Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has signed legislation designed to address worker shortages in Iowa. The new state law will guide changes in career and technical programs for Iowa students in the seventh through 12th grades. The goal is to make those programs align better with community college courses and, ultimately, ensure students are gaining skills that will help them get a job. Representative Mary Ann Hanusa, of Council Bluffs says regional partnerships will be formed, involving educators and other adults in the community.

“To bring together school districts and community colleges and the business and agricultural community so that they can help develop a sort of a holistic career opportunities and career pathway for our students,” Hanusa says, “to expose them to new careers and new opportunities with which they may not now be familiar.” The new law requires each public and private school in Iowa to develop a unique “career and academic plan” for each eighth grader. Senator Brian Schoenjahn, of Arlington, says the goal is to make “high quality” technical education available at the high school level.

“We have the Regional Academy for Math and Science at Oelwein. We have the Career and Technical Education (Academy) at Maquoketa — tremendously successful partnerships between businesses, community colleges and high schools that are guiding our students,” Schoenjahn says. “Unfortunately, these great opportunities don’t exist all over our state.” Representative Patti Ruff of McGregor says the law will help students gain the skills for jobs that may not require a four-year or even a two-year college degree.

“But through apprenticeships and other job shadowing and internship options, they will be able to find that path to a successful career and, thus, a successful life,” Ruff says. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously earlier this spring. Governor Branstad signed the bill into law this morning (Thursday) during a ceremony at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo.

(Radio Iowa)

One person was arrested this (Thursday) morning in Atlantic, after authorities received word a man had displayed and fired a weapon in the vicinity of 16th and Oak Streets. Authorities say a short time later, police located a man matching the description of the suspect, as he was walking along East 14th Street, near the Heritage House. The suspect, identified as 25-year old Joshua Olwell, of Atlantic, was unarmed when police stopped to talk with him

An investigation lead officers to locate the weapon in on private property near the road, in the area of 15th and Hazel Streets. Olwell was taken into custody and charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon without a permit, Reckless use of a firearm, and Harassment in the 2nd degree. Authorities say additional charges are possible.

Olwell was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A federal judge is planning a trial to determine whether Iowa’s sex offender treatment program is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett said in an order Wednesday that he hopes to set the two-week trial for Nov. 28. The case concerns sex offenders who completed prison sentences but are locked up at a state institution in Cherokee for treatment, based on findings that they’ll likely reoffend.

They’ve argued the program is unconstitutional because it doesn’t give them adequate treatment, and that they’re essentially serving life sentences because few offenders complete it. Testimony from employees has confirmed staffing shortages and cutbacks in treatment.

Bennett says the trial will determine whether the program violates constitutional standards, is punitive rather than therapeutic, and is the least restrictive way to treat sex offenders.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says four people were arrested on separate charges this week. On Tuesday, 42-year old Shelly Ann Lamkins, of Tabor, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment. That same day, 48-year old Scott Timothy Hall, of Emerson, was arrested on a warrant for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Bond for both subjects were set at $5,000.

On Wednesday, deputies in Mills County arrested 33-year old Keith Alan Wilson, II, of Glenwood, on a warrant for OWI/2nd offense, Reckless Driving and two counts of Failure to Maintain Control. His bond was set at $1,000. Also arrested Wednesday, was 54-year old Jona Lee Gatlin, of Malvern. Gatlin was charged with Criminal Trespass. Bond was set at $300.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were injured during separate accidents this week. Monday afternoon, Charlotte Herman, of Glenwood, was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, after she lost control of her 2013 Ford as she was attempting to make a right turn from southbound 221st Street onto 225th Street. Her vehicle went off the road and hit a street marker sign. It then continued on the grass and hit a utility pole before rolling over a retaining wall and coming to rest on its left side.

The second accident happened Tuesday, when vehicles driven by Latressa Price, of Omaha, and David Shaughnessy, of Bellevue, NE, collided near a saddle and tack shop at 18818 Bunge Avenue. Officials say Price was attempting to pull out of a drive onto Bunge Avenue. She stopped and failed to see any approaching vehicles before continuing her turn. As she pulled away from the drive, her 2006 Honda was hit on the left side by a 1996 Ford, driven by Shaughnessy.

Both drivers suffered injuries in the crash. Shaughnessy was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital by Glenwood Rescue. Price was taken to an unknown hospital by personal vehicle. Authorities say she was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a through highway.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from Lorimor reported this week, that someone had entered his storage shed and stolen 100-pounds of copper wire, an electric drill, a battery charger, hand tools and wrenches.  The theft happened sometime over the past few days. The loss was estimated at $550.

And, a rollover accident Wednesday night in Union County resulted in one person being sent to the hospital. Sheriff’s officials say 27-year old Tara Lynn Mickael, of Creston, was driving a 2002 Buick LeSabre near the intersection of East and North Streets, in Creston, when she lost control of the car.

The vehicle entered the west ditch and flipped over, ending up on its top. The accident happened at around 8:30-p.m., Wednesday. Authorities say excessive speed was to blame for the accident. Mickael was transported to the hospital by private vehicle. She was cited for Driving While Suspended.

The Council Bluffs Police Department’s K9 “Willy” has received a bullet and stab protective vest. Officials say the vest was made possible thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Willy’s vest was sponsored by Walter and Corinne Marlowe of Alexandria, VA and is embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s,Inc”.

Council Bluffs Police Dept. K9 “Willy” wears his new vest. (CB/PD Facebook page photo)

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1,700 protective vests, in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.6 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.