DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says he will sponsor a bill legalizing the sale of medical marijuana in Iowa, reviving an issue once thought dead this year. The persistent efforts of woman who have children with epilepsy changed lawmakers’ perceptions on the issue.

New policy measures cannot be raised late in the legislative session unless leaders in the House or Senate bring them up. Since Gronstal, a Democrat, will sponsor a bill its fate relies on Minority Leader Bill Dix, a Republican, to sign on too to move it forward. Dix says he will make that decision when a bill is presented to him.

Gov. Terry Branstad has talked recently with governors who have signed bills legalizing use of cannabis plant oil that isn’t smoked and doesn’t create a high.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s human resources agency has released a list of hundreds of former workers who are barred from returning to state employment.  Its release came days after its now-fired director repeatedly told lawmakers no such list existed.

A spreadsheet released by the Department of Administrative Services identifies 975 workers who’ve been disqualified from future employment because they were either fired or resigned before termination, dating to 1990. The majority are barred from any of the executive branch’s 42 agencies.

The department released the data to The Associated Press four days after its then-director Mike Carroll told lawmakers that “there is no list.” Gov. Terry Branstad fired Carroll on Tuesday. The AP reported last month that state government has continued the little-known practice of barring former workers despite questions about its legality.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill making it illegal for landowners to allow drinking by minors on their property has won the final approval of the Iowa Senate. The Senate voted 47-0 Thursday to send the legislation to Gov. Terry Branstad. The measure originally prohibited landowners from permitting anyone under 21 to drink. The Senate concurred with a House amendment that limits offenses to those who permit people younger than 18 to drink on their property. Lawmakers also agreed to pass a provision exempting landlords and other property managers who may be unaware of minors drinking.

Under the bill, first violations would carry a simple misdemeanor charge and a $200 fine.  Sen. Robert Hogg, a Cedar Rapids Democrat, says despite changes to the legislation, it makes progress in fighting underage drinking across the state.

An Atlantic woman was arrested Wednesday on charges that include Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly Conduct. The Atlantic Police Department reports 28-year old Kylee Wojciechowski was booked into the Cass County Jail.

A house in rural Harrison County was destroyed by a fire Wednesday morning. According to the Mondamin Fire Department, the call about the fire at a residence in the 1300 block of 195th Trail came in at around 7-am.  Firefighters from Pisgah, Little Sioux and Modale provided mutual aid at the scene of the blaze about three and half miles northeast of Mondamin. Water trucks from the Logan and Magnolia Fire Departments were also brought into service.

Flames and smoke could be seen from the City of Mondamin. The house was fully engulfed in flames by the time the department responded. Officials say the fire was to dangerous to enter the home, so crews stayed on the outside and sprayed it with water to try and contain the flames. Four residents were inside the home and were able to escape without injury. The American Red Cross was called to the scene to help the family.

Fire crews remained on scene for over five hours battling the blaze. The Mondamin Fire Department left one tanker truck on scene for the remainder of the day in fear of a rekindle however the truck and equipment were removed from the site around 7-pm. An estimated dollar amount on the damage was not given.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)