DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds released details about a bill to restrict students’ cell phone use during instructional time. The bill establishes a minimum standard that all Iowa school districts will be required to adopt by July 1st. The Iowa Department of Education will provide sample policies with room for potential exemptions. In partnership with the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Education will also provide guidance and support for schools that need to update their school safety plans. The legislation also requires “effects of social media” training for 6th-8th grade students.

IOWA – Iowa’s labor force participation rate rose to 66.4 percent in December amid an influx of recent graduates entering the workforce, while the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.2 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in December. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 53,900 in December from 53,000 in November.