A bill to ease the penalty for first-time possession of a small amount of marijuana has cleared a Republican-led subcommittee in the Iowa Senate. Being caught with an amount of pot that’s five grams or less would be a simple misdemeanor if the bill becomes law. Republican Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale says that kind of a youthful indiscretion is penalized too harshly under current law. “This charge follows these younger people or these adults that make these decisions which ruins, I think, their opportunities with jobs and employment,” Zaun says.

The bill cleared a three-member senate subcommittee Thursday, then it faces review in a full Senate committee. A similar bill cleared the Iowa Senate three years ago when Democrats held a majority of seats. Republicans now occupy 29 of the 50 seats in the state senate and Zaun is aware of the opposition from other Republicans. “I know this is an uphill climb,” Zaun says.

A recent analysis from the American Civil Liberties Union found that while the same percentages of whites and blacks use marijuana, black Iowans are eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an Iowa woman who worked for the Child Saving Institute in Omaha has been accused of having sex with a teenage boy who was staying at the institute’s shelter. Douglas County, NE., prosecutor Brenda Beadle says 23-year-old Hanna Dickerson, of Neola, will be charged today (Friday) with sexual abuse of a dependent.

The boy is a ward of the state who turned 17 in July. He said in an August interview that he and Dickerson engaged in sex several times in July and August. An institute spokeswoman has declined to describe Dickerson’s job duties. Dickerson’s no longer employed there.

A bid to ban all traffic enforcement cameras in Iowa is among the first bills to get some traction in the 2018 Iowa legislature. Subcommittees in both the House and Senate have approved the ban. However, competing legislation to keep the cameras, but require fines be funneled into law enforcement budgets has also cleared a House subcommittee. Senator Brad Zaun (ZAHN), a Republican from Urbandale, has been seeking a “traffic cam” ban for years and he led a discussion of his bill Thursday morning. “I think what’s given this effort more energy this year…is what happened in Cedar Rapids where they’ve decided to hire a collection agency and when these people are coming in and they did not pay their tickets to the vendor or the city, they’re not going to get their tax refund,” Zaun says.

Senator Rich Taylor, a Democrat from Mount Pleasant, says the cameras do not take into consideration adjustments drivers make based on traffic conditions. “Why don’t we just put a GPS on everybody’s car? We’ll have no human equation. If you go over the speed limit, you get a ticket,” Taylor said. “Now if there’s a fire truck coming behind you and you have to speed up to get out of his way, doesn’t matter. You still get a ticket.” Law enforcement officials say the speed cameras are critical in areas where it’s unsafe for officers to conduct traffic stops.  Cedar Rapids Police point to curving Interstate-380 through downtown Cedar Rapids as an example. Gary Grant, a lobbyist for the City of Cedar Rapids says “I think there are folks that as much as they dislike the technology and dislike their use, that there are appropriate areas for their use.”  Grant says traffic cameras are “an important tool for law enforcement.” He added that “As law enforcement budgets get tighter and tighter, we need to give them force multipliers when they’re out on the street.”

Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, says he’s sympathetic to the idea technology can help law enforcement be more efficient, but he backs the ban.  “Our current system of traffic cameras isn’t acceptable to the broad mass of citizens,” Schultz says. “This way won’t work.”  In 2012, the Iowa House voted to ban traffic cameras, but the Iowa Senate never considered the bill.

(Radio Iowa)

The head of the Iowa Department of Human Services says he’s making changes at the agency in reaction to the starvation deaths of two teens who’d been adopted out of foster care, but Jerry Foxhoven is warning legislators the “bureaucracy” can’t be realigned “overnight.” “As I try to tell people, DHS is a pretty big organization, when you’re trying to change culture, when you’re trying to make a change — we’re not a jet ski. You know, we’re an aircraft carrier,” Foxhoven says. “I’m trying to turn us into a pontoon boat, so we can more a little bit and be more agile.”

Foxhoven testified before the House and Senate Oversight Committees Thursday afternoon to review an outside consultant’s report on the agency’s child protection services. “It takes a lot of courage to take off all your clothes and stand in front of a mirror. It really does and that’s what we really did here,” Foxhoven said. “…DHS said: ‘Let’s just lay it all on the line and take a real clear look at us and tell us what we’re doing well and what we’re not doing well, so we can start formulating a plan.'”

Foxhoven became D-H-S director in June, AFTER the deaths of teenagers in Perry and West Des Moines where adoptive parents now face criminal charges. Foxhoven has ordered yearly medical check-ups for kids whose parents are getting state adoption subsidies — something he says no other state is doing. Members of the Oversight Committees were largely complimentary of Foxhoven’s work thus far. However some, like Democratic Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, raised concerns about the high number of child abuse investigations social workers are handling. “I read the report…It’s got some pretty bad things in there,” Hogg said. “…Case loads far exceed those that are recommended nationally. Not enough training.”

