A House committee has advanced a bill that supporters say could be the vehicle used to ratify a deal that would end greyhound racing in Iowa. Representative Guy Vander Linden, a Republican from Oskaloosa, was one of 23 members of the House Ways and Means Committee to vote for a bill that will be altered later with the details of whatever deal is struck. “It is the intent of the General Assmebly to enact legislation relating to live dog racing requirements at parimutuel dog race tracks,” Vander Linden said.

Representative Todd Pritchard, a Democrat from Charles City, says officials from the greyhound industry and the casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque where dogs race today have been negotiating for a couple of weeks. “It’s my understanding that the parties are close to an agreement, if not having an agreement and they’re finalizing that,” Pritchard says. “I would hope that process continues and we have an acceptable agreement.”

The casinos say they’re sinking 13-million dollars a year into subsidizing greyhound races that few patrons bet on or watch. Legislators anticipate a deal between the greyhound industry and the two casinos that would have the casinos pay a “cessation fee” and pay into a multi-million dollar “retirement fund” for greyhound owners and breeders in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Wapello County officials have agreed to make repairs to the 120-year-old courthouse. The Ottumwa Courier reports the Wapello County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night approved spending $139,000 on repairs and maintenance for the courthouse, built in 1894. The work will be done by Karr Tuckpointing of Vinton.

ACKLEY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa inspectors have cited a care center after incidents in which residents weren’t properly supervised. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports state inspectors cited the Presbyterian Village in Ackley. In one, a resident with dementia left the home during the early hours of February 4th and was found outside later with a 78.3 degree temperature. In another incident, residents with Alzheimer’s engaged in sex.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa City say a man accused of dropping his pants in front of two women blamed a faulty belt. Iowa City police tell the Press-Citizen say 51-year-old Vincent Vogelsang approached two women Tuesday afternoon and dropped his pants. He is also accused of making lewd and sexual gestures toward them.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been charged in federal court with murder in connection to a fatal stabbing on the Meskwaki Settlement in central Iowa. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for northern Iowa says 20-year-old Jonathan Youngbear made an appearance yesterday in Cedar Rapids federal court. He was held without bond. Youngbear was arrested in February.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University’s president has halted a popular annual celebration after a rowdy crowd caused damage near the school that hurt one student and led to the arrest of two people. University President Steven Leath said at a news conference that Veishea, an annual multi-day celebration on campus, would be canceled after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Officials have not decided whether to hold it again in future years.

The university says one student was seriously injured after a crowd disturbance near the campus late Tuesday, in which people overturned cars and threw rocks at officers. Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff says people knocked down two light poles, striking the student who was badly hurt. The school has not identified the student.

Police told The Associated Press that the crowd dispersed early Wednesday.