DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of Iowa lawmakers say they want more clarity from education officials on the implementation of early literacy initiatives in the state. Members of the Senate Education Committee told officials from the Iowa Department of Education on Monday that they want more data on how some state dollars are being used to improve reading proficiency for students between kindergarten and third grade.

A 2012 state law aimed at improving literacy for young students includes monitoring, programming and testing. It also requires a summer reading program for third-graders, though education groups have expressed concern about how it will be funded and implemented.

Some lawmakers suggested state officials give school districts more guidance on programming for students. A department spokeswoman says the agency appreciated the meeting and will provide follow-up information.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel in the Iowa Legislature has given initial approval of a bill that would remove the age limit for children to use a handgun under the supervision of a parent. A House Judiciary subcommittee agreed Monday to send the legislation forward to its full committee. A similar measure last session had little support in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The bill would allow a child of any age to possess a pistol or revolver under direct supervision of a parent or guardian. Current law requires the child to be at least 14 years old. State law has no age limit for a minor to possess a rifle or shotgun if there is consent from a parent or guardian. Several bills in the House this session propose expanding gun rights.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s Medicaid program says she’s “very confident” the $4.2 billion system will be ready for private management on March 1, though some lawmakers expressed lingering concerns. Mikki Stier from the Iowa Department of Human Services told lawmakers Monday her confidence comes from more signups of Medicaid health providers and better communication to Medicaid recipients about the switch.

The state’s Medicaid program provides care to some low-income people, children and disabled individuals. Three private companies are scheduled to take over the program amid growing criticism from some lawmakers that the new setup needs better state oversight.

Stier told lawmakers about 45 percent of Medicaid service providers have signed up with all three private insurers. Some lawmakers on the Senate Human Resources Committee said the number should be higher.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The debate over K-12 education spending in the Iowa Legislature has begun to take shape with a set of procedural votes.The Republican-controlled House voted Monday for legislation that would set a new growth rate for basic aid to schools in the fiscal year that begins in July. The bill now heads to the Democratic-majority Senate, where lawmakers have indicated the proposed increase is not adequate to properly support school districts.

The chambers are expected to go back and forth with procedural votes before the issue is debated through special legislative meetings. K-12 education takes up about $3 billion of the state’s roughly $7 billion budget. Gov. Terry Branstad has proposed a growth rate that is lower than what Democrats want, but also higher than what is supported by Republicans.

Authorities in western Iowa said Monday (today), a Montgomery County man was sentenced last week on Child Pornography charges. 61-year old Mark A. Yeager, of rural Emerson,, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie Rose to 36 months in prison for possession of child pornography. Yeager was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, Yeager pled guilty to the charge on September 1, 2015. In a plea agreement, on April 16th, 2014, investigators seized several computers and items of computer paraphernalia from Yeager’s residence. A forensic examination revealed images of child pornography on a thumb-drive seized from Yeager’s home.

The matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.