The group “Iowans for Gun Safety” is urging state senators to either reject the gun-related bill that has cleared the House in its entirety or make some major changes. “Human rights are being overlooked for gun rights.” That’s Carletta Knox-Seymour, president of the board of Iowans for Gun Safety. She spoke at a statehouse news conference.

“We’ve done a lot of work. This is not our last effort, but it is one of our stronger efforts that we hope to get something across to them,” Knox-Seymour said. “…If this doesn’t do anything, we’re geared up to go in front of the governor…This is not the last call. We are moving forward.”

The group is particularly concerned about provisions that remove a gun owner’s duty to retreat if their life or property are threatened. Reverend Erin Gingrich of the First Unitarian Church in Des Moines says those “stand your ground” provisions deserve “intense scrutiny.”

“Black people are far too often perceived as threatening simple because they are black. ‘Stand Your Ground’ gives legal sanction for racism,” Gingrich said. “We must not legislate evil.” The group is also calling on senators to reject House-passed language that would allow children under the age of 14 to handle pistols and handguns. Dr. Amy Shriver works at Blank Children’s Clinic in Des Moines and she has this message for senators:

“Childhood firearms injuries and deaths are preventable. The pediatricians in Iowa implore you to help us do our job. Please don’t make it harder for me to keep children out of harm’s way.”

Iowans for Gun Safety has a list of things they’d not only like to see subtracted from the bill, but their list of additions includes a yearly criminal background check for Iowans who want a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The group says that’s not infringing on gun rights, but is a method of keeping guns out of criminal’s hands. The bill’s floor manager in the senate recently said he’d ask his fellow senators to make some “technical corrections” in the House-passed bill, but he and others predict the major components of the bill will remain.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights groups, media advocates and some lawmakers are opposing an Iowa bill that would end public access to many 911 calls. The bill would declare that 911 calls involving emergencies in which people are injured are confidential “medical records” and exempt from the open records law. The measure says the secrecy would apply to some video records, a clause that critics fear could apply to recordings documenting the aftermath of police shootings.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A decision by Iowa’s dominant health insurance company to stop selling individual policies could leave thousands of resident scrambling to get new policies. The Des Moines Register reports Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield announced Monday it would stop selling the individual policies because of instability in the insurance market. The decision means more than 21,000 Iowa residents who bought health insurance policies since Jan. 1, 2014, will need to find another provider.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced a 19-year-old Dubuque man to life in prison without parole after his conviction of first-degree murder in the killing of a man at a Dubuque trailer park. The Telegraph Herald reports Judge Thomas Bitter sentenced Imere D. Hall to the life term despite defense lawyers’ argument that the sentence was unconstitutional for someone Hall’s age. Prosecutors say Hall and two other men broke into the trailer of Collin Brown, intending to rob him. Brown was shot trying to escape.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he’ll have private meetings with members of Congress this week to discuss his consideration as U.S. ambassador to China. The Republican governor is scheduled to be in Washington between Monday and Thursday. Branstad says he’ll meet with members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and officials at the State Department. A spokesman for the governor says no formal hearings are scheduled.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A decision by Iowa’s dominant health insurance company to stop selling individual policies could leave thousands of residents scrambling to get new policies. The Des Moines Register reports Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield announced Monday it would stop selling the individual policies because of instability in the insurance market due to the Affordable Care Act and congressional Republicans’ failed effort to replace the law.

The decision means more than 21,000 Iowa residents who bought health insurance policies since Jan. 1, 2014, will need to find another provider. The change won’t affect those who have Wellmark insurance through an employer or those who bought individual policies that took effect before Jan. 1, 2014.

The carriers Aetna and Medica also sell individual policies but haven’t committed to doing so for 2018.

One of the planet’s largest robotics competitions for students in grades K-through-12 will be held this week in southwest Iowa. Jim Schulte is president of the CREATE Foundation which will stage its U-S Open Robotics Championship in Council Bluffs. There will be around 500 teams and many thousands of contestants.

“We have teams coming from China, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Canada, from around the world,” Schulte says. “There are 40 different states registered to compete and, of course, the international flavor gives a great experience to all the participants.” Teams from all areas of Iowa are taking part in the competition as robots designed and built by students are piloted through a series of obstacles and tasks.

