(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District will meet 4:45-p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, for the purpose of sharing Collective Bargaining Proposals with the District’s Non-Certified Staff Collective Bargaining Unit. The meeting takes place in the District’s Central Office (1406 SW 7th Street) inside the Achievement Center. The meeting is open to the public.

During the session, the Atlantic Employee Association, representing the Non-Certified Staff, will present its initial contract proposal between the Association and the Board of Education, for the 2023-24 school year. That will be followed by the Atlantic Board of Education presenting its initial contract proposal between the Employee Association and the Board of Education.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest school district plans to resume classes today (Thursday) after a cybersecurity attack on Monday forced the cancelling of school for 33-thousand students. Des Moines Public Schools Interim superintendent Matt Smith says the district is in the restoration-and-recovery phase and it’s still not known if students’ or families’ personal data was leaked.  “That’s what all of our diagnostics checks will actually let us know,” Smith says, “and so once we get those forensics back, we’ll have a lot more of a confident idea of anything that has or has not happened.” Smith says the district-wide computer system that was evidently hacked significantly impacts a wide range of student services.

“It impacts our routing system to make sure that we are picking up students at the right spot at the right time, that we know who’s on our bus and who’s not,” Smith says. “It impacts our food and nutrition system to make sure that we are supplying the meals necessary for all of our students.” Cedar Rapids schools were hit by a cyberattack last year and the state’s second-largest district paid an undisclosed sum in ransom after losing a week of summer school.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – The Marketplace open enrollment period for people who don’t have health insurance ends this weekend. Regional Administrator Sharon Graham (Gram) says there’s still time to sign up. “It’s ending on January 15th. So that’s this Sunday, January 15th. And that will be the last time that people can enroll in quality, affordable health coverage for this year, with coverage effective on February 1st,” Graham says. She says a new law provides more help for those seeking insurance. “And they may find that they’re available for even more financial assistance than before. And when you go to our at healthcare.gov, it’s a really straightforward application. You’ll need some information that includes, for example, your family size and your tax records, because you’ll need to enter your income,” she says.

Graham says if you are not comfortable signing up online — you can call 800-318-8259. “That number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and even has up to 200 different languages available for people. And then lastly, if people do want an option to meet with somebody face to face, we have counselors who are right there in the community called navigators and assisters,” according to Graham. “And you can find one right there in your community by going to healthcare.gov and selecting a button that says ‘Find Local Help’, and then you can find a navigator in your community to help you sign up too.”

She says the window to sign up closes Sunday. “After January 15th, it’s only with based on an exceptional circumstance. like perhaps if you move for example, or if you have a situation change in your family, that you might be able to sign up for health coverage,” she says.

She says you should go to healthcare.gov as soon as you can and review the options available before the deadline.

(Radio Iowa)  – State Treasurer Roby Smith recited his oath of office in a ceremony at the Iowa Capitol Wednesday afternoon. “As your state treasurer, I will advocate for the taxpayer, keep the money safe and stand up to any overreach by the federal government or the IRS,” Smith said. “It is an honor to be your state banker.” Smith’s term officially began January 1st.

“It’s like the movie ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'” Smith said. “Mr. Smith goes to Des Moines to be your state treasurer.”Smith defeated Democrat Mike Fitzgerald, the nation’s longest serving state treasurer. “He served the State of Iowa for 40 years and I want to thank him and his staff,” Smith said. “They have been nothing but gracious in the transition and I wanted to thank him now.” Smith’s margin of victory was about two-and-a-half points. Smith credits Republican Governor Kim Reynolds for leading him and other statewide G-O-P candidates to victory.

“Thank you for winning by 19 points,” Smith said and the crowd laughed. “I think that helped everybody, including me.” Smith, who’s from Davenport, served a dozen years in the Iowa Senate. He’s the first Republican from Scott County to win statewide office in nearly 50 years. Former Scott County Supervisor Roger Jepsen was elected to one term in the U.S. Senate in 1978 and lost his 1984 race for reelection.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, held their first regularly scheduled meeting of the New Year.In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber spoke on the topics of Academic Excellence, Team Culture, District Operations, and the priorities Governor Reynolds’ outline in her Condition of the State address, Tuesday evening.

