A couple from Adel went to the statehouse Wednesday to urge legislators to pass a bill that would require more in-home day care providers to register with the state and undergo regular inspections. Travis Hoover told lawmakers of the 2012 death of his baby. “We lost our little daughter, Annie,” Travis Hoover said. “She was six months old. We actually buried her on her six-month birthday and she was at an in-home…day care center that was unregistered.”

Under current state law, an in-home day care that serves five or fewer kids is exempt from all state oversight. Some home day care providers are backing a bill that would require even those smaller day cares to be inspected. Kay Strayhorn, who cares for children in her Urbandale home, wonders if unregistered homes are meeting safety standards. “We wouldn’t know, because there’s no inspections being done,” Strayhorn says. In the past, Democrats have pushed to expand state oversight of small in-home day cares, but Republicans have resisted.

But this year, Peter Cownie — a Republican from West Des Moines — is backing the bill to boost regulation, after hearing the Hoover’s story. “You know, my wife and I have a 20-month-old and it certainly hits home with me and I think it’s something that we should take a look at,” Cownie says. But Cownie warns legislators have to figure out how to pay for more state inspections of day cares before his bill has a chance of advancing. Child care centers in Iowa pay a licensing fee, but Danielle Oswald-Thole with the Iowa Child and Family Policy Center cautions against assessing new fees to in-home day cares.

“Home providers are some of the lowest paid professionals in the state,” Oswald-Thole says. “Many of them barely make minimum wage.” The bill to expand registration requirements for small in-home day cares passed an initial hurdle in the House Wednesday. A three-member panel signed off, sending the bill to the House Commerce Committee.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state panel has approved legislation giving prosecutors more options for helping minors mired in prostitution and increasing penalties for pimps who used children. The House Judiciary Committee voted 20-0 yesterday to approve the bill, which now goes to the House floor. Penalties would also increase for pimping involving a minor from a class “D” felony to a class “C” felony.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City elementary school has lifted a lockdown caused by a suspect on the loose. Mark Twain Elementary School went on lockdown yesterday afternoon as authorities searched for a suspect wanted by county and state officials. The Press-Citizen reports that Iowa City Community School District says authorities later gave permission for the students to be dismissed. Authorities are still looking for the suspect.

BEVINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man faces several charges in connection to a brief standoff with authorities on a freeway. The Des Moines Register reports 19-year-old Albert Austin the Third faces multiple charges related to the Tuesday afternoon incident, including operating while intoxicated, reckless driving and attempting to elude. The incident temporarily rerouted traffic for several miles.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman has been accused of hitting her boyfriend and using a golf club to repeatedly strike a car. The Telegraph Herald reports 21-year-old Cynthia Pendleton was arrested Tuesday afternoon. She faces charges of assault while displaying, child endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief.