Le Mars Community Board of Education To Convene
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will gather this evening with a short agenda. The school board will present its initial proposal to the Le Mars Education Association on Thursday, January 18th at 5:00 p.m. The school board will discuss the upcoming administrator and board retreat scheduled for January 22nd from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The school board will briefly discuss the superintendent’s evaluation which are to be returned to school board president, Todd Lancaster by February 1st. The school board will act on at least two resignations, those being Sarah Revell as a middle school part-time custodian, and Tami Dunn as a teacher leadership mentor. The board of education will also act on two contracts for Alaina Lake as the middle school science teacher, and Carrie Campbell as a Teacher Leadership mentor.
Forest City School Investigates Bus Window Being Shot
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police in north-central Iowa say no children where hurt when a window of their moving school bus was shot out.
The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the incident happened in Forest City on Friday morning, when the window shattered after being hit by a shot from a pellet gun.
A statement from the Forest City School District said all children were safe and that no injuries resulted from the shooting or flying glass.
Police say they know who is responsible for the shooting and believe it was an isolated incident,
Police did not name who they think is responsible and did not announce any arrests, but said a criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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Regents To Delay Announcement On Tuition Rates
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents isn’t expected to make a final decision on tuition increases at the state’s three public universities until June.
The Des Moines Register reports that will leave students with only a few weeks to make financial plans before the start of the next academic year.
Presidents at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have proposed tuition hikes ranging from 1.75 to 11.7 percent over the next five years.
For the past two years, regents have set tuition rates in December, but have had to approve additional hikes right before the start of the academic year.
Regents spokesman Josh Lehman says the board doesn’t want that to happen this time.
Privatized Medicaid Program Will Not Save As Much Money As Earlier Predicted
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new report says Iowa’s controversial shift to privately managed Medicaid will save the state 80 percent less money this year than originally predicted.
The Des Moines Register reported Saturday that a quarterly report prepared by Iowa Department of Human Services staff members says the state now stands to save $47.1 million this fiscal year by having private companies manage the $4 billion program.
Former Gov. Terry Branstad, who ordered the privatization that began in 2016, had declared the move would save the state $232 million in fiscal year 2018.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican who succeeded Branstad and supports the shift to privately run Medicaid, says Reynolds’ new Medicaid director believes his staff miscalculated the 2018 savings estimate.
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One Million Dollar Winner In Iowa For Powerball Lottery
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A man in central Iowa has claimed his $1 million prize in the Powerball lottery game.
Iowa Lottery officials say George Dickerson, of Colfax, bought a ticket on Dec. 30 that eventually ultimately the first five numbers of that night’s drawing but missed the Powerball number and, thus, the jackpot.
Dickerson bought the ticket at a Kum & Go convenience store in Colfax.
The jackpot eventually climbed to nearly $560 million. A lone Powerball ticket sold in New Hampshire matched all six numbers Saturday night, one day after another single ticket sold in Florida nabbed a $450 million Mega Millions grand prize.
