Tuesday.  At 3:00pm Deputies arrested 32-year-old Roger E. Madsen of Council Bluffs on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Stalking.  Madsen was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 cash bond.

A bill to increase the interstate speed limit in Iowa to 75 miles an hour has cleared its first hurdle and will be considered in the House Transportation Committee tomorrow (Wednesday). Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake is a truck driver who is spearheading the effort to raise the speed limit on Interstates AND hike the limit on two-lane highways to 65. “People are driving those speeds now,” Worthan says.

Representative Rick Olson of Des Moines says when he learned how to drive, the speed limit was 75 on the interstate. “I’m told that cars are safer today,” Olson says. “I don’t have any problem with increasing the speed limit.” Steve Gent, the director of traffic and safety at the Iowa Department of Transportation, says his agency isn’t for or against the proposal, but he’s raising safety concerns about hiking the interstate speed limit.

“Ten years ago the State of Iowa increased rural speed limits from 65 to 70,” Gent says. “…Fatal crashes increased 29.5 percent (and) Total accidents in the four years after increased 25.2 percent.” The average speed on Iowa interstates today is 72 — two miles over the posted speed limit.

A bill to raise the interstate speed limit to 75 miles an hour was introduced in the Iowa Senate last year, but failed to clear committee.

(Radio Iowa)

A Judge in Taylor County today (Tuesday), sentenced a Bedford man to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in connection with a first-degree murder conviction. 26-year old Charles Emanuel Hall was also sentenced to ten years in prison for the charge of child endangerment resulting in serious injury. Hall was convicted last month by a jury in Taylor County district court. The charges stemmed from the investigation of the death of 3 year old Janiya King in May of 2015, in Bedford.
Hall is the father of the child.

Charles Hall

On May 22nd, 2015, authorities said they responded to a 911 call for a child not breathing at 806 Washington St. Deputies found Janiya King, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead by the medical examiner. Court documents indicate Janiya had severe burns on her face and right shoulder.
Hall’s girlfriend, 25-year-old April Clair, of Bedford, was also initially charged with child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class-C forcible Felony. Clair had told authorities that Janiya accidentally knocked over a pot of boiling hot dog water onto herself two weeks prior to her death. Clari told authorities she didn’t think it was necessary to seek medical attention.

Authorities however, said the burns were so bad that they caused permanent disfigurement. Clair also told investigators the girl fell down the stairs multiple times and became weaker, but still did not seek medical attention. The woman reached a plea deal and was found guilty by the court on Sept. 8th of Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury, a Class-D Felony, which carries a maximum prison term of 5-years.