Iowa motorists need to be especially watchful for pedestrians this (Wednesday) morning as this is International Walk To School Day. Organizers of the effort say at least 150 schools in Iowa will be taking part with many thousands of kids on the sidewalks and roadsides, hoofing their way to class. Troy Carter, Safe Routes to School Director at the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, says the day’s goals are simple. “We would like to see more kids getting out, exercising and just having a good time realizing that they can walk to school safely.”

The event introduces children to the physical, social and environmental benefits of walking or biking to school, while increasing school spirit and fostering a sense of community. The Safe Routes to School program is designed to do what its name says, find and develop pathways kids can take in order to safely reach their schools. Sometimes, there’s better safety in numbers as kids can make their way together.

“We also provide our Walking School Bus and a lot of schools participate around the state of Iowa and they walk anywhere from two to five days a week, up to two or three miles to school one way,” Carter says. While this is Walk To School Day, plenty of Iowa’s youth will be pedaling two-wheelers to school. “Biking, we really focus on that in May for the Bike To School Day, but biking is also a healthy option to get kids to and from school,” Carter says. “It’s all about wellness and trying to get kids more active.”

Walking or bicycling to school is any easy way to promote physical activity, he says, and to help reduce the prevalence of obesity.

(Radio Iowa)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says within a week she will unveil a plan to “go after Wall Street abuses” that caused the last recession. “I’m going to go after what I think are the real problems,” Clinton said. “Not the problems of the past, the problems of today because what I am interested in Is stopping something like this happening again. That is my goal.” Clinton made that vow during a town hall meeting in Davenport Tuesday afternoon.

Clinton began by touting the Affordable Care Act and outlining steps she says would “rein in” health care costs. Clinton also promised to confront “monopolistic control over pricing” in states like Iowa. “Iowa doesn’t have enough competition to get the costs down,” Clinton said. “You know, you have one big insurance company — Wellmark — which covers a lot of people and has just gotten approval from your insurance commissioner to raise premiums between 18 and 28 percent. That is a lack of competition.”

Clinton is campaigning in Mount Vernon this morning (Wednesday) and in Council Bluffs this afternoon (Wednesday). Six competitors for the REPUBLICAN Party’s 2016 presidential nomination are campaigning in Iowa today (Wednesday) as well. Jeb Bush has stops scheduled in Muscatine, Oskaloosa and West Des Moines. Donald Trump has a midday rally planned in Waterloo. Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum are campaigning in western Iowa. Mike Huckabee will be in central Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Four former prison guards at a maximum security penitentiary in eastern Iowa face charges after authorities say they used illegal drugs while armed at work. Twenty-nine-year-old Garrett Barton, 29-year-old Ethan Darrow, 38-year-old Marques Maryland and 28-year-old Seth Vogel face different charges ranging from firearms possession to possession of controlled substances. Each man has agreed to plead guilty.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for his part in the death of a 5-year-old girl, who overdosed on morphine. Deshaun Trombone pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in death and other charges in the death of Jayda Canada. She died on Oct. 7, 2014, and an autopsy showed morphine in her system.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three top officials with Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign claim political motivations are behind charges alleging they violated federal financial disclosure laws by secretly paying an influential Iowa politician for his endorsement. Federal prosecutors, however, say the men broke several federal laws when they concealed payments to former Iowa Sen. Kent Sorenson after he jumped from the Michele Bachmann campaign to the Paul campaign a few days before the January 2012 Iowa caucuses. Trial is scheduled for next Tuesday in Des Moines.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says she’ll soon offer a plan to deal with “Wall Street abuses.” In Iowa Tuesday, Clinton said that in the next week she’ll have a proposal to “go after Wall Street abuses and rein in the too-big-to-fail banks and other institutions.” Clinton has maintained strong ties to Wall Street from her time as a New York senator.

Due to a water main break and loss of water pressure, the City of Hancock has been placed under a Drinking Water Warning. This warning should be in effect for the next 48 hours or until water testing validates that water is safe for consumption.

What citizens should do during a Drinking Water Warning:
– DO NOT DRINK WATER WITHOUT BOILING FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
– This should be done when using water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation.

Boiling water before use will kill bacteria and other organisms that may have entered the system during break and subsequent water pressure drop.  Repairs are being made and water safety testing will be conducted. These tests may take up to 48 hours. This warning will remain in effect until testing validates the water is safe for consumption.

Citizens can find updates, as they are provided, at the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Facebook page. Updates, notices, or additional emergency messaging will be distributed through the Pottawattamie County Emergency Notification System “Alert Iowa”. Citizens may sign up with their home and mobile phone numbers, free of charge, at www.pottcounty.com.