The 2017 session of the Iowa legislature will officially get underway at 10 a.m. today (Monday). For the past six years, Republicans have had the majority in the Iowa House while Democrats controlled the Senate’s debate agenda, but no more. As of today, G-O-P lawmakers hold a majority of seats in both the House and Senate. Republicans like incoming Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock are ready with a new agenda. “As we prepare to start this legislative session, we’re doing so with a high level of optimism and determination that we are going to change the way we do business in Iowa,” Dix says. Dix says “nothing should be off the table.”

Dix and the 28 other Republican senators have four items in line for quick action. They want to cut off state funding to Planned Parenthood, enact tort reform and they’ll propose amendments to the state constitution that ensure gun rights and enact new restrictions on state spending. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake is entering her second year as the legislature’s top Republican. “We’re excited about this opportunity,” Upmeyer says. “We’re excited about the energy in the building and look forward to getting started.”

Upmeyer says spending restraint is a top priority for House Republicans. Rob Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, is the new leader for minority Democrats in the state senate. “Our number one goal is to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent the legislature from dismantling or damaging or destroying parts of state government and the way our state has operated for decades,” Hogg says.

Mark Smith of Marshalltown is returning as the leader for House Democrats. “I like the saying about Iowans that we wear last year’s clothing and read next year’s books,” Smith says. “…Iowans will be watching everything that’s done in this legislative session.”

The last time Republicans held majority control of both the Iowa House and Senate — AND governor’s office — was in 1997 and 1998. The G-O-P’s major action back then was a 10 percent across-the-board cut in state income taxes. Republican Governor Terry Branstad approved those cuts 20 years ago, but Branstad says the state had a surplus back then. He will NOT recommend tax cuts this year.

There will be just 149, not 150 legislators at the capitol today. Jim Lykam — a former state representative — won December’s special election to serve out the remaining two years of a senate term. He replaces Senator Joe Seng, who died in September. Lykam will be sworn in as a state senator this morning. His house seat is vacant. The governor has not set a date for a special election in the Davenport district.

(Radio Iowa)

An accident in Creston Sunday afternoon resulted in a local teen being transported to the hospital to be checked for injuries. Authorities say 16-year old Angel Stow, of Creston, was driving a 2006 Chevy Impala northbound on Sumner Street at around 3-p.m., and was adjusting her rear view mirror. She failed to notice a 2006 Ford F-25 pickup was stopped ahead of her, waiting for traffic to pass before turning west onto Spencer Street.

The car rear-ended the pickup, causing a total of $3,500 damage. Stow complained of pain and was transported by private vehicle to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. The driver of the pickup, 36-year old Bradley Johnson, of Creston, was not hurt.

No citations were issued.

Police in Shenandoah had a busy Sunday night responding to two separate fights. At around 7:30-p.m., officers were called to residence in the 200 block of Wabash Ave for a fight in progress. After an investigation, officers arrested 29-year old Kyle Campbell, of Shenandoah, for Felony Burglary in the Second Degree and Simple Assault. Campbell was taken to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $10,000 bond.

And, at around 9-p.m., Shenandoah Police were called to a report of several juveniles fighting with a handgun present near the intersection of Grant and Center. The parties had separated prior to officers’ arrival and the weapon, a BB gun, was seized. The incident is under investigation. The Page County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the response to the incident.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A judge could hear arguments from an Iowa newspaper in April as it seeks records related to a fatal 2015 police shooting in Burlington. The Hawk Eye reports an April 19 hearing has been scheduled in its effort to obtain police videos and other records. Burlington police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation say they have fulfilled what the law requires by releasing basic details about the shooting and a 12-second video from Hill’s body camera.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans begin the next session of the Iowa Legislature on Monday with plans to restrict abortion, decrease collective bargaining power for unions and cut taxes despite looming budget constraints. Democrats, now out of legislative control in any capacity for the first time in nearly 20 years, will be unable to stop any bills that get simple majority votes in either chamber.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Checking your home for radon is important to protecting your family’s health. The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to raise awareness about radon. Nebraska has the nation’s third-highest prevalence of radon, the cancer-causing gas that seeps into buildings from the surrounding soil. Iowa and North Dakota are the only states where the odorless, colorless gas is more widespread.

SUMNER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the man killed during a weekend home invasion in northeast Iowa. The Bremer County Sheriff’s office says 46-year-old Steven Anthony of Davenport, Iowa, died during after a shooting in the home Friday night. Sheriff Dan Pickett described the incident as a home invasion.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Checking your home for radon is important to protecting your family’s health. The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to raise awareness about radon. The odorless colorless radon gas is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, and is the most common cause in nonsmokers.

Nebraska has the nation’s third-highest prevalence of radon, the cancer-causing gas that seeps into buildings from the surrounding soil. Iowa and North Dakota are the only states where the odorless, colorless gas is more widespread.

The EPA’s Jon Edwards says everyone should test their homes for radon, and if there are high levels of the gas, homeowners should consider installing a radon mitigation system.

The Griswold School Board will hold a Special Meeting 4-p.m. Monday in the Central Office, at the Middle School/High School Building. During the session, the Board will act on approving an architectural firm for Pre-Referendum and Design Services, with regard to District Facilities. They’ll also act on personnel matters.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine what caused a house fire that killed one person in Iowa City. The Iowa City Fire Department says firefighters were called to the home around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. When crews arrived, they found a fire burning in the basement and heavy smoke billowing through the home.

One person died in the fire. A second person who was in the home escaped through a second-floor window. Authorities did not immediately release the name Sunday of the person who died in the fire. Officials estimate that the fire caused roughly $100,000 damage to the home.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans will take charge of the next session of the Iowa Legislature on Monday with ambitious plans to restrict abortion, decrease collective bargaining power for unions and cut taxes despite looming budget constraints.

Following an election that gave them strong majorities in the state Senate and House, Republican leaders say voters are expecting them to make changes. They add that their proposals would help spur economic growth, but they’ve released few specifics on their plans.

Democrats don’t hold a majority in either chamber for the first time in nearly 20 years, so they can do little to stop GOP lawmakers. And action could come quickly as outgoing Gov. Terry Branstad has said he plans to sign legislation into law before he resigns to become the next U.S. ambassador to China.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Organizers say a new website is helping people determine which areas of need they can meet with their charity dollars in the Omaha metropolitan area. It’s called The Landscape and can be found online at www.thelandscapeomaha.org .

The Omaha World-Herald reports that it provides a data-driven look at community life in six categories: health, neighborhoods, safety, transportation, workforce and education. The website breaks down the topics to create snapshots and compares local data with national numbers.

Sara Boyd is president of the Omaha Community Foundation and she says the website puts donors, advocates, nonprofit groups and policymakers “in a position of power” to better identify problems. The website includes information from neighboring Council Bluffs, across the Missouri River in Iowa.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Session 9-a.m. Monday, in their boardroom at the Courthouse, in Greenfield. During the session, the Supervisors will hear Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Requests from the following County Department Heads and/or Departments: Recorder; Treasurer; Custodian; Engineer; Auditor; Clerk of Court; Social Services; Medical Examiner; Mental Health, Data Processing; and Sanitarian.

Afterward, the Board will enter a Budget Work Session.