The 7:05-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The president of the state’s largest teacher union is in Florida this week for the National Education Association’s annual meeting. Iowa State Education Association president, Tammy Wawro says “I think we will have a lot of conversations about re-authorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, known as No Child Left Behind. And having some discussions about what our priorities are as that comes to fruition.”

She says teachers would like to see more of a dashboard approach when it comes to looking at what the act is accomplishing. “Looking at what schools offer all students versus just a single test score to judge a school or a student’s ability to learn. So, trying to shift that focus from labeling and punishing to truly student learning and student opportunity,” Wawro says.

Wawro says it’s important to be able to provide the same opportunities to all students.
“We know that one in every five children — and nearly 15 million — live in households with income below the U-S poverty threshold. And that is a huge concern to us as we look at opportunities that all children have. We really hope that there’s a piece of it that has to do with arts and athletic programs at the same level of mandatory opportunity for all kids as that one test score.”

The conference began Sunday and runs through July 6th.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The governing board for Iowa’s three public universities is cutting ties with the man who has served as its top lawyer since 2004. A June 16th memo obtained by The Associated Press shows general counsel Tom Evans will soon no longer be employed by the Iowa Board of Regents.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls residents will decide Tuesday whether to back a $35 million bond issue that would help increase elementary school capacity. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the district wants to expand Orchard Hill and North Cedar elementary schools while also building a seventh elementary school. If it is approved, the bond issue would add $1.38 of taxes per every $1,000 of taxable value over the next 20 years.

CENTRAL CITY, Iowa (AP) — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has forced competitors at the Linn County Fair and other poultry events in the state to prepare educational displays and leave their birds at home. But the 79 participants in this weekend’s Linn County competition got to meet Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. He visited the fair Saturday to speak about poultry health and the bird flu.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa family that lost a son to suicide in jail this January is pushing for changes in the way people with mental illnesses are treated by authorities. Jim Cornick tells the Des Moines Register that sick people shouldn’t be sent to jail when they clearly need treatment.

CENTRAL CITY, Iowa (AP) – The ongoing bird flu outbreak has forced competitors at the Linn County Fair and other poultry events in the state to prepare educational displays and leave their birds at home. But the 79 participants in this weekend’s Linn County competition got to meet Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

Northey visited the fair Saturday to speak about poultry health and the bird flu. He encouraged the young people who developed 4-H projects and told them he was glad they were interested in agriculture. Iowa, Nebraska and many other states where bird flu has been found decided to prohibit poultry events this year to help limit the spread of the disease.

A woman from Adair County faces numerous charges following an accident at Orange Avenue and 230th Street on June 22nd. According to Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, 32-year old Kelly Marie McCormick, of Greenfield, was arrested on charges that include OWI/1st offense, No Insurance (accident related), Leaving the scene of an accident, Failure to Maintain Control, Driving Under Suspension, and Operating a Non-registered vehicle (a 2002 Ford Escape). McCormick was later released on $1,000 bond.

And, on June 25th, 31-year old Patrick Lawrence Nolte, of Stuart, was arrested for allegedly violating a No Contact Order issued by a magistrate. According to the complaint, Nolte showed up at a females’ place of employment and allegedly threatened to shoot a man who had provided the woman with a ride to work. The woman said Nolte told her he could show up other mornings as well, unless she talked to him. Her statement indicated she left with Nolte and drove around for a couple of hours until he took her home. Nolte’s bond was set at $300.

Governor Terry Branstad has until July 6th to make final decisions on the entire state budget outline legislators sent him earlier this month, but Branstad’s giving strong hints he’ll reject the legislature’s plan to keep the Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant open. “I would point out Iowa was late to get serious about redesigning our mental health system,” Branstad says. “Other states like Minnesota went from 11 institutions to one. They’ve done that. Wisconsin has reduced the number of institutions. So has Nebraska and Illinois — most of our neighboring states.”

Already last week layoff notices were sent to 28 employees at the state-run Mental Health Institute in Mount Pleasant and 53 M-H-I employees in Clarinda. Branstad says he wants to “move forward” and shift to community-based mental health services. “We haven’t made a final decision, but I have shared my philosophy and my goals to have a better system that better meets the mental health needs of Iowans and I believe makes more sense,” Branstad says.

Branstad made his comments during taping of the Iowa Press program that will air today (Sunday) at Noon, on Iowa Public Television.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak report three, recent arrests. Early this (Sunday) morning, 18-year old Cara Belle Hale, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at 106 W. Coolbaugh Street, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Hale was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

And, late Saturday night, 25-year old Mildred Helenora Douglas, and 30-year old Jeremy Ray Dilocker, (also known as “Meatball”) both of Red Oak, were arrested on charges of Public Intoxication. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The governing board for Iowa’s three public universities is cutting ties with the man who has served as its top lawyer since 2004. A June 16 memo obtained by The Associated Press shows general counsel Tom Evans will soon no longer be employed by the Iowa Board of Regents and his legal duties have been transferred to others.

Evans has been the board’s chief negotiator for contracts with labor unions and advises the regents and schools they govern on legal and human resources matters. News of his departure has surprised some colleagues but the board has refused to explain the move.

The move comes amid other personnel changes at the board’s Urbandale office, where three long-time staff members recently took advantage of an early retirement program aimed at cutting costs.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A Clive auto repair business reports that 90 percent of the vehicles on its property have been ruined by a flash flood. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Acheson Auto Works, which backs up to the Walnut Creek, was flooded early Friday, destroying about 40 vehicles. Workers plan to continue the cleanup throughout the weekend in hopes of opening on Monday.

IOWA FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa food pantries will benefit from a donation of about 44,000 pounds of fresh boneless pork loins being made by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the pork is being delivered through June 30th to local community organizations, food shelves and pantries across the state. The Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank in Mason City is one of the beneficiaries. The donation is valued at $126,800. In total, 820 cases of pork loins will be distributed.

STORY CITY, Iowa (AP) — Rescue crews have saved a man trapped in a collapsed trench as a construction site in central Iowa’s Story City. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the collapse happened at the Bethany Manor construction site Friday morning. The worker, who has not been named, was pulled out around 10 a.m. and taken to a Des Moines hospital by ambulance.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Alliant Energy has announced its intention to stop using coal as its energy source in Burlington by 2021. The Burlington Hawk Eye reports that Alliant and Burlington city officials met Friday to make the announcement.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say the Post Office in Neola sustained $10,000 damage Thursday, when an elderly woman attempting to park her vehicle stepped on the gas pedal by mistake, instead of the brake.  87-year-old Shirley Kenealy, of Neola, was not seriously hurt when her vehicle jumped over the curb and hit the corner of the building.

She was treated at the scene for complaints of pain, but did not request transport to the hospital. Damage to her vehicle was estimated at $5,000.