(Radio Iowa) – Parents and teachers came out in force in North Liberty on Sunday to speak out against proposed changes to Area Education Agencies. When Britney McDonald was a kid, she had a special education plan to work on her speech. Now a parent of three, she says the local A-E-A is helping her 10-year-old daughter catch up on reading skills. McDonald says she’s concerned about the impact changes to the A-E-A could have on the support that has helped her children. “She works so hard on her sounds and practicing because the AEA was able to come into the school and have the evaluation for her and to get the resources she needs,” McDonald says. “It’s just amazing.”

There were a number of A-E-A employees at the hearing. Teran Buettell is a behavior and autism specialist for the Great Prairie A-E-A. Before that she was a parent of a non-verbal child. Buettel says the A-E-A got her son the services he needed. Buettel says, “Unlike decisions made for one child, this decision will have long lasting effects for tens of thousands of children.” A-E-As provide special education, professional development and curriculum assessment to families, teachers and school districts.

Since its release, Governor Kim Reynolds has walked back the scope of her original proposal to limit A-E-As to providing special education services. Now, she would allow A-E-As to continue providing general education services that request them, so long as the state approves.

(Radio Iowa) – [Update] This summer’s 51st running of the statewide bicycle ride will take a southern route. Organizers say it’ll be the hilliest RAGBRAI ever, with more than 18-thousand feet of climb, including daily climbs for cyclists of at least 3,000 feet. Perhaps to compensate, the ride will also be 434 miles, making it the eighth shortest route. Running July 21st through the 27th, RAGBRAI will start in Glenwood this year and end in Burlington, with overnight stops in Red Oak, Atlantic, Winterset, Knoxville, Ottumwa and Mount Pleasant.

Last year, ride organizers footed the bill for each overnight town’s musical performances, but this year, RAGBRAI will instead be giving each town $50,000 to spend, including to book their own entertainment.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report the arrest last Friday (Jan. 26), of 58-year-old Ralph Springs, of Glenwood. He was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense – Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Springs was being held in the Mills County Jail on $7,300 bond.

Authorities said also, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon on S. Locust Street, in Glenwood. Officials say a 2004 pickup driven by 78-year-old Kenneth Booth, of Pacific Junction, was backing out of a parking stall at the Glenwood Dollar General Store, when his receiver hitch struck a parked 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser located behind him. The rear bumper portion of the car sustained about $2,500 damage.

No visible damage to the pickup was observed, except for some paint transfer from the other vehicle. No citations were issued, but the Police report stated “starting or improper backing” was a factor in the accident.

(Shelby, Iowa) – Shots were fired in Omaha early this (Monday) morning, leading to a high-speed pursuit that crossed state lines. KETV says according to Omaha Police, an officer saw someone firing shots from a vehicle near 33rd and Leavenworth streets and tried to pull them over. Officers said the vehicle refused to stop and police pursued it through downtown Omaha and into Iowa. Scanner reports said a gun was tossed out the window of the vehicle, during the chase.

Council Bluffs police took over the pursuit, which was eventually stopped on Interstate 80 near Shelby, at around 4:30-a.m. Omaha Police said Officers took the driver, 30-year-old Cachelle Martin, into custody. Charges are pending. Omaha police said they will seek to extradite Martin to Nebraska.

GRAND JUNCTION, Iowa (KCCI) – A woman is parting ways with a homemade quilt to benefit the family of Ahmir Jolliff. Joliff was shot and killed at Perry High School on Jan. 4. Ellen McElroy made the quilt just months after her son Arnold Thomas died. Thomas was hit by a truck when he was just nine years old. But until recently, she said the quilt hasn’t seen any use- and shops have valued it at over a thousand dollars.

McElroy decided to enter the piece in a silent auction hosted by Perry High School, with all proceeds going to Joliffs family. She told KCCI, “I know what they’re going through, and it’s not an easy situation,” Ellen McElroy said. “If it even helps them that much, it’ll be worth it to me.”

The bidding on the auction closes tonight (Monday), at 8 o’clock.

WEBSTER COUNTY, Iowa (WHO-TV) — Three people are dead following a shooting at a rural Webster County home Sunday night. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office said a 911 call came in around 7:40 p.m. from a juvenile that two people had been shot at 2101 140th Street. That’s about nine miles north of Fort Dodge. The caller told dispatchers the suspected shooter had fled on foot.

Deputies with the WCSO arrived minutes after the call and found 39-year-old Molly Barlow and 63-year-old Phyllis Versteeg in the garage area. Both had been shot. The deputies attempted life-saving medical care until paramedics arrived, but both victims died at the scene. In a search of the home by deputies and officers with the Fort Dodge Police Department, the body of 41-year-old Duran Barlow was located. The WCSO said it appeared he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called in to process the scene and conduct interviews. The investigation into what happened continues but the WCSO said there is no threat to the public.

(Creston, Iowa) –  A woman from Creston was arrested Sunday afternoon, on drug charges. Creston Police report 34-year-old Rachel Marie Colburn was arrested at 417 Wyoming Avenue, and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine/1st Offense, and Possession Drug Paraphernalia. Colburn was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,300 bond.

Also arrested at the same location, was 44-year-old Robert Todd Jackson, of Creston. Jackson was charged with Driving Suspended. He was cited and released from the scene with Promise to Appear in Court.