Senator Joni Ernst says she’s “legitimately undecided” about the health care plan House Republican leaders have crafted as a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. And Ernst is raising concerns about some of the budget cuts President Trump proposed last week, including a 21 percent cut to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“When you look at Iowa as a whole, we are a rural state, so our issues are very different from some of the other states that may have much more metro areas, I will be working, watching out for SNAP and other programs like that in the Farm Bill,” Ernst said. Ernst talked about “SNAP” benefits — food stamps — on Friday night during a town hall meeting in Des Moines.

Ernst says there are a lot of issues “nested together” when it comes to addressing poverty in rural America, including inadequate housing and lack of financing for rural businesses in addition to “food insecurity.” Drastic cuts to the free and reduced-price school lunch program would likely meet resistance from lawmakers, according to Ernst, as lawmakers craft a federal budget.

“I think we all understand that we need to tighten our belts a little bit moving forward because we are $20 trillion dollars in debt, but I think this will be a huge push for the members of the Midwestern coalition, especially,” Ernst says. “If you look at Iowa, we do have a lot of children that are food insecure and so this is something that I will be watching out for.”

Ernst held town hall meetings in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines on Friday.

(Radio Iowa)

An Afton woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection with a January 2016 crash in Union County that killed one woman. Sixty-two-year-old Donna Jo Spare of Afton pleaded guilty to the charge of vehicular homicide in February. The accident happened in mid-January of last year, on Highway 34 about three miles east of Creston.

Investigators say Spare was drunk when the car she was driving crossed the center line and crashed head-on into another car, killing another woman. Union County Attorney Tim Kenyon says driving while drunk is a risk no one should take. “I would compare it to, as one judge has said, it’s like shooting a loaded fire arm into a crowd of people,” Kenyon says. “The likelihood that someone will die or be injured is substantial.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Spare has been ordered by the judge to pay 150-thousand dollars to the estate of Deanne Hoffman. “As far as justice being served, I believe it has been,” Kenyon says. Hoffman was 49 when she was killed in the crash. She was married, with two adult sons, and worked as a certified nurses aide.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Dairy Queen is offering free ice cream cones today (Monday), on this first day of spring. Anyone who wants a treat can stop by participating locations outside of shopping malls today for a free small vanilla soft serve cone.

Dairy Queens will also be collecting donations for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Over the past 32 years, Dairy Queen restaurants have raised more than $120 million for the hospitals.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A hospital association estimates a Republican-backed plan to replace the Affordable Care Act could leave up to 250,000 Iowans without health insurance. Others speculate the change could destabilize the entire Medicaid system that serves poor and disabled people. Gov. Terry Branstad supports repealing the ACA, but his office and the state agency that oversees health care in Iowa says an analysis of what the overhaul would mean to the state would need to wait until Congress approves a bill.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An upcoming exhibit about the Korean War at a Waterloo museum will focus on the experiences of servicemen, especially those from Iowa, as well as the weaponry they used. The Courier reports that major elements of the exhibit at the Grout Museum are still being planned, but it will display names and photos of Iowa residents killed in the war. Veterans on the exhibit’s planning committee will help curate items for display.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The two remaining finalists for the Omaha superintendent job have withdrawn, forcing the school board to reopen the search it began last fall. The Omaha World-Herald reports the school board was expected to pick either Sioux City, Iowa, Superintendent Paul Gausman or Reading, Pennsylvania, Superintendent Khalid Mumin at its meeting Monday night. Instead the board will have to come up with a new plan to replace retiring Mark Evans at the end of the school year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Dairy Queen is offering free ice cream cones on Monday on the first day of spring. Anyone who wants a treat can stop by participating locations outside of shopping malls Monday for a free small vanilla soft serve cone.

Public Hearings will be held Monday evening in Griswold, with regard to the Griswold Community School District ‘s 2017-18 Budget, and 2017-18 School Calendar. The hearings take place as part of the Griswold School Board’s regular meeting in the Central Office at the High School/Middle School Building, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

The regular School Board meeting follows the conclusion of both hearings, and under Old Businesses, includes and update on the District’s facilities from KPE Architects and the Facilities Committee, as well as the second reading of 500 series Board Policies.

