AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and several agriculture groups have convened to launch new efforts to conserve the monarch butterfly’s habitat across the state. Iowa State University on Monday announced its involvement in the so-called Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium with the DNR and the state Department of Agriculture, among other farmer and conservation organizations. Officials say the project employs a science-based approach to improve monarch butterfly reproduction and foster community conservation efforts.

The partnership comes after the federal government allocated $3.2 million to help save the monarch butterfly, whose population has seen a 90 percent decline in recent years. According to a news release, ISU has been tasked with leading research to develop best practices for maintaining milkweed plants in both rural and urban areas of the state.

Two accidents took place Monday, in Atlantic, with only minor injuries reported. The Police Department says just after 7:20-a.m., vehicles driven by Merle Pope, of Harlan, and Patsy Wood, of Adair, collided at 7th and Ash Streets, when Pope failed to stop at the traffic lights and ran into the Wood vehicle, which was proceeding into the intersection from the west side entrance to Wal-Mart. Damage from the impact amounted to $4,000. Wood said she bumped her head, but refused medical treatment. Police cited Pope for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

And, at around 5:30-p.m. Monday, vehicles driven by Kay Williams, of Marne, and Linda Fay, of Lewis, collided at the entrance to the Subway store on 7th Street. Both vehicles were heading eastbound when a non-contact vehicle in front of Williams’ car stopped. Williams also stopped, but Fay couldn’t stop in-time, and rear-ended the Williams vehicle, causing a total of $7,500 damage. No injuries were reported. Fay was cited for Following too Close.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers from the Democratic-majority Senate and Republican-controlled House remain at odds over education funding. A joint committee met Tuesday to try to hammer out a deal for a funding level for K-12 education for the upcoming academic year. But the committee did not immediately reach a resolution. House Republicans have advanced a plan that would provide about $100 million in additional funding, while Senate Democrats want to give schools over $200 million in additional funding.

Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, of Hiawatha, says he’ll consider more funding if Democrats would agree to modify arbitration rules for teachers. This committee cannot directly negotiate on that, but a bill proposing some changes received approval from a House subcommittee Tuesday. Democrats are unlikely to consider any change to union rules.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) – The National Transportation Safety Board has agreed to consider reopening the investigation into the Iowa plane crash that killed musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson. The Globe Gazette reports that the board has agreed to consider another investigation after receiving a letter from L.J. Coon, an experienced pilot from New England. He contended that there were other issues involving weight and balance calculations, the rate of the plane’s climb and descent, fuel gauge readings and the passenger-side rudder that the board should investigate.

In 1959, the Civil Aeronautics Board ruled that the most likely cause of the crash was pilot error, and snow was listed a secondary cause. An initial response to Coon’s information will take about two months, and then it could take up to a year to determine if the petition will be granted.

Icy roads contributed to a rollover accident this (Tuesday) morning west of Stennett, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say Margene M. Bisbee, of Carson, suffered neck and back injuries, when the 2004 Ford Expedition she was driving went out of control and rolled over at around 8:10-a.m.  The accident happened as Bisbee was traveling west on 150th Street, about one-tenth of a mile from E Avenue.

The SUV entered the north ditch and continued westbound , skidding sideways until it encountered snow in the ditch. The vehicle flipped and rolled before coming to rest on its wheels. Bisbee was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment. Her SUV sustained about $7,500 damage. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that would require employers to give time off to non-essential workers so they could attend Iowa’s presidential caucuses has received preliminary approval in the Iowa Senate.
A Senate subcommittee backed the bill Tuesday. Under the proposal, employers would be required to provide unpaid leave to workers who want to attend their precinct caucus. There are exemptions for jobs that impact public health or safety or if employers could show they would experience economic distress.

It will move on to the full committee for review later this week in the Democratic-majority Senate. Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Ben Foecke spoke in favor of the bill, saying it would provide greater access to the state’s leadoff presidential caucuses. No Iowa Republican Party officials attended the hearing.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A 36-year-old man who’d held officers at bay in a Cherokee County home has taken a plea deal. The Sioux City Journal reports that Joshua Allender pleaded guilty on Monday to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and assault on a peace officer. He’d been charged with attempted murder, assault and a weapons crime.  The newspaper says the plea agreement calls for a 10-year sentence. Allender’s sentencing is scheduled for April 13.

The charges stem from an incident Oct. 30 in Cherokee County, when officers responded to a call about a suicidal person. The officers say Allender refused to leave the home and fired a gun from an upstairs window. More than six hours later officers fired tear gas into the home, and Allender soon was in custody.

The City Council in Atlantic is set to hold public hearings on the FY 2016 Budget, FY 2016 Capital Improvement Plan, the 2015 Sewer Rehabilitation Project, and an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Southeast Urban Renewal Area. The hearings will take place during the Council’s regular meeting that begins 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall.

Interim City Administrator John Lund reports Sonntag Development, LLC is seeking $360,000 in Tax Increment Finance (TIF) funds to help with infrastructure improvements and other related costs for the proposed three-to four-million dollar project, which will feature 28-unit multi-family housing complex on property situated between East 19th and East 22nd Streets, near the Sundance Apartments, and in the Urban Renewal Area. The funds would be paid in increments, as portions of the project are completed. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee, according to Lund, “Thoroughly reviewed the request and made a recommendation for passage to the City Council.”

In other business, the Council is expected to officially appoint Jamie Arnold, with the Otto, Lawrence and Wiederstein law firm, as City Attorney. Arnold was to have been appointed on Dec. 3rd, 2014, but he had not received his paperwork to practice law from Iowa. That paperwork finally came through on Feb. 26th. Arnold was also appointed as the Assistant Cass County Attorney during last week’s Cass County Board of Supervisor’s meeting.

And, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will act on a resolution appointing John Lund as City Administrator. The title will become official on March 29th. Lund’s salary will be adjusted accordingly, to $75,000 per year. The Council held a job evaluation for Lund during a closed session on Feb. 18th, and concluded that he was qualified for the position.

A couple from Creston were arrested on assault charges Monday evening. The Creston P-D says 34-year old Nick Ward and 35-year old Rebecca Ann Ward, both of Creston, faces charges of Domestic Abuse Assault. Both were being held in Jail without bond, with Nick Ward being housed in the Union County Jail, and Rebecca Ward in the Ringgold County Jail.

And 37-year old Gerald Lynn Lawrence, Jr. of Des Moines, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. The man was wanted on two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear in court. He remains in the jail without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Getting press releases and other information about crimes and incidents from the Clarinda Police Department has come to an end. In a note to the media and public this (Tuesday) morning, Chief Keith Brothers said “Effective today (March 3, 2015) at 3:00 p.m., the records office at the Clarinda Police Department will close and cease normal operations until further notice and will not be staffed by an administrative assistant/records clerk to the police chief.”

Brothers said also “The department has had an administrative assistant/records clerk to the police chief since November of 1976, either in a full time or part time capacity and this position has served the police chief and the department well. The department’s ability to maintain accurate records and disseminate reports, etc. in a timely manner will most certainly be negatively affected.”

The chief said he accepts “Total responsibility and accountability for the problems that will result as I have been forewarned of in my recent consultations with the Iowa Police Chief’s Association concerning
administrative assistant/records clerks and their importance to departments of our size and population served.”