An African man who was trying to build a new life in Cedar Rapids has spent the past 18 months at an Iowa City hospital, recovering from a traffic accident that killed two fellow immigrants. Jean-Claude Shako suffered head and other injuries in the June 25, 2018, collision while he and four other immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo were headed to work in Tama.

He’s well enough to be discharged, doctors have said, but he has no family to move in with, no money for a rehabilitation center and isn’t yet eligible for assistance through Medicaid.

Two French companies would pay the University of Iowa more than $1.1 billion to secure the rights to operate its utility system for the next 50 years under a proposal released Tuesday. The Iowa Board of Regents is meeting Tuesday to consider approving the deal with a newly-formed consortium made up of energy company ENGIE and investor and asset manager Meridiam. Gov. Kim Reynolds told the regents that it is a “historic day for higher education in Iowa.” She called it an innovative approach that will create revenue that help finance the school’s strategic plan. Critics have called the deal risky.

The Atlantic School Board will meet 6-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. On the agenda for their regular meeting, is approval of resignations, including Jessica Newcomb – Special Education Paraeduactor, and Brad Rasmussen, Asst. Cross County Coach. Also, approval of contract recommendations for Mark Weis – Transportation Director; Ben Bartholomew – Substitute/Activity Driver, and Josh Perkins, Middle School Wrestling Volunteer Coach.

The Board will also act on Fall 2020 Coaching Contracts, as recommended by Activity Director Andy Mitchell. Mitchell recommends the following persons fill certain positions:

• Mike McDermott – Head Football Coach
• Lee Saathoff – Asst. Varsity FB Coach
• Justin Williams – JV FB
• Joe Brummer – Asst. JV FB
• Derek Hall – Freshman FB
• Oran Perkins – Asst. Freshman FB
• Connor Larsen, Tim Duff, Bryce Casey and Chase Roller – Middle School FB
• Dan Vargason – Head Cross Country Coach
• Macie Silliman – MS Cross County Coach
• Michelle Blake – Head Volleyball Coach
• Alyssa Dovenspike – JV VB
• Jeremy Blake – 9th Grade VB
• Faith McCunn, Amber Moore & Hillary Zimmerline = MS VB.
• The Assistant Cross Country Coach position had not yet been assigned as of last report.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will discuss the District’s Facilities Projects and receive an update from Bob Sweeney, with regard to demolition of the baseball/softball fields and Trojan Bowl. They will also discuss Capital Projects and Long-term planning, along with a District Survey. Following the conclusion of regular business, the Board will adjourn into a closed session with regard to negotiations and strategic planning.

(Radio Iowa) — The Republican leader in the Iowa Senate predicts the 2020 Iowa legislature will likely raise the legal age for buying and possessing tobacco and e-cigarette products from 18 to 21.  “We’re at a unique period that we’ve never really been at where almost everyone across the board is in favor of raising it to 21, including the tobacco companies. They’ve never had that position.”

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says legislators are hearing from constituents who are scared about the growing “vaping” problem in Iowa high schools AND middle schools. “That’s a real issue and a serious issue,” Whitver says. “If we can raise it to 21, we think that might have a shot to eliminating the vaping that’s occurring in our schools.”

Whitver made his comments during taping of the Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program that will be broadcast this Friday. Near the end of the 2019 legislative session, the president of the senate unveiled a bill to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products — including the pods used for “vaping” with an e-cigarette. Whitver says that initial discussion has laid the groundwork for action in 2020. Public health officials say there have been 49 cases in Iowa of respiratory problems linked to vaping. All but 10 of those cases involved the use of vaping and e-cigarette products that illegally contained T-H-C, the active ingredient in marijuana. No vaping-related deaths have been reported in Iowa.