DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Plans to require radon testing in schools statewide have been sidelined but supporters of the idea are emboldened that a bill remains alive this legislative session. Republican lawmakers and school officials worry positive tests would open districts and the state up to serious liability and expensive repairs. They supported a bill that surveys schools to see how many have tested for the natural occurring gas that seeps out of soil into buildings.

Supporters of the Democratic-led legislation say delaying testing when radon is considered a serious risk in Iowa by the Environmental Protection Agency is irresponsible. Republican leaders counter that it makes more sense to assess the problem then deal with how to pay for fixing buildings to keep if it’s needed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state of Iowa has paid more than $282,000 in secret settlements to six former employees over the last three years. The Des Moines Register reports that all were asked to sign confidentiality agreements that would have kept the settlements out of public view. The settlements were shuffled through state agencies, avoiding the typical process of being approved by and made public through the Iowa State Appeal Board. They were obtained through Iowa’s open-records law.

The employees held positions ranging from a public health supervisor to a design engineer. They were considered merit-based employees, which gives them the ability to move into other available state jobs ahead of workers with less experience. The workers contend they would have kept their jobs if the state hadn’t violated workplace employment practices.

Authorities in Council Bluffs have released the name of the Police Officer who fired his weapon at fleeing suspect. The Omaha World-Herald says Officer Aaron Gutierrez was chasing 46-year old suspect Dudie J. Rose, and fired one round from his service weapon, but missed Rose, who was believed to be carrying a knife and under the influence of a controlled substance. Rose was transported to Mercy Hospital after his arrest, when he went into a seizure and lost consciousness. He’s been charged with Possession of Stolen Property.

The incident leading up to Rose’ arrest at around 5:30-p.m. Friday began after authorities received a report of a reckless driver. Officer Gutierrez saw the suspect vehicle – a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup — and initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle, which was reported stolen out of Omaha on Feb 3rd,  sped-off.   Rose finally stopped the truck it in the 100 block of North 17th Street, but he then took off on foot. After the man was found behind a garage in the 1600 block of Avenue A, the officer fired at him, but missed. The pickup was taken into evidence.

The incident and officers’ actions remains under investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Authorities in Montgomery County report the arrest early this (Sunday) morning of a Red Oak man. According to Red Oak Police, 57-year old William Wayne Elliott, of Red Oak, was arrested near north 2nd and Cherry Streets at around 2:35-a.m.   Elliott was charged with Driving While Barred. He also received a warning for having an insufficient number of headlights on his vehicle.

Elliott was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

A public hearing will be held in Council Bluffs at 10-a.m. Monday, with regard to the proposed Fiscal Year 2015 Pottawattamie County Budget, which calls for an increase of $1.25 per thousand dollars assessed property valuations in the cities and $1.38 in the rural areas. The Daily NonPareil says rising costs of daily operations and a state-mandated reduction in commercial property tax bills are among reasons given by Pottawattamie County Supervisors for proposed increases in the county’s tax levies. The meeting takes place in the second floor meeting room at the Pott. County Courthouse.

Those factors, coupled with a state-mandated reduction in the property tax rollback for residential property, will likely result in higher tax bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. The county’s budget proposal calls for the tax levy to increase from the current $7.67 per $1,000 of taxable valuation to $8.92 for the coming fiscal year. If the budget is approved, those who live outside a community’s city limits would see the property tax levy increase from $10.87 per $1,000 in taxable valuation to $12.25.

For the fiscal year beginning July 1, property taxes will be based on 54.4 percent of a property’s assessed value. With the levy increase and the reduction of the rollback, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $485 in county taxes, compared to $405 this year. The owner of a $200,000 home will pay $970 in county taxes, compared to $810 this year, while the owner of a $300,000 home will pay $1,455 in county taxes, compared to $1,215 this year.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Protesters have gathered at the Iowa Air National Guard Base in Des Moines to decry the use of drones in war. The Saturday morning rally was organized by the Midwest Veterans for Peace and Catholic Workers.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa City Community School District plans to eliminate 35 teacher positions and at least one administrator position for the upcoming school year as it looks to cut spending. Superintendent Stephen Murley tells the Iowa City Press-Citizen that the district intends to reduce staff positions by not filling open spots after teachers and staff retire, and that 47 teachers already have announced plans to do so after this school year.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Council Bluffs. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation says the shooting occurred Friday evening, when a Council Bluffs officer fired his gun at a suspect during a foot chase, missing the suspect. No injuries were reported from the shooting.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — DeAndre Kane scored 17 points, Georges Niang added 13 and Number 16 Iowa State rallied to beat Baylor 74-65 on Saturday night to win its first Big 12 tournament title since 2000. Naz Long and Dustin Hogue had 12 points apiece, and Big 12 player of the year Melvin Ejim finished with 10 points and nine rebounds for the fourth-seeded Cyclones in Kansas City.