Members of the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday night, approved a Resolution of Intent to continue participation in the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) Program. The next step is to hold a Public Hearing and take further action within 30 days of the hearing, to act on the Resolution, which would specify: the method and amount to be used to fund the ISL; And the purposes within the general fund for which the ISL will be used.

If approved following the hearing, the ISL would be in effect for a period of five-years, levied annually as determined by the Board, commencing with the levying of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2019, and an instructional support income surtax imposed annually for each budget year, the percentage of which will not exceed 20%, to be determined by the Board annually for each budget year, commencing December 31st, 2019 and each year thereafter.

When ISL, when combined with the State Instructional Support Aid, is not allowed to exceed 10% of the regular program district cost, including the budget adjustment for any budget year. Instructional Support Program funds may be used for any General Fund purpose, but is not subject to collective bargaining, and therefore will not be used for employee pay or benefits.

The district received $708,671 from the ISL levy in the 2017 Fiscal Year. The revenues are a combination of income surtax and property taxes.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Schools, businesses and services are getting a jump on a winter storm set to hit Nebraska and Iowa overnight by announcing late starts and some closures on Thursday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of Nebraska and a winter storm warning for a swath of Iowa from just east of Omaha, Nebraska, northeast through Denison, Fort Dodge and Mason City.

The forecast Wednesday night calls for rain, freezing rain and rapidly falling temperatures throughout the night into Thursday morning, when heavy snow and strong winds are expected to make travel dangerous.

Schools in Nebraska have announced late starts for Thursdays, and many Iowa schools and businesses in the storm’s path have announced plans to close Thursday. Some sporting, church and other events have also been canceled or postponed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he’ll travel the state this year to inform the public about a new law requiring voter identification at the polls. Pate said Wednesday his plans include “educational summits” and meeting with groups that will get the word out.

Beginning in 2019, voters must show an Iowa driver’s license, Iowa non-driver’s ID, U.S. passport, military identification, veterans ID or a new non-photo ID issued by the state. A soft rollout in 2018 means voters without acceptable ID must sign an oath acknowledging they will need it soon. In 2019, those voters will be offered provisional ballots.

A special state House election on Jan. 16 is the first under the law’s soft rollout. The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law last spring, arguing it would maintain election integrity. There’s no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Iowa.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said today (Wednesday), that both Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments are investigating an apartment fire that occurred this morning at 228 Harrison Street in Council Bluffs. Officers were called to assist the Fire Department with a possible fire in an apartment in the two hundred block of Harrison Street at around 9:30-a.m. Officers arrived in the area and found that a fire had started at 228 Harrison Street Apt. 4A.

The Fire Department had started putting the fire out when they found two subjects inside the residence. Both subjects were taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment. An investigation into the cause of the fire and the condition of the two subjects found in the apartment is underway.