Iowa News

VOTING RULES-IOWA        Iowa lawmakers move voter ID proposal forward        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – House Republicans are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would require Iowa voters to show photo identification at polling places.        Lawmakers in the state government committee approved the legislation in a 12-8 vote Thursday. The measure is backed by Secretary of State Matt Schultz, who has filed identical bills in the House and Senate.        Schultz, a Republican, has made voter ID one of his key issues. GOP lawmakers largely support him, saying identification is needed to prevent fraud. Democrats say there is little fraud and claim Republicans want to discourage voting by minorities and the elderly, who are more likely to vote Democratic.        Republicans tried and failed to approve a photo identification law last year. The bill will now move on to a vote from the full House.

INTERNET POKER-IOWA        Iowa Senate panel backs Internet poker bill        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state Senate panel has approved a bill legalizing and regulating Internet poker.        Members of the State Government Subcommittee approved the bill Thursday, agreeing with Cedar Falls Senator Jeff Danielson’s argument that the state needs to keep up with an emerging trend.        The one Republican on the three-member panel opposed the measure.        The bill calls for the Iowa Gaming Commission to regulate Internet poker in homes and casinos with hopes of generating up to $13.2 million in annual tax revenue.        Before the bill passed, Tom Chapman of the Iowa Catholic Conference warned the move could make every household in the state akin to a casino.        The bill goes to the full committee next week.        The Senate approved a similar bill last year, but it died in the House.

T25-KANSAS-IOWA STATE-APOLOGY        Iowa State students apologize to Kansas coach Self        LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Kansas coach Bill Self says the Iowa State student government sent him a letter apologizing for a pair of incidents that occurred during the Jayhawks’ overtime victory over the Cyclones on Monday night.        The sixth-ranked Jayhawks rallied in the closing minutes to force overtime before rolling to a 108-96 victory that left the crowd at Hilton Coliseum stunned.        The first incident occurred after Self gave a brief postgame TV interview. When it was over, an Iowa State fan had to be held back by security when he charged after Self.        The second incident occurred on Twitter, where at least two fans made racist and threatening comments directed toward the Jayhawks’ Elijah Johnson, who scored 39 points in the game.        Self said he accepted the apology.

UNI-FACULTY CONTRACT        Faculty union at UNI votes for 2-year contract        CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The union representing faculty at the University of Northern Iowa has voted in favor of a new contract with the Iowa Board of Regents.        Members of United Faculty approved the two-year contract during a Wednesday meeting. The board is expected to finalize the agreement.        The contract will include a 2 percent raise for faculty in the first year and a 2.25 percent raise in the second year. The contract also will have changes to internal procedures for employment, but officials did not elaborate.        United Faculty President Daniel Power says the contract helps secure reasonable protection and fair compensation.        University officials announced this month that William Ruud will be the school’s 10th president. His three-year contract begins in June.

FATAL COLLISION        Officials: 3 killed in crash involving school bus        (Information in the following story is from: Muscatine Journal, http://www.muscatinejournal.com)        LETTS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in east Iowa say three people have been killed and one injured in a crash involving an empty school bus.        Iowa State Patrol says the Thursday morning crash happened near Louisa-Muscatine High School in Letts. The driver of a Nissan Sentra with two other passengers was traveling north on U.S. 61 when the vehicle lost control on the ice-covered road and crossed the center line. It collided with a southbound school bus.        The Muscatine Journal reports there were no students onboard but the bus driver, Seth Singleton, of Wapello, was taken to Trinity Hospital in Muscatine. The 35-year-old’s injuries are unknown.        The deceased were from Burlington and have been identified as 78-year-old Katherine Newton, 75-year-old Barbara Higgs and 50-year-old Mark Kaltefleiter.

DRUG CHARGES-CHILD        Iowa police: Couple manufactured meth near child        (Information in the following story is from: Quad-City Times, http://www.qctimes.com)        DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Police say a Davenport couple manufactured methamphetamine in the presence of their 21-month-old child.        Lauren Smeltzer and Joshua Stalder were arrested early Thursday after police found meth in the home and materials used to make the drug. Both face felony drug charges, as well as a misdemeanor child endangerment charge.        The Quad-City Times reports the child may be tested for meth exposure. The child also has been turned over to a relative.        The couple remains at the Scott County Jail. Online records do not list attorneys.

FATHER SHOT-IOWA        Iowa man accused of shooting dad reaches plea deal        (Information in the following story is from: Telegraph Herald, http://www.thonline.com)        ASBURY, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in connection with the shooting of his father.        The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Anthony Podnar pleaded guilty Thursday to willful injury with a dangerous weapon. The reduced charge is part of a plea deal that includes other gun charges.        Podnar pleaded innocent last month to a charge of attempted murder related to the January shooting of his father, 60-year-old Adam Podnar. Anthony Podnar was arrested at his home in Asbury after his father drove himself to a convenience store and reported being shot in the stomach. The elder Podnar later was treated at a hospital.        Anthony Podnar is scheduled to be sentenced Monday.

CARE FACILITY DEATH        Hearing delayed for Iowa man facing murder charge        (Information in the following story is from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, http://www.wcfcourier.com)        WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) – Lawyers for a former Iowa care facility resident facing a murder charge are requesting a delay on his competency hearing.        Matthew Braun’s defense counsel requested a delay on the hearing scheduled Monday. A judge reset it for April 29th in Fayette County District Court.        Braun is accused of assaulting 57-year-old Kris A. Simpson in September at the Prairie View Residential Care Facility in Fayette. Simpson died days later.        Investigators say security camera footage shows Braun attacked Simpson for no apparent reason.        Braun pleaded not guilty in October to a first-degree murder charge. His trial was scheduled to begin at the end of January, but it was pushed back due to the pending competency hearing.

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