(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the legislature are prioritizing a process that would override an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that Iowa women have a right to abortion. A proposed amendment to Iowa’s constitution cleared its first hurdle in the House early this (Tuesday) morning. Iowans for Life executive director Maggie DeWitte thanked G-O-P lawmakers for bringing it forward so quickly in the 2021 session.

Kim Laube, director of life ministries for Lutheran Family Service, also spoke at the statehouse hearing.

Two Republicans on a House subcommittee voted to advance the proposal to the House Judiciary Committee. Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames, the only Democrat on the subcommittee, says legislators should focus on other issues.

And Wessel-Kroeschell says she felt unsafe as others in the statehouse hearing room were not wearing face masks. Jamie Burch Elliott of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa is among the dozens of Iowans who submitted written comments rather than attending the in-person hearing. She says House subcommittee hearings should be held in a virtual format that lets members of the public speak during the meeting.

Burch Eliott made her comments during an online news conference held via Zoom. The process of amending Iowa’s constitution takes years and the proposed amendment discussed today (Tuesday) stalled in the House last June. That means 2024 is the earliest the amendment could be presented to voters for ratification or rejection.

A child passenger in a car was injured Tuesday morning in Red Oak, during a collision at the intersection of N. 4th and E. Maple Streets. Red Oak Police report the nine-year old girl suffered suspected minor injuries during the crash that happened just before 7-a.m.  She was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. During their investigation, Officers determined 20-year old Ashlee Young, of Red Oak, was driving a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on N 4^th Street and 30-year old Cassandra McVay, of Red Oak, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu eastbound on E Maple Street, when she failed to yield at the yield sign, and to the right-of-way to Young’s vehicle.

Young’s Jeep struck McVay’s Malibu in the right rear quarter panel. Police issued McVay a warning for Failure to Obey a Yield Sign. Damage from the collision amounted to $11,000. Both vehicles were declared a total loss.

The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board, Monday evening, agreed in-principal, to continue Sharing Agreements they have with various area districts, including the position of School Business Officer, Human Resources, Transportation Director and Superintendent. Exira-EHK Superintendent Trevor Miller…

Among the adjustments or “tweaks” to those contracts they are proposing, is to Miller’s 80/20 contract, with regard to time spent in the district and cost sharing. He’ll meet Thursday evening with the IKM-Manning Board to continue the discussions. In other business, the Exira-EHK Board set their February 15^th meeting as the date for a Public Hearing on the proposed 2021-22 School Calendar.

The Board also agree to extend the Return-to-Learn and mask mandate until their meeting March 15^th.

And, they agreed to extend FFCRA leave (COVID-19 related), which had expired Dec.31^st. It will remain in-place now until the end of the school year. And, they approved the hiring of Emily McDermott as a Long-Term substitute 2^nd Semester English Teacher, along with the resignation of Librarian Linda Petersen, who is retiring, as well as Bus Driver David Anderson, who will still act as a substitute, when needed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery players are getting another shot at the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history. The Mega Millions top prize has hit an estimated $850 million, making Tuesday night’s drawing the biggest in more than two years. Powerball, the other lottery game offered in most of the U.S., isn’t far behind at $730 million for a drawing Wednesday night. It’s the first time both lottery jackpots have topped $700 million.

No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since Sept. 15. The last Powerball jackpot winner was a day later, on Sept. 16. Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is offered in Puerto Rico.

Road conditions played a role in a rollover accident last Thursday evening, just north of Adair. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports 51-year-old Kristina Sherman, of Adair, was driving a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee east on White Pole Road at around 7:15-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control, entered the south ditch and rolled onto its top. Sherman was wearing her seat belt, and was not injured. She was cited for two counts of Driving While license suspended. The SUV was totaled in the crash.

It’s “Back to the drawing board” for the Audubon School Board, when it comes to the district’s building project, which came in $4-million over budget. Superintendent Eric Trager says they started the project with a feasibility study in the fall of 2019. The price tag came in at $7.5-million dollars, but the bids came in at $11.5-million, or 53% higher than the original estimate.

That, he says, will unfortunately result in a delay of the work, and that some construction will need to take place during the school year. The idea he said it still to get the project done, and get it done right. Trager said the board was shocked and disappointed in the way things have turned out, to-date.

He says it’s too late to play the blame game, “We just need to figure out how do we move forward.”

In other business, the Audubon School Board approved trading-in three old Dodge Minivans for three new, locally purchased Chevy Traverse’s with the same passenger capacity. And, they approved a renewed Sharing Agreement with the Coon Rapids-Bayard School District. Those positions include Superintendent, H-R and Transportation Directors, Elementary Counselor, and Social Worker.

The Audubon School Board also approved the resignation – effective at the end of the school year – of Special Education Teacher Tyler Tassel. The Board thanks him for his service to the district.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a pair of recent arrests.

On Friday, January 15th at about 8:35 p.m. Adams County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Shawn Crouch of Corning was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. The arrests stems from an investigation on January 13th when his neighbor’s car window and bedroom window were shot out with a BB gun. Crouch was taken to the Adams County Jail and booked in.

On Saturday, January 16th at about 2:14 a.m. Deputies arrested 36-year-old Kimberly Bloom of Corning on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bloom was taken to the Adams County Jail and booked in.

Police in Creston, Monday, arrested a man wanted on a Union County warrant for Failure to serve his sentence on an original – Possession of Marijuana/1st offense – charge. 40-year old Justin Robertson, of Creston, was taken into custody at his residence and was being held in the Union County Jail until the remainder of his court-ordered time is served.

The Griswold School Board, Monday night, voted to require Remote Learners to return to on-site (in-person) learning on or before Feb. 15th, with some exceptions. Superintendent Dave Henrichs tells KJAN News….

Dave Henrichs said the district has been fortunate to have had little impact from COVID-19. To-date, he said, there have been four elementary students, 11 middle school/high school students, and 11 staff, who have tested positive for COVID-19. ALL have recovered. In other business, the Board, following a public hearing (during which there were no comments), approved the 2021-22 School Calendar. Henrichs said it essentially mirrors the current calendar, with some exceptions.

The Griswold School Board also voted 7-0 NOT to terminate the contract of an employee, following a closed session.

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

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