MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – On Thursday, the Linn-Mar School District confirmed that 50 full-time staff positions in the district would be cut for the 2024/2025 school year. At Monday’s board meeting, the district announced that even though they made approximately $3 million in cuts this school year, another $2.5 million would have to be made for the next one as well. 19 full-time teaching positions and 31 full-time classified staff positions would be cut as part of the budget cuts.

The district has cited a combination of expiring COVID-19 relief funding, low funding from the state legislature, and declining enrollment as factors in the financial shortfall.

VAN WERT, Iowa [KCCI] — Authorities in Decatur County say one person was killed in a house fire Thursday morning. A 911 call reporting the fire in the 200 block of West First Street first came in around 10:30 a.m., according to Decatur County Sheriff Chris Lane, who confirmed that one person was dead but did not release the identity. Officials have also not said what they believe caused the fire, which is still under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in the dispute linked to the construction of the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital. Modern Piping won a judgment of nearly 13 million dollars after alleging the U-I wrongly used an injunction to delay arbitration in a dispute so they could gain early access to the building. University lawyer, Tessa Register, says the injunction did delay the process, but the benefit of the delay was overstated. “The university has not retained the benefit of that delay. When the only arbitration proceeding that has ever been enjoined in this case resumed and completed, the university paid nearly a million dollars in interest to dating back to the date of the initial demand before the injunction,” she says. Register says the U-I settled the claim and Modern should not gain any of the benefit for use of the building.

“The university is still not in possession of any property of Modern Piping that it received because of the injunction, nor has it retained any benefit received because of the injunction. So modern piping is not entitled to any unjust enrichment in this case,” Register says. Modern Piping’s lawyer, Mark Weinhardt, says the U-I used the illegitimacy of the injunction to get into the building early and that produced more than 12 million dollars in profit. “Until the project is complete and Modern is off the job, it is Modern’s property,” he says.

The Justices questioned that assertion, saying Modern Piping never had any entitlement to profits or revenue that the university from the hospital facility, and Modern would not take it over and operate the hospital. Weinhardt says the U-I didn’t want to follow the contract. “The parties entered into a contract that gives them that exclusive right to the property unless they, A negotiate a agreement that allows early occupancy or B, Modern completes the job,” Weinhardt says. “And the university didn’t want either one of those things. And so as a consequence, they got this illegal injunction instead.”

The Supreme Court will issue a ruling on the case at a later date.

(Radio Iowa) – A dairy industry official from Iowa who works in Washington D-C is urging members of Congress to get moving on the creation of a new Farm Bill. Matt Wohlman is senior director of state and industry affairs for the farmer-owned cooperative Land O’ Lakes. “The 2018 Farm Bill has been a really pretty good farm bill for farmers and rural communities and we need to get that Farm Bill reauthorized,” Wohlman says. “It did expire in September of last year and then Congress did a continuing resolution on it until September of this year, but we need to move forward and get this Farm Bill passed.” Wohlman, who’s a fifth-generation family farmer, says there’s little “new money” in the Farm Bill but some tweaks are needed.

“Folks are wanting to make some adjustments to the farm safety net programs, particularly the Price Loss (Coverage) and our PLC programs, adjusting those reference prices that are in the Farm Bill,” Wohlman says, “and then bringing some of the conservation investments that were made over the last few years, bringing those into the Farm Bill programs.” He says the nutritional programs also need to be brought into the conversation.

There’s much partisan bickering in Congress that’s led to an impasse on the Farm Bill over issues like the limiting of climate funding and social safety net programs.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has narrowly passed a package to hike teacher pay, increase general state support for schools AND keep Area Education Agencies as the main provider of experts who assist schools with special education needs for students. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford says it provides certainty for students with disabilities and their parents and, in total, amounts to a five percent increase in state support of schools.

“We wanted to make sure that as we went home this weekend that our schools and Iowans had an idea where House Republicans stand and where our final position is going to be on these three topics,” Grassley said. House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley says it sends a clear and concise message to the Senate. “We expect for this to grt done because it is a priority,” Windshitl said. “…We need to get this done for our schools and for our kids.”

