A bill has been introduced in the Iowa House that ultimately would allow Iowa schools to start earlier in August, something Governor Terry Branstad is trying to stop. Branstad favors tying the school start date to the week in which September 1st falls, but Representative Ron Jorgensen, of Sioux City, says that’s a decision for local school officials, not the state to make.  “I’ve just been in support of local conrol and if the focus is just totally on education, I think that’s the way we should look at it.”

Branstad argues Iowa’s tourist attractions like the State Fair lose visitors, and teenage employees, when schools start classes in early August. Jorgensen is the lead sponsor of a bill that would give school officials unlimited local authority to set the first day of the school year.  “This would eliminate the waiver requirement for school districts and allow the school districts to set their own start date,” Jorgensen says.

Under current law, Iowa schools are supposed to start during the week in which September 1st falls, but school districts can apply for a waiver from the later start date. The Iowa Department of Education has automatically granted those waivers, but in mid-December the agency’s director announced schools would have to “adequately demonstrate” starting school at the end of August would have a “negative educational impact” on students.

Advocates of starting earlier in August say it allows students to take end-of-semester tests before the New Years break. Jorgensen says there’s also a need to coordinate the schedule with Iowa colleges, because many high schoolers are already taking college courses. “And most of those colleges will start the second or third week of August also,” Jorgensen says.

Jorgensen, a former school board member, is a Republican and he was the main sponsor of Branstad’s education reform plan that cleared the legislature last year. Jorgensen is also chairman of the House Education Committee and he plans to bring his bill up for debate “as soon as possible.” There are already a dozen co-sponsors of Jorgensen’s bill to essentially eliminate any state limit on when schools can start.

(Radio Iowa)

Three people were arrested recently, in Glenwood. Authorities say 21-year old Nicholas Stewart, of Pacific Junction was arrested Saturday, for OWI 1st offense. His bond set at $1000. That same day, 20-year old Jeffrey Reeve, of Glenwood was arrested for Violation of a No Contact order. His bond was set at $300.

And today (Monday), 41-year old Travis Batten, of Glenwood was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Seventeen-year-old Xavier Scarlett says he notices eyes following him whenever he enters a store or whenever he’s on the streets at night. He’s president of his Iowa high school’s National Honor Society and captain of the basketball team, but Scarlett told the Sioux City Journal that he’s still thought of as a black, male teen who must be watched carefully.

He says he wants to follow in the footsteps of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  Scarlett was scheduled to be one of the featured speakers at Monday evening’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

Scartlett says civil rights “isn’t a black issue. It’s a human issue.”

The Atlantic Police Department report one arrest and an accident occurred last Friday.  19-year old Amanda Cooper, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for OWI 1st Offense. Cooper was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, an accident Friday afternoon at 8th and Mulberry Streets resulted in one-person being sent to the hospital, and about $3,500 damage. Officials say vehicles driven by Emily Claussen, of Anita and Nicole Martin, of Atlantic, collided at around 3:45-p.m.  The accident happened when Claussen — who was traveling east on 8th Street -failed to stop at the stop sign and hit Martin’s vehicle, which was traveling south on Mulberry. A passenger in Martin’s vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to CCMH by private vehicle. Claussen was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Shenandoah man was arrested last week on an explosives and drug charges. 42-year old Craig Edward Wallace was arrested Jan. 12th for: Possession of an Explosive Device with Intent; Possession of a Controlled Substance/Precursor; Unauthorized Possession of an Offensive Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs.

Also arrested on Jan. 12th, was 28-year old Katherine Elizabeth Lynn, of Shenandoah. She faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unauthorized Possession of an Offensive Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug.