Governor Kim Reynolds says a one percent boost in general state support of Iowa’s public schools is “just one piece” of what lawmakers ultimately will provide schools for the next academic year. “Nothing is more important than investing in our children,” Reynolds says. “And that has been a priority since I’ve been a lieutenant governor and now as the governor.” Ron Corbett, her Republican primary opponent, says Iowans should “expect more” rather than “settle for less” when it comes to the bulk of state aid for public schools.

“Have we lowered our standards that much in the state of Iowa that we think one percent is o.k.?” Corbett asked. Corbett says as a conservative, he believes there’s room for improvement in public schools, but Corbett says improvement will be challenging when state funding doesn’t even keep up with inflation.

“Get out of this rut that we’re in,” Corbett says. Reynolds counters that in addition to a one percent boost in general state support, legislators are “looking at” giving schools state help in paying to transport students in geographically large districts. Reynolds also has asked legislators to extend 35 million dollars that public schools have gotten before, but without legislative action that money won’t be available next year.

(Radio Iowa)

A chain of hospitals in Iowa and Nebraska is now offering what it calls “wag therapy” at several of its facilities. Dogs are being used in patients’ rooms and in hospital lobbies to help patients and visitors feel better. Kris Wiley, a mental health practitioner at C-H-I Health in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says just the act of petting a pooch can have near-miraculous effects.

“Research has shown that it can reduce anxiety, it reduces people’s blood pressure,” Wiley says. “Some research has even shown that petting a dog will cause our body to start to release oxytocin, which is a feel-good hormone.” While the saying is that a dog is a man’s best friend, Wiley says it’s sounding more like dogs are great for both our mental and physical health.

“They’re doing studies now and finding that people who own dogs tend to be more active,” Wiley says. “It could be because they feel guilty that their dog has been home all day and hasn’t had any outside activity, but whatever reason we’re taking that dog for a walk is good for us as well.” Wiley says more hospitals are turning to dog therapy to help with a variety of illness and just to bring a smile to a patient’s face.

Wiley says, “Because I’m in the mental health practice, I certainly have patients who will immediately tell me their dog has been a benefit in their recovery from depression and anxiety, to give them a sense of calm.” She says there are countless benefits to owning or having regular interaction with dogs.

“Dogs actually have the ability, once they get to know a person, read facial expressions to kind of anticipate what their human companion is going to do,” she says. “They have your non-verbal cues figured out.” Several four-legged volunteers are now offering regular wag therapy sessions at five C-H-I Health hospitals.

(Radio Iowa)

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a small plane made an emergency landing on ice-covered Clear Lake and took off again before authorities reached the lake. The plane landed on the northern Iowa lake Saturday afternoon and taxied closer to the shoreline.

No injuries were reported, and the plane did not appear significantly damaged. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Bryant says the plane was gone by the time he reached the lake from Mason City. He believes the pilot made repairs.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane is a Tylorcraft fixed wing single-engine manufactured in 1943. The army green plane has a U.S. military symbol on the side.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater has released a report on arrests.

On Saturday, 22-year old Warren Matthew Preston, of Waukegan, IL, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 25. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and Open Container. Preston was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Last Friday, 26-year old Cody Leon Zimmerline, of Adair, was served with at the Adair County Jail, with a warrant for Violation of Probation. Zimmerline was being held in the jail based on his arrest on Feb. 4th for: Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility (baggies containing marijuana and meth); Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense/methamphetamine; and Possession of drug paraphernalia (baggies used to transport drugs). His cash or surety bond amounted to $6,000 altogether. Zimmerline remains in the Adair County Jail.

On Feb. 7th, Adair County Deputies arrested 50-year old Todd Richard Eble, of Bridgewater, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving Under Suspension. He was cited for the offenses and released from custody on the scene.

On Feb. 6th, 49-year old Connie Jae Emrgarten, of Casey, was arrested for Driving While Barred. She was released the same day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

Feb. 5th, Adair County deputies arrested 36-year old Joshua Ernst Knuth, of Creston, for OWI/2nd offense. He was released later that same day after posting 10% of a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

Council Bluffs Police were called at around 9:20-a.m. today (Monday) to a residence in the 200 block of Stutsman St. in reference to a home invasion. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victims, who stated two unknown black males entered the residence through an unlocked door, displayed a machete and began looking for another person who was not at this location. The suspects left the home after the victims told them the police had been called and were on the way. The suspects are believed to have left in a dark gray SUV. No injuries were reported. No damage to property was observed. The Criminal Investigations Division was notified and will be handling the investigation. If you have any information regarding this crime or any others please contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP(7867).

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says at around 10-p.m. Feb. 3rd, his Office was notified of a vandalism that had occurred at the Nishnabotna River bridge 1 mile north of Essex, IA on D Avenue. The investigation showed that unknown persons(s) cut the fiber optic cable lines and conduit holding them at the above location. The vandalism affected Mediacom and Chat Mobility. A dollar amount of damage has not been provided to the Sheriff’s Office at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193 or their local Law Enforcement agency.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa Workforce Development worker who’d once described her boss as rude has been awarded unemployment benefits. The Des Moines Register reports that Trudi Snyder was fired after complaining to colleagues last August that agency director Beth Townsend was “obnoxiously rude” and later comparing the agency management to “the Gestapo” — the World War II Nazis’ secret police. Snyder reportedly told her superiors at a subsequent conduct hearing that, as a staff trainer, she didn’t realize it was her job to “put a happy face on everything.”

The agency eventually challenged Snyder’s application for jobless benefits because she’d been fired for job-related misconduct. In many cases that disqualifies a person from collecting the benefits. Last week Administrative Law Judge Amanda Atherton ruled against Workforce Development and awarded Snyder the benefits, saying: “That employees complain about work, their co-workers and their managers is a fact of life.”