DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has approved a measure that would prohibit local schools from beginning classes before the fourth Monday in August. Backers say the measure approved Tuesday takes into account Iowa’s farm-based economy by keeping summer open for activities like the state fair and farming. Opponents say the state shouldn’t meddle in matters best left to local school officials. Current law says local schools can’t begin the academic year until after Sept. 1, but they are allowed to seek waivers from that requirement.  Many school districts seek the waiver and area allowed to begin earlier.  The measure cleared the House by a 54 to 44 vote and now goes to the Senate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Federal regulators have confirmed their preliminary finding that a fire last June at an idled Nebraska nuclear plant presented a serious safety threat. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released its final determination on Tuesday, saying the small fire at the Fort Calhoun plant 19 miles north of Omaha merited the NRC’s most serious “high safety significance.” The finding mirrored the commission’s preliminary conclusion announced on March 12.  The fire briefly knocked out the cooling system for used fuel. The NRC says the plant was shut down at the time and that temperatures never exceeded safe levels.  But it also says the fire was a major concern because it could have happened when the plant was operational and that workers didn’t fully investigate an unusual smell in the area three days earlier.

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County say an accident Monday evening south of Malvern has claimed the life of an Arkansas man. 32-year old Cade Kling, of England, AR., was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which took place just before 6-p.m., on southbound on 310th Street.

The Sheriff’s Department says Kling was driving a 1997 GMC Sonoma pickup truck, when the right front wheel left the road. Kling overcorrected, sending the pickup into a skid. The truck rolled over and came to a rest on its top. Kling, who was wearing his seat belt, was trapped inside the vehicle.

It’s not clear if alcohol was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Malvern Fire and Rescue and Glenwood Rescue.

The Elk Horn-Kimballton and Exira School District Boards of Education held their regular, separate meetings Monday. Superintendent of Schools Dean Schnoes said the EHK Board approved a $160,000 budget amendment for calendar year 2011-2012, and the 2012-2013 budget during their meeting, Monday afternoon. Schnoes said they also voted to increase the Driver’s Education fee for this Summer. He says the in-district fee went from $185 to $200, while the out-of-district fee increased from $290 to $300. Schnoes said a lot of that increase is attributed to the rising cost of fuel. The EHK Board also voted to hire Maria Ternus as the Business Manager for both the EHK and Exira Districts. She will begin training for the position Wednesday, and finish out the duties for the rest of the year.

Schnoes said the Exira School Board approved a decrease in the tax levy for the district, from 18.1% per thousand dollars valuation, to 16.38% per thousand. He says the higher land values allowed them to recoup tax dollars while at the same time lowering the tax rate. He says also, the Exira Board passed a resolution which is intended to move forward with the possibility of reorganization by July 1^st, 2014. Schnoes says the attorney will look the resolution over in preparation for presentation to the Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board during their next regular meeting.