(Radio Iowa) – A group of Republican legislators say conservative students at Iowa’s public universities are complaining they’re being harassed on campus because of their political views. Representative Holly Brink, a Republican from Oskaloosa, convened a hearing this week with administrators from the three schools. “Iowa State, UNI and the University of Iowa — you are here for Iowans. Iowa is not here for you,” Brink said. “And we will continue to protect and make sure that things are going right for students and the next generation.”

Administrators at the hearing apologized for a series of recent campus conflicts over student free speech rights. David Johnsen, the dean of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, apologized for an email exchange he had with a student. It was a “reply all” conversation distributed to everyone in the dental school.  “We do not want any of our students to have an experience that leaves them feeling unsupported or fearful…To be honest to the committee, we have heard from other students, faculty and staff in our college that we’ve failed them as well,” he said. “…Since October, we’ve been reviewing what happened, how the process worked and didn’t work and we’re working to implement steps that will prevent this from happening again.”

Other lawmakers accused the public universities of failing to teach conservative economic theory and being hostile to students who oppose abortion. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says the three public universities need to develop a plan to respond to thousands of students over the decades who’ve felt there’s one set of rules for conservatives and one for liberals. “Your goal, as universities, is education, not indoctrination,” Kaufmann says, “and so I would just ask that you report back to us.”

A Democrat on the committee warned there are all sorts of disputes throughout state government and the Oversight panel has to be selective in its investigations or it will turn into a full-time grievance committee. In 2019, Republican lawmakers enacted a campus free speech law. It directing Iowa’s public universities and community colleges to ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression on campuses.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst questioned the man nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency in a Senate hearing. Ernst asked nominee Michael Regan (Ree-gan) about issues surrounding renewable fuels — including the Renewable Fuel Standard. “R-F-S is definitely a priority for this administration… the reality is that I want to sit down with my staff, sit down with legal counsel. There are a number of things that are caught up in litigation, there are a number things that we more transparency around how we arrived at those decisions,”Regan says.

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says transparency has been lacking the agency. Regan says he will take the same approach when it comes to all of these issues. “We need to be sure that the agency actually applied the latest letter of the law in some of the decisions that have been made,” he says. Ernst says she wants to be sure that farmers and supporters of biofuels have input. “What I can promise you is — we will take a no surprises approach — we will be extremely transparent. We will be forthcoming with the science and the data and the legal determinations that we come to in in order to make those decisions, and we will share those decisions with you,” Regan says.

Ernst also asked him about the repeal of the Obama Administration “Waters of the U-S” rule and the support for its replacement among farmers. She asked Regan if he would repeal the new rule if he is confirmed. Regan says he will look at their options to address any kind of “lingering concerns.” “And take a look at what we need to do to move forward to provide some certainty to our farming community — especially our small farmers — so that decisions can be made and investments are not stranded on the sidelines,” according to Regan. “But I also want to be sure that we do that in a way where we are protecting our water quality, our wetlands, and our base.”

Regan told the Senators he wants everyone to have a voice on these issues if he is confirmed. The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee hearing was Wednesday.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest hospital used its entire week’s allotment of COVID-19 vaccines in a single day. Wednesday was the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics’ first day of inoculating people over 65. Hospital C-E-O Suresh Gunasekaran says the quick rollout of one-thousand doses shows the Iowa City medical center is ready to scale up as vaccine supplies increase. “Soon as we get the doses, we have the capability in this community to get that in people’s arms within a day or two,” Gunasekaran says. “Even if the number is 1,000 or 2,000 or 3,000, we really feel like we could do that in a single day.”

Now that the U-K variant of the coronavirus has been identified in Iowa, he says there’s even more urgency to speed up vaccinations. The U-I-H-C is offering appointments to those 65 and older through a random lottery and working with community groups to expand accessibility. Gunasekaran says he understands the frustration of those waiting for a shot, but he says more supplies are becoming available. “There is reason for optimism as we move forward that we’ll be able to get more vaccine,” he says. “The reality is today that we don’t have as much vaccine as we have eligible Iowans. We know the importance of continuing our safety standards, the importance of social distancing.”

