WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people have been killed and another injured in a West Des Moines highway crash. The crash occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 235. Authorities say an eastbound pickup ran off the roadway and rammed into a concrete bridge support. The man driving the truck and a small child were killed. Another child was taken to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

The victims’ names haven’t been released. The crash is being investigated.

Advocates of a “voucher” program, so state tax dollars “follow the student” to a public OR private school, made their case to the governor last (Wednesday) night. Susan Fenton is a lobbyist for the Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education. She uses the phrase “Educational Savings Accounts” rather than “vouchers” — but it’s the same concept. Parents would get state tax dollars and use that money to send their child to a public OR a private school.

“An ESA program will allow true universal choice and inject the positive force of market competition into the Iowa educational system,” Fenton says. Fenton spoke Wednesday night in Governor Branstad’s office, during a public hearing on the state budget. Fenton envisions school vouchers being used for expenses beyond school tution, covering the costs of textbooks, tutoring and even fees for online courses. Audra Meyers of Clive, a former principal at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Des Moines, says it’s time for “robust education choice” in Iowa.

“Education Savings Accounts would allow parents who are enrolling their children in a non-public school to receive state funding into a savings account and parents would be free to use those funds for a variety of educational choices that would meet their child’s specific needs,” Meyers says. “…Many families are not in a financial position to select the type of education that is best for their child,” Meyers says. “Instead, their address determines the education that their child will receive.”

Meyers, who also taught in a public school in the past, has two young children who are currently enrolled in two different Catholic schools in the Des Moines area. Critics of school “vouchers” argue sending state tax dollars to private parochial schools is a violation of the separation of church and state. Governor Branstad and his wife sent their three children to Catholic schools in the Des Moines area.

Branstad told reporters Wednesday night that he is a “strong supporter” of private schools, but Branstad says in a “tight budget’ year, there are “a lot of issues” to consider. Others who testified at last night’s public hearing made appeals for increased state funding in a variety of areas — from remodeling Y-M-C-A facilities to assistance for brain-injured Iowans.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals says three members of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors must pay thousands of dollars in court costs and a fine for failure to hold meetings open to the public. The case centers on two November 2013 meetings the supervisors held after they had been sued by local farmers upset that a failed levee hadn’t been repaired.

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — Officials at Prairie Meadows casino say the Internal Revenue Service has withdrawn its challenge of the Altoona center’s tax exempt status. Prairie Meadows CEO Gary Palmer announced the IRS decision Wednesday at a board meeting. The decision was a dramatic change following an investigation that found the casino operated as a business with little government oversight. The determination could have cost Prairie Meadows roughly $60 million in back taxes and penalties.

PLAINFIELD, Iowa (AP) — The state Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that human remains found in Bremer County are those of a 76-year-old woman with dementia. The Bremer County Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday that the remains found Oct. 19 were those of Cloris Mehmen, who had been reported missing July 5. Public safety officials had joined with hundreds of volunteers for a search on the ground, by air and on the water, but the remains weren’t found until months later by farmers harvesting corn.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo police officer who’s been accused of excessive force is now facing criticism for an illegal search in which he seized a loaded gun. The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Mark Nissen’s warrantless vehicle search in 2014 was unreasonable. It overturned Ezekiel Phillips’ conviction for illegally carrying weapons, ruling the evidence is inadmissible. The city recently paid $170,000 to settle cases in which Nissen was accused of using excessive force.

Ten small Iowa communities (including Massena and Adel) are being named to take part in what’s called Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program in 2017. Sandra Oberbroeckling, spokeswoman for the Community and Economic Development department at Iowa State University, explains the purpose of the program, which targets Iowa towns with populations under ten-thousand.

“We help them develop ideas and set priorities for transportation enhancement planning,” Oberbroeckling says. “That can include trails, streetscapes, a lot of communities have done entrance signs.” The communities will get help from the pros on making their downtowns prettier and more practical both for visitors and locals.

“Say putting in the bump-outs on the ends of the curbs and crosswalks and maybe adding some vegetation,” Oberbroeckling says. “A lot of small towns, their main street used to be a highway and in many cases it still is, so it’s usually just this large expanse of cement and they like to make it more pedestrian friendly.”

Oberbroeckling says both I-S-U and Trees Forever play important roles with the visioning process for each of the ten communities. They are: Adel, Clarion, Granger, Greene, Humboldt, Lester, Massena, Morning Sun, Scranton and Varina. The results of the program will be released next November.

(Radio Iowa) – Learn more at http://www.communityvisioning.org

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday evening, presented retiring Police Chief Steve Green with an award for 30-years of service to the community. Green and his wife Donna were present to receive the award. Green said of his wife “If it wasn’t for her I couldn’t have done it. That’s why.”

Steve Green (Center) Donna Green (Left) Mayor Dave Jones (right)

The plaque  read “With profound gratitude, the residents of Atlantic thank our Police Chief for his 30-years of public service and making our community one of the safest in the State of Iowa.” Jones wished Green all the best in his retirement , but added Green isn’t really retiring, because he was elected to the Cass County Board of Supervisors, so “He’ll find out what work really is,” Jones said jokingly.

Green starts his term on Board of Supervisors representing District 1, in January.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, officially approved the appointment of Barb Barrick as City Clerk, effective Feb. 25th, 2017. Barrick succeeds Deb Wheatley Field, who is retiring as City Clerk after more than 35-years of service to the community. Barrick said “It’s a real honor to be chosen to succeed Deb, and I am very much looking forward to working with the City staff, Mayor Jones and Council Members and serving the citizens of Atlantic.” Barrick currently serves the Community Development Specialist for SWIPCO, and has had previous experience in the Cities of Marengo and Ft. Dodge.

She will be job shadowing Wheatley Field and absorbing her years of experience and knowledge before assuming the official title of City Clerk.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Cass County youth. Known as I-PLEDGE, the program is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 91%. By participating in the program, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate even more this year.

I-PLEDGE places emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale.

“I-PLEDGE’s retailer training is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product sales,” Sheriff Darby McLaren said. “The training also assists retailers to ensure they maintain a compliant and responsible establishment.

Deputies will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-PLEDGE program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter establishments and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products. Clerks who make the illegal sale will be cited on the spot.

Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to a minor include a $100 fine for a first offense, a $250 fine for a second offense and a $500 fine for third and subsequent offenses. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the I-PLEDGE program. “By partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, we hope to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in our community,” Sheriff McLaren said. “Moreover, we pledge to help keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Iowa’s youth.”

To take the I-PLEDGE training or search certification records, go to https://abd.iowa.gov.