(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports one person complained of neck pain and was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue, following an accident that occurred at around 4:30-p.m., Thursday. Authorities say 58-year-old Tammy W. Glasgo, of Elliott, was hurt in the collision at N. Broadway and Cherry Streets. Police determined Glasgo’s 1997 Honda Accord was stopped at the intersection stoplight. A 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 31-year-old Brent M. Davis, of Villisca, stopped behind the car.

Davis’ proceeded to drive forward when he saw vehicles in the turn lane moving. In doing so, his pickup struck the rear of the Honda, while was waiting for the green light. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,500. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s 43rd governor will take the oath of office for another term later this (Friday) morning. Republican Kim Reynolds — the first woman to serve as Iowa’s governor — has been the state’s chief executive since mid-2017. Terry Branstad chose Reynolds as his running mate in 2010 and she took over the governorship when Branstad resigned. Reynolds won a full, four-year term in 2018 and she was reelected this past November.

Today’s Inauguration Ceremony starts at 9 a.m. in Des Moines. The governor will host an open house at the governor’s mansion at noon and a reception at the statehouse starting at 2 this (Friday) afternoon. Tonight’s Inaugural Ball in downtown Des Moines is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand held a reception in his statehouse office, Thursday, to officially mark the start of his second term.  “When I started this job four years ago, I had a pretty simple idea of what it was that I wanted to do,” Sand said. “Number one: I wanted to match the passion that I had seen from auditor office employees in my time as assistant attorney general.” Sand spent seven years as the lead state prosecutor on public corruption cases. Sand says in the past four years, the audits and special investigations his office conducted have uncovered a record amount of misspent tax dollars.

“Those dollars must be respected if we are going to maintain trust for the mission of self-governance under our constitution,” Sand said. Sand, who finished ahead of Republican Todd Halbur by fewer than three-thousand votes, was the only Democrat to win a statewide race in November. Sand acknowledged three Republicans in yesterday’s (Thursday’s) audience — State Treasurer Roby Smith, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and Attorney General Brena Bird.

“Just because we don’t agree on everything doesn’t mean we don’t come at this interested in serving all the people in the state Iowa and I’m looking forward to working with all of you, so thank you all for being here very much,” Sand said. Sand’s current term started January 1st. He publicly recited his oath of office at the start of Thursday’s event. Naig and Secretary of State Paul Pate will hold similar ceremonies in the statehouse rotunda this (Friday) afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds gathered in person and online for the first subcommittee hearing on the governor’s latest “school choice” plan.

Governor Reynolds is proposing state-funded Educational Savings Accounts for low income parents who enroll their children in a private school over the next two years, but in the third year the parents of every Iowa private school student would be eligible for thousands of dollars in state money to cover private school expenses. Arlene McClintock says private school was out of reach when she was growing up and being bullied at school. She’s leading a group called Hispanics Aligned for Choice in Education Reform.

“One of the things that parents want to be able to provide for their kids is a safe learning environment,” she said. “That’s something that I wish that I had had growing up and it’s something that I want to provide for my children.”

The governor’s office estimates when fully implemented, the parents of about 40,000 private school students would be getting at least $341 million in state money annually to cover tuition and other private school expenses. Justin Hollinrake told the senate subcommittee sending that much state money to support private schools like likely weaken schools where his relatives live in rural Iowa.

“Ten years from now, is public school even going to be an option?” he asked. “Will schools even be open? Will private school be the only option?”

The newly-formed House Education Reform Committee will hold a public hearing on the bill on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

(Reporting by Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)