Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:37 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — As the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign accelerates, governors, public health directors and committees advising them are holding key discussions behind closed doors, including debates about who should be eligible for the shots and how best to distribute them. A review by The Associated Press finds that advisory committees created to help determine how to prioritize vaccine doses have been holding private meetings in at least 13 states that are home to more than 70 million people. In at least 15 other states, such meetings are open to the public. But even in those states, governors and health officials can modify or override committee recommendations with little or no public explanation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state lawmaker wore jeans on the floor of the Iowa House to draw attention to Republicans’ refusal to mandate masks in the chamber even as they ban members from wearing jeans. Democratic Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames wore jeans Tuesday during House debate, and when the chief clerk asked her to change, she declined. Neither the House nor the Senate allow members or staff on the floor of the chambers to wear jeans or T-shirts, and men must wear a jacket and tie. Republican leaders have encouraged members to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus but have refused to require face coverings. Five people associated with the House have now tested positive for the virus.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former official of a large grain warehouse in Iowa has been sentenced to three months in prison for his role in a scheme to blend lower value oats into soybeans and then sell the mixture as soybeans to unsuspecting buyers. The U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release that 60-year-old Calvin Diehl of Aberdeen, South Dakota, was also fined $7,500 in addition to the prison term. He pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Diehl was the assisted general manager at the Sioux Center grain cooperative.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A commission created by former President Donald Trump that promoted “patriotic” education and downplayed slavery’s role in history has disbanded, but lawmakers in Republican states are now pressing for similar action. Several proposals are pending in state legislatures that would put new limits on how race and slavery is taught in the classroom. They include bills in Arkansas, Iowa and Mississippi that would ban schools from using a New York Times project that examines slavery’s legacy. Supporters say they’re countering what they call indoctrination. But the moves are worrying opponents who say students are harmed by efforts to whitewash crucial parts of the nation’s history.

The Atlantic School Board and Collective Bargaining Unit officials representing the Non-Certified Union Staff presented their initial bargaining proposals during an approximately 15-minute long session Wednesday afternoon, at the Middle School Media Center.  Superintendent Steve Barber told KJAN News the Union proposed an increase of 40-cents per person plus anyone eligible for STEP movement.

They also would like to have a 75-cent raise added to the wait time for bus drivers, for activity trips, as well as a 25-cent raise for Food Service, in addition to the 40-cent raise. They would also prefer some who have insurance through the school, for the school to pay a portion of the premium. Barber that the latter was “Not in the scope of negotiations,” but it was included nonetheless.

As for the District, it proposes those eligible employees move a step on the salary schedule, and increase the hourly wage by 10-cents, which comes out to a 1.61% increase, and a cost to the District of slightly more than $50,000, plus the duration of a one-year contract.

The next step is a closed session for continued negotiations on Feb. 17th, and hopefully a mutual agreement. If they are unable to come to a compromise, both sides would enter into mediation and as a last resort, arbitration. Barber said “We’re hoping we don’t need to do that.”

A public hearing was held during a regular meeting of the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening. During the hearing, there were no comments, either written or spoken, in opposition to the sale of City-owned real estate at 403 W. 14th Street. The property was acquired by the City under authority of the Iowa Code, with regard to abandoned property. The owners of an abutting property submitted a bid of $10,000 to acquire the property. The Council voted unanimously to approve the transaction.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the third and final reading of an Ordinance with regard to the Collection of Solid Waste, and the second reading of an Ordinance amending sections of the Code of Ordinances entitled “City Clerk,”and “City Attorney,” that would eliminate the current two-year reappointment schedule, and make the City Clerk and Attorney permanent employees. The Council waived the third and final reading and approved both of the latter Ordinances.

Their final order of business was action on approving a change order in the amount of $3,545.60, for the Atlantic Downtown Revitalization Project. The additional cost brings the contract price up to $452,874.60, which is still within the scope of the projected amount. The cost of the change orders are not shouldered by the City itself. The property owner and City pay 25% of the cost each, while the Feds pick up the remaining 50%.

In this case, the change order was with regard to the Brymon’s Home Furnishings building at 412 Chestnut. The funds will be used for the addition of door hardware, and a hardware revision to bring the building facade in line with the project intentions of renovating the historic downtown area.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former official of a large grain warehouse in Iowa has been sentenced to three months in prison for his role in a scheme to blend lower value oats into soybeans and then sell the mixture as soybeans to unsuspecting buyers. The U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release that 60-year-old Calvin Diehl of Aberdeen, South Dakota, was also fined $7,500 in addition to the prison term.

He pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Diehl was the assisted general manager at the Sioux Center grain cooperative.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -A Judge in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, Wednesday, sentenced a southwest Iowa woman to prison, for her role in the distribution of meth. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 36-year-old Elizabeth Villanueva, of Lenox, was sentenced to 46 months (nearly 4-years) in prison, for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Villanueva was ordered to serve a period of supervised release of five years to follow her prison term and pay a $100 special assessment payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

On January 8, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Villanueva as she drove into Taylor County, Iowa. During a search of her car, approximately a half-pound of methamphetamine was discovered and seized. Villanueva pleaded guilty on October 16, 2020, to the charge.

The case was investigated by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Iowa 3rd District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne has entered a precautionary self-quarantine, after a member of her staff tested positive for COVID-19, and began experiencing symptoms of the virus while with the Congresswoman on her 16 county Iowa tour.

According to a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Axne will receive a COVID-19 test soon. She is not currently experiencing any symptoms. The events held last week were done with strict COVID-19 protocols in place, including face masks for every attendee and social distancing at all stops, and Axne’s team contacted everyone who attended with this staffer earlier this week to inform them of the possible case of COVID-19. All attendees are being updated with this new information.

The Congresswoman is participating in the regular business of the U.S. House of Representatives remotely this week – casting her vote and attending hearings virtually and continuing her work for Iowa’s Third District while observing proper health protocols.