IOWA – The Iowa Department of Education announced they had received more than 35,000 applications for Education Savings Accounts before the June 30th deadline. The Gazette reports of those, more than 80% have been approved, and approximately 11,000 more students than the opening year. Families that apply successfully must also be enrolled in an accredited non-public school to receive the equivalent of per pupil funding received by public schools for enrollees. A study published by Brown and Princeton Universities showed Iowa’s private schools increased by more than 20% after the implementation of the legislation.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Two people were arrested for human trafficking charges in Cedar Rapids. KCRG-TV reports 49-year-old Tana Torres and 34-year-old Jarod Anderson were placed in custody as part of an ongoing investigation of a juvenile girl who was reported missing but found in the community earlier this  spring. Police say the two forced the young girl into prostitution.

SIOUX CITY – A lawmaker in his 40s has revived his athletic career this summer. The Des Moines Register reports that State Legislator J.D. Scholten has had two quality starts after he was called to fill in for an emergency earlier this month with the Sioux City Explorers. The 44-year-old has given up three runs in just under 13 innings of work so far.