(Radio Iowa) – On this one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death while in Minneapolis police custody, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says a bipartisan police reform bill is nearly ready to go to a vote. Senators Corey Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, are working on a compromise version of the bill. Grassley says he’s up to speed on the legislation. “Haven’t had a personal meeting with Scott on it,” Grassley says, “but I’ve been in several larger groups where he’s presented his ideas.”

Scott, the only black U-S senator, says the bill is designed to hold law enforcement accountable for violent incidents, while also developing a system to track problem officers. Grassley says Scott first crafted the measure last summer, but it’s been languishing for months. “Democrats at that time would not take it up because they didn’t want a Republican senator or Republicans to have a victory during an election year,” Grassley says. “Now, they’re in the majority. They feel the heat of producing something. I think there’s a good chance we can reach an agreement.”

Grassley says there are a “couple dozen parts” to the bill, but perhaps just three key elements have been the source of difficulty. “One would be the immunity issue for individual policemen and there’s talks of compromise there,” Grassley says. “And then there’s some things on the extent to which the Department of Defense ought to give surplus equipment to local police departments.”

Grassley says the bill also aims to implement a restriction on the police use of chokeholds, like the one used on Floyd. His death was captured on video, which gained global attention and led to widespread protests calling for racial justice.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 9-a.m. Wednesday (May 26), in the Greenfield Courthouse Courtroom**. On their agenda is the reading of a letter with regard to the Solar (Panel) Ordinance, an update from the Floodplain Administrator, and updates/discussion with regard to COVID-19. At 9:15-a.m., there will be a Public Hearing on the FY21 Adair County Budget Amendment, followed by action on a Resolution approving the budget as amended.

And then at around 9:20-a.m., County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will talk about an employee resignation, along with the new hire process.

**Please note: The Courtroom will be available for the Board meeting and the public will be allowed to attend in person, but attendance by members of the public is limited to 21 people, to allow for social distancing. The Conference Room phone will continue to be in-use for persons who cannot attend in person. It can be accessed by calling 1-605-313-6157, and when prompted, using access code 526272#

(Griswold) – The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education held a Special Meeting Monday evening, to act on a request from a teacher to be released from her contract. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the Board denied the request from TLC Teacher Taryn Maguire, based on a stipulation built into her contract.

Despite the stipulation, Maguire asked the Board unconditionally release her from the contract.

(They voted 4-2 with one member absent to deny the request until a suitable replacement can be found.)