DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Legislation to boost Iowa’s minimum wage has earned preliminary approval in the state Senate. A bill that would gradually increase the minimum wage in the state to $10.10 an hour won backing in a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. But supporters in the Democratic-majority Senate said there is no Republican interest in the effort. That means the bill may have a tough time advancing in the GOP-controlled House.

Currently, the minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25 an hour. Supporters of the bill argued it would help low-income families and would reduce dependence on public benefit programs. Business groups opposing the bill said it could mean that employers would fire workers or reduce their hours.

Democratic Sen. William Dotzler, of Waterloo, said he’d be open to amending the bill to win Republican support.

Police in Harlan report the arrest on Monday of 18-year old William Stanton, of Harlan. Stanton was taken into custody after officers responded to a report a possible overdose. He was brought to Myrtue Medical Center and, after being medically cleared, was transported to the Shelby County Jail on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs.

The H-PD reports also, 48-year old Rosemary Yoder, of Harlan, was arrested Sunday, after officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, Yoder was brought to the Shelby County jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

Members of the Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board met Monday evening in Elk Horn. Superintendent Dean Schnoes said they voted to approve a contract with Jessica Larsen for the Junior High Track. Schnoes said the Board discussed but took no action on the 2014-2015 School Year with regard to whether to base the amount of education on 1,080 hours or the traditional 180 days.

He said they’re leaning toward 1,080 hours because it gives the district more lee-way when it comes to severe weather situations, and because that’s the way most districts in the area of leaning toward implementing their calendars. He says both the Exira and EHK Boards are in favor of the hourly schedule. The new “Super Board” will take a look at the proposal and finalize it a later meeting.

Schnoes said also they’re working on negotiations with teachers for the upcoming school year. And, in his report to the Board, Schnoes discussed the “Rural School Advocates of Iowa,” who lobbies for its member schools in the legislature. He said a similar effort was attempted several years ago, to make sure legislators in the State were aware rural schools “Are still a lot of your backbone for what goes on in the State of Iowa,” and that “Those people are going to be important as education moves along in the years to come.”

RSAI works to ensure students in rural schools receive a “Fair, equal and quality education.” Dues for the organization run $1,000 and serves to lobby legislators on behalf of rural schools to securing adequate resources, both academic and financial, in order for the quality of education to be sustained, and for maintaining local control through the flexibility and authority of locally elected school boards.

The CAM School Board met Monday evening in Anita, and set April 14^th at 6:30-p.m. as the date and time for a public hearing on the Early Start date for the 2014-2015 School Year. Board Secretary/Business Manager Linda Edwards said the Board will also hold a hearing and discuss the 2014-2015 budget during the same meeting.

Edwards said the Board also approved renewal of a contract with Richard Strittmatter as the Driver’s Education Instructor, along with a Five-dollar increase in the  fee he’s paid, which brings his fee to $200 for the Summer. The driver’s education fee for students remains unchanged from last year, at $250 per student, or $195 for those in the Free and Reduced Program.

In other business, CAM School Board approved a 2015 student trip (for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors) to Washington, D.C. The next step is for sponsors to gather information and prices from a tour company. If the price is affordable, that may include a side trip to New York City. And, the Board approved the retirement of Middle School English Teacher Jan Waddell and North Elementary teacher Gabe Baughman.