A hearing will be held this (Monday) morning, on requests for a change of venue and a continuance (postponement), along with the waiving of a speedy trial, for an Atlantic woman accused of faking her daughter’s cancer by administering drugs that could have potentially harmed the girl. The hearing for 30-year old Leatha Slauson is scheduled to begin at 9-a.m., in Cass County District Court. If Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner’s motion, and one made last month by Slauson’s attorney to have her trial moved out of Cass County are denied, the woman’s trial will begin Wednesday.

In last month’s motion for a Change of Venue, Slauson Attorney Jaz Mez said the woman’s trial should be moved due to extensive media coverage, gossip, rumors and speculation by residents in Cass County that would make selecting a fair and impartial jury impossible. Earlier, Mez had said Slauson was competent to stand trial, but unable to tell right from wrong. Mez is expected to use a defense of “Diminished Responsibility” when her case comes before a jury.

Authorities say Slauson lied about her daughter having cancer, inserted a feeding tube into the 5-year-old girl and gave her drugs and cannabis oils. Slauson has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including assault, child endangerment and theft by deception.

A woman who is no stranger to law enforcement, was arrested again Sunday evening, in Montgomery County. 44-year old Shelby Joann Olivares, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. The woman is known to have at least five different aliases.
Olivares was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where she was being held this (Monday) morning, without bond.

One person was hurt during a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. The Omaha World-Herald reports the unidentified 35-year old man, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported by helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center. The accident happened at around 1-p.m. near the intersection of 270th Street and Juniper Road.

Additional details are currently not available.

A state task force assigned to review the assessments used to schools is recommending that the state adopt what are called the “Smarter Balanced” assessments. Iowa Department of Education spokesperson, Staci Hupp Ballard, says the assessments are used for public and accredited non-public schools, and the Smarter Balanced assessment was developed by a group of states. “That have the goal to ensure that all students — regardless of their background– leave high school prepared for success in college or career training,” Ballard says.

“And the consortium belief is that a high-quality assessment system can raise student achievement largely by providing teachers and schools the information and tools that they need to improve teaching and learning.” Ballard says the task force had several reasons for recommending the Smarter Balanced assessment. She says it is often referred to as “much more than a test,” and is considered more like a system, because it includes an annual test along with an optional classroom level tests that teachers can give to gauge student progress through the year.

Ballard says administrators, teachers and other gave their input to the task force. “When teachers talk about the advantages of Smarter Balance, it seems it’s much more than a test to them. It seems like it provides them helpful information to try to really pinpoint where a student is versus where a student is expected to be at a particular grade level,” Ballard says. The next step will be in the hands of lawmakers. “From now through January, the task force will work on a final report to the legislature. There’s a meeting scheduled for December 10th, and ultimately lawmakers will be charged with deciding whether or not to go with this recommendation,” Ballard says.

Iowa students currently take the Iowa Assessments in grades 3-8 and 11 in math and reading to meet state and federal accountability laws. The Iowa Assessments are developed and administered by Iowa Testing Programs at the University of Iowa. The Legislature opened the door for a new assessment process in 2013 by creating the Assessment Task Force.

(Radio Iowa)