(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate Education Committee is advancing its own version of a bill that would forbid transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. The Senate proposal includes sports at community colleges and the three state universities as well as public and non-public K-through-12 schools. Roshna Mishra is a junior at Lincoln High in Des Moines who testified against the bill at a subcommittee hearing.

“There’s no place for politics regarding children’s physical and mental health,” she said. “Trans children are still just children who want to feel protected and feel seen and feel included.” Holly Branian, a senior at Carlisle High School, told lawmakers the bill would create a level playing field. “No girl should ever have to be sidelined because of a biologically male individual,” she said. “No girl should ever be made out to feel like her hard work doesn’t matter.”

Last spring, Governor Kim Reynolds called on legislators to pass a law limiting girls’ and women’s sports to those who are identified as female on their birth certificate. At least nine states have passed similar laws. Critics say the laws discriminate against a small group of students who are at greater risk of depression and suicide.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Grant Gerlock)

DES MOINES, Iowa – On Thursday (Today), Governor Reynolds signed into law the first bill of the 2022 legislative session. House File 2316 increases the state’s public education budget for fiscal year 2023 by 2.5% per pupil, resulting in $159 million in new money for Iowa’s public schools.  Her office says 56-percent of the state’s entire budget funds public education alone.

In fiscal year 2023, which begins July 1 of this year, that amount will total more than $3.6 billion. Eighty percent of the education budget goes to preK-12 schools including more than $3.5 billion for state foundation school aid and nearly $29.5 million for transportation equity. Additionally, the state’s investments in STEM education, work-based learning and registered apprenticeship programs enhance the educational experience for Iowa students.

More than $700 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds remain unused by Iowa’s public school districts for pandemic relief. Information and guidance on the relief packages are available on the Iowa Department of Education website here. Reynolds also issued information today about how teachers, law enforcement officers and child care workers can claim their pandemic-related $1,000 retention bonuses, which she announced last month.

$1,000 premium pay lump-sum payments will be disbursed through different funding sources and therefore have different processes and tracking requirements.

• Teachers: The Department of Education will work to issue payments to qualifying teachers at public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, independently accredited nonpublic schools, and state-operated schools through their respective employer.
• Certified Peace Officers: Local law enforcement agencies will request payment on behalf of their qualifying employees through Iowa Grants Online. Submissions will be reviewed by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy prior to payment via mailed individual check by the Department of Administrative Services. Certified peace officers employed by the State of Iowa will receive payment through their regular state paycheck.
• Corrections Personnel: Qualifying Department of Corrections corrections officers and medical personnel will receive payment through their regular state paycheck.
• Child Care Workers: Qualifying child care workers will be able to apply through the Department of Human Services’ web page starting later this month.

All qualified individuals receiving a $1,000 payment through the Iowa Worker Premium Pay Program should receive it this spring. Final counts and totals will be made available by the Governor’s Office upon conclusion of the program this spring.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests took place between Feb. 3rd and 10th. Authorities say 60-year-old Dorothy Linn Yorgensen, of Denison, was arrested following a traffic stop on Feb. 10th. She was charged with Failure to provide insurance, and driving while license is denied or revoked.

On Feb. 9th, 36-year-old Zachary Thomas Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. He was charged with Driving while license is suspended, Failure to Carry Registration Card, Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance, and Speeding.

Two separate arrests happened Feb. 8th in Shelby County: 24-year-old Jhonatan Rueben Vasquez, of Omaha, NE. was arrested following a traffic stop. He was charged with Prohibited Acts, Possession of a Controlled Substance, No Valid Drivers License, and Speeding; and, 28-year-old Robert Paul Joens, of Exira, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for charged with Driving While Barred.

There were two arrests also, on Feb. 4th: 38-year-old Jessica Erin Cowlthorp, and 28-year-old Jacob Patrick Sweeney, both of Harlan, were arrested on an active Shelby County Warrants, and charged with Child Endangerment.

And, on Feb. 3rd, 59-year-old Kimberly Ann Thomas, of Harlan, was arrested following the execution of a search warrant.  Thomas was charged with Controlled Substance Violation, Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense, Failure to Affix Drug Stamp, Prohibited Acts, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the season for stuffy noses, coughs and sneezes, but common colds may not seem so common in this pandemic era, and Iowans are reminded to take care with the meds they swallow. Dr. Wendy Mobley-Bukstein, a pharmacy professor at Drake University, says if you’re taking over-the-counter cold or flu drugs, take heed if you’re also popping acetaminophen.

