COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents has named a Montana man as superintendent of the state’s schools for the deaf and sight impaired. The regents announced Wednesday the board had selected Steven J. Gettel to head the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton.

Gettel is currently superintendent of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. He’s been in that position since 2001. He will replace Patrick Clancy, who announced his resignation last December.

There were no injuries and no citations issued following an accident Wednesday morning, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, vehicles driven by 20-year old Shannon Mae Biggerstaff, of Red Oak, and 81-year old Russell Brink, of Farragut, were headed south in the turning lane, and stopped at the intersection of Broadway  and Oak Streets. As an eastbound semi was making a turn northbound, Biggerstaff backed-up her 1994 Chevy pickup to avoid being struck by the semi. In the process, her truck backed into Brink’s 2014 Ford Escape.

Since Biggerstaff’s truck had a hitch on the back, it did not sustain any damage. Brink’s SUV however sustained $2,000 damage during the mishap.

Officials with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation announced Wednesday they are willing to commit $1 million for a planned community center located at the Mills County Fairgrounds in Malvern. According to the Daily NonPareil, the 16,000-square-foot building to house the Mills County Extension and Outreach offices, and it will serve as a center for the county and region. The building, with a maximum seating capacity for 400 people, is the first climate-controlled facility on the fairgrounds.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked Iowa transportation officials for permission to build a temporary memorial tombstone that they say will honor hundreds of turkeys killed in a recent truck crash. Ankeny resident and PETA member Alex Moore says in a letter dated Tuesday that he wants to erect the 10-foot structure in remembrance of more than 500 turkeys killed in a crash April 12th in Sioux City. The truck transporting the animals overturned.

Moore says in the letter that the tombstone, which would be up for a month, would promote a meat-free diet as well as safe driving. The tombstone would be provided by PETA. The letter is addressed to Highway Division Director John Adam.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would end greyhound racing in Council Bluffs but permits racing to continue in Dubuque is scheduled to be considered this (Thursday) morning by a Senate subcommittee. A bill was introduced late Wednesday that would pay out $72 million to the industry over seven years. Mystique Casino in Dubuque would pay $7 million over seven years and Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs casino would pay $65 million over seven years. The bill would end live racing in Council Bluffs on December 31st, 2015.

The Iowa Greyhound Association would be allowed to negotiate a five-year lease to manage racing at the Dubuque track but Cedar Falls Democratic Senator Jeff Danielson says racing would end there too if it’s not profitable. He says the bill has broad bipartisan support.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House and Senate have approved an education budget that should let higher education officials freeze tuition for a second-straight year. The Des Moines Register reports both chambers approved a $986.1 budget last night and sent the measure to Governor Terry Branstad.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Floyd County officials have revoked the appointments of two members of its veterans affairs commission. The Floyd County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to remove Ron Munshower and Sandra Paul from the Floyd County Veterans Affairs Commission because of alleged violations to the state’s open meetings law. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports a former commissioner filed a complaint about Munshower and Paul in March to the Iowa Public Information Board.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Police in Marshalltown are investigating the use of a BB gun near an elementary school. Captain Brian Batterson with the Marshalltown Police Department tells KCCI an unidentified person shot a BB gun yesterday morning that hit the window of a street sweeper. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A principal says two middle school students in Burlington were suspended for writing song lyrics in class that included references to gangs and killing people. The Hawk Eye reports police were sent to Aldo Leopold Middle School April 7th after a teacher discovered two 13-year-old students’ lyrics. Local police say they took no action because a crime had not been committed.

Authorities in southwest Iowa are investigating the circumstances surrounding a death in Taylor County. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) says on Wednesday (April 23rd), the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call indicating a shooting had occurred. Authorities arrived on scene and identified the body of an adult male who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. The individual was transported to Heartland Medical Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri where he died.

An investigation into the shooting death is ongoing by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Identification of the individual is being withheld pending family notification. An autopsy is pending at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.