(Radio Iowa) — A state senator from southeast Iowa wants to adjust the financing for students who attend school outside the district in which they live. It’s called “open enrollment.” For 30 years, Iowa parents have been able to enroll their kids in public school districts outside the one in which they live. Senator Tom Greene, a Republican from Burlington, says it’s “a real financial issue” for districts that are losing students.”I think open enrollment is here to stay,” Greene says. “It’s not going to change and I understand that, but what I want to do is change the funding mechanism.” Greene is proposing that the home district — where the student lives — keep of 12 percent of the “per pupil” spending for each student who “open enrolls” into another district.

Green says that means all the state and federal tax dollars would follow a student to the other school, but the taxes paid by local property owners would stay put. Green says sending property tax dollars to another district is “taxation without representation.” “The Burlington School District totally surrounds the West Burlington School District. The West Burlington School District has 800 and 900 students; 53 percent of those students reside outside the boundaries of the West Burlington School District,” Greene says. “A huge amount of money comes into the West Burlington School District from outside, but those taxpayers have no say in how that money is spent. That’s my biggest concern.”

Before his election to the state senate, Greene was a member of the Burlington School Board and served as its president.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was injured in a fire that heavily damaged a house in Ottumwa. Firefighters report finding the man just outside the house’s front door when they arrived Sunday afternoon. He was taken to an Ottumwa hospital before being transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. His name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated. The house is considered a total loss.

Sunday, February 10th is the date of the Annual Chili Contest sponsored by the Marne Community Club. At the same time, the Annual Men’s Pie Baking Contest will be held. Judging for both contests will be “people’s choice.”

Anyone interested in entering the Chili Contest should bring a gallon crock pot of chili to the Marne Community Center by 6:00 p.m. on the day of the contest. The same goes for entering the Men’s Pie Contest. There are no fees for entering. Trophies for both chili and pie winners are on display at the Marne Community Center, and the  1st place winners’ names will be added to their respective trophy.

Everyone is welcome to join the fun, either as a participant or a judge! Come to Marne and share a meal. The main course will be, of course, chili. Please bring a potluck salad to share. Pie for dessert! Beverages will be provided.

An investigation stemming from an incident that took place January 9th, has resulted in the arrest of a woman in southwest Iowa. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says on Jan. 9th, his  deputies were called to an address in Sidney for a report of an intoxicated female, who was arguing with bystanders and had fallen while holding an infant. Upon arrival, deputies removed a 2-month-old child from the care of 32-year old Jana Gray, of Sidney.

Jana Gray

The mother and child were transported to the hospital, where the child was found to be uninjured from the fall.

Deputies allege that Gray became intoxicated on an unknown substance while caring for the 2-month-old and another minor child.  The woman allegedly created a disturbance in the home and the minor requested assistance from neighbors.  When the neighbors attempted to aid the infant, Gray fell while holding the infant.

An investigation was conducted resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant for Gray, who was taken into custody by a Shenandoah Police Officer today (Monday, Feb. 4th). She was arrested on an active Fremont County warrant for Child Endangerment. Gray was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The Shenandoah Police Department, Sidney Fire and Rescue and Iowa Department of Human Services assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 1:40 a.m. CST

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three people have been killed after a minivan and a car crashed into an overturned semitractor-trailer on a southeastern Iowa highway. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa State Patrol spokesman Nathan Ludwig says dense fog is believed to have been a factor in the crashes early Sunday west of Mount Pleasant. Authorities say five other people were hurt. They say one is in critical condition and four others, including the semi driver, were treated at hospitals and released.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some Omaha-area school districts are installing bleeding control kits inside schools to give staff and students quick access to resources in case of an emergency. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency has led the effort to get the kits into school districts. The kits cost about $56 each and contain an instruction card, gauze, rubber gloves, scissors and a tourniquet that can be used to stop bleeding.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The recent extreme cold weather will kill some but not all of the insects in the area. The Quad-City Times reports area residents will still have to deal with Japanese beetles and emerald ash borers next summer.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A trial date has been set for a man accused of killing an Iowa high school student almost 40 years ago. Cedar Rapids station KCRG reports that trial for 65-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester, has been set for Oct. 14 in Linn County. Burns has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Police arrested him Dec. 19, 39 years to the day after 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was killed. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall.