(Radio Iowa) – The budget for the governor’s office is getting a half a million dollar boost under a bill Senate Republicans have approved. A spokesman for Governor Reynolds says it pulls Iowa closer to the office budgets for governors in states like Utah that have similar populations. Democrats in the Senate objected and asked Republican Senator Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge — chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee — what the money was for.

“We asked the same question of the governor,” Kraayenbrink said, “but I’m not positive what the answer was coming out of that.” Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, asked Kraayenbrink if the money would be used to provide bonuses or raise the salaries for the governor’s staff. “Do you believe that might be what that money will be used for?” Petersen asked. Kraayenbrink responded: “I’m pretty sure that is not what this is for.”

After Senators debated the bill, a spokesman for Governor Reynolds said the 500-thousand dollars will help recruit and retain the talent necessary to support the significant work Iowans expect the Governor to lead.

(Carter Lake/Iowa-Nebraska) – Authorities in Omaha say a crash Wednesday night on Shore Drive on the Nebraska side of Carter Lake, resulted in the death of a Nebraska woman. According to Omaha Police, 37-year old Tiffany Brayman, of Omaha, died, when the pickup she was a passenger in, went out of control and rolled over. Brayman was ejected as the vehicle rolled.

The vehicle crashed near Cornish Boulevard, on the west side of Carter Lake, just south of Ames Avenue. Police said the driver of the vehicle ran from the scene and had not been identified as of the latest information released.

Investigators say speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. They also said seat belt use was being investigated.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report a Malvern man, 20-year-old Connr Gray, was arrested this (Thursday) morning, for Possession of a controlled substance, keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Gray posted a $3,300 cash bond, and was released.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, received a nearly hour-long report from District Technology Director Roger Warne, who says Atlantic, like most school districts in the State, has a Cyber Security rating that is “inadequate,” at least according to a questionnaire Warne filled-out during a series of Cyber Security meetings that took place over six-weeks.

There were approximately 25-to 30 school districts that participated in the session. One thing everyone came away with, was that a chance of a cyber attack is unavoidable… it’s just a matter of when. The security sessions were sponsored by Green Hills AEA, and provided by Security Studio.

Roger Warne said while the AEA sessions from Security Studio were free, the Atlantic School District can continue to use the company’s services for about $3,600 per year. Warne said there are four different areas of control a district can secure against a cyber attack: Administrative, Physical, Internal/Technical and External. With regard to the latter…

The District’s Physical Controls – access control entry into the building, etc. – he said, are good, but there is still room for improvement. Cyber attacks are something every district needs to plan for, he says, and it’s not necessary to “panic.”

An Action Plan includes updating some of the District’s antiquated security systems to the newer standards, which equates to about $5,000 per building. The plan would also call for swapping out Chromebook laptops every eight-years or so, even with incremental changes in which grades get the current laptops each year, as classes graduate.

School Board Vice-President Kristy Pellet asked Warne what he estimated the District should set aside each year for cyber and physical security systems, noting that, before Roger became the Technology Director, the District budgeted $100,000 every year, for technology.

Many school, districts began to take a more serious look at what needs to be done to avert a cyber attack, when the Des Moines Public School District systems were breached, leading to the cancellation of classes for two days.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board held a Special Meeting Wednesday evening, during which they received a Technology Update from Technology Coordinator Roger Warne.

The Board approved the resignation of High School Night Custodian Mikade Thompson, and Contract Recommendations for:
Lori Namanny, Melissa Balch and Tina Franken – Summer Food Service
Deborah Hensel – Special Education Bus Monitor
Kerry Jepsen – Paraeducator/Summer School Voc Rehab, and
Ashley Gacke – 5th Grade Science Teacher.

The Atlantic School Board also approved 2023-24 Non-Union Contracts (Central Office, Technology & Directors). Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation…

The Food Director’s increase, he said, “will be paid out of the Nutrition Fund, which will have no impact on the General Fund.” The Atlantic School Board also approved 2023-24 Principal Contracts amounting to $30,322.48.

And, the Board voted to approved a 2023-24 Tentative Agreement/Master Contract with the Atlantic Education Association (representing the teachers).

The duration of the contract is from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

In other action, the Atlantic School Board approved a Pay Application to Trane U.S., Inc., in the amount of $19,437.50, for the High School Air Quality Project.

(Radio Iowa) – A museum exhibit featuring a replica of a rail car used to transport Jews to concentration camps during the Holocaust of World War Two opened in Sioux City. George Linblade designed the exhibit and said the cars actually used in Auschwitz are all the property of the Polish government and they will not let him out of the country. Linblade says every state in the union got a real railroad car courtesy of Poland after the war, but no one knows what happened to the one in Iowa. The rail car was moved to the Sioux City Museum two years ago and the work began on it.