A proposal to require a one-week waiting period before a laid off Iowa worker could get unemployment benefits has been rejected by the Iowa Senate. Iowa is one of just 10 states that do not have a waiting period and Senator Rick Bertrand, a Republican from Sioux City, says it’s a consideration for businesses considering expansion or relocation. “When you lay out all the things: yeah, cut corporate tax; commercial tax; you know, income tax — all those little things that become tipping points, this is just one of those things,” Bertrand says.

Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, opposed the move. “I can’t believe that at a time when we’re just coming out of a recession and we’ve got high unemployment in the state of Iowa that you would offer…an amendment to this bill that would keep people in their first week of being laid off that would keep people from receiving any type of benefit at all,” Dotzler says.

Bertrand says Iowa’s lack of a waiting period penalizes businesses with temporary lay-offs, like Wilson Trailer in Sioux City. “They close down once a year for maintenance and their 325 employees come in, boom, day one and they drop unemployment claims on the employer. So what does that do?” Bertrand asks. “Well, it drives up their cost. Their unemployment tax goes up. It’s an additional cost in the long term.”

Dotzler says Bertrand’s proposal is written in such a way as to cut the maximum number of weeks for unemployment benefits from 26 to 25 weeks.  “What we’re really talking about is ripping off unemployed Iowans at a time when we’ve got a fragile economy. They’ve got no other income. They’ve got payments to make. They’ve got children to take care of,” Dotzler said. “And we are not going to give them the for decades?”

Twenty-two Republicans voted for the proposal, but it was defeated because all 26 Democrats and Republican Senator Brad Zaun  of Urbandale, voting against the one-week waiting period.

(Radio Iowa)

The Ms. Wheelchair Iowa Program is looking for a new spokeswoman for Iowans with disabilities. Judy Hoit, the program’s state coordinator, says the woman who is chosen to wear the crown must use a wheelchair for 100-percent of her daily mobility and be a U-S citizen between the ages of 21 and 60. “It’s not a beauty contest,” Hoit says. “The judging is done on achievements and accomplishments since the onset of the disability. We’re looking for people who are interested in advocating for disability issues and likes to speak in front of groups and also travel the state.”

The new Ms. Wheelchair Iowa will also be able to create her own platform to advocate for an issue about which she’s passionate. The deadline to apply to enter the Ms. Wheelchair Iowa program is next week, February 15th, while the contest itself is in about a month. “The event will be here in Iowa City on Saturday, March 16th, at Eagle’s Lodge,” Hoit says. “The titleholder for Iowa will compete in the national Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant which will be held in Houston, Texas, this year the week of July 15th.”

This is the 17th year for the contest in Iowa. Hoit, a polio survivor, was the first Ms. Wheelchair Iowa. To become a contestant, contact Hoit by email at Accnowjh@aol.com or phone at 319-351-8375.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Harlan say a complaint was filed last week with the Shelby County Clerk of Court, charging 20-year old Brittany McCord, of Harlan,  with Theft in the 5th degree, a Serious Misdemeanor. The charge was filed following an investigation into a report from the Casey’s General Store in Harlan, with regard to an alleged incident of employee theft.

Officials say also, two people were arrested on Monday, Feb. 4th:   27-year old Amanda Wicker, of Harlan, was arrested on a mittimus warrant out of Shelby County, and on a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. Wicker is scheduled to make her initial appearance in court on Feb. 21st.  And, 48-year old Michael Durkan, of Omaha, was arrested on a public intoxication charge, after Harlan Police officers were called to Myrtue Medical Center, with regard to an intoxicated subject who needed to be removed from the Emergency Room.

Durkan posted a $600 cash bond this past Tuesday, and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 12th.

Officials with the Lenox Police Department say a vehicle which was reported stolen early last week from the Taylor County town, was located in rural Adams County. No other details have been provided with regard to the red, 1999 4-door Pontiac Grand Prix, which was stolen sometime late Sunday, Feb. 3rd and early Monday morning, Feb. 4th. The case remains under investigation, and anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Lenox Police Department.

(This is a vehicle similar to the one reported stolen but later recovered)

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report a pickup has been stolen from the Casey’s General Store & Texaco, in Creston. The vehicle is a white, 2009 Ford Ranger Supercab with Iowa license plate 372 AAD.

2009 Ford Ranger extended (Supercab) similar to one stolen from Creston.

If you have seen this vehicle or have any information about the theft, contact the Union County Law Enforcement Center at 1-641-782-8402.

Iowa kids wouldn’t be able to snack on corn chips and a Coke from their school vending machine under a new federal proposal. “Smart Snacks in School” would change the types of food sold in schools nationwide, according to Kevin Concannon, a former Iowan and the U-S-D-A’s Undersecretary for Food and Nutrition Services. Concannon says, “It makes sure that American kids that go to school for the snacks that they may purchase, whether they’re from vending machines or on counters during the school day, are healthier than they currently have available in many places.”

All foods sold in schools would have to meet certain guidelines, Concannon says, to make them more nutritious. Chips, candy and soda would be replaced with bagged fruits, vegetables and low-fat milk. “The snacks will have to have less sodium, less sugar,” Concannon says. “They’re more likely to have a granola bar than a typical sugar-doused candy bar.”

The proposals can be found on the Federal Register. Iowans have 60 days to comment on proposed changes and if they become policy, Iowa schools would have one year to comply. Concannon, who served as the director of the Iowa Department of Human Services from 2003 to 2008, says this change is for common sense and better health. “Let’s have more foods that we should encourage to children,” he says. “Let’s have fewer foods that we would like to discourage kids from consuming.” Snacks brought from home would still be allowed under the proposal, as well as items from school bake sales.

(Radio Iowa)