Foxhoven says he doesn’t have the money to hire more case workers, so he’s working to ease the stress for the workers he does have — by reducing red tape. “We are a bureaucracy beyond bureacracies. We’re the largest state agency by far,” Foxhoven says. “…As I meet with workers, I say: ‘Tell me what’s driving you crazy.’…I’m basically saying: ‘Tell me what you’re heartburn is. I’m your Maalox.'” Foxhoven has ensured social workers who visit homes to investigate child abuse allegations have a state-issued cell phone. Social workers had been relying on printed-out Mapquest directions rather than a cell phone’s more accurate G-P-S.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

(FORT MADISON) – A staff member was assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, IA at approximately 2:45 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The staff member, a correctional officer, was conducting a search of an inmate’s cell when the inmate attempted to strike the officer with closed fists. The officer that was attacked, as well as another officer that was in the area, quickly took control of the situation. The staff member was assessed by institution medical professionals for scratches and bruises that occurred from the incident. He returned to his post after his medical evaluation.  The inmate that attacked the staff member was transported to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics for further medical assistance.  This incident remains under investigation, and the penitentiary has been placed on “restricted movement” for the time being.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The executive director of Iowa’s state-run broadband network and two subordinates have been fired after state auditors discovered a range of misspending and cronyism during his tenure. A report by State Auditor Mary Mosiman released Thursday says that Iowa Communications Network executive director Ric Lumbard improperly awarded jobs and contracts to individuals associated with a Christian ministry he also leads.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has hired an outside consultant to provide harassment prevention training to lawmakers. Justine Morton tells The Associated Press she will provide the training through her company Morton Consulting. She confirms senators will receive training on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24. Senate staff, clerks and others will get training on Jan. 22 and Jan. 26. House lawmakers and others in that chamber received separate training recently.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Key senators and farm groups are trying to fix a provision slipped into the federal tax overhaul that gave an unexpected tax break to farmers who sell their crops to cooperatives instead of private buyers. Observers say it’s not clear yet whether a fix can pass, given the partisan divide on Capitol Hill. The provision was added in the final days of debate over the tax bill.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of passing counterfeit cash at a Sioux City casino has been given two years of probation. Court records say 28-year-old Jackelen Hartsock, of Le Mars, pleaded guilty Tuesday to forgery after prosecutors dropped a theft charge as part of a plea agreement.

The East Pottawattamie County Extension and Outreach and 4-H program are offering “STEM Kids” afterschool program on Wednesday’s in February from 3:00 – 4:30pm at the Carson Fire Station Meeting Room for all 4th grade youth.

Youth will spend the afternoon learning about science, technology, engineering and math through hands on activities, teamwork and experiments.  The program will cost $10.00 per youth to attend the 4 sessions held on February 7, 14, 21, and 28.  All 4th grade youth interested in participating will be required to complete and submit a registration form, available on the website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/eastpottawattamie/news/stem-kids-after-school-program-0 Registration forms, payment and health forms will be due to the East Pottawattamie County Extension Office, PO Box 187, Oakland, Iowa 51560 by Monday, January 29th.  STEM Kids registration will be on a first come, first served basis, as spots are limited.

The Cooking with Kids Afterschool program will be offered to 4th graders attending the AHSTW Schools on Tuesdays during the month of March.  Registration forms and additional information will be sent home with 4th grade students and available on our website in February.

The Iowa State Patrol reports one person died during an accident Wednesday afternoon, in Sac County. Authorities say the accident happened at around 12:06-p.m., when a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 77-year old Dennis Paul Gosch, of Sac City, stopped at the intersection of Rolfe Avenue and Highway 20, but then proceeded into the intersection. His pickup was struck on the driver’s side by a 2009 Peterbilt semi driven by 61-year old Robert Brown, of Kiron.

The impact pushed the pickup into the median. Gosch died at the scene. Brown was not injured. Both men were wearing their seat belts.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The executive director of Iowa’s state-run broadband network and two subordinates have been fired after state auditors discovered a range of misspending and cronyism during his tenure. A report by State Auditor Mary Mosiman released Thursday says that Iowa Communications Network executive director Ric Lumbard improperly awarded jobs and contracts to individuals associated with a nonprofit Christian ministry he also leads.

The report says that Lumbard and two associates he hired, Jessica Jensen and T.J. Boulet, were fired earlier this month ahead of the audit’s release. A criminal investigation is ongoing. Mosiman’s report says Lumbard repeatedly circumvented rules requiring competitive bidding on government contracts, created unnecessary jobs, hired unqualified individuals and awarded Jensen excessive pay increases. A company associated with Lumbard sold more than $2,000 in state-owned equipment on eBay.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police and mental health professionals in northern Iowa have agreed to more closely work together on difficult cases in an effort to improve outcomes and reduce costs. The Mason City Council approved a plan Tuesday for the local police department and County Social Services to collaborate on creating a law enforcement mental health care coordinator position. The role will serve under County Social Services but will work with police on mental health situations.

Police Chief Jeff Brinkley tells the Globe Gazette that calls for service related to mental health have increased by 22 percent over the last three years. Brinkley says the challenge is reducing the impact on public safety resources while offering better care for mental health patients. He says they aim to work with patients before they reach crisis status.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of passing counterfeit cash at a Sioux City casino has been given two years of probation. Court records say 28-year-old Jackelen Hartsock, of Le Mars, pleaded guilty Tuesday to forgery after prosecutors dropped a theft charge as part of a plea agreement. She also was given a five-year suspended prison term.

Police say Hartsock, 29-year-old Brittany Derby and 27-year-old Kurt Jones made several cash transactions Aug. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Police say the bills were later found to be counterfeit. The records say Jones has pleaded not guilty to forgery and is scheduled to begin trial Tuesday. A Feb. 28 hearing is scheduled regarding a plea deal pending for the 29-year-old Derby.