(Des Moines) Teachers and staff members would have the ability to legally be armed under a bill approved by the Iowa House. They will have to get yearly background checks for the professional permit to be armed on school grounds. Boone Republican Representative Phil Thompson says the “responsibility must be taken very seriously,” and the strict training will make sure people are equipped to act appropriately if there is a shooter. Democrats like Sami Scheetz of Cedar Rapids say the bill is not the answer to gun violence.
Another bill before the Iowa legislature could make evictions faster at the expense of residents. The current landlord-tenant law requires three business days of notice before eviction proceedings can begin, and the bill would change that to include holidays and weekends. Iowa Association for Justice lobbyist Lisa Davis-Cook says that is a problem because a tenant could leave for a long weekend and get home to learn they are being evicted without having time to respond. The bill is expected to be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee next week.
