DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Republican-majority House has passed several bills that would expand gun rights in Iowa, including legislation that would allow children under 14 to use handguns with parental supervision. The House voted Tuesday in support of five gun bills that now head to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it’s unclear if they will get enough support to advance.

The legislation includes a measure that would restrict public access to information about gun owners and another bill that would allow people to use their guns in a state of emergency. Another bill would legalize the use of suppressors.

Rep. Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, says the bills protect Second Amendment rights. Rev. Cheryl Thomas, with Iowans for Gun Safety, says some of the legislation is designed to weaken Iowa’s gun laws.

The Audubon County Community Foundation reminds students that the deadline for submitting applications for the Exira Lions Club/Harold and Beverly Ann Godwin Endowed Scholarship is March 31st. The Fund will award one scholarship for $1,000 and is open to any high school senior from the Exira-EHK School District pursuing a two or four-year degree, full-time, at any accredited vocational/technical, educational institution, a college or university.

Applicants are asked to complete the application form and submit it with a copy of their current transcripts to their high school guidance counselor, as directed in the scholarship’s fact sheet. Scholarship applications are available from the guidance counselor.

The Audubon County Community Foundation Board members are: Chair, Brett Irlmeier of Audubon; Vice Chair, Jonnie Meislahn of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon; Genelle Deist of Audubon; Jay Nelson of rural Brayton; Daryl Olsen, DVM, of Audubon; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A trial is set to begin for a Council Bluffs woman accused of fatally stabbing her ex-boyfriend. The Daily Nonpareil reports the trial of Jodie Sherman, who has been charged with first-degree murder in the July 2014 death of Douglas Richt, was starting today (Tuesday) at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs.

Sherman is accused of stabbing Richt in the throat during an argument after he picked her up in a car. Richt died while being taken to a hospital. Sherman was arrested shortly after running away. During a Monday pre-trial hearing, Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber said defense attorneys are expected to use the defense of insanity.  On Feb. 9, Sherman waived her right to a jury, so District Judge Kathleen Kilnoski will hand down a verdict.

The Cass County Community Foundation reminds students that the deadline for submitting applications for the Dustin McCurdy Endowed Scholarship Fund is March 31st. The McCurdy Scholarship provides two scholarships of approximately $500 each to high school seniors from Cumberland Anita Massena High School (C-A-M).

Applicants are asked to complete the application form and submit it with a copy of their current transcripts to their guidance counselor as directed in the scholarship’s fact sheet. Applications are available from their high school guidance counselor.

Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are: Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic; Vice Chair, Gary Maas of Anita; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic; Royal Bierbaum of rural Griswold; Beulah Follmann of Massena; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Monday, of 28-year old Casey Sampson, of Atlantic. Sampson was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.