Details of the spending plans Republicans in the legislature have crafted are dribbling out at the state capitol, but these draft plans are not yet available online for public review. Representative Cindy Winckler of Davenport, a Democrat, says that is a concern because the House Appropriations Committee plans to vote on the G-O-P’s education budget today (Wednesday).

“So we have a very short time period for individuals to have input on this bill,” Winckler says. Republican Representative Cecil Dolecheck of Mount Ayr says he has been getting feedback from lobbyists who represent institutions that are going to see budget cuts.

“From the comments and stuff that I’ve been getting, the public is fairly well aware of what’s already in the bill,” Dolecheck said, laughing. Winckler said: “I would imagine that some of the public is, but not all of the public and until it’s online, it isn’t a public document.”

Republicans plan to reduce state spending at the state universities by 32 million dollars in the coming year. The University of Northern Iowa’s budget reduction would be about half of what Republican legislators are recommending for the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A longtime Iowa research center for sustainable agriculture is on the chopping block in the Republican-controlled Legislature. A GOP-led budget committee voted Tuesday for an education bill that includes cutting nearly $400,000 from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. The legislation will require more votes before it can be finalized. The bill also includes cutting $1.5 million from the Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of five people killed in a fiery Mason City crash. Police in Mason City say an officer discovered the accident scene around 2:40 a.m. Monday. On Tuesday the Mason City Police Department identified the driver as 20-year-old Zachary Hartley. His four passengers were identified as 17-year-old Donte Foster, 18-year-old Roderick Lewis, 14-year-old Sydney Alcorn and 19-year-old Alex Wiebke. All of them lived in Mason City.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman accused of beating to death her ex-husband with a baseball bat has again been found not mentally competent to stand trial. The Telegraph Herald reports that the finding for 53-year-old Dolores Flynn was released Tuesday. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the January 2016 baseball-bat slaying of 72-year-old Gary Breckenridge.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Education Department says the state’s high school graduation rate has increased for the fifth year straight, even as dropout rates increased slightly for the first time since the 2009-10 school year. In a news release Tuesday, the department said 91.3 percent of students in the 2016 graduating class graduated within four years, up from 90.8 percent from the previous year. Iowa’s annual dropout rate was 2.8 percent last year, up from 2.5 percent the previous year.

A man from Shelby County was sentenced today (Tuesday), to 5-years in prison following his conviction on child pornography charges. 40-year old Matthew E. Gross. of Westphalia, will also be required to serve five years of supervised release following his conviction for the receipt and possession of Child Pornography.

Gross pled guilty on November 3rd, 2016 to a two-count indictment, charging him with possession and receipt of child pornography. He had received child pornography images from at least as early as February of 2014 and up to August of 2014. In addition, Gross was found in possession of child pornography images on or about September 25, 2014, in his Westphalia residence.

The investigation into his case was conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Education Department says the state’s high school graduation rate has increased for the fifth year straight, even as dropout rates increased slightly for the first time since the 2009-10 school year.

In a news release Tuesday, the department said 91.3 percent of students in the 2016 graduating class graduated within four years, up from 90.8 percent from the previous year. Iowa’s annual dropout rate was 2.8 percent last year, up from 2.5 percent the previous year. The latest dropout rate represents 4,154 students in grades 9-12.

Officials say graduation and dropout rates can increase simultaneously because they measure different groups. The graduation rate follows one class for four years, while annual dropout rates represent the number of students who dropped out of grades 9-12 during one school year.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested an Atlantic man on a felony contraband, and other charges, Sunday. Authorities report 38-year old Dirk Ramsey Wasson faces a Class-D felony Possession of Contraband in Jail charge, along with charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Wasson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a non-injury two vehicle accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in Red Oak.  Officers were called to the intersection of West Walnut Street and North Broadway Street at 1:51pm.

After investigation at the scene it was determined that a a 2016 Ford Escape driven by 61-year-old Kathleen Roberts of Red Oak was traveling Westbound on West Walnut Street and stopped at the stop sign of the North Broadway Street intersection.  Roberts proceeded through the intersection before it was clear and caused a 2001 Buick Century driven by 62-year-old Shirley Grunstead of Red Oak to impact the passenger side door of Roberts’ Ford.

Neither driver was injured during the crash. Damage to Roberts’ Ford was estimated at $5,000 and damage to Grunstead’s Buick was estimated at $3,000. Roberts was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Changes have been announced at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield as crews prepare to build a new six-story parking structure. Omaha television station WOWT reports that Eppley will close its surface and canopy lots on Thursday to prepare for the construction.

The new parking structure, which will hold 3,000 cars, was approved by the Omaha Airport Authority in December. The $66.5 million project is scheduled to begin in May and take about two years to complete.

During that time, rental car operations at the airport will be relocated to the canopy lot south of the terminal, which will be closed to public parking.