(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she isn’t giving up on Jim Jordan for House Speaker, who has failed to get enough votes to take over. “I am going to continue to support Jim today. I really am focused on solutions here. I like him I think he will do a good job,” she says, “but if he doesn’t get to 217 votes we really do need to figure out the next steps.” The 217 votes are what is needed in the House to win the Speaker’s post. Hinson says they had a meeting yesterday to discuss the option of giving the interim House Speaker the power to conduct business.

“The consensus out of that meeting was really you just need to focus on trying to get to 217 first so that we can move our agenda forward,” Hinson says. Hinson says the option for the interim speaker is not on the table today and she hopes they can come together and elect a speaker. Hinson also spoke out against the threats made against fellow Iowa Congresswoman Marinette Miller-Meeks after Miller-Meeks changed her vote and did not support Jim Jordon for speaker. “I don’t care what party you’re in or how you vote, violence and threats are unacceptable and I’m disturbed that our politics have reached this much of a low. This should be disavowed by everyone,” Hinson says. She also slammed the members of the House who showed up at a rally for Hamas.

“Members of the squad attended and encouraged this disgusting display of anti-Semitism and apologized for terrorism. Several members of the squad have been spreading Hamas propaganda and disinformation,” She says. “They’re taking the terrorists at their word rather than focusing on what our closest allies say. It’s disgusting. It’s shameful and it’s unacceptable.”

The Squad is an informal group of eight Democratic Representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

(Radio Iowa) – A top Republican in the state legislature says the current situation in congress shows the federal government is broken and it’s time to make changes in the U-S Constitution. State Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake — the Speaker Pro Tem in the IOWA House — is a long-time advocate for a Constitutional Convention. “Congress can propose changes to the Constitution. I just don’t think the current congress is going to limit itself or change itself,” Wills says. “The other way is that the states can petition for a Constitutional Convention.”

Thirty-four states must pass resolutions calling for such a meeting. So far, 19 have done so, but Iowa has not. Wills says a balanced budget amendment to the U-S constitution is a priority for him — and a Constitutional Convention could propose one. “We’re $33 trillion in debt and if it continues to rise at the pace we’re going to have $100 trillion of debt over the next 20 years and that’s just unsustainable. We can’t continue that,” Wills says. “I don’t think the congress or the president — I don’t care which party they’re from — has any inkling that they’re going to control it.”

Critics of convening a Constitutional Convention say there are no limits to what delegates could propose and it could lead to major changes in our form of government. The U-S Constitution was written by a Constitutional Convention in 1787. It has 27 amendments, the last of which was passed in 1992.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Adair/Casey-Guthrie Center School District Superintendent Josh Rasmussen reports and congratulates Mrs. Diane Flanery, Guthrie Center Elementary Principal, on her being named the Iowa Talented and Gifted (ITAG) Administrator of the year. Mrs. Flanery was born and raised in Bagley, Iowa. She earned her teaching license from Iowa State University in 1983 and began her education career teaching in the Nevada Community School District (1984-1994).

After moving back home to Guthrie County, she began working for Guthrie Center School as a first, and then sixth grade teacher (1996-2013). In 2011, she earned her administrator licensure from Iowa State and in 2013, became principal at Guthrie Center Elementary. Throughout her years as an educator, Mrs. Flanery has been a strong advocate for not just talented and gifted learners, but ALL learners, creating a positive learning environment to help all students grow and achieve their full potential.

Mrs. Diane Flanery

Diane and her husband, Dennis, live in Guthrie Center. They have three adult children and six grand dogs. After 37 years of service in public education, she will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Members of the Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton School District’s Board of Education met in a regular session Tuesday evening. According to the meeting minutes provided by Business Manager & Board Secretary/Treasurer Mallory Meyer, the Board approved several action items on their agenda, including:

• A request for allowable growth for LEP allowable costs of $2,540.88.
• An agreement to establish a consortium to jointly administer and instructional program located in space within the boundaries of the Glenwood Community School District.
• A District renovations contract with INVISION Architecture (for possible updates to the Elk Horn building, as well a secured entrance and updates to the Exira building). It essentially provides for cost estimates at this time.
• The Exira-EHK Board also passed the First Reading of a Disciplinary Policy for students who make threats of violence or cause incidents of violence.
• And, they approved the resignation of Associate Stacie Hansen, along with the hiring of Cody Parmley as Play Director and Jacki Piva as an Associate.

Superintendent Trevor Miller noted that there are four seats open on the School Board, and only three candidates running in the November 7th election. The board discussed what the next steps would be, if there is no write-in candidate, and if they will need to go through the steps of appointing someone to the board.

(Radio Iowa) – As part of Veterans Day observances next month, Iowans are being asked to take part in what’s being called Operation Green Light as a show of support for those who’ve served our country in uniform. Katie Peterson, with the Hamilton County Veterans Affairs office in Webster City, says the effort is being organized by the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers and the National Association of Counties.  “They are collaborating together to raise awareness for challenges faced by veterans,” Peterson says, “and resources available at the county, state and federal levels that are there to assist veterans and their families.”

This will be the second annual Operation Green Light and it will be held November 5th through the 12th. Peterson says it’s easy to take part. “All you would have to do to show your support is shine a green light somewhere that’s visible from the street,” Peterson says, “that illuminates the area where you’re driving down the street that you’d be able to see that, just to show the veterans that are driving around that we are there to support them.”

For more information, contact your county V-A office. Veterans Day is November 11th.