IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Undergraduate students at Iowa’s three public universities may have to pay $100 more for tuition next spring. The Iowa Board of Regents released a proposal Tuesday for a 3 percent tuition increase to go into effect for the spring 2016 semester. The board will discuss the increase next week and is expected to vote in September.

The increase would mean that full-time undergraduate resident students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa would pay $100 more. The proposal says that lawmakers only gave the schools a $6.5 million base budget increase, far less than the regents requested.  Earlier this month, Gov. Terry Branstad vetoed an additional $6.2 million in one-time funding for the schools that had been approved by lawmakers.

Federal dollars for road work in Iowa and all other states will hit a dead end later this week without fast action in Congress. While the U-S House has approved a five-month extension of the current funding, the Senate is leaning toward a six-year plan for the transportation bill. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, favors the long-term version and won’t try to predict what’s going to happen in either chamber.

“We don’t know what the House will do until we pass a bill,” Grassley says. “This is what we can pass now and we’d better take advantage of bipartisan cooperation that we can get in the Senate, which you seldom get.”

The Senate held a rare Sunday session to pass its version of the transportation bill, which included an amendment to revive the Export-Import Bank, an issue that’s drawing opposition in the House. The Ex-Im, as it’s called, is a little-known federal agency that helps foreign customers buy things from U-S businesses. Grassley hopes all sides will reach agreement on the transportation bill — and soon.

“The long-term bill is the best for the economy,” Grassley says. “It’s the best for highway construction, best for creating jobs, not only in construction but in the manufacture of this heavy equipment. People are more apt to buy it if they know there is a long-term commitment to funding the highway program.” The current transportation funding bill expires on Friday. The proposed six-year measure is worth 350-billion dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

STONINGTON, Conn. (AP) – Authorities say a man and his young son from Iowa have been killed in a tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 95 in Stonington, Connecticut.
Connecticut State Police say 31-year-old Sergio Amilear Castellon, of Council Bluffs, and his 7-year-old son, Sergio Giovanny Castellon, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash Monday night.

Police say the truck struck a guardrail and bridge abutment. The wreck scattered debris across the highway, and witnesses reported seeing smoke and hearing explosions.  The accident remains under investigation.

Iowa DOT District 4 Transportation Coordinator Scott Suhr, in Atlantic, reports weather continues to slow progress on US Hwy 6/7th Street, in Atlantic, but crews were able to pave up to Cherry Street, last week. Suhr says they continued to dry the grade from Cherry to Plum Streets last week, as well. This week, they plan on working on hand pours for driveways and intersections and sidewalks near Spruce, and Pine to Mulberry Streets.

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

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The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Council Bluffs say a Council Bluffs couple escaped injury during a home invasion early this (Tuesday) morning. Officers were called to 3545 9th Avenue at around 2:15-a.m. with regard to the incident. The victims, 53-year old Timothy Freeman and 50-year old Candy Freeman, reported that they were in their bedroom when they heard someone kick in their back door and start yelling their name.

Timothy Freeman walked down the hallway and saw three suspects standing in his kitchen. One of the suspects pointed a black semi-auto handgun at him. Freeman said when the suspects saw him, they ran out of the house and eastbound down the alley.

The incident remains under investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP (7867)

The operator of a motorcycle suffered serious injuries after the machine hit a deer early this morning, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Corey Danker, of Council Bluffs, was driving the cycle when a deer ran into his path at around 1:30-a.m. near the intersection of Bennett and Franklin Avenues.

Danker suffered bleeding on the brain and a spinal cord injury during the collision. He was transported to Jennie Edmundson hospital for treatment.

CYLINDER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 58-year-old Iowa man tried to rescue his son who was overcome by fumes in a hog manure pit, but both men later died. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon in the northwest Iowa community of Cylinder. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says Gene Opheim and his 32-year-old son, Austin, were making repairs when Austin was overcome by the gases. His father then entered the pit to save his son but also was overcome.

Fire and rescue personnel were called to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office says the men were removed from the pit and taken to Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, where they were pronounced dead.

The prelude to today’s big livestock sale at the Cass County Fair was held Monday evening, with the Parade of Champions and Grand Champion Beef Selection Show.  Among the big winners during Monday’s event were Lindsey Dinkla and Hannah Carlson. Carlson exhibited the Grand Champion Market Heifer, which weighed 1,388-pounds. Hannah is the daughter of Mike and Pat Carlson. Lindsey Dinkla, the daughter of Gary and Beth Dinkla,  exhibited the Grand Champion 4H Market Steer, which weighed-in at 1,326-pounds.

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Heifer was shown by Caroline Pellett, with the Pymosa 4H Club. She is the daughter of Brad and Kristi Pellett. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer was shown by Haley Carlson, with the Pymosa 4H Club. Haley is the daughter of Mike and Pat Carlson. Haley also exhibited the Grand Champion FFA market heifer.

Marshall McDermott, of the Atlantic FFA displayed the Reserve. Marshall is the son of Mike and Melanie McDermott. Eric Plagman showed the Grand Champion FFA Market Steer. Eric is the son of Mike and Kristi Plagman. The Reserve went to Nate Moen, of the Atlantic FFA. His parents are Clint and Laura Fruend.

The livestock sale gets underway at 8-a.m. and will conclude when all the animals are sold. Breakfast will be served at the Foodstand from 6:30-until 10-a.m.