DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A member of a task force that assisted the Iowa Board of Regents in creating a new performance-based funding model has reiterated his criticism of the model to lawmakers. Len Hadley, retired chief executive officer of Maytag Corp., told an education appropriations subcommittee Tuesday that the model would unfairly compare funding needs at the state’s three public universities.

Hadley, who has previously criticized the model, represented the University of Iowa on a five-person task force that issued a funding proposal to the regents. He voted against it. The new model rewards universities for recruiting more in-state students. The regents say the model, which they approved last year, is more transparent in its method for requesting state dollars.

Lawmakers at the meeting say they will discuss the issue in the future.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill to boost Iowa’s minimum wage has won preliminary approval in the Iowa Senate. A three-member subcommittee backed the bill Tuesday, with two Democrats and one Republican voting in favor. The bill would gradually raise Iowa’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.75.

Sen. Tony Bisignano, a Des Moines Democrat, says the bill was an overdue effort to help low-wage workers. Sen. Rick Bertrand, a Republican from Sioux City, said this would keep Iowa wages in line with neighboring states.

The bill is expected to win approval in the Democratic-majority Senate, but prospects are less clear in the Republican-controlled House. Asked last week if House Republicans would support raising the minimum wage, Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, of Hiawatha, said his caucus was more focused on training for high-paying jobs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A House panel has declined to approve a bill that would have required Iowa high school students to pass a civics exam to graduate. Members of an education subcommittee discussed the bill Tuesday. It will not be taken up again this session.

A few education groups were registered against the bill, which would have required high school students to pass an exam given to immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship. Lobbyists questioned mandating such a requirement without funding. Lawmakers also pointed out that Iowa high school students are already required to take a government course to graduate.

Several state legislatures are considering similar bills. The Joe Foss Institute, an Arizona-based nonprofit, is working toward getting all 50 states to approve such laws by 2017, when the Constitution turns 230 years old.

Police in Harlan say one person was arrested Sunday, following a disturbance in the 2300 block of 7th Street. Officials say 23-year old Crystal Oliver, of Harlan, was taken into custody on charges of Public Intoxication and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The H-PD also investigated two, non-injury accidents recently. On Saturday, vehicles driven by Thomas Sondag II, and Melanie Olesen, both of Harlan, collided at 12th and Baldwin Streets, when Sondag’s 1999 Saturn pulled out in front of Olesen’s 2008 Chevrolet. Damage from the collision amounted to $4,000. Sondag was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

The other accident happened in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue, on Feb. 10th. Officials  say vehicles driven by Maura Goaley, of Omaha, and Dennis C. Petersen, of Harlan, collided when Goaley was attempting to turn from the Casey’s east driveway onto Chatburn Avenue. An uninvolved delivery truck was stopping to turn north into the Casey’s parking lot. As it was doing so, a 1994 Plymouth driven by Petersen went around the truck and proceeded west. Goaley didn’t see Petersen’s car because the truck obstructed her view. When she pulled out onto Chatburn to head east, her 2007 Chrysler was hit on the passenger side door by the Petersen vehicle. Damage from the crash amounted to $6,000. No citations were issued.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a Pottawattamie County man was arrested last week at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Gunnar Michael Blum, of Walnut, was arrested Feb. 9th. on a Dept. of Corrections warrant for Probation Violation. Blum was later released from the jail on $1,000 bond.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, of Red Oak, made a stop in Atlantic this (Tuesday) morning, as part of her 99-county tour of the state. Ernst toured Mahle Engine Components, USA, Inc. Mahle has facilities on five continents, including over 150 production locations and 10 major research and development centers.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) tours the Mahle Engine Components plant in Atlantic. (Ric Hanson, photo)

In Atlantic, Ernst was asked about ongoing murders and threat posed by ISIS, and what the U-S’ role should be in the fight. She said she would like to see other foreign countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Turkey step-up to the plate and engage more of their ground forces against the terrorist organization.

Ernst expressed her concerns about the continued deadlock in the Republican-controlled Senate over the funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She claimed Senate Democrats refuse to cooperate in getting the bill through Congress. She was also asked about the FCC taking control of the internet. Ernst said the government should not be the sole source of control over what is seen and heard on the ‘net.

Ernst said “It seems that whenever the federal government gets involved with something it just seems to go much worse, so I would much rather see that the internet and private industry is taking care of its own business. We don’t want to restrict ingenuity, we don’t want to see the federal government trying to run the internet.”

When asked about comparisons between herself and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Ernst said she sees herself as an “Independent thinker,” and will do what’s right for the State of Iowa.” Ernst says she has no other political aspirations than to serve Iowans.

Her visit in Atlantic was the first stop of the day. Ernst’s other stops include Quality Machine in Audubon, and the Guthrie County Hospital. She also was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Greene County Development Corporation, in Jefferson. Her tour continues Wednesday, in Carroll and Thursday, in Denison.

A Nebraska man who allegedly stole a pickup truck Tuesday morning in Pottawattamie County, ended-up being transported to the hospital after the vehicle crashed, trapping him inside. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year old Rudolph Lucero, of Omaha, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by Treynor Fire and Rescue to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he was reported to be in a medically-induced coma, Tuesday.

The incident began at around 8-a.m., when Pott. County Communications advised deputies an orange, 2005 Dodge Ram pickup had just been stolen from the vicinity of south 13th Street, in Council Bluffs. A deputy saw a vehicle matching the description, and tried to make a traffic stop. Lucero failed to yield and instead drove to Interstate 80 eastbound and then onto Highway 6, where he exited and continued eastbound, in an attempt to elude law enforcement.

Lucero managed to evade stop-sticks as well, but lost control of the vehicle near Highway 6 and 300th Street. The pickup swerved and turned onto its side, skidding until it hit a rise in the road at 300th Street. The vehicle continued to skid until it ramped up over the street into an open field, where it came to rest.

Charges are pending in connection with the incident, but authorities say they will likely include 1st degree theft.