Iowa’s Republican governor has signed an executive order aimed at addressing complaints from conservatives about the so-called “common core” standards for Iowa schools. “I think there’s a lot of concern about the federal government dictating what the state is going to have in terms of academic standards,” Governor Terry Branstad says. “And I wanted to make it very clear that we’re very commited to Iowa-controlled academic standards and the ‘Iowa Core’ and we are not going to let the federal government dictate this to us.”

Forty-five states, including Iowa, have adopted “Common Core State Standards” for schools, an initiative launched by the National Governor’s Association. The standards outline what math and language skills students should master at each grade level. Critics say the “common core” standards will insert “liberal propaganda” in the required reading material for U.S. students. Branstad says he wants “good state standards” focused on improving student achievement, but he signed the executive order to make it clear local districts will be able to choose their own classroom materials.

“Standards are what a student should know and be able to do each year along the way,” Branstad says. “Curriculum should be a local determination made by the school district as to how students can achieve that knowledge.” In his executive order, Branstad asserts that “student and family privacy is paramount” and the governor will resist any attempt by the federal government to gather what he calls “intrusive, unnecessary” data about Iowa students. However, Branstad is not abandoning the idea that the state should maintain its “Iowa Core” — a set of benchmarks for academic achievement in each grade.

“So we want to give flexibility to school districts on curriculum, but we do want something that Iowa was the last state to adopt and that is standards that measure what students can do at each grade level,” Branstad says, “and I think that’s the balance that we want to achieve.” The “Common Core” standards have sparked heated political battles in places like Florida and Louisiana where Christian conservatives and Tea Party groups have suggested national standards for schools are akin to a federal take-over of local school districts.

(Radio Iowa)

A fire in Griswold Thursday evening destroyed a combination garage/workshop belonging to an 82-year old man who for many years, has worked from there to build small-scale replicas of tractors, including those used for adult pedal tractor pulls and parades. The blaze at the George and Phyllis Rush home, located 94 Maple Street, was reported at around 6:34-p.m.

Fire at 94 Maple St. in Griswold. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Griswold Fire Chief Jim Wyman said George Rush was working on an International tractor in the garage. While the gas line on the tractor was off, nearby wires sparked the flames. Rush had some gasoline on his hands, but was not injured.

Wyman said when crews arrived, they observed a lot of black smoke and flames. Inside the garage, tires on the tractors along with some gasoline were burning. Phyllis Rush was not home at the time. She was in the hospital for reasons unrelated to the fire.

The Chief said firefighters spent most of their time trying to get between the double roof sections of the added on garage, which was a total loss. There was also some damage to the roof of the home, as firefighters cut several holes to ventilate the structure and get to some additional flames.

It was the second fire crews from Griswold have fought in less than a month. On Sept. 22^nd, a fire leveled a barn and work shop on the Dean Orstad farm on the northwest corner of town.

Griswold Fire and Rescue have been called to the scene of a garage fire attached to a house at Whitney and Maple Streets. The call came in at 6:34-p.m. There are a couple of vehicles in the garage. It’s unknown if anyone is at home or in the garage at this time. No other details are available,

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report suggests the economy will continue growing at a slow pace in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Plains states in the months ahead. The overall index for the report released Thursday rose to 54.3 in October from 52.4 in September. Any score above 50 suggests growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the recent decline in crop prices will likely slow economic growth.

The index is based on surveys of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. It ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. A score above 50 suggests growth in that factor in the months ahead.

October’s hiring index for the region jumped to 56.1 from September’s 53.2 in an encouraging signal.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court might not be done changing the criminal justice system’s approach to teenagers who commit serious crimes. The court said Thursday that it would review three cases of inmates serving lengthy prison terms for crimes they committed when they were seventeen. In each case, the offenders argue their lengthy sentences amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

They include a man who was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years for first-degree robbery; a man serving a life sentence for convictions of second-degree murder and other charges in 1994; and a man sentenced to at least 7 years for second-degree robbery.

The court in August opened the door to shorter sentences for three dozen killers who were juveniles when they were sentenced to life in prison.

Officials with U-S Cellular report 120 Iowa teachers have been notified that their classroom projects were being funded through the company’s “Calling All Teachers” campaign. Among them was Sue Riggs of Washington Elementary School, in Atlantic, who had a nearly $730 Reading Homework-I Can’t Wait to Get Started project funded.

The wireless carrier worked with philanthropic website DonorsChoose.org to fund $500,000 in creative and impactful classroom projects submitted by public school teachers. Iowa donations worth $70,820 will benefit 8,950 students throughout the state.

U.S. Cellular says it is dedicated to supporting education and the pressing needs of schools. Calling All Teachers is one way the company gives back to local communities. Teachers across the country posted classroom projects that covered a variety of topics that included language and literacy, math and science, music and the arts, health and sports and special needs. Some educators asked for novels, bookshelves and calculators, while others requested LCD projectors and digital cameras.

Starting Nov. 4, U.S. Cellular will bring back its Calling All Communities campaign for the fifth year. Schools can rally community support for the chance to win a share of $500,000 to fund what their students need the most. The top 20 schools that garner the most community votes will each win $25,000 to use as they wish to improve their educational experience. Additional information is available at www.uscellular.com.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A University of Iowa study says Iowans most eligible to buy subsidized health insurance under the Affordable Care Act are going to need help signing up. The UI Public Policy Center study released Thursday said those individuals reported being uncomfortable selecting health insurance plans through online exchanges and the majority thought they would need “some or a lot of help.”

The study says that population is also more concerned about the costs of health care and more likely to have delayed their care in the last year. That means even after they sign up, they will be looking for help from health care providers on how to use it.

The study was conducted for the Iowa Department of Public Health and based on surveys returned by 498 people.