DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers in a legislative budget group plan to propose delaying a state-mandated summer reading program for struggling third-graders because there’s no money to pay for it. Leaders in the joint Education Appropriations Subcommittee say the roughly $14 million needed to support the program is not available. They want to add language to a budget bill that would delay implementation from 2017 to 2018.

Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, an Arlington Democrat and co-chairman of the group, says there’s bipartisan support to delay the program. He called it an “unfunded mandate.” At least one education group applauded the move. Gov. Terry Branstad did not include money in his budget recommendations for the program, which could hold back some third-graders who don’t complete it.

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) – An industry group says wind energy generated a record 191 megawatt-hours of electricity last year, enough for 17.5 million homes. The American Wind Energy Association said Tuesday that wind produced 4.7 percent of the nation’s electricity in 2015. It says coal generated 33 percent and natural gas slightly less than that.

Texas remains No. 1 for wind energy while Iowa is second. The report says Iowa generated more than 30 percent of its electricity from wind last year, a record for any state. The association says the industry employed the equivalent of 88,000 full-time workers last year. The group says tax breaks extended by Congress last year will help stabilize the industry.

The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday), approved the transfer of jurisdiction of portions of segments of U.S. 6 and Iowa 192 to the city of Council Bluffs. The transfer segments lie within the corporation limits of Council Bluffs of U.S. 6 from 36th Street east to Sixth Street and Iowa 192 from Sixth Street to Big Lake Road for a total length of 4.95 miles. Following a transfer of jurisdiction, the city is responsible for all future maintenance and improvement of that roadway and right of way.

Last Thursday, the Griswold School Board voted to explore a three-way Superintendent sharing agreement with two, unidentified school districts, pending approval by the other boards. Monday night, the South Page School District’s Board of Education approved the proposed sharing of their Superintendent Gregg Cruickshank, with the Griswold and Sidney Community School Districts.

Under the proposal, Sidney and Griswold would get 40% of Cruickshank’s time, or about two-days per week each. The remaining 20%, or one-day per week, would be spent in South Page. The proposed agreement would also involve a one-third cost-sharing contract. The arrangement would be for one-year, to start, with an evaluation taking place between late this fall and March 1^st, 2017. The arrangement would save the Griswold District $127,000 per year, in a time when they’re looking at cutting $500,000 from the budget.

The Sidney School Board is set to vote April 18^th on the proposal.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet in a special session Wednesday, beginning at Noon, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. The only item on their agenda, is action on the use of Hotel/Motel Tax Fund money to make up a portion of the matching funds needed for a Vision Iowa CAT grant. The $360,000 grant, if approved in its entirety, would be used for improvements to the campground portion of the Schildberg Recreation Area, in Atlantic.

Police in Harlan say a woman from Panama was cited following a collision, Saturday. Stephanie Smith was cited for Failure to Stop in an assured, clear distance, after the 2005 Chrysler she was driving collided with the rear of a 2002 Ford, driven by Zachary Jones, of Harlan. The accident happened on Chatburn Avenue.

Officials say Jones was traveling eastbound and had stopped to turn left into a car wash. Smith was eastbound in the same lane, but didn’t see Jones stopped for the turn. Damage from the collision amounted to $5,500. No injuries were reported.

The Harlan Police Department has released a report on recent arrests. As we mentioned Monday, 25-year old Colton Benson-Blaine, who was listed as escaped Sunday afternoon from the Council Bluffs Work Release Facility, was arrested in Harlan later that same evening. Benson-Blaine, who allegedly stole a vehicle from a construction zone, was located in the area of 5th and Laurel Streets in Harlan, and brought to the Shelby County Jail. He was held at the jail pending transfer to authorities in Council Bluffs. The stolen vehicle was located at J-J Jensen Park, and returned to its owner.

Two people were arrested Saturday, in Harlan. 18-year old Perry Gross, of Manilla, was cited for Open Container as a driver, and charged with OWI. And, 45-year old Carrie Green, of Harlan, was arrested Saturday, for OWI. She was also cited for failure to display a registration plate.

Last week, 19-year old Brett Keane, of Panama, was arrested in Harlan on an active Shelby County warrant for Probation Violation. Keane was brought to the Shelby County Jail.