DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democratic lawmakers are proposing a significant boost to school aid for the coming academic year. Leaders in the Democratic-majority Senate said Tuesday they will try to increase funding by over $200 million for the next school year. That’s more than double the amount sought by Gov. Terry Branstad and Republican lawmakers who control the state House. Both proposals include dollars already dedicated to a teacher training program.

Democrats say schools need more money to provide good services. Senate President Pam Jochum, from Dubuque, says in a news release that this was a “serious, meaningful step.” Republicans have said the state cannot afford a substantial increase due to other budget commitments. Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said the governor’s proposal was fiscally sustainable.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are getting behind an effort to preserve farmland in the state. Sen. Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, said Tuesday they would serve on an advisory board to the new Sustainable Iowa Land Trust. The organization seeks to preserve land in Iowa for farming and to make it more affordable for beginning farmers.

The legislators said the effort would benefit Iowa. They are not planning any immediate legislation, but will start discussions about what the state could do to help. Suzan Erem is president of the Iowa Land Trust. She said the group will try to help reclassify land to preserve it for farming and will seek to acquire parcels that could be leased to farmers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Nearly 200 students who took the ACT college entrance exam at Johnston High School in December have been informed they won’t receive their results. The ACT organization sent an email Monday night to 195 students notifying them their answer sheets never arrived at headquarters in Iowa City for scoring. As a result, ACT says score reports cannot be issued for the Dec. 13 national testing date.

ACT spokeswoman Katie Wacker says as many as 6,000 testing centers administer the exam on national test days, making it difficult to immediately identify if one center’s score sheets don’t arrive. She says instances where test packets don’t show up are extremely rare.

Molly Vincent, whose 17-year-old daughter’s answer sheet was among those lost, says ACT’s notification interferes with her daughter’s scholarship application deadlines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A House legislative panel has approved a bill that would prohibit indoor tanning for minors at commercial salons in Iowa. Members of a human resources subcommittee agreed Tuesday to advance the bill. It now heads to a full committee for consideration. The bill would ban people under age 18 from using a tanning device at a commercial salon, with or without parental consent. Current law has no restrictions.

A separate legislative panel in the Senate approved a similar bill last month. There is no opposition listed for the bill. Eric Goranson, a lobbyist for the American Suntanning Association, says the group supports the legislation.

Emergency crews were called to the scene of a injury accident just east of Council Bluffs, this (Tuesday) morning. According to KETV in Omaha, the crash happened at around 11:15-a.m. on Highway 6, near 238th Street. One person was seriously injured and reported to have been trapped. A medical helicopter was dispatched to the scene. The highway in the vicinity of the crash was said to be closed while emergency personnel were on the scene.

Additional details are currently not available.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) – Investigators are asking the public for tips about anyone who is familiar with a remote wildlife area where two Iowa girls’ bodies were found in December 2012. Evansdale Police Chief Kent Smock said Tuesday the killer is likely very familiar with the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, where hunters stumbled on the bodies of 10-year-old Lyric Cook and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins.

Lyric Cook

Elizabeth Collins

The girls went missing in July 2012 when they were riding their bikes in Evansdale, 22 miles from the wildlife area.

Smock said the area is “extremely remote” and the killer may have hunted, camped or partied there in the past. Smock acknowledged that thousands of people have been to the park but investigators will be careful not to falsely accuse anyone of involvement in the girls’ deaths.

A van stolen last week from Harlan was found a few hours later, in a ditch. Harlan Police say Dawitt Sangele, of Harlan, reported his 1996 Dodge Caravan missing Jan. 28th. The vehicle was located in a ditch, about two-miles west of Harlan. The incident remains under investigation.

An Atlantic man was arrested last week on a drug charge, and two Atlantic residents were arrested for assault. The A-PD reports 35-year old Michael Trotter, of Atlantic, was arrested Jan. 21st, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Jan. 28th, 51-year old Preston Nelson, and 25-year old James Howard, both of Atlantic, were arrested on Assault Causing Injury, charges. And, on Jan. 29th, 19-year old Matthew Paulsen, of Adair, was arrested for 5th degree Theft (shoplifting).

All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Harlan Police Department today (Tuesday), released a report on recent arrests. Officials say on Jan. 25th, 25-year old’s Jennifer Andersen and Garrett Hampton, both of Harlan, were charged with Child Endangerment after officers were called to Myrtue Medical Center for a report of a 14-month old male who was admitted and found to have marijuana in his system. The couple were given citations and an order to appear later, in court. The incident was also reported to the Dept. of Human Services.

On Jan. 23rd, 27-year old Zane Szeliga, of Harlan, was arrested after police were notified by a concerned citizen, that they had observed someone kick-in the door of a residence in the 1800 block of 16th Street. Officers found Szeliga in the home and arrested him for Burglary in the 3rd degree, Possession of Marijuana and Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. That same day, 20-year old Matthew Strong, of Harlan, was arrested in drug charges, following a traffic stop. Strong was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Prohibited Acts, and Driving While Suspended. A passenger in the vehicle, 31-year old Orlando Rodriguez, of Harlan, was cited for Open Container, and released.

On Jan. 28th, 18-year old Brett Keane was arrested after officers were called to the Harlan Community High School, following a report of a student suspected to be in possession of marijuana. Keane was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Officials say on Sunday, 25-year old Brooke Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested on charges that include Obstructing Emergency Communications, Tampering with a witness, and assault. The woman was taken into custody after officers were called to investigate the reported assault of Karen Scheffler.

Last Friday, Harlan Police arrested 25-year old Ross Buboltz, of Shelby, following a traffic stop. Buboltz was charged with OWI and Careless Driving. On Jan. 28th, 50-year old Curt Anstey, was cited by police for Violating a No Contact Order, after he allegedly had contact with Kristine Schmitz, of Harlan.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Monday, 36-year old Joshua Robert Saunders, of Omaha, was arrested just before 1-a.m. in Pacific Junction, for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender charge. His bond was set at $3,000.

On Saturday, deputies in Mills County arrested 18-year old Madison Leigh Bendt, of Glenwood, for Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $300; 33-year old Douglas Charles Heitman, of Silver City was arrested for Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Failure to Maintain Control. His bond was also set at $300. And, 28-year old Seth Allen Osler, of Malvern, was arrested Saturday morning for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.