DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Republicans are continuing their effort to amend the state constitution to add the right to bear arms. Lawmakers debated the proposal in a House subcommittee Thursday. They did not vote to move the measure forward, instead pledging to have more discussions. The proposal from House Republicans would add language to the Iowa Constitution stating that the right to “acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms to defend life and liberty” cannot be denied.

Changing the state constitution is a multi-step process, which would require approval by the current General Assembly and then by the one elected in 2014. After that it would go to Iowa voters. A similar bill was passed in the GOP-majority Iowa House in 2012 but did not advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

An Atlantic man was arrested Wednesday on a shoplifting charge. The Atlantic Police Department reports 27-year old Jacky Walters was booked into the Cass County Jail on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree.

Officials with PRIDE (the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise) have announced two legislative coffees will be held in Cass County during the 2014 legislative session. The first is at 8 a.m. Saturday, February 22, at the Griswold Public Library, 505 Main Street. The City of Cumberland is the second host on Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m. at the Fire Station, 216 Main Street.

PRIDE President Kenner Baxter says the coffees “Are opportunities to have face-to-face dialogue with our Iowa legislators. ” Usually, those legislators in attendance include Senators Hubert Houser and Jake Chapman, as well as Representatives Jack Drake and Clel Baudler.

P.R.I.D.E. is the economic development organization that works on behalf of communities, businesses, and citizens from Cumberland, Lewis, and Marne for Southwest Iowa development. For additional information, or to join P.R.I.D.E., please contact Kenner Baxter, president, at 781-2395, or Clarke Gerlock, vice-president, at 712-774-5476.

It’s time once again to determine which restaurant makes the best burger in Iowa. The 5th Annual “Iowa’s Best Burger” contest is looking for nominations. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it is gourmet or down-home style.

All nominations must be in the IBIC office by 5-pm on March 17th and nominations begin today (Thursday). The entries need to be 100 percent all beef burgers. The contest rules and nomination forms can be found online at www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Foundation Facebook page or text Beef to 313131 and receive information on your cell phone.

The more nominations a burger receives, the better the chances it will make the top ten list announced in late March. Finalists will receive a certificate and be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The winner will be announced the first week of May to kickoff Beef Month. Last year, the Iowa Beef Industry Council received 6,320 nominations for 349 restaurants. The winner was the 61 Chop House, in Mediapolis. Among the top 10 finishers was Sam’s Sodas and Sandwhiches in Carroll, and the Elm’s Club, in Creston.