The state has released a new report on Iowa schools that measures how many students go on to college and how those students perform at the next level. Department of Education director Ryan Wise says the report shows how many Iowa high school graduates had to take remedial classes in college because they weren’t ready for college-level courses.

“Data and information are powerful tools for improvement. Accordingly, these reports can be used at the local level to provide valuable baseline data,” Wise says. “Districts and schools can look at their existing programming, identify areas for growth and develop next steps based on the data.”

The report found 71 percent of Iowa public school students enrolled in college or technical training within a year of graduating from high school. However, nearly 19 percent of those high school graduates had to take a remedial math class in college. “While these reports do not tell the complete story of any school’s successes or challenges, they can serve as a conversation starter to enlist more parents and community members in their improvement efforts,” Wise says.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the report provides “more precise information” to help craft new policies. “When we’re talking about investing in our greatest asset which is our students it helps us identify best practices,” Reynolds says. “It helps the school district identify areas that they’re not meeting their objectives.”

The report (At http://reports.educateiowa.gov/postsecondaryreadiness) covered the classes of 2012, 2013 and 2014 who graduated from a public high school in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she supports cutting money that helps at-risk youth in Iowa in order to pay for a new program that ends state funding for Planned Parenthood. Reynolds, the incoming Iowa governor, defended the plan Tuesday by saying other services like foster care wouldn’t be affected.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Reynolds want to create a state program that distributes family planning money to organizations that don’t perform abortions. The plan includes passing up millions of federal dollars and redirecting $2.8 million that currently goes to child and family services. The Iowa Department of Human Services says there would be less money for programming that helps at-risk youth stay out of welfare and the juvenile justice system.

Planned Parenthood says the move hurts vulnerable children for the sake of politics.

A pursuit in Pottawattamie County Saturday afternoon resulted in a crash and the apprehension of the suspect after a brief foot pursuit. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy was dispatched at around 2:37-p.m. to a residence in Avoca, with regard to a stolen vehicle report. While he was enroute, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper located the stolen vehicle and engaged in a pursuit.  The car, a 2001 VW Jetta, had been left running while the driver was inside the Casey’s General Store, in Avoca.

During the pursuit, the car crashed in Council Bluffs near North Avenue and Kanesville Boulevard. After taking off from the scene on foot pursuit, 53-year old James D. Blankenfeld, who has residences in Carter Lake and Avoca, was taken into custody for Theft in the 1st degree, OWI/1st offense, and Carrying a concealed weapon (A knife). He was booked into the Pott. County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 36-year old Joni Lee Sands, of Underwood, was arrested Friday night for Domestic Assault with Injury and two counts of Child Endangerment without Injury, following a domestic disturbance in Neola, during which two children, ages eight and 10, were present. Authorities say 29-year old Christopher Owens called 9-1-1 to report his girlfriend (Joni Sands) wouldn’t let him leave their apartment. Owens and Sands both suffered apparent, minor injuries during the incident. Following an investigation, Deputies arrested Sands on the charges mentioned.

Late Friday evening, Pottawattamie County Deputies arrested 31-year old Sergio Lira Maldonado-Butler, of Avoca, on a U-S Marshal Service warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice/violation of supervised release. Maldonado-Butler was located at his residence in the 100 block of N. Cherry Street in Avoca, and taken into custody without incident. He was being held without bond in the Pott. County Jail, pending extradition.

And, at around 11:45-a.m. Friday, 53-year old Charles Arthur Robinson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested during eviction proceedings at an apartment in Council Bluffs, where drug paraphernalia and a pill bottle containing 21-grams of a white crystal substance believed to be meth, were found. Robinson was charged with Possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia (a glass bong and glass pipe).

ANKENY, Iowa – Jan. 17, 2017 – Dreaming of that next vehicle purchase? Online car shopping can be a great way to pass some time, but if you’re seriously looking to purchase a vehicle from an online seller, the Iowa Department of Transportation has a few tips and tricks to make the purchase a success.

• Take your time. For many people, buying a vehicle is the second largest investment next to buying a home. You want to make smart decisions when shopping online.
• Do your homework. Whether you are researching a specific make and model of vehicle or a certain dealer, read the customer reviews and expert ratings.
• Buy from a reputable dealer. Most reputable dealers will provide you with documentation to certify the authenticity of the vehicle title and disclose previous damage.

