DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has approved a measure that would prohibit local schools from beginning classes before the fourth Monday in August. Backers say the measure approved Tuesday takes into account Iowa’s farm-based economy by keeping summer open for activities like the state fair and farming. Opponents say the state shouldn’t meddle in matters best left to local school officials. Current law says local schools can’t begin the academic year until after Sept. 1, but they are allowed to seek waivers from that requirement.  Many school districts seek the waiver and area allowed to begin earlier.  The measure cleared the House by a 54 to 44 vote and now goes to the Senate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Federal regulators have confirmed their preliminary finding that a fire last June at an idled Nebraska nuclear plant presented a serious safety threat. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released its final determination on Tuesday, saying the small fire at the Fort Calhoun plant 19 miles north of Omaha merited the NRC’s most serious “high safety significance.” The finding mirrored the commission’s preliminary conclusion announced on March 12.  The fire briefly knocked out the cooling system for used fuel. The NRC says the plant was shut down at the time and that temperatures never exceeded safe levels.  But it also says the fire was a major concern because it could have happened when the plant was operational and that workers didn’t fully investigate an unusual smell in the area three days earlier.

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County say an accident Monday evening south of Malvern has claimed the life of an Arkansas man. 32-year old Cade Kling, of England, AR., was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which took place just before 6-p.m., on southbound on 310th Street.

The Sheriff’s Department says Kling was driving a 1997 GMC Sonoma pickup truck, when the right front wheel left the road. Kling overcorrected, sending the pickup into a skid. The truck rolled over and came to a rest on its top. Kling, who was wearing his seat belt, was trapped inside the vehicle.

It’s not clear if alcohol was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Malvern Fire and Rescue and Glenwood Rescue.

It’s not unusual for temperatures in Iowa to dip below freezing in April, but various crops in the state were damaged in this morning’s cold snap because they blossomed roughly a month earlier than usual this year. National Weather Service meteorologist Aubry Wilkins says the coldest spots in the state at 5 a.m. were in western and northwest Iowa. “Audubon and Carroll bottomed out near 21 degrees and Estherville dropped to 20 or 19 degrees,” Wilkins says. 

In Atlantic, the thermometer bottomed-out at 26-degrees early this morning. Temperatures below 25-degrees can kill fruit and other sensitive crops or vegetation. Another freeze warning is posted for Iowa early Wednesday. Wilkins says Wednesday morning’s temperatures could be even colder than they were this morning. Warmer weather is in the forecast by Thursday. “We will see a bit of a warming trend into the weekend,” Wilkins says. “And then this weekend, we do have the potential for severe storms. It looks like Saturday is the best potential for that.” 

This recent cold snap follows a month in which nine Midwestern states, including Iowa, recorded their warmest March on record.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN)

The Elk Horn-Kimballton and Exira School District Boards of Education held their regular, separate meetings Monday. Superintendent of Schools Dean Schnoes said the EHK Board approved a $160,000 budget amendment for calendar year 2011-2012, and the 2012-2013 budget during their meeting, Monday afternoon. Schnoes said they also voted to increase the Driver’s Education fee for this Summer. He says the in-district fee went from $185 to $200, while the out-of-district fee increased from $290 to $300. Schnoes said a lot of that increase is attributed to the rising cost of fuel. The EHK Board also voted to hire Maria Ternus as the Business Manager for both the EHK and Exira Districts. She will begin training for the position Wednesday, and finish out the duties for the rest of the year.

Schnoes said the Exira School Board approved a decrease in the tax levy for the district, from 18.1% per thousand dollars valuation, to 16.38% per thousand. He says the higher land values allowed them to recoup tax dollars while at the same time lowering the tax rate. He says also, the Exira Board passed a resolution which is intended to move forward with the possibility of reorganization by July 1^st, 2014. Schnoes says the attorney will look the resolution over in preparation for presentation to the Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board during their next regular meeting.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, announced that they will travel to Southwest Iowa to promote their plan for permanent property tax relief for all classes of property. The events, which take place in Clarinda and in Red Oak, will be held on Friday, April 13th.

Branstad and Reynolds will hold a Page County town hall meeting at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum – Community Room, 122 West Clark Street in Clarinda, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Friday.  The Montgomery County town hall meeting is at the Fountain Perk Coffee Shop, 322 East Coolbaugh Streetin Red Oak,beginning at 3:15-p.m.

For more information, please visit www.governor.iowa.gov<http://www.governor.iowa.gov>. To view their plan on permanent tax relief, follow this link: https://governor.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Property-Tax-handout-2.20.12.pdf

The Nishna Valley Trails association is inviting the public to a “Bike/Trails Expo” to be held at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic on Monday, April 30^th, beginning at 7 p.m.  Mark Wyatt, the president of the Iowa Bicycling Coalition will be the speaker for the evening, talking about trends in bicycling as recreation and transportation, and about Iowa as the “Bike Trails Capitol of the World”.  There will be informational displays, a bicycle show, and refreshments will be served.  By registering at the door, participants can enter a drawing for door prizes, including bicycles and biking accessories.  For more information contact Ed Kail at 243-4265.