Under the plan, A-E-As would continue to get 90 percent of state funding for special education services. School districts would be able to spend the remaining 10 percent on district employees, private contractor OR continue to use A-E-A staff. The plan passed with the support of 51 of the 60 House Republicans present last (Thursday) night and is similar to three bills that passed the House in February. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says adjustments in the package appear to be concessions to Governor Kim Reynolds. who called for a major overhaul of A-E-As in January.

“Don’t have kids, families, educators be shrapnel in this game,” Konfrst said. Democrats argued the package falls far short of the state financial support schools need. Representative Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City who’s a retired teacher, says the plan weakens the A-E-A system because it reduces funding for other A-E-A services, like teacher training and bulk purchasing of school supplies.”Such nonsense,” Steckman said. “Why are we doing this to our kids and the AEAs? Because the governor wants it.”

Representative Chad Ingels, a Republican from Randalia who voted for the bill, says as the father of two children with Down Syndrome, he fought to get more pay for paraeducators in the package. “While AEA personnel are extremely valuable, paraeducators are there every day beside my kids,” Ingels said, “and they’re underpaid.” Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull, the bill’s floor manager, has a daughter who’s been diagnosed with autism and he also emphasized the importance of paraeducators and keeping A-E-As directly involved in special education services.

“I believe the Lord has placed us in this position for a reason and we have a significant interest in advocating for students with disabilities,” Wheeler said, “and we have done just that.” A few weeks ago, the House took separate votes on general state aid for schools and on teacher pay. The package that cleared the House last (Thursday) night includes the governor’s call for raise salaries for beginning teachers to 50-thousand dollars, plus money to raise the pay of veteran teachers and hourly staff.

In a written statement, Governor Reynolds said the House plan paves a path forward to further strengthen Iowa’s education system in meaningful ways. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver said Senate Republicans will discuss the House package next week and he looks forward to a resolution on education funding, raising starting teacher pay and A-E-A reform.

UPDATE 3/23/24: Mary Schroer, who was reported missing on March 21, 2024, has been located. She is safe and in good health. She was located in Eastern Colorado and will be reunited with her family shortly.

(Carroll, Iowa) – The Carroll Police Department is asking for help in locating a missing 86-year-old female. Mary Schroer  was last seen leaving her residence in Carroll on Sunday. She has not returned and has not had any contact with her family.

Mary is 5-feet one-inches tall and weighs 112 pounds. She drives a white 2014 Honda Civic (the photo attached is not the actual vehicle) with New Mexico license 905SPD.

If located call your local police department or the Carroll Police Department at 712-792-3536.

(Radio Iowa) – A report by the State Ombudsman’s Office found that some county jails were not following Iowa law by taking money directly out of inmate commissary accounts for medical care. Ombudsman Bernardo Granwehr says Iowa law requires jails to go through the courts to recoup these co-pays.   “This is not a money maker for jails it’s really a drop in the bucket compared to the services provided,” he says.

Granwehr says this practice violates the prisoner’s due process rights.  “We’re calling for the Department of Corrections to make a change. We had a constructive dialogue with the department and they understand what the problem is so we want to encourage them to take the step of amending the rule that is causing the confusion,”Granwehr says.

Bernardo Granwehr State Ombudsman in Iowa

Jails can charge adult inmates for medical services if they are convicted of a crime or sentenced for contempt of court for violating a domestic abuse order. But they still have to seek that money through the courts. They cannot remove it directly from a commissary account. The Ombudsman has attempted to bring jails in Wapello, Scott, and O’Brien counties into compliance with state law. But as of its release, those jails had not changed their policy.

March 21, 2024 (Des Moines, Iowa) — The Iowa Tourism Office presented 24 awards recognizing excellence in the tourism industry during the 2024 Iowa Tourism Conference in Des Moines this week. State Tourism Manager Amy Zeigler says “These awards recognize the hard work and dedication of our tourism industry partners and the appeal of Iowa as a destination. We look forward to building on the positive momentum for continued success in 2024.”

Awards, divided into metro and rural distinctions, were made in 13 categories. In addition, conference attendees voted for the People’s Choice Award; nominees were the second-highest scoring nominations.