It’s unfortunate, but criminals may create fake vehicle dealer sales websites to lure customers to send money toward the purchase of a vehicle. The following alert from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office provides information to help you be a better informed consumer: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/consumer-alert/past-consumer-alerts/consumer-alert-scammers-target-consumers-buying-cars-online/.

If buying from a private party, make sure the vehicle has legitimate documentation. Most consumers are not familiar with what legitimate vehicle ownership documents look like or how to research a vehicle’s history. It’s important to learn everything you can about the vehicle prior to signing a purchase agreement, making a payment for part or all of the vehicle, and taking possession of the vehicle.

There are several websites that offer individualized reports on vehicles. These reports can provide valuable insight into a vehicle’s ownership and odometer history. Examine all of the details contained in these reports, including dates, mileage, title numbers, and vehicle title brands. There is a minimal cost associated with the use of these websites, but a little time and money spent ahead of time can save you from losing thousands later.

Extreme caution should be taken when purchasing a vehicle over the internet or outside of the United States. For vehicles purchased outside the United States there is less vehicle history information available, the vehicle may not meet United States safety and emission standards, and vehicle ownership documents may be subject to counterfeiting. Another challenge with vehicle purchases outside of the United States is you may have little, if any, recourse if the vehicle turns out to be stolen or has had an odometer rollback.

If something doesn’t look or feel right in your research, ask questions and obtain more information from the seller. If you are still concerned about the validity of the vehicle, walk away from the deal. Remember: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you have questions regarding buying or selling a vehicle, the following Iowa DOT website has information to assist you: www.iowadot.gov/mvd/buyingselling/selling.htm.

If you feel you have purchased a vehicle that may have an odometer roll back or the vehicle’s identification number (VIN) has been tampered with, please contact the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Investigation & Identity Protection at invburea@iowadot.us or 515-237-3050.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday evening, will administer the Oath of Office to three, current Atlantic Police Officers who are moving up in the ranks. The ceremony will take place in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, during a regular meeting of the Atlantic City Council, which begins at 5:30-p.m..

Sgt. Paul Wood, who has served the City for almost 13 years, is being promoted to Lieutenant, to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Lt. Jon Parsons. Officer Dustin Pieken, who has served the City for nearly 10-years, is being promoted to Sergeant, to fill the vacancy created by the promotion of Paul Wood. And, Officer Devin Hogue is being promoted, Wednesday, to Lieutenant, to fill the vacancy created by the promotion of Dave Erickson to Police Chief. Hogue has been an Atlantic Police Officer for almost 6-years.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on approving a Resolution that approves a “Development Agreement with the Whitney Group, LLC, authorizing annual appropriation tax increment payments and pledging certain tax increment revenues to the payment of the agreement.”

The Agreement before the Council Wednesday evening, is the final version for the Whitney Inn Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project. The agreement specifies:

• The property will have a minimum assessed value of $1.7-million dollars.
• $476,000 will be assessed as Commercial; $1.224-million will be assessed as Multi-residential.
• At the most, the taxes paid by the Whitney group will be the amount rebated. No other property taxes will contribute to the rebate.
• The total value of the TIF rebates will be $750,000.
• There is no maximum or minimum as to the amount to be rebated. Instead, that is dependent upon the taxes paid by the developer.

The Agreement also states:

• Only 90% of the eligible amount of taxes paid will be rebated. The other 10% the City chooses not to TIF. The City will allow the 10% to return to the general levies of the City, County and School District.
• The City will keep the TIF District open until the $750,000 has been paid to the developer. City Administrator John Lund says that should take 17 years, but a maximum of 20-years is allowed by State law.
• The City of Atlantic will not be “On the hook,” to pay the rebates if the Legislature decides to “Further tamper with either the property tax system or tax increment financing laws,” according to Lund.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet 8:30-a.m. Wednesday at the courthouse, in Atlantic. During their meeting, the Board will receive a quarterly report from Micha Lee, with Cass County Conservation. They’ll also hold a Public Hearing on designating a 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area and on proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Projects related to the proposed Elite Octane ethanol plant project.

Following the hearing, the Cass County Supervisors will act on approving: “A Resolution to Declare Necessity and Establish and Urban Renewal Area…and approve Urban Renewal Plan and Project for the 2017 Cass County Agricultural Urban Renewal Area”; an “Ordinance providing for the Division of Taxes levied on taxable property in the 2017 Cass County  Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area,” and a “Resolution fix[ing] the date of a meeting at which it is proposed to approve a Development Agreement with Elite Octane, LLC, including Tax Increment Payments in an amount not to exceed $8.5-million dollars.”