“We’re starting to see Iowa really grow, in part, because of the U.S. Open and they’re also very supportive, as all of the teams are,” Schulte says. “They come in with volunteers and the quality of the teams in Iowa are really expectional.” The CREATE Foundation is based in Omaha and its name stands for Competitive Robotics Enhancing and Advancing Technology Education. Schulte says it’ll be a challenging, rewarding week for the students.

“With judged events, they’ll go through interviews as well as on-field competitions where they do go back and forth,” Schulte says. “Of course, our objective is to get as many kids as we can interested in science and technology.” The tournament is free and open to the public. It runs Tuesday through Saturday at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa)

ATLANTIC – Cass County Health System (CCHS) is honoring the many volunteers who share their time and talents throughout the health system by hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Open House on Wednesday, April 12th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm in the cafeteria.

More than 250 individuals volunteer each year at CCHS. Volunteers work in a variety of roles including the Auxiliary, CCMH Board of Trustees, CCHS Foundation Board, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, Meals on Wheels, IPOST, Mentoring, SHIIP, Lifeline, and through other programs and events.

Carole Schuler, Volunteer Coordinator, says “We are so grateful to all of the people who volunteer to help us make CCHS the best it can be. We’re lucky to have a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and expertise in our volunteer pool, and the work they do is so important to the people they serve. Really, volunteering is a win-win. It’s good for the volunteer, too!”

The Volunteer Appreciation Open House theme this year is “Volunteers Make the World a Brighter Place.”

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Some Sioux City residents are getting anxious about a rash of sinkholes, typically caused by broken water mains or storm sewers that cause the surface to collapse. The Sioux City Journal reports that residents worry the sinkholes could cause motor accidents or impact their property.

City utilities director Mark Simms says the city is taking a more proactive approach to fixing sinkhole problems as they arise. He says the city has begun responding to all resident reports of sinkholes as if they’re a result of city utilities.

Officials say the city has worked on at least three sinkholes in public areas so far in 2017, while also fielding several reports of sinkholes on private property. Simms says he doesn’t believe the city has an exorbitant number of sinkholes for its scale.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights groups, media advocates and some lawmakers are opposing an Iowa bill that would end public access to many 911 calls. The bill would declare that 911 calls involving emergencies in which people are injured are confidential “medical records” and exempt from Iowa’s open records law.

The measure says the secrecy would not be limited to 911 call recordings themselves — a clause that critics fear could apply to videos documenting the aftermath of officer-involved shootings. All calls made by minors or about minors would also become secret.

The bill passed the Iowa House with little debate, with backers saying it would protect medical privacy and the privacy of children. But a chorus of opposition has emerged as the Republican-controlled Senate considers whether to schedule it for a vote.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he’ll have private meetings with members of Congress this week to discuss his consideration as U.S. ambassador to China. The Republican governor is scheduled to be in Washington between Monday and Thursday.

Branstad says he’ll meet with members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and officials at the State Department. A spokesman for the governor says no formal hearings are scheduled.

President Donald Trump announced last year that he would nominate Branstad as ambassador to China. Branstad says the process requires extensive paperwork, and he hasn’t given details about when the Senate will hold confirmation hearings and vote on his nomination. If confirmed by the Senate, Branstad will resign as governor and is expected to be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) – An official says investigators have yet to determine what caused a fiery derailment in northwest Iowa. The Union Pacific train derailed early March 10 on a trestle bridge spanning a creek near Graettinger. The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Thursday that 14 of the 20 derailed tankers released 322,000 gallons of ethanol. The fire burned itself out more than 2 1/2 days later. No injuries were reported.

The report said the train was moving 30 mph at the time, the maximum for that stretch. Rail samples and video from the lead locomotive’s recorder will be analyzed. Board spokesman Peter Knudson said Monday that the derailment cause likely won’t be determined for least a year.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency has lowered the County grassland and field Fire Danger rating to “Low,” this week, due to the recent and on-going rain. The rating was “Moderate” last week.

Even though the fire danger rating is Low, you are asked to call-in and report your burning projects to Shelby County Dispatch at 712-755-2124, and, notify your local Fire Chief.