Walgreens and C-V-S report getting another 32-thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccines that are available for Iowans 65 or older. They’re being distributed to stores in 11 Iowa counties. Appointments can be made through the pharmacies’ websites. A New York Times report ranks Iowa third to last in the country for administering the vaccines per capita.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police report two men were arrested on separate, Driving While Barred, charges. 27-year old Zakary Titus, of Des Moines, was arrested at around 9:14-a.m. Wednesday. He was released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court. And, 44-year old Jeremiah Lee Parcher, of Creston, was arrested a little after 2-p.m. Wednesday. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Numerous accidents have been reported this (Thursday) morning along Interstate 80, both east and westbound. No injuries have been reported. In most cases, vehicles – especially semi tractor-trailers, spun out, or in the case of semi’s, at least partially jackknifed.

DOT Snow plow cam on I-80 near Atlantic. (6-a.m.)

In some cases, both lanes or a single lane was blocked or partially blocked in several locations. Highway 92 eastbound near Treynor was blocked on the right should, due to an accident. Tow bans are being implemented for Pottawattamie, Cass and Mills Counties. If your vehicle enters the ditch or median, it will not be towed until weather conditions improve.

Road conditions as of 6:48-a.m.

Visibility is limited in the area. I-80 from Highway 25 west to Highway 48 is completely snow covered. I-80 from Highway 48 west was partially covered as of 6:45-a.m.

Other roads are also completely or partially covered with snow. For the latest road conditions, go to 511ia.org or call 5-1-1.

Interstate 80 westbound in Cass County is currently blocked by a jackknifed semi tractor trailer. Marne and Atlantic Fire were dispatched to the scene just before 6-a.m. at the 54 mile marker. Unknown is any injuries at this time.  The 49-mile marker was also blocked in both lanes westbound. (update 6:15)

Also, as of 6:09-a.m., I-80 westbound at the 64 mile marker was blocked in one lane on the bridge.

(Radio Iowa) – Teenagers between the ages of 14-and-a-half and 16 could get a special state permit for driving to and from work on a farm if a bill that’s cleared the Iowa Senate unanimously becomes law. It would let kids in that age range drive alone, between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., for farm work within a 50 mile radius. Senator Dan Zumbach is a farmer from Ryan.  “This bill reflects the needs and the wants of the folks here in Iowa,” Zumbach said.

The teen would have be driving to do chores for their family’s farming operation or being paid to work on someone else’s farm. Iowa has a graduated licensing system for young drivers. It starts at age 14 with an “instruction permit” to drive, but only when an adult is in the vehicle. There are also permits for 14 and 15 year olds to drive alone to and from school and school activities. At the age of 16, Iowa teenagers can get an intermediate license to drive without adult supervision.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:37 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — As the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign accelerates, governors, public health directors and committees advising them are holding key discussions behind closed doors, including debates about who should be eligible for the shots and how best to distribute them. A review by The Associated Press finds that advisory committees created to help determine how to prioritize vaccine doses have been holding private meetings in at least 13 states that are home to more than 70 million people. In at least 15 other states, such meetings are open to the public. But even in those states, governors and health officials can modify or override committee recommendations with little or no public explanation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state lawmaker wore jeans on the floor of the Iowa House to draw attention to Republicans’ refusal to mandate masks in the chamber even as they ban members from wearing jeans. Democratic Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames wore jeans Tuesday during House debate, and when the chief clerk asked her to change, she declined. Neither the House nor the Senate allow members or staff on the floor of the chambers to wear jeans or T-shirts, and men must wear a jacket and tie. Republican leaders have encouraged members to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus but have refused to require face coverings. Five people associated with the House have now tested positive for the virus.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former official of a large grain warehouse in Iowa has been sentenced to three months in prison for his role in a scheme to blend lower value oats into soybeans and then sell the mixture as soybeans to unsuspecting buyers. The U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release that 60-year-old Calvin Diehl of Aberdeen, South Dakota, was also fined $7,500 in addition to the prison term. He pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Diehl was the assisted general manager at the Sioux Center grain cooperative.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A commission created by former President Donald Trump that promoted “patriotic” education and downplayed slavery’s role in history has disbanded, but lawmakers in Republican states are now pressing for similar action. Several proposals are pending in state legislatures that would put new limits on how race and slavery is taught in the classroom. They include bills in Arkansas, Iowa and Mississippi that would ban schools from using a New York Times project that examines slavery’s legacy. Supporters say they’re countering what they call indoctrination. But the moves are worrying opponents who say students are harmed by efforts to whitewash crucial parts of the nation’s history.