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

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The top Democrat at the statehouse says a wide-ranging bill that’s eligible for debate in the senate needs “additional work” before senators would consider making changes in the state’s gun laws. “There are people in law enforcement that have suggested they see some things that could be significant improvements in our current law.” That’s Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs. Gronstal says establishing a uniform license for permits to carry a concealed weapon seems most likely, along with a move to create a statewide database of permit holders.

“So that law enforcement in Pottawattamie County would know something from Scott County and would be able to make that uniform. Also, that if somebody was stopped, they could quickly ascertain whether or not that person did have a legal permit,” Gronstal says. “So I think there are some law enforcement people working on whether they can come up with some compromise on that piece of legislation, but all of that is a work in progress at the moment.”

Gronstal says another bill that would get rid of the state’s ban on “silencers” which suppress the sound of a gunshot likely could pass the Senate. The House — on March 10th — passed a bill that dealt with suppressors and concealed weapons permits as well as a collection of other gun-related issues. Critics are calling for senators to shelve that bill because one section of it would essentially do away with Iowa’s three-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun. Gronstal isn’t addressing that specific concern, but he offers this:

“I think it’s unlikely we will consider the House bill.” Gronstal says senators are, instead, working on rewriting their own bill. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, is a gun rights advocate who argues there’s no three-day waiting period in Iowa for the purchase of “long” guns, like rifles and shotguns, so there’s no reason to have it for handguns.

In 2010 the legislature made significant changes that made it easier for Iowans to acquire a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Thousands of Iowans applied for and got a permit, which lasts for five years. That means tens of thousands of those permits will come up for renewal in 2016 and Windschitl says legislators should at least take steps to make the renewal process smoother.

“And make sure the sheriffs were having the training requirements in the legislation they felt were necessary for public safety and, at the same time, making sure we weren’t being too stringent or restrictive on Iowans exercising their Second Amendment rights,” Windschitl says. Windschitl is a trained gunsmith who works for the Union Pacific Railroad AND for his family’s gun shop in Missouri Valley.

(Radio Iowa)

This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa as residents statewide are encouraged to be prepared for spring and summer storms. Each day of the week will focus on a different severe weather topic, and Mike McClure with the National Weather Service says today (Monday) they’re calling attention to the dangers of flash flooding. “In any poor drainage areas or near creeks, streams and rivers, it’s one of those great ideas to be prepared ahead of time. What would you do in case of flash flooding? Where would you go? Get your preparedness in order right now, ahead of time.” Other topics on the calendar for this week include severe thunderstorms, family preparedness and tornadoes, with a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday morning.

McClure says this is also the time to refresh yourself on the difference between a warning, which means severe weather is occurring or imminent, versus a watch, which means conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather. “It’s not an exact science, so the goal here is to not get locked in on the counties that are in a watch, because severe weather doesn’t fall nicely and neatly, unfortunately, as we’d like it to and that’s why we say, if you’re in or near a watch area be prepared and stay alert.”

The first tornado reported in Iowa last year happened in late March causing minor damage in Clarke County, with a statewide total last year of 55 tornadoes, the highest since 2008.

(Iowa News Service)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A hotel in western Iowa had to be evacuated for several hours after carbon monoxide levels spiked in the pool area and several guests became dizzy. KETV reports two people were taken to the hospital for treatment and two others needed oxygen at the Council Bluffs hotel.

Firefighters say carbon monoxide levels in the pool area of the Quality Inn and Suites motel were dangerously high Sunday. Authorities say a malfunctioning pool heater appears to be the source. Guests were allowed back in the hotel after the carbon monoxide was cleared out.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill in the Iowa Legislature would expand some time-off entitlements for adoptive parents. The legislation would essentially require an employer that offers some form of paid time off or other entitlements for the birth of a child to do the same for an employee who’s adopted a child in the past 12 months. The Senate has passed the measure, and supporters are pushing it in the House.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A hotel in western Iowa had to be evacuated for several hours yesterday after carbon monoxide levels spiked in the pool area and several guests became dizzy. Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment and two others needed oxygen at the Council Bluffs hotel. Guests were allowed back in after the carbon monoxide was cleared out.

(Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com )

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 46-year-old Texas man has been arrested in connection with a scheme to collect a multimillion-dollar Hot Lotto jackpot that was won in 2010. Earlier this year, an Iowa man who worked for a lottery company was arrested after authorities say he violated state law when he bought the $14.3 million ticket and then tried to get others to help him claim it. Authorities say the Texas man will be brought to Iowa to face fraud charges.

SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Wiltjer scored 24 points and the second-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 87-68 win over No. 7 seed Iowa. The Hawkeyes couldn’t overcome the Bullsdogs’ efficient offensive performance in the first 20 minutes of yesterday’s game. Jared Uthoff led Iowa with 20, and Aaron White added 19.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County said Sunday, a Union County man sought by sheriff’s deputies in that county, was arrested Thursday night  on charges that include OWI/2nd offense and Driving While Suspended. 38-year old Robert Hiatt, of Creston,  was taken into custody just before midnight and brought to the Adams County jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In Iowa, adoptive parents are closely watching a bill in the Legislature that would expand some time-off entitlements when they bring a child home. The legislation would essentially require an employer that offers some forms of paid time off or other entitlements for the birth of a child to do the same for an employee who’s adopted a child in the past 12 months.

The Senate passed the measure Thursday. Rep. Joel Fry, a Republican from Osceola, is seeking bipartisan support in the House. Most people in the country rely on private benefits or unpaid leave through federal law for the birth or adoption of a child. Iowa could become one of the only states requiring some time-off entitlements for adoptive parents.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man was killed in a two-vehicle crash while his brother was driving this weekend, and four others were hurt. Police say the crash happened shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday,  in northeast Omaha. A Chevrolet Impala was struck by a Buick Lucerne in the intersection of 30th and Lake streets. The Chevrolet, which was driving faster than the 30 mph limit, spun and hit a metal pole.

21-year old Nickales Bywater of Pacific Junction, was riding in the backseat of the Chevrolet before the crash. He was critically hurt and died at the hospital. The Chevrolet was driven by 19-year-old Jordan Bywater of Council Bluffs. He and two other people were injured in the crash.

A passenger in the Buick sustained minor injuries and the driver wasn’t hurt.

One person was killed and two others, all from southeast Iowa were injured, during a crash early this (Sunday) morning east of Stanton, in Montgomery County. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora, 23-year old Brandon L. Perez, of Ft. Madison, who was wearing a seat belt, died in the crash just west of Viking Lake State Park. Two passengers, 30-year old Hilary J. Knox, and a 3-year old child, both from Ft. Madison, were ejected from the vehicle as it rolled over. Neither were wearing their seat belts. Both were flown by LifeNet Helicopter to hospitals in Nebraska. Knox was flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while the child was flown to Childrens Methodist Hospital.

The Patrol says the car was traveling west on Highway 34 near Q Avenue at around 2:10-a.m., when the wheels slipped off onto the shoulder. Perez over-corrected, causing the vehicle to cross the road and enter the south ditch where it rolled several times before coming to rest on its top.

Alcohol is believed to have played a role in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Five people suffered minor injuries Saturday, when two vehicles, one of them a Red Oak Police cruiser, collided at around 3:45-p.m. The Red Oak Police Department reports Reserve Police Officer Colin M. Weaver was traveling east on Highway 34 near the intersection with Eastern Avenue, when he saw a vehicle going in the opposite direction commit a traffic infraction. When Weaver attempted to negotiate a U-turn to initiate a traffic stop, the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria he was driving collided with a 200o Ford Focus that was traveling behind him that was driven by Angela Booker, of Stanton.

Four people in the Focus were transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for examination of possible, minor injuries. They were treated and later released. Reserve Officer Weaver was also transported to the hospital for examination of possible, minor injuries and toxicology screenings. He was also, later released.

Both vehicles sustained disabling damage during the collision, and will most likely be deemed a total loss. Red Oak Fire and Rescue and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. The accident remains under investigation, by the Iowa State Patrol.