The complete list of 2024 Iowa Tourism Award recipients (*=area awards):

Outstanding Attraction

• Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Sioux City (Metro)*
• Mt. Crescent Ski Area, Honey Creek (Rural)*

Outstanding Community

• Cedar Rapids (Metro)
• Jefferson (Rural)

Outstanding Dining Business

• 7 Hills Brewing Company, Dubuque (Metro)
• The Centennial, Jefferson (Rural)

Outstanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative: Catch Des Moines (Metro)

Outstanding Event

• Des Moines Arts Festival (Metro)
• Tri-State Rodeo, Fort Madison (Rural)

Outstanding Individual Leader: Diane Van Wyngarden, Oskaloosa (Metro)

Outstanding Lodging Property

• DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Center, Cedar Rapids (Metro)
• Corning Hotel LLC, Corning (Rural)*

Outstanding Marketing Collaboration

• Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau (Metro)*
• Emerge Marketing Solutions, Manning (Rural)*

Outstanding Niche Market Initiative

• Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau (Metro)*
• Pocahontas Chamber of Commerce (Rural)

Outstanding Promotional Material

• Cedar Rapids Tourism (Metro)
• Fayette County Economic Development & Tourism (Rural)

Outstanding Retail Experience

• Modern Dress, Boone (Metro)
• Harvestville Farm, Donnellson (Rural)

Outstanding Social Media Execution

• Catch Des Moines (Metro)
• Emerge Marketing Solutions, Manning (Rural)*

Outstanding Website: Visit Pella (Metro)

People’s Choice Award: Grow Cedar Valley

The Iowa Tourism Office, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, works closely with community partners, attractions and events, to promote the state’s beautifully vast scenery and unique history. Tourism in Iowa generated $6.9 billion in expenditures in 2022, with more than $1.1 billion supporting state and local governments, while employing a total of 68,607 people statewide. For more information on everything Iowa has to offer tourists, visit traveliowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa House has been in a holding pattern today (Thursday), waiting for the public release of the latest plan to change the operations of Iowa’s nine Area Education Agencies. House Republicans passed their first plan in February. Republicans in the Senate approved their alternative Monday and House Republicans have another proposal in the works. The public normally gets at least 24 hours to review proposed legislation, but House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says Democrats have been told this latest plan is a lengthy amendment — and it will come up for votes within hours.

“You can’t tell me this is for Iowans,” Konfrst said. “You can’t tell me this is for Iowa kids. This is for the governor, This is for politics and it shows me ho they work for.” In January, Governor Reynolds said test scores among Iowa students with disabilities are behind other states. She’s called for an overhaul of the A-E-As. which have staff that travel to schools to help students with disabilities. “This is Republicans fighting with each other in a way that’s politics pure and simple and Iowa kids are the ones being left behind,” Konfrst said.

Melissa Seitz, a spokesperson for House Republicans, says Democrats know the concepts in this latest plan have been debated on the House and Senate floor and Iowans have been able to weigh in on these pieces of policy for weeks. She says House Republicans have worked hard to take feedback from the AEAs, superintendents and parents to resolve this topic — and move on to the rest of the priorities for the 2024 legislative session.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials with a rural healthcare center in northern Iowa are rethinking their care strategies post-COVID. The Belmond Healthcare Clinic turns increasingly to forms of remote care to better serve its three-thousand patients, whether through video, over the phone, or online, but some insurance providers don’t recognize tele-health as covered care. The clinic’s business development coordinator Robyn Hardman says that leaves the nonprofit clinic fronting the costs.

“There are a lot of times where you’re trying to serve your patients and give them that remote access, and at times we’re having to cover the cost of that because the insurance payers haven’t caught up,” Hardman says. “We’re not getting paid for these services, but it’s patients who critically need it.” Hardman says rural hospitals could struggle to maintain that consistent care if tele-health continues to go uncovered.

“There is definitely technology ahead of what is covered by insurance at this time, for sure,” she says. “Balancing that for other hospitals who don’t have additional funds will be challenging in the future.” Nearly 70 percent of the Belmond clinic’s patients utilize some form of remote healthcare.