Key lawmakers from both political parties say when it comes to education reform, money matters rather than policy differences may be harder to bridge. Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says Democrats will argue the amount of state tax dollars and property taxes forwarded to school budgets should grow by four percent in each of the next two years.  “It’s unfortunate that the two issues got entwined, but they were,” Quirmbach says, “so that’s one thing we’ll have to resolve.” House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha, says the plan from Senate Democrats is more than 100-million dollars above what the House G-O-P proposed in February.

“That’s a pretty big number for a state like Iowa,” Paulsen says. “We’ll have to figure that out.” The Senate Democrats’ plan would forward schools an extra four-hundred dollars per student to implement teacher improvement plans. The House Republicans’ plan calls for about 100-dollars less per student. Senator Quirmbach says this is not just about providing bonuses to teachers chosen to coach other teachers. “To the extent that teachers are taken out of the classroom to provide this mentorship kind of idea, you have to hire additional people to fill their places in the classroom,” Quirmbach says, “so it does get expensive.”

The Senate Education Committee spent two and a half minutes talking about education reform Tuesday afternoon, as lawmakers rush the bill through the legislative process and into a 10-member committee that will try to find a compromise. Senator Joni Ernst is a Republican from Red Oak.  “I still think we’re missing an opportunity with school choice and independent accredidation and so forth,” Ernst said, “but, again, I am glad that we are bringing up this bill and will head to conference committee.

On Monday, Governor Branstad said education reform was his number one priority for lawmakers. That’s a switch, as Branstad had been saying property tax reform was at the top priority for 2013.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) released its report on recent arrests. Officials say 36-year old Aimee Jo Nicholson, of Des Moines, was arrested Saturday on a District Court warrant for allegedly violating the terms of her probation. And, 36-year old Bobby Juan Vasquez, of Council Bluffs, was arrested that same day, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Vasquez was later released on $1,000 bond, while Nicholson remains in the Cass County Jail, with her bond set at $10,000.

The Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Frazer A-J Werts, of Atlantic, was arrested March 28th, on charges of OWI 2^nd Offense and Driving Under Suspension. Werts was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. And, on March 27th, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 29-year old Eric Clay Saul, of Council Bluffs, on a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Saul was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released the following day.

Officials with Shelby County say the county will be receiving a brand new tourist attraction this summer. During a regular Shelby County Board of Supervisors meeting this (Tuesday) morning, Jack Kenkel with the Shelby County American Legion reported the county has been accepted to receive a “Freedom Rock”.

One rendition of the “Freedom Rock” north of Greenfield. Artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen repaints the rock each year with a different, patriotic theme.

Artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen created the original rock just south of Interstate 80 off of Highway 25, in Adair County. It’s repainted annually, as a thank you to all who have served the armed forces. Kenkel said the Sorensen family will travel and create a “Freedom Rock” in all 99 Iowa Counties over the next few summers and doing 10 rocks a year. Shelby County is the farthest western Iowa County to be selected in the process so far.

Kenkel says the location of the rock will be in Earling, in what is now called Veterans Park, on the south side of the Highway 37. He says the site will need some preparation work before the rock can be put in place. Meanwhile, the Shelby County American Legion is looking for ideas on what to be painted on the rock.  Kenkel says they will incorporate the pioneering of Shelby County into the theme.

The County and American Legion have a little more than two months to plan and get the rock set, as “Bubba” is scheduled to be in Shelby County to paint the rock in the last two weeks of June. Kenkel said the maintenance of the rock will be minimal with the city of Earling mowing the area and the rock will need resealed every 5 years. The estimated cost for the project is around $25-30,000. Kenkel says the rock will be a key component of tourism for the county.

The Shelby County American Legion will be giving a presentation at the Shelby County Hotel/Motel Tax Committee on Wednesday to discuss funding. However, if you would like more information on the Freedom Rock project or to donate to the project, contact the Shelby County American Legion or Jack Kenkel.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A Stanton teen involved in a head-on collision this (Tuesday) morning in Stanton was injured after the crash, when the vehicle she was driving knocked her down, and rolled down a hill. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says 16-year old Joey Nicole Volquartsen was driving a 2001 Dodge Durango eastbound on Elliott Street at around 7:55-a.m., when she was blinded by the sun. When the SUV crossed over into the opposite lane of travel, 72-year old Sharmyn Brockshus, of Stanton, saw her coming and came to a stop. The woman honked the horn of her 2011 Chevy Malibu to warn Volquartsen, but the SUV struck the car head-on, causing the car’s airbags to deploy.

Following the collision, the teen put the SUV into park and got out of the vehicle, which then began to roll downhill. Volquartsen tried to stop the vehicle, but it knocked her down and continued down the hill to the intersection of Broad Avenue, where it finally came to a halt when it hit a tree, with the gearshift still in “Park.”

Volquartsen was transported by private vehicle to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Brockshus was not injured during the collision. Officials say there were no citations issued. Damage to the Durango, registered to Joseph Volquartsen, was estimated at $2,500, while the Malibu sustained $3,500 damage.

A U-S Senator from Iowa says “there’s every reason to be afraid” as North Korea’s leader vows to restart that nation’s nuclear reactor, hinting it would provide materials for atomic weapons. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s “very concerned” as the U-S moves more troops, ships and warplanes into that region. “We’ve had so-called saber rattling from North Korea for probably 15 years but we have a 31-year-old leader of the country who I don’t know much about,” Grassley says “I don’t know if we know enough about him to draw any conclusions.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said in a speech Sunday that nuclear weapons would be “a reliable war deterrent and a guarantee to protect our sovereignty.” Grassley fears Kim’s inexperience and recklessness could lead to trouble. “He could be young enough that he’s willing to take any chances, doesn’t understand the potential dangers that are ahead, both for him as well as other people involved,” Grassley says. “He may be just trying to saber rattle to consolidate his own political agenda.”

Kim has repeatedly threatened to invade South Korea and to attack American bases in the Pacific. Last month, a North Korean official reportedly said he’d back launching a preemptive nuclear strike on Washington D-C, saying, “the stronghold of evils will be engulfed in a sea of fire.” Grassley says he’s seen the reports from U-S experts who say North Korea doesn’t have the technological capability to pose a legitimate threat, but he says there’s still reason for concern. “The military is very strong in that country and I presume they’re strong enough that if they don’t like him, they could throw him out,” Grassley says. “We just don’t know the situation and so there’s every reason to be afraid.”

North Korea’s nuclear plant has been idle since 2007.

(Radio Iowa)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested late last week on separate warrants. Officials say 43-year old Jodie Marie Sherman, of Shambaugh, was arrested March 27th by Council Bluffs Police on a Page County warrant for Failure to Appear. Sherman was held in the Pottawattamie County Jail until being transferred to the Page County Jail, where she was being held on $2,000 bond until making an appearance before a District Court Judge. Sherman originally faced an Aggravated Serious Misdemeanor charge of Domestic Abuse Assault with intent or display of a weapon.

Last Thursday, 39-year old Raymond Dean Wiley, of Essex, was arrested at his home, on a Page County warrant stemming from a local traffic stop, where he was arrested for Driving While Suspended or revoked. Wiley was brought to the Page County Jail and later posted a $1,000 bond.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS