(Radio Iowa) – A professor at Des Moines University is doing a national research project that at first glance seems like a segment of This Old House. Anatomy professor, Heather Garvin, is studying the cutting characteristics of saws, but her focus is how the saws cut through human bones, not wood. “And the reason we’re looking at this is that we do get cases of dismemberment in the forensic anthropology, world,” she says. “And what we try to do for law enforcement and for investigators, is to give them as much information as we can about the tool that was used.” Garvin is the only board certified forensic anthropologist in the state of Iowa and one of only about 120 of us throughout the country. Garvin says the work focuses on identifying the type of saw used in a crime to help investigators.

“We can’t say that it is this one specific saw, the saw that was used, but we can say what type of saw and the characteristics of a saw,” Garvin says. “So for example, powered saws will leave lighter, wider cuts in the bone than hand saws.” Garvin says they can’t be like ballistic experts who can link a bullet to the specific gun it was fired from, but they hope to identify different marks left by the teeth of saw blades. “If anyone works in carpentry, they’ll realize there’s there’s a large variation of saws out there where you have different teeth per inch different size teeth, different materials, whether they’re cutting like a knife, or if they’re ripping through the material,” Garvin says. “And so we’re trying to figure out what characteristics those marks in the bone correlate with.” She says other individuals in the project will be collecting data blindly so they won’t know what saws made the cuts and they can do a statistical analyses to see if they can use the marks on the bone to identify the type of saw. Garvin says dismembering a corpse after a murder isn’t something that’s all that common in Iowa.

“But in other areas of the country where you have very urban areas and it’s harder to dispose of a body during a criminal act, you do get a higher number of dismemberment’s, because that makes it easier for them to hide and then dispose of human remains,” she says. Garvin won a grant from the National Institute of Justice to do the saw research. She says they use a microscope with a camera to study the cut marks, and may eventually use micro C-T scan that can put together x-rays in a sort of 3-D model.

“It’s a little harder with cut marks, because what we’re dealing with really doesn’t have much relief. You know, these are tiny scratches in the bone that we’re looking at,” Garvin says. “But I think as technology advances and it becomes more sensitive with that micro C-T, that might be an avenue as well.” It might seem kind of gruesome to do this research on human bones, but Garvin says she can block that out and see it as important scientific work.

“The thing is, someone has to do it and by doing it, you’re helping loved ones have a family member right? They may have a missing family member, they don’t know where they are, you’re able to identify those remains and bring some closure to that family,” Garvin says. She says it can also help with providing the evidence that brings justice for the person who was killed.

(Radio Iowa) – A key lawmaker says the Senate may soon debate what has turned out to be the central issue of the 2024 legislative session. Three weeks ago, the Iowa House passed a bill to maintain Area Education Agency special education services for students with disabilities, but make changes in other A-E-A functions. The governor has called for giving schools the option of keeping A-E-A services for students with disabilities or, instead, hiring private companies or local staff to do it. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says Senate Republicans are close to unveiling their own plan.

The plan House Republicans passed calls for a study of the A-E-As. That’s not part of the plan Senate Republicans are developing.

Whitver says Senate Republicans will draft a bill about A-E-A changes that includes an increase in the minimum salary for first year teachers. That was the governor’s approach. Last month, a House bill raising teacher salaries and pay for other school staff passed 93-to-one.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver (Iowa PBS photo)

House Speaker Pat Grassley says because of budget implications, the decisions on teacher pay and the general level of state spending on public and private schools as well as the future of A-E-As are all related.

A recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom “Iowa Poll” found 56 percent of Iowans have a favorable view of Area Education Agencies. That rating goes a bit higher — to 59 percent — among Iowa parents with school-aged children.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa  – Drivers on U.S. 20 east of Sioux City in Woodbury County need to be aware of lane closures that may impact their trip beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 18, until Nov. 22, weather permitting.

On Monday, March 18, weather permitting, crews will shift westbound U.S. 20 traffic onto the eastbound U.S. 20 lanes in a head-to head traffic pattern so work can be done of Stage 2 of reconstruction of the westbound lanes of U.S. 20. Until the project is complete, you won’t be able to make left turns while traveling in the work zone.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – March 11, 2024 – Drivers on Iowa 39 between Odebolt and Deloit in Sac and Crawford counties need to be aware of an asphalt paving and resurfacing project that may impact their trip beginning on Monday, March 18, until late June, weather permitting.

Intermittent lane closures with flaggers and pilot cars will be in place to assist you through the work zone when construction crews are present. InRoads, LLC of Des Moines was awarded this $10.3 million dollar construction project.