DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Across Iowa, school districts are finalizing budget proposals for the upcoming school year without a key detail: how much administrators can actually spend. The Iowa Legislature continues to be at an impasse over education funding for the fiscal year that begins in July. A deadline Wednesday for school districts to have preliminary approval of their budgets seems to be doing little to prod lawmakers into action.

Iowa school superintendents say the lack of certainty about funding has been frustrating. Some say it could affect staffing and programming, among other things. Democrats, who originally proposed more than $200 million in additional funding, are now pushing for about $150 million. Republicans are seeking an increase of more than $100 million. Both proposals include dollars dedicated to teacher leadership training.

The tax rate for patrons of the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School District is being lowered for the 2015-16 Fiscal Year. Superintendent Dean Schnoes told KJAN News the levy will decrease about 70-cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation.

Schnoes said the rate will decrease from about 13-dollars, to $12.31/per thousand. The change, which becomes effective July 1st, followed Monday night’s school board meeting on the 2015-16 budget, during which there were no objections from the public. The budget, according to Schnoes amounts to between 8-and 9-million dollars. (The exact figure wasn’t immediately available)

Schnoes said the Exira-EHK School Board also agreed to continue discussions with the Audubon Community School District, on sharing a wrestling program next year. He said they’d like to get to a point where they can field all the weight classes. Schnoes said it’s important to keep wrestling alive in both districts.

In other business, the board approved the resignations of 4th grade teacher Kara Wilson, who is moving to another district closer to home, and head volleyball coach Connie Wyatt. The Board also approved their assessment goals for kids next year, as well.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A report released Tuesday detailing an investigation by the state auditor of the town of Pacific Junction has revealed more than $30,000 in improper pay to city employees.

Auditor Mary Mosiman issued the report on the investigation of Pacific Junction that found $31,842 in wrongful disbursements to city officials over a five-year period, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2013. It also identified $75,825 in unpaid payroll taxes, including about one-third of that total in penalties and interest.

Concerns from citizens about the frequency and number of payroll check received by city employees prompted the review. According to the report, City Clerk Kari Williams received nearly $16,000 in unauthorized vacation, sick leave and holiday pay.

An investigation into a theft in Grant this past February, and the theft of an ATV, has resulted in an arrest. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 32-year old Jason Latham, of Blockton, was arrested this (Tuesday) morning on a 2nd Degree Theft charge. Latham was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

A company based in the United Kingdom has paid $7,000 to provide refunds to 325 Iowans who responded to personalized psychic solicitations. Geoff Greenwood, spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, says his office filed a consumer fraud lawsuit after an investigation that started a couple years ago with a call from an eastern Iowa woman.

“Our consumer protection division heard from an Iowan whose 91-year-old mother had provided a lot of money to this clairvoyant and this 91-year-old almost went broke sending money to this individual,” Greenwood says. The mailings — from supposed psychic “Mary Theresa” or “Lady of Hearts” — offered to share information in exchange for a fee of between $20 and $54.

“She all but promises that something really good is going to happen…’I’ve got some information that perhaps will affect your wealth or affect your health,'” Greenwood says. The scheme by Nature Plus Limited targeted mostly elderly Iowa victims, who will soon be getting refunds.

“And what’s important as well is that she won’t be doing this again in Iowa and she won’t share her mailing list with others so others can target these same people,” Greenwood says. Some Iowa victims sent hundreds of dollars in response to multiple mailings from supposed psychics promising riches and life-changing miracles, according to Greenwood.

(Radio Iowa)

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say what seemed to be a bag of dead puppies dumped near a bridge in northwestern Iowa has turned out to be a bag of skinned raccoon carcasses. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office says the bag was found north of Sibley on April 6 and appeared to have been left near the bridge sometime last fall. But on Monday senior conservation officer Greg Harson with the Iowa Natural Resources Department said the carcasses were those of raccoons.

Osceola County Sheriff’s Lt. Seth Hofman says it’s not known whether the raccoons were trapped or hunted legally, but they were disposed of illegally.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Tuesday) will present the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Governor’s Cup ROTC Award for outstanding achievement to ten students from The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, University of Dubuque, Buena Vista University, University of Northern Iowa, and Coe College. The ceremony will be held at the State Capital in the Robert D. Ray Conference Room, beginning at 10 a.m.

Among the award recipients is Cadet Captain Matthew D. Hanson, Buena Vista University Army ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Hanson, of Villisca.

The awards are presented annually by Governor Branstad to top students in ten ROTC programs at seven universities. The awards “honor the cadets for leadership, academics, and military achievement.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Adair man was arrested Monday, following a pursuit. 27-year old Dustin Allen Hansen, was arrested on a felony charge of Eluding a Police Officer, and OWI 2nd Offense. Hansen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

On April 8th, deputies in Cass County arrested 26-year old Joseph Cornell Clark, of Barnett, MO, on a charge of False Report to Law Enforcement, as well as on two Missouri warrants. That same day, 37-year old Tricia R. Barton-Garrett, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Barton-Garrett was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released the following day on her own recognizance. Clark was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held pending extradition to the state of Missouri.

And last Saturday, deputies in Cass County arrested 31-year old Isaac Terence Gaines, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Gaines was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Today (Tuesday) is the start of the seven-and-a-half week long “Give Back Iowa Challenge.” Leah Rodenberg, of Alliant Energy, is co-chair of the effort, which is designed to get Iowa business owners to encourage their employees to volunteer.
“Participating in the Give Back Iowa Challenge will be a chance for your company to see the positive effect volunteering has on your employees, company and the community,” she says.

Angela Ten Clay of Wellmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield is the other co-chair. “At Wellmark, we understand the impact volunteering has on employee wellness and we hope other companies will join us in participating in the challenge to boost both Iowa’s goals to be the healthiest state and a leader in volunteerism,” Ten Clay says.

Companies can sign up for the challenge online at volunteer-Iowa-dot-org (www.volunteeriowa.org). The challenge starts today (April 14th) and ends May 31st. Businesses that wind up with the highest average of volunteer hours per employee will get a congratulatory visit from the governor or lieutenant governor. Iowa currently ranks sixth among the states for the number of volunteer hours per resident.

(Radio Iowa)