DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has passed an education reform plan would give the state more control over how student progress is measured and how teachers and administrators are evaluated. Those are among just a few aspects of education traditionally handled by local districts but passed on to state officials in the Republican-backed bill.
 
Under the measure, the Iowa Department of Education would establish new procedures for evaluating teachers and administrators annually. High school students would have to take new tests to determine if they’re prepared for college or a career and third graders not reading at grade level would be held back from fourth grade.
 
The bill passed 53-46 after lawmakers debated most of Tuesday, ending just before midnight when a drafting error was discovered in the bill.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County say a Prescott man was arrested Monday afternoon for Violation of a Protective Order. 47-year old David Adsit was taken into custody at a residence on 180th Street, after authorities received a report the man was allegedly violating his protective order. Adsit was brought to the Adams County Jail where he was being held pending a court appearance.

One person was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning in Pottawattamie County following a chase that began in eastern Nebraska and ended near Council Bluffs. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says his deputies’ involvement in the chase began at around 5-a.m., when a broadcast was sent received indicating Douglas and Sarpy County, Nebraska Sheriff’s officials along with the Nebraska State Patrol, were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle. The chase was along Interstate 680 eastbound heading towards Iowa. When the stolen vehicle crossed the State line, Nebraska authorities terminated their pursuit.

When an Iowa State Patrol Trooper picked up the chase in the vicinity of 130th Street and River Road, the suspect’s vehicle took off north into a field. It then back tracked south through the field before exiting onto River Road in front of Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputies.

As deputies pursued the vehicle south on River Road, the suspect drove around a set of spike strips deployed by Council Bluffs Police. With deputies in pursuit, the suspect turned west onto an abandoned set of railroad tracks leading to a swing bridge. Shortly thereafter, he lost control of the vehicle and was taken into custody. The suspect’s name has not yet been released.

The Iowa Transportation Commission, Tuesday, approved a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Local Development grant application submitted by the city of Stuart. Up to $303,750 will be made available to assist in construction of approximately 1,100 feet of South Seventh Street, approximately 500 feet of Southwest Eighth Street, and intersection improvements on South Gaines Street and South Division Street located on the southwest side of town. The project is anticipated to be completed by November 2012. 

Officials say the project is necessary to provide access to 68 acres for light industrial purposes. Funding for the grant comes from the city share of the RISE Fund.

(8-a.m. News)