During New Business, the Griswold School Board will act on approving: The 2017-18 Budget and School Calendar; an E-Rate application; Mowing bids; matters pertaining to the Middle School/High School Behavioral Disorder Program; Driver’s Ed fees and an Annual Review of Policy, in addition to the 1st reading of certain 500 series policies.

Prior to adjournment, the Board may choose to enter into closed sessions for the purpose of discussing negotiations strategy with the Certified Bargaining Unit, and/or discussion pertaining to a personnel matter.

The Shenandoah Police Department reports a Nebraska man was arrested Saturday night on drug and other charges, following a traffic stop. 31-year old Christopher Raudeles, of Bellevue, NE, faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving While Suspended, and other traffic offenses. Raudeles was able to post $1,000 bond through a bondsman and was given an initial court appearance date.

His arrest occurred after officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle at the 200 block of Elm Street at around 9:45-p.m., Saturday. Raudeles initially refused to stop for law enforcement, but did eventually come to a stop at a residence at the 300 block of Sycamore Street.  He was taken into custody upon further investigation and the deployment of K9 “Argo.”,

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A hospital association estimates a Republican-backed plan to replace the Affordable Care Act could leave up to 250,000 Iowans without health insurance. Others speculate the change could destabilize the entire Medicaid system that serves poor and disabled people. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 24 million Americans will lose health care coverage over the next decade under the proposal.

The Iowa Hospital Association, which represents 118 hospitals, has estimated through statistical data that between 200,000 and 250,000 Iowa residents will lose coverage.

Gov. Terry Branstad has reiterated his support for repealing the ACA, but his office and the state agency that oversees health care in Iowa says an analysis of what the overhaul would mean to the state would need to wait until Congress approves a bill.

A Public Hearing will be held Monday evening at the High School in Elk Horn, with regard to the Exira-EHK School District calendar for the 2017-18 School Year. The hearing takes place as part of a regular meeting of the Exira-EHK School Board, that begins at 7-p.m.

Regular business to follow the hearing includes discussion and likely action on: Approving a Budget Guarantee Resolution to Levy Property Tax for FY 2017-18 for the Regular Program Budget Adjustment; Approving the 2017-2018 School Calendar; Approval to Publish the Proposed 2017-18 Budget, and setting a Public Hearing on the Budget for 6-p.m., April 11th.

Other Board action includes approval of: Support Staff and Administration salaries; the 2015-16 School Audit; A repair proposal for Sections 1 and 2 of the school roof, in Elk Horn; and approval of a Lawnmower bid, Suburban purchase, personnel hires, transfers and/or resignations.

The Exira-EHK School Board will also discuss but take no action on Facility Assessment Priorities.

Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will gather at 6:30-p.m. Monday in the CAM High School Media Center, for their regular monthly meeting. On their agenda, is: A review of contracts and bonds and a Resolution approving those items; A presentation from the CAM Education Association with regard to an opening proposal for negotiations; Discussion with regard to the Greenhouse Building; Approval of revisions to the Special Education Delivery Plan; Adoption of a Budget Guarantee Resolution, and acceptance of vehicle bids for buses and a school car.

The CAM School Board will also set the time and dates for Public Hearings on the 2017-18 District Calendar and 2017-18 Budget.

A traffic stop at around 3-a.m. today (Sunday) in Shenandoah, resulted in the arrest of a woman on drug charges. According to Shenandoah Police, the traffic stop took place in the 700 block of Southwest Road. Following an investigation and the deployment of K9 “Argo,” officers arrested 18-year old Hayley Blake, of Shenandoah, for Possession of a Controlled Substance – a serious misdemeanor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – a simple misdemeanor.

Blake was transported to the police department, where she was able to post $1,000 bond and was given an initial court appearance date.