DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate plans to debate a bill that would require people convicted of certain aggravated misdemeanors to submit DNA samples for a federal databank.   Lawmakers are set to debate the measure today (Wednesday).  Under the proposal, adults convicted of crimes like aggravated assault and theft would submit a DNA sample. Under current Iowa law, only convicted felons and sexual offenders are required to submit samples.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is supporting the bill, saying it will help police solve more cases. The American Civil Liberties Union is campaigning against the measure, calling it invasive and excessive.  Republican senators stalled the measure from being debated Tuesday in order to file amendments to the bill.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwest and Plains states dropped last month but continues to suggest improving economic growth for the region. The Mid-America Business Conditions index hit 56.8 in April, compared with 58.2 in March.  The confidence index rose to 59.9 last month from 58.2 in March.

Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the supply managers surveyed “expect the upturn in housing to remain an important ingredient of the economic expansion.”

The survey uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.  The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.