More than 80 rallies and other events are planned in Iowa as part of National School Choice Week, which starts next Sunday. Andrew Campanella is president of the countrywide effort, which focuses on giving parents the ability to make important educational decisions for their children.  “School choice is simply the process of empowering parents to choose the best schools for their kids,” Campanella says. “Parents should be able to choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and have the freedom to home-school their kids.”

He applauds Iowa as a “national leader” in providing options to parents. “The state has open enrollment in traditional public schools and that allows parents to choose schools that may be in different school districts,” Campanella says. “There is a private school choice program allowing parents to receive tuition assistance if they cannot afford a private school for their child. There is a statewide online academy, there are magnet schools and there are charter schools.”

Home-schooling is yet another option in Iowa. Campanella says he’s very impressed by the state’s efforts. “I look at Iowa as a great example of what a rural state should be doing in terms of providing parents with a good number of educational options for their kids.” At least 87 events are planned across Iowa during the last week of this month as part of School Choice Week, including a rally in Des Moines that Governor Branstad is scheduled to attend.

Campanella says, “Other events will include rallies at schools, open houses so parents can learn more about their education options for next school year, round table discussions, movie screenings, so many different types of events.” More than 10,000 events are planned nationwide during the week, January 25-31. Learn more at the website: www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from Union County was arrested this (Monday) morning in Red Oak, on a drug charge. Police say 38-year old Jeremy Gordon King, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.

Three females who escaped Sunday night from the Clarinda Academy have been captured. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says the girls, ages 14, 15, & 17, left the academy at around 6:45-p.m. Sunday, and allegedly stole an Academy employee’s car. The teens included two white females and one black female. Two are from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The third female is from Texas.

According to Brothers, the juveniles were recaptured late Sunday night near West Branch, following a high speed chase, during which a tire on the stolen vehicle blew out. The escapees were transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora.

Police in Council Bluffs say a convenience store was robbed early this (Monday) morning. Sgt. Rob. Radford says at around 1:20-a.m., a white male subject entered the Kwik Shop store at 3632 Avenue G in Council Bluffs, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the cash register. The suspect, who wore a black hoodie and black pants, left the business and was last seen riding a bicycle eastbound on Avenue G.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crime should contact the Council Bluffs P-D at 712-328-4728.

A Cass County woman convicted on numerous charges associated with faking her 5-year old daughter’s cancer is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday (Jan. 20th) at 10-a.m.  30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson’s sentencing was continued until January 20th while a court-ordered pre-sentence investigation was being completed, and other statements are gathered, such as a court-ordered mental health evaluation and victim impact statements.

Slauson has admitted to giving her daughter Cannabis Oil and Neupogen without a prescription. She also admitted she raised money for her daughter’s supposed cancer treatment, under false pretenses. In her plea bargain, Slauson agreed to plead guilty to Class D felony charges that include two counts of Child Endangerment/Bodily Injury, with regard to the administering of Cannabis Oil and Neupogen to her daughter Riley, as well as a count of Administering Harmful Substances.

She also plead guilty to a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Unlawful Possession of a prescription drug/Neupogen, and a reduced felony charge of Theft in the second degree, also a Class D- felony. She was originally charged with Theft in the 1st degree, a Class C felony.