DES MOINES – Iowa House Republicans passed their version of a compromise as it related to overhauling Area Education Agencies, funding public education, and increasing minimum teacher salaries in the state. Leadership proposed an amendment late Thursday and limited the time on debate as it contained some compromise with the Iowa Senate as it related to several controversial provisions that have drawn widespread opposition across the state. The version the house passed still required schools to spend the majority of their special education funds with AEAs, but allows pass through dollars for media and educational service to stay with schools, who can choose private vendors for those options instead. The measure, which passed only with Republican support, also moves oversight for the organizations to the state department of education, raises minimum teacher salaries for new educators and 12-year veterans, and provided a 2.5% increase for state supplemental aid.

IOWA – Many across the state are gearing up more multiple forms of precipitation this weekend as a late-season winter storm impacts the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. Multiple rounds of rain, snow, and thunderstorms are expected to begin Saturday night and continue through Monday. Most of the state north of Highway 20 could see four to eight inches of snow, and many across the central third of the state could see mixed precipitation as well and icy roads overnight. Much needed precipitation is expected, as most of the state could see at least an inch of water in whatever form by Tuesday morning, which could be a small dent in an ongoing severe drought.

OMAHA – One Iowa Division I men’s basketball team advanced and the other had their season end late Thursday. The No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones never trailed in their 82-65 win over South Dakota State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Drake came up just shy of an upset in the game that followed their in-state counterparts, falling to Washington State 66-61. Iowa Stat takes on Washington State Saturday at 5:10 p.m. in Omaha.