DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents has released crime data that shows an increase in reported sex offenses at two of the state’s three public universities.  The annual data released Tuesday shows Iowa State University had 13 reported sex offenses in 2013, an increase from nine in 2012. At the University of Northern Iowa, there were two reported sex offenses in 2013, an increase from 1 in 2012. There were 4 reported sex offenses at the University of Iowa in 2013, a decrease from 8 in 2012.  Sex offenses include reports of rape and sexual assault.

The data doesn’t reflect incidents where victims choose not to formally file a report to police. The distinction means some recent, highly publicized reports of sexual assault at the University of Iowa are not included.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers in the Iowa Senate and House have agreed kidnapping penalties need to be tougher, but they’re having a hard time reaching a compromise for how long offenders should remain in jail.

In a 2-1 vote Tuesday, a three-member House judiciary subcommittee approved a bill seeking tougher kidnapping penalties for cases involving minors. This original legislation from the Senate maintains an earned time option for inmates, allowing them to reduce their sentences for good behavior. But a House amendment eliminates earned time altogether, bringing the legislation closer to a bill developed in the House.

Republican Rep. Chip Baltimore says he intends to continue his pursuit of earned time elimination, though lawmakers in the Senate stand by keeping the incentive. The legislation now goes to the full House Judiciary Committee.

An accident Monday morning at 7th and Walnut Streets caused a total of $5,000 damage to the vehicles involved, but no one was injured. Atlantic Police say vehicles driven by Irma Frisbie and Nichole Perkins, both of Atlantic, were traveling west on 7th Street at around 11:25-a.m., when the Perkins vehicle came to a quick stop and turned right in order to avoid hitting a non-contact vehicle in front of her. Frisbie was unable to stop in time, and hit the rear of Perkins’ vehicle. No citations were issued.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch hosted a rally at the statehouse this morning (Tuesday), challenging Republican Governor Terry Branstad to publicly support an increase in the minimum wage.  “Today’s the 4th of March and March is the only month that is also a command,” Hatch said, “so we’re asking this governor to give the order. Ask the legislature: ‘March forth and raise the minimum wage.'”

Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs has said the senate won’t debate a bill that would raise the minimum wage, however, unless there are Republicans in the senate who would support it. “They have not responded to our entreaties,” Gronstal says. Gronstal and Hatch were joined at today’s (Tuesday’s) event by about two dozen Democrats from the Iowa House and Senate, including Representative Bruce Hunter of Des Moines.

“For almost 300,000 Iowans, Iowans who work hard, who play by the rules and do what is right, there really isn’t any dignity,” Hunter said. “For those people working at or around Iowa’s current $7.25 minimum wage, there’s only poverty.”

Governor Branstad signed a bill in 1989 that raised Iowa’s minimum wage above the national rate. In 2007, Democratic Governor Chet Culver signed legislation that raised Iowa’s minimum wage to seven-25 ($7.25) an hour — above the national rate, but congress later that year voted to raise the national rate to that level.

(Radio Iowa)

A public hearing will be held Wednesday morning in Greenfield, with regard to the possible renaming of a road in Adair County. The hearing and action on the matter will come during the Adair County Board of Supervisor’s meeting which begins at 9-a.m., Wednesday.

Auditor Mindy Schaefer said officials with the White Pole Road Organization would like to rename a portion of the Anita-Adair Road that crosses from Cass into Adair County, as “White Pole Road,” which would be the same designation as Highway 6.

And, the Adair County Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, the expenditures for which amount to $14.719-million dollars. Schaefer says  that is an increase from last year, due primarily to necessary bridge and road work.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday morning in Atlantic, with regard to the proposed Fiscal Year 2015 County Budget. The hearing takes place at 8:45-a.m. during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors. Following the hearing, the Board will review the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for elected officers’ salaries, and act on the recommendation.

Later on during the meeting, the Supervisors will act on adopting the FY 2015 Secondary Roads and Cass County Budgets. And, in other business, the Board will act on approving the plans for a Secondary Roads Dept. project that involves the replacement of a concrete box culvert northeast of Marne.

The meeting begins at 8:30-a.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Iowa Department of Transportation reports a public information meeting will be held Tuesday, March 11th, to discuss the reconstruction of the Interstate 29 and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 interchange in Council Bluffs, which is scheduled to begin June 2014. All interested persons are invited to attend the meeting anytime between 4- and 7-p.m., at the Iowa School for the Deaf’s Community Room, Lied Multipurpose Complex, 3501 Harry Langdon Blvd., in Council Bluffs.

A group question-and-answer session will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a three-minute limit per speaker. The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvements. No formal presentation will be made.

The project construction area begins on I-29 from 1.3 miles south of U.S. 275 to just north of the U.S. 275 ramps and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 from Metro Mall Drive east to Harry Langdon Boulevard, including the I-29 and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 interchange. Proposed construction consists of new roadway embankments, walking trails, bridge structures, and other features, including the removal and reconstruction of six bridges and removal of portions of the existing roadway embankments.

The reconstruction also involves raising the interstate and U.S. 275 to accommodate the new railroad corridor for the railroad relocation project, which will require ramp closures and two-way traffic, with one lane in each direction, on U.S. 275/Iowa 92 during construction. Travelers may experience traffic delays and detours, which could impact access to businesses, schools, or other properties.

This construction is part of the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program, a streamlined approach to planned construction projects to I-80, I-29, and I-480 in the Council Bluffs/Omaha metropolitan area. The program is the single largest project in the Iowa DOT’s 2014-2018 Five-Year Transportation Improvement Program.

For those who cannot attend the open house, a virtual, online meeting will be available beginning March 11 and can be accessed by visiting the project website at www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov and clicking the online meeting link on the home page.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County report one person was arrested on drug and numerous other charges, last week, following the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Bagley. A home at 405 Main Street occupied by Dawn Marie Chinberg and 28-year old Dustin Tyler Woody, of Bagley, was searched at around 9:30-p.m. February 27th, during which methamphetamine, weapons and drug paraphernalia were seized.

Woody was arrested and charged with felony Possession with Intent to Deliver more than 5 grams of meth, Child Endangerment, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Interference with Official Acts. Woody appeared before the magistrate on Friday, and was ordered to pay a $100,000 cash or surety bond, prior to being released from the Guthrie County Jail.