DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency wants to use inmates to eventually build at least 100 homes a year for low-income individuals around the state, an unusual idea within the expansive prison labor industry that has so far been stalled by a lack of support from lawmakers.

The Iowa Department of Corrections said the program, which was quietly considered but ultimately rejected during the last legislative session, would give inmates work training that could reduce their likelihood of returning to prison once they’re released. The agency believes it could also help alleviate Iowa’s shortage of skilled workers and its lack of affordable housing.

A bill to create the program failed to secure enough support in the Republican-controlled Legislature by missing key deadlines for legislation to advance. It was later added to unrelated budget bills before getting cut. Corrections officials plan to pitch the program again, possibly in the legislative session beginning in January.

The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, a voluntary organization of local governments, first pitched the housing program to corrections officials about four years ago, and the idea picked up steam last year. Mike Norris, the commission’s executive director, said the group represents 35 mostly rural communities, many of which struggle with a lack of affordable housing, in part due to inconsistent demand for construction and lower profits.

Corrections officials estimate Iowa inmates would get paid about $1 an hour to participate in the housing program. That’s the same average they’re paid through Iowa Prison Industries, which already oversees inmates who make products and furniture sold to government entities and other approved groups. The division sought up to $2 million to start the program, arguing it would later be self-funded.

If revisited next year and approved, 12 acres of land next to the Newton state prison in central Iowa would become a fenced-in construction zone where prisoners could build single-story 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom homes, according to a Feb. 12 memo between corrections officials. If the program is fully up and running, state officials envision more than 80 inmates from the nearby medium security facility helping to build at least 100 homes annually that can be shipped around the state.

Iowa Prison Industries also wants approval to create a private nonprofit corporation to run the program with a new board of stakeholders — a mix of individuals involved in the homebuilding industry. Some of their paper trail of work on the program would not be subject to Iowa’s open records laws, though the corporation would be required to submit an annual report on its operations and activities.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds included $1 million for the housing project in budget recommendations she released in January, and an aide said the governor remains supportive of the program. Key lobbying organizations like the Iowa Association of Business and Industry registered against the main bill that would have created the program. Nicole Crain, a senior vice president for ABI, said the association wants to help address affordable housing concerns but doesn’t believe in government competing with the private sector.

Red Oak Police report the arrest at around 2-a.m. today (Sunday), of 40-year old Rodney Dean Klein, Jr., of Red Oak. Klein was taken into custody at the intersection of 5th and Hammond Streets, in Red Oak, for Public Intoxication, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. He was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, and held on a $1,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:00 a.m. CDT

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man faces charges in Nebraska and Iowa after officials say he led officers on a high-speed chase and rammed two law enforcement vehicles. The Nebraska State Patrol says the incident happened Friday evening when a trooper tried to stop a pickup truck being pursued by South Sioux City police. Officials say the truck rammed the trooper’s car before crossing into Iowa. It latter again rammed the trooper’s car and a sheriff’s SUV before the driver was arrested.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a man whose body was discovered near the wastewater treatment plant in Keokuk. The Hawk Eye reports that police identified the man as 34-year-old Jake Anthony Mason of Keokuk. Mason’s body was found Wednesday. Additional details, including whether law enforcement had any reports of missing people in the area, the cause of death and whether foul play is suspected, have not been released.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport’s first mayor now has a tombstone after cemetery volunteers and city officials worked to get a marker placed on the grave. The Quad-City Times reports Rudolphus Bennett was a Vermont native who journeyed to Davenport in 1837. He was buried in Davenport after his death in 1871. It’s unclear whether Bennett’s grave originally had a tombstone. Bennett’s new marker is in honor of the 175th anniversary of Davenport’s City Cemetery founding.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers to participate in the state’s annual wild turkey survey. Each summer, the department asks for volunteers to participate in the July-August survey.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources law enforcement and Clear Lake Fire and Rescue responded to a crash involving several juveniles on Clear Lake at approximately 8:15 p.m., Friday.

The crash happened less than a mile southwest of the 1200 block of North Shore Drive. A personal watercraft being operated by a 15 year-old Glidden male with a 16 year-old male passenger from Carroll struck the back of another personal watercraft with three 17 year-old females, all from Cedar Falls. One of the females that was struck directly by the personal watercraft fell into the water.

Clear Lake Fire and Rescue brought her ashore where she was transferred to a Mason City hospital with a leg injury. She was eventually transferred to a Rochester, Minnesota hospital and her condition is unknown at this time.

The 15 year old male operating the personal watercraft that caused the crash has been charged with Reckless Use of a Watercraft, and Operation of a Watercraft by an Underage Person Without Boating Education.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa State Patrol also assisted with this incident.