“If you’re taking both of those things, then you’re increasing your risk of liver damage which is the penultimate of things that can happen,” Mobley-Bukstein says. “The biggest thing that we want to avoid is making sure the people are not exceeding that 4,000 milligram daily dose of acetaminophen.” Mobley-Bukstein is a spokeswoman for the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition. More than 600 pain relievers and multi-symptom cold and flu medicines contain acetaminophen. She says it’s safe and effective when used as directed, but there’s a limit to how much you can take in one day, so reading labels is important.

“It’s a very safe drug,” she says. “The biggest thing is making sure with the flu, with COVID still running around, people are really reaching for things, just making sure when you’re reaching for acetaminophen that they’re also looking to make sure that they’re not overdoing it.” Some studies show children get seven to ten colds per year, and meds that bring relief for a parent may not be appropriate for a third grader. Mobley-Bukstein says it’s a safe move to take only one medicine at a time that contains acetaminophen.

“When you buy an over-the-counter product, on the back of the package now it’s going to say ‘active ingredients’ and then looking to see what is the active ingredient,” Mobley-Bukstein says. “It’s going to tell you how many milligrams are contained in there. Also, knowing what dose you should take, infants versus kiddos versus adults.”

Research shows the odds of taking more than the FDA-recommended maximum dose of acetaminophen in one day increases 24-percent during cold and flu season. The coalition’s website is KnowYourDose-dot-org, a clearinghouse of information designed to educate consumers about the safe use of acetaminophen.

Ottumwa, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 24-year-old Marquis Bedford, who was convicted of Willful Injury- Causing Serious Injury and Prohibited  Acts-Mfg, Del, Consp, or Poss w/Int-Meth LT 5 gm in Wapello and Jefferson Counties, failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required yesterday (Wednesday).

Bedford is a Black male, height 5′ 11″, and weighs 198 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on 10/15/2021.  Persons with information on Bedford’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Marquis Bedford

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Carter Lake was sentenced in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, Monday (Feb. 14th), in connection with a child pornography charge. Authorities say 29-year-old Zachery McCuen was sentenced to 96 months (8-years) in prison for Accessing Child Pornography. McCuen’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, McCuen pleaded guilty to the charge on October 1, 2021.

On January 18, 2019, Homeland Security received information that child pornography was being traded in a chat group on Kik messenger. One of the Kik users was identified as McCuen and in October 2018, he was communicating with, exchanging, and receiving images and videos of child pornography with another Kik user from California.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Pottawattamie County was sentenced Feb. 14th to prison in connection with a firearms charge. The sentence for 45-year old Jason Henry Miller, of Council Bluffs, requires him to serve 30 months (2.5-years) in prison for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Miller pleaded guilty to the charge on September 2, 2021.

In June of 2020, a while investigating a drug case, law enforcement officers located a firearm that had been modified to be an automatic weapon. Officers were able to obtain information that Miller was the one who modified the weapon. The weapon had been fired on his property while in his possession. At the time of the offense, Miller was a drug user and had convictions for domestic violence and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Omaha Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A woman from Mills County was sentenced Feb. 14th in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to serve 6.5-years (78 months) in prison on drug charges. Authorities say 36-year-old Sarah Diane Adams, of Glenwood, was sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Her term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Adams pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine offense in January of 2021. Her co-defendant, Joshua Matthew St. John was sentenced to 132 months in prison on December 17, 2021.

An initial law enforcement investigation revealed Adams lived with St. John in April of 2020 at a residence in Glenwood and they sold methamphetamine. On April 2, 2020, a confidential source made arrangements with St. John to purchase a quarter pound of methamphetamine. The confidential source traveled to St. John’s residence in Glenwood and was then directed by Adams to a stash house location. The quarter pound requested by the confidential source was removed from a larger bag containing methamphetamine and delivered by Adams to the confidential source.

On April 24, 2020, the confidential source met St. John in Glenwood to purchase additional methamphetamine and reported seeing a large quantity of methamphetamine inside Adam’s residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Adam’s residence and recovered approximately a half pound of methamphetamine and distribution paraphernalia.

The Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, and Glenwood Police Department investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.