DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Senate subcommittee has advanced a measure that would use public education money for private schools and home schooling. The Des Moines Register reports the committee voted 2-1 for the measure Wednesday, with the two Republicans in support and Democratic member opposed. Sen. Jerry Behn, a Boone Republican who sponsored the bill, says the measure would provide parents opportunities for more involvement in their children’s education. He also says it would encourage competition among schools and lead to improvement.

West Des Moines Democratic Sen. Claire Celsi says schools aren’t businesses and don’t compete with one another. The bill would provide students in grades K-12 “education savings grants” to pay for a nonpublic school or “competent private instruction,” more commonly known as home schooling. The grant would equal the average per-student amount the state pays each year for students at public schools.

(Radio Iowa) — Mother Nature set a new record for Iowa in February. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says “The preliminary numbers have us at 22.5 inches of snow averaging across the State, which would break the record set in 1962. Glisan says having nearly two feet of snow fall in Iowa in February is NOT normal. “In a given February, we typically get 6.8 inches over the 30-year average, so yes, that’s a lot more snow than what we tend to get.” The accumulation of snow during this winter SEASON is setting records, too. Glisan says that’s remarkable because December temperatures were five degrees ABOVE average and the majority of precipitation that fell before the turn of the year was rain. “It wasn’t until we got into January and, especially February, when we started getting record snowfall,” Glisan says.

A “snow pack” was established early in the season with the blizzard after Thanksgiving in southern Iowa, according to Glisan. His data shows from southwest Iowa up through northeast Iowa there’s been between 30 and 40 inches of snow so far this winter. Glisan says “And in [the] very central portion of the border between Minnesota and Iowa, 50 to 60 inches , so some pretty big accumulation.” As for what’s causing this snow cycle, Glisan points to what he calls the “arctic intrusion” in late January. That’s when temperatures dipped to the negative 30 and negative 40 range.

“We’ve been stuck after that in a very active Polar Jet pattern, where we have, every four or five days, systems moving through the State, dumping anywhere from three-to six-inches at a given time, and that pattern has just stuck on into the State for the last month,” according to Glisan. There’s a chance of light snow this weekend, but Glisan says the weather should be “relatively calm” across the state. A batch of arctic air will cause temperatures to dip at the beginning of next week, but Glisan predicts a “gradual warm-up” after that.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of setting his stepson aflame in Des Moines has taken a plea deal and avoided a murder trial. The Des Moines Register reports that 42-year-old Randy Miles Jr. pleaded guilty Friday to involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the state to avoid prosecution. Prosecutors dropped charges of arson and first-degree murder in return for Miles’ pleas. Prosecutors say he’ll be sentenced later this month to up to 30 years in prison.

Authorities say Miles fled to Grand Forks , North Dakota, following his confrontation with 26-year-old Christopher Lenhart on Aug. 25, 2017. Witnesses told police that Miles had argued with Lenhart and then threw gas on him while Lenhart was inside a vehicle. The gas then ignited. Lenhart died two days later at an Iowa City hospital.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasing Management Association, began formally surveying its membership in 1931 to gauge business conditions. The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same methodology as the national survey to consult supply managers and business leaders. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the report.
The overall index ranges between 0 and 100. Growth neutral is 50, and a figure greater than 50 indicates growth in that factor over the next three to six months.

• In Iowa: The state’s overall index climbed to 56.9 in February from 54.8 in January. Index components were new orders at 55.5, production or sales at 52.2, delivery lead time at 50.9, employment at 58.9 and inventories at 56.3. It’s estimated that Iowa exported $561.8 million in goods to China last year and that those exports supported about 5,600 jobs in Iowa, Goss said.
• In Nebraska: The state’s overall index climbed to 52.4 in February from January’s 50.5. Index components were new orders at 50.9, production or sales at 48.3, delivery lead time at 57.1, inventories at 52.1 and employment at 53.5. Nebraska is estimated to have exported $462 million in goods to China for 2018. Those exports supported about 4,600 Nebraska jobs, according to Goss.

Here’s a look at some other, neighboring States’ economic indices:

• Kansas: Kansas’ overall index hit 55.2 in February, compared with 53.3 in January. Index components were new orders at 53.1, production or sales at 51.2, delivery lead time at 60.5, employment at 56.2 and inventories at 55.2. Kansas is estimated to have exported $674.9 million in goods to China for 2018. Those exports supported about 6,800 Kansas jobs, Goss said.
• Minnesota: The state’s overall index dropped to 53.4 in February from 54.5 in January. Index components were new orders at 51.7, production or sales at 49.4, delivery lead time at 58.4, inventories at 53.2 and employment at 54.5. The state is estimated to have exported $1.9 billion in goods to China last year, and those exports supported about 19,000 jobs in Minnesota, he said.
• Missouri: Missouri’s overall index rose to 57.0 last month from 55.0 in January. Index components were new orders at 54.5, production or sales at 53.0, delivery lead time at 62.6, inventories at 57.1 and employment at 58.0. Missouri is estimated to have exported $888.7 million in goods to China last year, supporting about 8,900 Missouri jobs, according to Goss.
• South Dakota: The South Dakota overall index rose to a regional high of 68.7 last month from 66.2 in January. Index components were new orders at 63.7, production or sales at 64.6, delivery lead time at 76.3, inventories at 69.7 and employment at 69.2. South Dakota is estimated to have exported $60.8 million in goods to China last year, which supported about 600 South Dakota jobs, Goss said

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — The trial of an Indiana man accused of killing a Fort Dodge woman has been relocated again and rescheduled. The Messenger reports that 26-year-old Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, was scheduled to start trial Monday in Mason City, where the trial had been moved because of pretrial publicity in Fort Dodge. He and Mackenzie Knigge are accused of killing 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in August 2017.

Williams’ attorney, Katherine Flickinger, objected to the lack of black people in the Mason City jury pool, saying that just one person out of 130 potential jurors was self-identified as black. Flickinger told the judge that Williams “has a legitimate interest in the representation of African-Americans on the jury panel,” and she asked that the trial be moved to a county with a higher black population.

On Wednesday the judge moved the trial to Cedar Rapids in Linn County and scheduled it to start March 25. Knigge also has pleaded not guilty. She’s scheduled to begin trial June 10.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A woman has been imprisoned for helping to kill a Des Moines man during a robbery more than two years ago. Polk County District Court records say 28-year-old Monica Fagan was given 35 years in prison at her sentencing Tuesday. She’d pleaded guilty to robbery and willful injury. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge in exchange for her pleas.

Prosecutors say Fagan and two other people killed 31-year-old Michael Huckleberry at his apartment in January 2017. One of them, 51-year-old Ricky Hascall , died in jail Sept. 16 last year while awaiting trial. The other, Sarah Saltz, pleaded guilty to robbery and theft for her role in the slaying and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), of 50-year old Brian Eugene Ward. The Creston man was arrested Thursday morning, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). He was later released on a $2,000 bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County, Thursday, reported that 30-year old Angie Marie Lybarger, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Wednesday. Lybarger was taken into custody at the Pott. County Courthouse, on a Harrison County warrant for Violation of Probation. She was being held on the warrant pending transfer to Harrison County. And, Kimberly Sue Trotter, who was being held in the Pott. County Jail for a Residential Correctional Facility (RCF), was served with a warrant Wednesday, for Violation of Probation. She was then returned to the custody of Corrections Staff.

And, Police in Glenwood, Thursday, arrested 43-year old Chad Clark, of Glenwood. Clark was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, with his cash or surety bond set at $1,000. Also arrested Thursday, was 65-year old James Raybourn, of Glenwood, who was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant. Raybourn was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.