Mr. Barber said “As expected, her number one priority is to get some type of Educational Savings Account (ESA) passed. During the 2022 season,” he said, “she extended the session to get this passed. One can infer,” according to Barber, “that she will be more assertive in getting this priority passed in the upcoming session. Besides this priority,” he said, “Comments around creating flexibility with categorical funding and a look at current code requirements, are something she noted.” Steve Barber added that the Governor “Praised the work based learning and registered apprentice improvement going on in the State.”

With regard to District Operations, he said during the Holiday break, Camblin Mechanical installed new HVAC units in the Washington building, as part of the Phase II Air Quality Project that were removed based on the cost of the Phase II proposal. Additional items, according to Mr. Barber, will be completed this Summer to complete the air quality in the Washington building.

Snapshot of the ACSD (Zoom) School Board mtg. (Left to right: Nick Hunt, Board President Laura McLean; Superintendent Steve Barber.

He mentioned also, that part of the District’s Achievement Center has been completed for softball and baseball to use, when the fields are not available. Right now, he said, the Achievement Center meets the needs of three program: Softball, baseball and archery. By moving the batting cage from the Schuler Gymnasium to the Achievement Center, more time is freed-up for other activities in the gym.

And, Steve Barber told the School Board the Calendar Committee has started the process of looking into next year’s school calendar (2023-24). They added a couple of parents to the Committee to ensure their their feedback is used in developing the calendar for next year. The timeline, he said, is to provide options for staff feedback, present the committee’s ideas to the Board next month (February), and to have a public hearing and action on approving the Calendar, in March.

With regard to the Academic Excellence portion of his report, Mr. Barber mentioned the District continues to work with business partners, Iowa Workforce Development, and the Department of Labor, to get a registered Welding Program approved. A list of skills has been completed that will be taught and learned in the instruction provided by the school, and a framework for the business sponsors. The goal, he said, is to get the program approved still, this month.

He said also, Senator Joni Ernst will be touring the Achievement Center 2:30-p.m. Tuesday, January 17th. There, she will observe the Alternative Programs Atlantic offers to its students and career opportunities available now, and the plan for the future. Efforts are also in the works to register the District for college career fairs to promote Atlantic Schools, Community and potential teachers, to fill vacancies the District has.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approve two resignations: Lisa Krogman, K-1st Reading Support (at the end of the 2022-23 school year), and Mark Andersen, Assistant Boys Soccer Coach. Mr. Barber noted Mrs. Krogman is retiring after 32-years of service to the District. He said she will be missed. The Board also acted to approve several of Superintendent Steve Barber’s Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment. Those approved include: Aya Hamanaka, English Language Learn (ELL) Teacher; Savannah Bell, Title 1 Teacher; Cale Roller, Volunteer Wrestling Coach; Gaylord Schelling, Interim Head Baseball Coach; Sam Kennedy, Preschool Bus Monitor; Jenny Madsen, Mentor, and, Hannah Misner, Long-Term Substitute.

The Board passed a Resolution to consider participation in the ISL (Instructional Support Levy), and the setting of a Public Hearing for the Board’s Work Session on February 22nd at 5:30-p.m. By passing the Resolution, the District is eligible to receive $748,572 for FY 2023; and, they passed a Resolution re: Public Purpose Expenditures in the amount of $3,000 in addition to $5,000 that was approved in Aug., 2022. The Board approved a two-year Driver’s Education Contract with Deluxe Driving Academy (Jan. 2023-Dec. 2024), at a proposed rate of $350 per student, and $335 for individuals who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

The Atlantic School Board also approved Fall 2023 Coaching Contracts for:

An application to the SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) for Allowable Growth in the amount of $519,614, for At-Risk/Dropout Prevention, was approved. The funds are used to help fund the District’s CCEOC Alternative program, and to allow support services for students at all levels. Superintendent Barber says the work that is done in the college and career readiness are enhances with these funds. And, finally, the Board approving a $15,000 Architect/Engineer Contract with Snyder and Associates, to complete the scope of work outlined in a proposal for a High School Storage Shed.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Wednesday afternoon of 50-year-old Kevin Lee Ward of Urbandale. Ward was arrested at approximately 3:00 p.m. on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Ward was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The head of the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission says a ban on gas stoves is being considered as evidence mounts of potential risks to human health. A study released last month found that 13-percent of childhood asthma cases nationwide can be blamed on indoor use of gas stoves. Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says the proposed ban is absurd.

