DES MOINES – Lawmakers have drafted a bill that would give parents more oversight of their children’s social media accounts. KCCI-TV reports that House File 2523 would require social media companies to get written permission from a parent or guardian before a minor could create an account, and allow those adults to have access. Parents could see messages and posts and control privacy settings. The measure passed 88-to-6 and moves to the Iowa Senate.

IOWA – Traffic fatalities were up by 20% in 2023, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The department completed its analysis of crashes resulting in death last year, and the number was well above the previous five-year average, according to KCRG-TV. Several state troopers reported speeds well above 100 MPH last year in traffic stops, and claimed distracted driving as one of the main causes for the increase in fatalities.

AMES – It’s been a special year for college basketball in Iowa, and that continued on the hardwood and in the awards column Wednesday. The #6 in the nation Iowa State Cyclone’s men’s basketball team capped a perfect season at home, coming back to beat BYU 68-63. This was the fifth time ever and first time since 2001 that the Cyclones successfully defended Hilton Coliseum in every home game in a season. Earlier in the day, Drake University’s Tucker DeVries won the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year for back-to-back seasons, leading the Bulldogs to the regular season title in that league.