CALHOUN COUNTY – A college baseball player was identified as the person killed in a crash that injured several members of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team on Wednesday. The Des Moines Register reports that 19-year-old Carter Johnson has been identified as the individual who lost his life in the bus crash. All 32 of the other occupants were taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation. Johnson was pronounced dead on scene. The single-vehicle crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

ATLANTIC – The Atlantic Community School Board approved the termination of an employee on Wednesday. WHO-13 reports the matter remains under investigation by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the Atlantic Police Department. A special school board meeting had been scheduled on February 4th to accept the resignation of the same employee, but was cancelled last minute. That session was scheduled one day after Atlantic Police announced an active investigation of an incident involving a school staff member and students.

DES MOINES – A bill increasing year-to-year school funding passed the Iowa Senate earlier this week. WHO-13 reports Senate File 2201 increases per pupil spending by the state by 1.75%. It’s below the 2% passed last year and proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds. The 28-20 vote saw three Republicans join Democrats in opposition, who argue the percent falls well below what is needed to match increasing costs in public schools.