“I know many families who cook with gas, who heat their homes with gas. To ban gas stoves is just a completely out of touch idea,” Hinson says. “It goes right along with a lot of the other things we’ve seen come out of this administration. They want to control the cars we drive. They want to control what we eat, how it’s grown, and now even the way Iowans are cooking their food.” Hinson says the “nonsense” ban would have a big impact on many Iowans as roughly four in every ten Iowa households cooks on gas stoves.

“It will disproportionately hurt our rural and low-income Americans,” she says. “We are focused on doing what the American people want us to do. The Biden Administration should be focused on that. They should be focused on reducing inflation, securing the border, focusing on common-sense energy policies, not on banning gas stoves, it’s a ridiculous idea.”

The White House on Wednesday asserted that President Joe Biden does not support a ban on gas stoves.

A report from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says fine natural gas particulates have also been linked with higher rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The American Gas Association has pushed back on the ban proposal, saying that gas stove emissions are similar to those created when cooking with electric stoves.

(Radio Iowa) -The Iowa Court of appeals has upheld a Missouri truck driver’s drug conviction for marijuana he obtained with a medical card from his home state.

Commercial truck driver Darryl Hurtt was charged with of possession of a controlled substance after an officer noticed the smell of marijuana coming from his truck during a stop at a weight station. Hurtt said he legally got the drug from a dispensary in Missouri. He said denying him its use infringes on his right to freely travel from one state to another.

The Court of Appeals noted Iowa allows the use of some of medical marijuana products — but Hurtt possessed ‘blunts’ that are smoked — and Iowa law specifically prohibits smoking medical marijuana. The Court said it is not persuaded Iowa’s regulation of controlled substances directly impairs Hurtt’s right to come into or leave the state.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of the man convicted of killing a Fort Doge pastor.

A jury convicted Joshua Pendleton of first-degree murder in the death of Pastor Allen Henderson in 2019 outside St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. Pendleton’s appeal said his statements to law enforcement that day should have been suppressed and that there was not enough evidence for the first-degree murder conviction.

The state Judicial Building.

The Iowa Court of Appeals ruling says that Pendleton had struggled with schizophrenia for at least fifteen years — but it was not clear cut that the schizophrenia impacted his ability to waive his right to remain silent. It says Pendleton voluntarily answered questions without being coerced by the police — and there was sufficient evidence to support the murder conviction.

Here’s the ruling: State_v_Pendleton PDF

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen, from Harlan, says there’s a critical shortage of Iowa attorneys who’ll represent indigent defendants and it’s leading to trial delays. “This is a crisis in nearly every rural and urban county in the state of Iowa,” Christensen said. “…Delayed justice for the defendants, the victims and the community.”

According to Christensen, there are only four contract attorneys in Shelby County where she lives and, across the state, there are only 600 lawyers willing to represent indigent defendants. .”That’s just not enough attorneys to provide the constitutional responsibility of providing legal counsel to indigent criminal defendants,” Christensen said. “How can it be when the five year average for criminal filings in Shelby County alone is 225 a year?”

Christensen, who discussed the issue during her annual “Condition of the Judiciary” address today (Wednesday), said attorneys tell her the shortage is even worse in juvenile court. “Maybe it’s time for the kiddo to go home. It’ll have to wait. Maybe it’s time to remove a child from a dangerous situation? That, too, may very well have to wait,” Christensen said. “Either way, this crisis has a profound impact on Iowa’s youth and families when we cannot hold timely hearings due to the unavailability of lawyers.”

Chief Justice Susan Christensen. (IPBS photo)

Christensen is calling on legislators to increase the hourly pay for attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants — and for paying them for mileage as many represent clients in several counties, sometimes on the same day. Christensen has issued an order giving judges discretion to hold hearings online rather than in-person to deal with some of the mileage challenges contract attorneys face, particularly in rural Iowa.

Christensen told legislators only 12% of Iowa attorneys are willing to represent indigent defendants. Christensen also told lawmakers she’s appointed a task force to examine how to address the shortage of court reporters. The chief justice said an accurate transcript of hearings and trial is critical to delivering justice, but there’s a growing number of retirements and fewer people entering the profession.