Republicans in the Iowa House have passed a bill that would create a state ban on both the sale AND donation of fetal tissue from abortions for use in medical research. Representative Matt Windschitl is a Republican from Missouri Valley. “This is about making sure that our children and the children in the state of Iowa are not being used as guinea pigs in research,” Windschitl says.

It is against FEDERAL law to profit from the sale of fetal tissue, but this past summer’s release of videos showing Planned Parenthood officials in other states discussing the harvesting of fetal body parts created a political fire storm. Representative Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says those videos were “heart-rending and horrifying.” “Life-saving medical research cannot and should not require the willful destruction of human lives and the buying and selling of their dismembered body parts for it to go forward,” Salmon says.

Representative Joel Fry, a Republican from Osceola, says a state ban on fetal body part sales would be a “pro-active” move. “This bill comes to us because of many constituents across the state who are interested in having this conversation and making sure that we, in the state of Iowa, aren’t participating or practicing in fetal body part trafficking.” Critics say the bill would hinder research at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames, says research using cells from fetal tissue holds great promise for curing tragic diseases. “House File 2329 puts politics above good science and medicine,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. Wessel-Kroeschell says Republicans know the bill will not be considered by Democrats who control the debate agenda in the Iowa Senate. “This bill is dead in the senate. It’s going nowhere,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. “This is a political move in the House.” House Republicans argued fetal tissue from stillborn children and miscarriages could still be used in research if the bill becomes law.

Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the only Republican in the House who voted against the bill. One Democrat in the House was absent yesterday (Wednesday) but all the other Democrats voted against the ban.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senator Charles Grassley continues to stand firm in refusing to hold hearings on any Supreme Court nominee President Barack Obama may recommend. Grassley declined Wednesday in a call with reporters to discuss whether nomination of Iowan Jane Kelly, a judge he recommended for the federal appeals court, would affect his refusal to hold hearings.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will keep most juvenile delinquency records confidential in Iowa. Branstad signed the legislation Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol, following overwhelming support in the Republican-majority House and the Democratic-controlled Senate. It also has the support of several advocacy groups. The measure is part of Branstad’s efforts to address criminal justice reform in Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man walking on an interstate bridge linking Iowa and Nebraska has been killed. Officers were dispatched around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday to the Interstate 480 span that runs between Council Bluffs and Omaha. The man’s body was found in the far-left lane of westbound I-480.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County inmate who spent over three years in jail before he admitted to killing a woman has been sentenced to prison. The Des Moines Register reports that 45-year-old Lavelle McKinley was sentenced Wednesday to 75 years in prison for the strangling death of 47-year-old Cynthia Rouse.

Police in Council Bluffs late Wednesday night released the identity of a man whose body was found on Interstate 480 early Wednesday morning. Authorities say he was 29-year old Brett Randall Jensen, of Council Bluffs. The accident remains under investigation.

Earlier, police had reports Council Bluffs Police and Fire personnel were called to the Interstate 480 bridge at around 2:18-a.m. Wednesday, for a report of an adult male who was on the road, unconscious and not breathing. Upon their arrival, officers located the man (later identified as Jensen), laying in the far left hand lane of westbound I-480 traffic.

Based upon an initial investigation, authorities say it appears he was a victim of a hit-and-run. Anyone with information about the incident, should contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Traffic Investigations Unit at 712-328-4948, or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP.

Two more candidates for office in Cass County have filed their certified nomination paper in advance of the March 30th deadline for the June Primary election. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman said late Wednesday evening, that Barry Moore, from Griswold, will run as a Republican for the District 4 seat on the Cass County Board of Supervisors. On Tuesday, Steve Baier, who is also a Republican from Griswold, filed his nomination papers for the seat being vacated by Chuck Rieken at the end of the year.

And, Republican Frank Waters, of Cumberland, who represents District 5 on the Cass County Board of Supervisors, filed papers for re-election to his seat, Wednesday. He currently is unopposed for that seat.

Other who have submitted their nomination papers since the filing period opened on Monday, include for the District 1 seat on the Cass County Board of Supervisors: Republicans Dale Retallic and David Jones, both of Atlantic. Filing papers for their re-election was Sheriff Darby McLaren and County Auditor Dale Sunderman, both of whom are Republicans from Atlantic.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education held a public hearing Wednesday evening with regard the District’s proposed 2016-17 School Calendar and the 2016-17 Certified Budget. During the calendar portion of the hearing, K-5 Teacher/Librarian Janice Dickerson commented that she was fine with the way it is, but that she would like to have had the Board and Administration communicate more with the Teachers before springing the calendar onto the agenda for action.

She said in the past, options were placed in the teacher’s lounge to review, but in the last two years “It’s become a secret, where we don’t know what is going to happen.” She said it used to openly posted for any staff member to look at. “These things,” she said, “are what makes the moral of our buildings go down. When you don’t value the opinion of your staff and the experience that they bring, too looking at what’s best for students…”

Dickerson said last year, when they taught up to Dec. 23rd, “It did not make for the best education of our students.” The proposed calendar for the upcoming year has the first day of classes starting August 23rd, 2016, with the last day of classes for all students (except seniors) being May 25th, 2017. Seniors’ last day will be May 17, 2017.

With regard to the proposed Certified budget, which amounts to just over $26-million, no one spoke in opposition to the budget or its nearly 60-cent increase in property tax valuation, but Board member Ali Bruckner questioned Business Manager Mary Beth Fast about what was included in the Student Support Services line-item, which went from $472,032 in 2015 to $1.1-million in the proposed FY 2016-17 budget, and Student Transportation, which increased from $560,000 in the re-estimated FY 2016 budget to $1.35 million in the 2017 budget year. She wanted to see a detailed, less confusing explanation of those services.

Board member Jenny Williams agreed. Mary Beth Fast said not approving the budget, would mean re-publishing it and holding another public hearing, and financially impact the district in that it wouldn’t receive the funding it anticipates. With the new budget, the proposed tax rate is $15.83 per $1,000 taxable valuation.

The Board Wednesday night also approved 2016 Summer Capital Projects recommendations by Superintendent Dr. Amstein, the bulk of which includes $385,000 for Bus purchases, $180,000 for Phase 2 of the High School Heat Pump replacement project, $125,00 each for the annual payment with regard to High School laptop computers, and playground equipment at Washington Elementary. Those, and other, smaller projects amount to an expenditure of nearly $1.1-million.