DES MOINES, Iowa – The latest study shows a growing number of low-income children in Iowa and across the nation taking part in school breakfast programs, but locally there’s much progress to be made. The report from the Food Research and Action Center shows the number of Iowa kids who eat free or reduced-price lunches at school and also take part in school breakfast programs has grown by 2.2 percent over the past five years. However, Crystal FitzSimons, FRAC’s director of school and out-of-school-time programs, says much more can be done.

“Iowa actually ranks 48th for participation in the school breakfast program, compared to low-income students’ participation in the school lunch program,” she said. “So, they’re feeding about 72,000 students breakfast each day.” Nationally, an average of more than 11 million low-income kids ate breakfast at school each day last year, an increase of about 320,000 students from the previous year.

FitzSimons said many factors are driving the upward trend in school-breakfast participation. One is that states and districts are looking at more innovative and accommodating ways to offer morning meals, such as breakfast-in-the-classroom programs.

“It’s where kids are eating breakfast in the morning in the classroom together,” she said. “They’re doing grab-and-go programs, where kids kind of grab a breakfast on their way into school and take it to the class with them – really taking a look at creative ways to make sure that the breakfast program is available to kids who want to participate.”

Considerable research shows that nutrition – and eating breakfast in particular – is important for cognitive functioning and academic success. State-specific information is online at frac.org.

(Iowa News Service)

A bill that would ban teenagers from commercial tanning bed businesses has cleared a committee in the Iowa House. About 100 volunteers from the American Cancer Society were at the statehouse Tuesday, as a show of support for the bill. Gail Orcutt, of Pleasant Hill, a lung cancer survivor, has a cousin who died of skin cancer two years ago. “Kids can’t go in and buy cigarettes and certainly they can’t smoke cigarettes before they’re 18,” Orcutt says, “so we need to keep our kids safe and a lot of parents just don’t know how dangerous tanning is.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, indoor tanning can cause skin cancer. Eleven other states, including Minnesota and Illinois, have passed legislation banning indoor tanning for minors. A 2011 study found one-third of the girls who were high school seniors had used a tanning bed that year.

While the bill banning teens from tanning beds in Iowa cleared the House Human Resources Committee, it wasn’t unanimous. Some Republicans on the panel objected, arguing it should be the parent who decides whether their 16 or 17 year old can tan.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports 17-year old  Andrew Gordon, of Creston, was referred to juvenile authorities after allegedly being in Possession of Marijuana. Gordon was subsequently released to his mother.

(7-a.m. News)

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will headline a fundraiser for the Pottawattamie County Democrats next month. O’Malley spokeswoman Lis Smith says Tuesday he will attend the event March 21 in Council Bluffs. O’Malley had already announced plans to appear at a Scott County Democratic Party dinner in Davenport on March 20.

O’Malley is considered a possible 2016 Democratic presidential contender. He made several visits to Iowa before the 2014 midterm elections. O’Malley will also be making stops in South Carolina and Kansas in the coming weeks.

Iowa’s cold and windy winters, which average more than 30 inches of snow, ice and rain, can take a toll on homes, especially older ones with aging roofs, siding or windows. If a homeowner is in need of essential repairs such as a new furnace, roof, siding, or accessibility improvements, USDA Rural Development’s home repair low-interest loan and/or grant program is available to help eligible households make needed improvements.

Loans have a fixed interest rate as low as one percent and typically may be repaid over a term of 20 years. Grants are available to help applicants who are 62 or older, and who cannot repay a loan, remove health and safety hazards or to make the home accessible for a disabled family member. Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, says “These loans and grants help eligible families make needed repairs that they otherwise couldn’t afford. Through this program a family can get a $3,000 loan that has a monthly payment as low as $13.80.”

Examples of eligible home repair projects include, but are not limited to, repair/replacement of storm doors, windows, steps, furnaces, water heaters or roofs. Funds can also be used for insulation, electrical, plumbing, septic and water systems, and to provide accessibility for persons with disabilities. Homes repaired with these funds must be located in communities of less than 20,000 people or in rural areas.

Along with loans and grants to repair homes, USDA Rural Development has two low-interest, no-down-payment loan programs to help eligible families purchase new homes.
To learn more about USDA Rural Development’s housing programs please call (515) 284-4444, email DirectIA@ia.usda.gov or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia.

Four people have been arrested in Mills County on separate charges. Sheriff’s officials say 54-year old Randall Dean Herring, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 3-a.m. Monday on Interstate 29, for Obstructing Prosecution of Defense, Eluding, and Speeding. His bond was set at $3,000. And, 34-year old Adelaido Lara-Guillen, of Lenox, was arrested at around 5:15-p.m. Monday at 280th Street and Highway 34, for being a Fugitive From Justice. Her bond was set at $5,000.

On Saturday, deputies in Mills County arrested 18-year old Briar Dakota Shivers, of Indianola, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Shivers was arrested on Highway 34 at around 11-p.m.  Bond was set at $1,300.  And, at around 7-p.m. Saturday, deputies arrested 41-year old Ronald Loren Gray, of Pacific Junction, on a warrant for Harassment in the 3rd degree. He was taken into custody at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, and held on $300 bond.

The Glenwood Police Department reports 41-year old Donald Graalfs, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. His bond was set at $1,000. 18-year old Marcus Pierce, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday, on a Mills County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault, with bond set at $1,000.

And, as we reported last week, the Glenwood P-D says two people were arrested Feb. 11th: 31-year old Michael Dyer, of Omaha, and 33-year old Danielle Darling, of Bellevue, NE, were arrested for Theft in the 3rd degree, and Conspiracy to Commit a felony. Dyer faces additional charges that include 3 counts of Forgery and ongoing criminal conduct. His bond was set at $47,000. Darling also faces a charge of Forgery. Her bond was set at $12,000.

A Montgomery County man was arrested Monday night on drug charges, following a traffic stop in Clarinda. Police Chief Keith Brothers reports 33-year old Kyle David Bahn, of Villisca, was arrested at around 11:10-p.m., Monday, for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance suspected to be a central nervous system stimulant, with an amphetamine base.

Bahn was arrested without incident, processed at the jail and later released on a recognizance bond, pending an initial appearance before the Page County Magistrate Court. His hearing is set for February 25th.

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors has proposed a fiscal year 2016 county operating budget that calls for a 23-cent reduction in the levy. According to The Daily NonPareil, the board on Tuesday set an evening public hearing on the budget for 6:30-p.m. Monday, March 9th, in the Supervisors room on the second floor in the county courthouse.

Several southwest Iowa communities have received grants totaling $203,000, through MidAmerican Energy’s Trees Please! program. The Daily NonPareil reports the cities include Council Bluffs, Farragut, Macedonia, Marne, Modale, Randolph, Red Oak, Shelby and the Glenwood Tree Board. Each of those entities received funds to promote energy efficiency and environmental beautification through the planting of trees. Council Bluffs received $20,000. The other cities received $1,000 each.