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Lawmakers approve higher education, health budget plans

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A health and human services budget approved by the Iowa Legislature would keep open one of two mental health facilities slated for closure and would seek to find a private provider to run the other.

The Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate voted in favor of the plan Wednesday night. As part of the $1.84 billion budget plan, a facility in Mount Pleasant will remain open and one in Clarinda will stay open through mid-December and the state will seek to turn it over to a private operator.

Gov. Terry Branstad had removed funding for the facilities in his proposed budget.

The Legislature also approved budgets for the education and justice departments, as lawmakers push to adjourn the session this week.

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