(Radio Iowa) — Negotiations are starting between unions representing state employees and representatives of Governor Kim Reynolds’ Administration. The current labor contracts for state workers expire July 1st. AFSCME Council 61 represents nearly 20-thousand state employees. The union is scheduled to present its contract proposal on Thursday. The union that represents about 600 people who work in state law enforcement agencies is asking for three-percent pay hikes in each of the next two years. Negotiators for the State Police Officers Council say with low unemployment in the state, it’s difficult to keep and attract employees who’ll work in such a high-stress profession. Iowa United Professionals represents about 24-hundred state employees who work in social services and scientific occupations. That union says after two years of zero wage growth for its members, their request is for a four-and-a-half percent pay hike in each of the next two years.

Negotiators representing the Reynolds Administration will make a counter-offer in two weeks.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department reports a woman wanted on a warrant for Violation of Parole, turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday afternoon. Once the warrant for 56-year old Dawn Michelle Rickabaugh, of Mitchellville, was confirmed, the woman was taken into custody and turned over to Jail staff without incident. Rickabaugh was being held without bond in the Pott. County Jail.

Iowa 4-H’ers from 10 counties across Iowa participated in a “10 Gallon Milk Challenge”.  Civic Engagement is one the program priorities for Iowa 4-H and the Social Media Challenge that originated in Ohio, was right at the heart of Iowa 4-H.  4-H’ers who participated not only supported Dairy Farmers by buying milk from their local grocery stores but also helped those in need by donating this milk to the local food pantries, shelter houses, or other non-profit organizations.

4-H’ers learned about food insecurity and the Dairy Industry, and they learned that milk is an item that is often needed at food pantries due to its nutritional value and low shelf life. Iowa participants were able to donate 626 gallons of milk to many different organizations from across the state. Shelter Houses, Crisis Centers, Community Food Pantries, and Catholic worker homes were a few of the Organizations that benefited from the efforts. After two-months of the Challenge, East Pottawattamie County 4-H’ers donated 30-gallons to the cause.

4-H officials say dairy cow produce an average of 50 pounds of milk a day and a gallon of milk is approximately 8.6 pounds. This means that 4-H’ers donated 5,383 pounds of milk or about 626 cows daily production.

(Updated) — The Creston Police Department reports 35-year old Beth Kulow, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Kulow, the former Dean of Students at Southwestern Community College, in Creston, was taken into custody on a Union County warrants for charges that include Falsifying Public Documents, and three counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree. She was later released on a $5,000 bond. The charges were the result of a lengthy investigation into finances at SWCC. Kulow is accused of approving the use of school funds for private expenses including travel and her wedding. She resigned from her position in October.

A Winterset man reported to Creston Police, Tuesday, that his Aunt had cash taken from her purse while she was at a location on W. Prairie Street. The incident, which amounted to a loss of about $100, occurred sometime between Dec. 2nd and Dec. 4th. And, a Creston man reported to Police Tuesday morning, that sometime between Nov. 29th and Dec. 3rd, someone broke into his shop located in the 600 block of W. Montgomery Street, and took several tools. The loss was estimated at $2,000.

CEDAR RIVER, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids woman who drove her car with her two children inside into the Cedar River on a chilly March evening has been given probation. Linn County court records say 35-year-old Alicia Cole pleaded guilty to two felony counts of child endangerment causing injury. She was sentenced Tuesday to three years of probation and two five-year prison terms that were suspended. The judge also suspended a total of $1,500 in fines.

Authorities say firefighters and police were sent to Cedar Rapids’ Mohawk Park around 4:45 p.m. on March 11. They found that boaters already had helped Cole and the two children from the sinking car. A court document says all three “were exposed to potential hypothermia and drowning.”

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

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The Walnut City Council is set to meet 5-p.m. Thursday (Dec. 6), during a regular session. On their agenda is a review of bids for Solid Waste Disposal, and a motion to execute an agreement with a contractor for the residential hauling of solid waste. The Council will also review the City’s Health Insurance package, and discuss the Walnut Community Center, including: adding liquor liability to the City Insurance plan; use of facility and gymnasiums; fire extinguisher and service elevator inspections.

In other business, the Walnut City Council will discuss the Property Maintenance Code, and take action on the third and final reading of an Ordinance adopting the 2015 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). City officials say the IPMC is designed to ensure rental properties are safe, have smoke alarms, and that the electrical and heating systems are safe. There is no set inspection for regular housing, unless the home is new construction or having extensive remodeling.

The Council will also discuss and possibly take action on the 1^st reading of an amended Ordinance pertaining to Water Rates for Service, followed by a possible waiving of the 2^nd and 3^rd readings. They will also consider the possible adoption of a Resolution Transferring Funds from the City’s Water Fund into The Short-Lived Asset Reserve Fund.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Concerns about student-to-student bullying have led the Ames school district to suspend its middle school principal. District spokesman Eric Smidt says the decision to move out principal Dan Fox wasn’t based off just one incident but rather was an effort to improve Ames Middle School. The district said in an email to parents and staffers last week that district administrators “will be working on various measures to ensure there is a safe and orderly environment for teaching and learning.”

Concerns were raised by parents and students, and an online petition appeared that sought improved safety for LGBTQ students at the school. Officials say Fox still works for district and is being paid while on suspension.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg spent Tuesday in Iowa, touting a film about climate change that he financed and promising he’ll make a decision “early next year” about whether he’ll run for president and — maybe — sell his business. Bloomberg stopped at a Cedar Rapids solar panel company, talked with students in learning to maintain wind turbines, met with activists seeking gun restrictions. Last night, Bloomberg spoke at the showing of the film highlighting people, including a few Iowans, who are embracing renewable energy alternatives. A past skeptic of ethanol subsidies, Bloomberg embraced the corn-based fuel. “I think that ethanol and biofuels are part of the mix. There’s a place for it. I think eventually you’d like to get to a world where we don’t burn anything. That’s the way that you really clean the air the most, but we’re a long ways from that…E10 or E15 is part of the mix and it’s going to be part of the mix for a long time.”

Bloomberg spoke with Radio Iowa for nearly 20 minutes, sketching out the purpose of his possible presidential bid. “You work hard. If it works, it works and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t,” Bloomberg said, “but my main objective would be to try to focus everybody on the main issues facing this country.” Bloomberg, who is 76, served a dozen years as New York City’s mayor. He founded the Bloomberg media company focused on news and market information. Bloomberg says Tuesday’s downturn in the stock market was caused by uncertainty about President Trump’s negotiations with China. “I think that Trump is right in saying that the relationship we have with China is not fair. We haven’t fought that battle in a long, long time…We should stand up to China,” Bloomberg says. “…Having said that, the ways you do it is as important as the fact that you’re doing it.”

Bloomberg suggests Trump has mistakenly approached negotiations like a “real estate promoter.” “In his view, there’s a winner and a loser in every transaction and I think that’s a very simplistic approach to the world. You always want to have the other person to think they didn’t get everything they wanted, but they got something and they want to think you didn’t because you’re going to have to go back and do another deal at another time,” Bloomberg said. “…You don’t want to win each time. You want to move up.”

Bloomberg told Radio Iowa if he does run for president, he will either place his company in a blind trust or sell it. “But I think at my age, if selling it is possible, I would do that,” Bloomberg said. “At some point, you’re going to die anyway, so you want to do it before then.”