MACY, Neb. (AP) – The White House says the Obama administration has raised the federal share of public aid for the Omaha Tribe’s recovery from the 2011 Missouri River flooding. A news release sent Wednesday says the level has been raised to 90 percent of the total eligible costs from 75 percent. It’s unclear why the aid was increased.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of land were flooded along the Missouri River in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri in 2011 after heavy spring rains and a giant mountain snowpack forced massive releases from upstream dams. The Omaha Indian Reservation lies primarily in northeast Nebraska but extends across the Missouri River into Monona County, Iowa.

Governor Terry Branstad says the board that governs the state’s three public universities will have to deal with a “shortfall” in state taxpayer support, but he’s urging caution as the panel considers how much tuition rates should rise. “I think they need to be careful and try to keep tuition increases very modest so we continue to reduce student debt,” Branstad says.

The chairman of the Board of Regents says tuition rates for students at Iowa, Iowa State and U-N-I will have to be raised for THIS FALL because of “limited” state funding. Radio Iowa asked Branstad if a tuition increase is the appropriate response to the legislature’s budget plan. “We had an unprecedented three years of no increase in tuition,” Branstad says. “And the increase that we’re looking at is relatively modest.”

Legislators are poised to increase state support of the public universities by about six million dollars for the budgeting year that starts July 1st. That’s 20 million dollars LESS than the universities requested. It’s about TWO million dollars less than Branstad had recommended. Senator Brian Schoenjahn, a Democrat from Arlington, says university officials tell him they’re faced with difficult decisions.

“You will see tuition increases,” Schoenjahn says. “President Leath said: ‘Sadly, we may have to increase our entrance requirements.'” Leath is president of Iowa State University. Schoenjahn says the 26-million dollar state funding boost the universities requested was just to “break even” and deal with inflation. “We have got to reprioritize and make education number one,” Schoenjahn says. “…You grow your way out of a recession, not cut your way out of it and we need to invest in our kids and our future.”

Schoenjahn, however, asked his colleagues to support the “status quo” spending plan for the public universities, as it is the end result of negotiations with House Republicans. Republicans say it’s a “tight” state budget overall, but they were able to find a way to reallocate a bit more to the universities than originally planned. The House has yet to give its final approval to the spending plan for the Regents schools. The Senate passed the bill yesterday (Tuesday).

(Radio Iowa)

The search is on for Iowa’s best breaded pork tenderloin. The Iowa Pork Producers Association has extended the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest nomination process this year to give consumers more time to submit their favorite. The contest opens April 20th and will continue through June 8th.

Click here to submit a nomination or on the “Tenderloin” link on the IPPA home page. The form also is available in the May issue of the Iowa Pork Producer magazine due out in early May. Nominations are limited to one per household.

Last year’s Best Pork Tenderloin in Iowa was from the Belmond Drive-In.

Any café, restaurant or tavern that serves hand-breaded or battered pork tenderloins is eligible to be nominated. An establishment must be open year-round to win, but seasonal restaurants can make the top five. The top five restaurants with the most nominations from each of the eight IPPA districts will be judged. The IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee reserves the right to add additional restaurants to the judging process as it sees fit. Restaurant owners and operators are prohibited from nominating their own establishment.

One person who nominates the winning restaurant will be entered in a drawing to win $100. The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque to display in the establishment and statewide publicity.

The 2015 contest produced 1,161 nominations and nearly 40 tenderloin sandwiches were judged on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience. The Belmond Drive-in was judged last year’s winner. Iowa pork industry representatives will judge the tenderloins and IPPA will announce the winner during October Pork Month.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Republican-controlled Iowa House has passed a health and human services bill for the next budget that would remove state funding for Planned Parenthood. The chamber voted 56-42 Wednesday for the legislation, which is expected to hit roadblocks in the Democratic-majority Senate over a proposal to remove Medicaid funding for family planning facilities that provide abortions. The bill is expected to be resolved through a special legislative committee.

The House voted after a debate that began Tuesday night. Lawmakers continue to pass bills that will make up the budget that goes into effect in July, but there’s growing conflict about some decisions.  Wednesday marks the first day lawmakers are working without reimbursement payments for expenses like food and housing. The date is often seen as a deadline for adjournment activity.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County released details today (Wednesday), about four recent accidents. No injuries were reported Tuesday afternoon, following a chain-reaction accident west of Creston. Officials say a 2007 Ford Taurus driven by 85-year old Gerald Lorenz, of Creston, was slowing on Highway 34 eastbound at around 2-p.m., and preparing to turn right onto Clover Avenue. A 2004 Chrysler van driven by 56-year old Jill Johnston, of Clearfield, was behind Lorenz and also slowing, when she was hit from behind by a 1998 Plymouth van, driven by 27-year old Kayleigh Wilson, of Lenox. The impact caused Johnston’s van to be pushed into the rear of Lorenz’ car.  Damage from the accident amounted to $10,000. No citations were issued.

An accident at around 2-a.m. Monday in Union County, was said to have been caused by the driver of a van having some sort of medical condition. 41-year old Jacqueline Saylor, of Creston, was traveling west in the 1800 block of Highway 345, when her 2005 Chrysler struck the north bridge rail for Skyline Bridge. Saylor was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, for treatment of possible injuries. Damage to the van was estimated at $1,500.

The other two accidents in Union County happened last Friday. Sheriff’s officials say at around 2:45-p.m., a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by 59-year old Gary Kelly, of Creston, was traveling west on Rea Road and about to negotiate a curve, when a deer ran onto the road. Kelly swerved to miss the deer, and in the process lost control of his motorcycle, which  went into the north ditch.  Kelly complained of pain, but was not transported to the hospital. His cycle sustained $5,000 damage.

And, an accident at around 6:50-p.m., Friday, caused $6,000 damage altogether. Authorities say 20-year old Emma Ludwig, of Mt. Pleasant was traveling south on Highway 25 and failed to yield upon making a left turn onto the Union/Ringgold County Line Road. The 2005 Chevy pickup she was driving struck a 2002 Chrysler van driven by 35-year old Matthew Labee, of Jameson, MO., who was traveling north on Highway 25. A passenger in the van, 15-year old Brooklyn Clevenger, of Janesport, MO., was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Creston. Ludwig complained of possible pain following the collision, but was not transported to the hospital. She was cited for Failure to Yield upon left turn.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office are investigating recent reports of burglaries, in Glenwood. Two Glenwood men reported incidents of Burglary in the 3rd degree occurred at a location on Keys Avenue. The incidents were reported Tuesday morning. No other details were released.