Tuesday was “Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day” and long-time Governor Terry Branstad used the occasion to reminisce about his history with the movement. “I had honor of signing the bill that made homeschooling without a teaching certificate legal in Iowa,” Branstad said.That happened back in 1991. “I didn’t want to see conscientious families face the prospect of having to break the law,” Branstad said.

Branstad told a crowd of about 300 parents and children that Iowa now is known for its supportive environment for home schools. Branstad signed another law in 2013 that got rid of the paperwork that parents who homeschool their children had to turn in to their local public school district.

Critics say that was too lax and some have called for random government inspections of homes where parents are teaching their own children. Branstad said parents who don’t want to send their child to a public school may benefit from a bill that cleared the Senate yesterday that would let more students to enroll in online schools.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa legislature has unanimously passed a bill that expands the definition of dependent adult abuse. Senator Mark Costello, a Republican from Imogene, says it’s partly in response to the verbal abuse of mentally disabled residents at the state-run facility in Glenwood.

“Caretakers were swearing at the residents and had inappropriate sexual conversation with the residents,” Costello says. “…They were abusing them by repeatedly saying these things that were inappropriate.”

In this instance, Costello says the facility is being fined by federal officials for the workers’ VERBAL abuse, but current state law does not allow those workers to be charged with the crime of dependent adult abuse. The other aim of the bill is to protect residents of nursing homes and other facilities from abuse that occurs on “social media.”

“There have been instances recently where a caretaker has taken photos of a resident that’s not sexual in nature, but it’s humiliating, degrading and shameful and the caretaker than texts or Snapchats or posts the photo on Facebook or something,” Costello says.

The bill passed the Iowa Senate Tuesday unanimously. It cleared the Iowa House a week ago on a 93 to zero vote. Governor Branstad is expected to sign the bill into law and it will take effect on the day Branstad approves it.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Senate has voted to expand on-line learning options for Iowa students. If the bill wins House approval, too, there would be no longer be a limit on the number of Iowa students who may take classes online rather than attend a traditional school in their neighborhood. The measure addresses other education issues as well. Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says the bill has two main purposes.

“To expand opportunities for all students in the state of Iowa and, two, to reduce the regulatory burden for all local school districts,” Sinclair said.

There are currently two Iowa school districts which offer online academies — CAM in western Iowa and Clayton Ridge in eastern Iowa. Students use the state’s “open enrollment” process to sign up. The bill would let other Iowa school districts develop an exclusive online curriculum for their students. Senator Herman Quirmback, a Democrat from Ames, says that means struggling online students might get help from local teachers or even some tech support from the district.

“They won’t have to open enroll 100 or 200 miles away to some district that never sees them in person,” Quirmbach says.

The legislation also would require an in-depth review of Area Education Agencies that support local districts. In addition, it would let schools indicate on a high school diploma if a graduate is fluent in more than one language.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:30 a.m. CDT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A disbarred Iowa attorney sought for years by the FBI before finally being arrested has pleaded guilty to 11 federal counts of mail fraud. U.S. Attorney Kevin VanderSchel said 52-year-old Dennis Bjorklund, of Coralville, entered the pleas Tuesday. Bjorklund faces up to 20 years on each count when he’s sentenced later this year.

LEHIGH, Iowa (AP) — Officials are looking for the killer of two bald eagles in central Iowa’s Webster County. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating. Conservation officer Bill Spece says the first bald eagle was an immature bird found two weeks ago in the Boone Forks Wildlife Area. The second was a mature bird found Saturday, about 10 miles away, near the sewage lagoons in Lehigh.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has begun debate on a bill that would allow the sale of fireworks in the state beyond novelties like sparklers. The Republican-controlled chamber began debate Tuesday afternoon. The bill is expected to pass and head to the House, where it also has support. The legislation would legalize the retail sale and use of consumer fireworks such as firecrackers and roman candles, which are currently prohibited in Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines authorities have released the name of a man whose body was found in a burned-out residential garage. The Des Moines Fire Department identified the man as 52-year-old Charles Flanders, who lived in the attached residence that also was damaged in Wednesday’s blaze. The department says the fire cause remains under investigation. Preliminary autopsy results have not been released.

An accident this (Tuesday) morning, in Red Oak, resulted in a woman being injured, and then taken into custody on a warrant. Red Oak Police say officers were dispatched to the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Oak Streets at around 9:50-a.m. for an accident involving a van and a car. The driver of the car, 24-year old Maiah Lyn Caron, of Kansas City, Missouri, was injured and transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, for treatment. Upon further investigation, it was discovered Caron had an active warrant out of Clarinda. Once she was released from the hospital, Caron was taken into custody and held for Clarinda Police on the warrant for Failure to Appear on an OWI charge. Her bond was set at $1,000.

The accident happened while the 2000 Ford Windstar van, driven by 59-year old James Coffman, of Red Oak, was waiting at a stop light. Caron, who was driving a 2012 Chevy Malibu, didn’t notice the light was red, and rear-ended the van. Coffman was not injured in the crash. Damage amounted to about $9,000.

ELK HORN, Iowa – In a live Facebook video Wednesday, staff with the Museum of Danish America announced that the organization has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Executive Director Rasmus Thøgersen said “Accreditation is a tribute to all who have helped the museum get this far – one step at a time, little by little. We are deeply grateful to all the past and present board members, the staff, the interns, the volunteers, and our great local community for all the support we have gotten throughout the years.”

Museum of Danish America

Of the nation’s 35,000 museums, less than 3 percent are accredited. In western Iowa only four Sioux City museums share the honor. The Museum of Danish America was organized in 1983 as the Danish Immigrant Museum. In 1994 it opened its half-timbered facility on the west edge of Elk Horn and has grown its collection to more than 35,000 artifacts relating to Danish-American experience. Its exhibits regularly tour the nation, and its Genealogy Center conducts professional research and translations for patrons near and far.

The Museum of Danish America is offering free admission during the month of April, since part of its exhibits are undergoing their first major renovation in a decade. Many other features, including two temporary exhibits and the Design Store, will be open each day as usual.

Lucas Mosier of Gade Insurance Services was recently recognized by KHI Solutions with the 2016 Partners in Excellence Grow Your Business Award. In a Press Release, KHI says the award acknowledges the expertise and sales experience Mosier uses to find the right products to fit the individual needs of his clients. KHI presented the award to the top 10% of their agents based on their 2016 sales production at a dinner reception held in early March.

Mosier shares the same philosophy as KHI by focusing on the needs of his clients by providing the right product at the right price to deliver unsurpassed confidence and peace of mind to his clients.

KHI Solutions has offices located in Fort Dodge, Webster City and West Des Moines and is contracted with all the major health insurance carriers and has more than 450 independent agents.