(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has approved the plan that will shrink Iowa’s individual income tax to a single rate of three-point-nine percent next year. Lawmakers say it will amount to a billion dollar cut in state income taxes. “When I took office, Iowa’s personal income tax rate was the sixth highest in the nation at 8.98%. I think we had nine brackets and the list could go on and on. It was certainly clear that we needed to make a change,” Reynolds said. “And that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Reynolds signed an income tax cut in 2018 that was billed as the largest in state history. This is the fifth time she’s approved legislation that reduces income taxes. A group of Republican lawmakers and a few lobbyists joined the governor for a bill signing ceremony in her statehouse office. “All of the tax cuts that we’ve enacted through the legislature and signing into law since 2018 will save Iowans nearly $24 billion over a decade, running through Fiscal Year 2030. Should I say that one more time?” Reynolds asked, laughing as the crowd applauded.

Two years ago, the governor signed a bill that eliminated the state income tax on retirement income and whittled down the corporate income tax rate. Last year, a plan to contain property tax growth become law. “Simply put, we’ve comprehensively transformed our tax code and dramatically increased our competitiveness within a few short years,” Reynolds said.

Democrats who have opposed the tax cuts say Republicans are prioritizing cuts for wealthy Iowans and corporations, while cutting tax revenue to the point the state will be unable to support schools and other priorities.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports Grow Another Row produce donations sites are open in Cass County for the 2024 season. Growers with rhubarb, asparagus, radishes, greens, herbs and other early-season produce are now invited to share their harvests.

Grow Another Row is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more fresh produce. Anyone is welcome to donate or take produce. Many individuals drop off extra produce and pick up something they need during the same trip. There is no requirement to sign up to either donate or take produce. Donations of any size are appreciated. No donation is too big or too small for this program. Donations and pick-ups are encouraged to take place from dawn to dusk. As the program continues to grow… so do the stands! There are now ten produce stands located in Cass County this year!

Participants are reminded not to wash produce before donating if they can’t dry it and to take only what they need. Be sure to wash the produce before eating it. Produce bagged or packaged in family-sized containers is requested if possible. Contact Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office by calling (712) 243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu if you need produce bags or containers to package donations.

If produce is shared to the stands, you’re welcome to email Grace McAfee (mcage@casshealth.org) or share a photo on the Facebook Page (@CassCountyLocalFood). This will let the public know fresh produce is available for pick up! Please include the time, date dropped off and stand location to help us get the word out.

A Grow Another Row stand

For more information on Grow Another Row visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/family-food.

Subscribe to our newsletter delivered via email multiple times per month during the growing season, featuring growing tips, volunteer opportunities, and current information on where to drop off and pick up available fresh produce. Email mcage@casshealth.org to be added to our mailing list for the 2024 growing season! For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/).

Grow Another Row 2024 Stand Locations (May-October, dawn to dusk)

• Anita Food Pantry, 208 Chestnut St. Anita
• Atlantic Library, 507 Popular St. Atlantic
• Atlantic Midtown Apartments, 1209 E 8th St. Atlantic
• Atlantic Mollett Park, 1020 E. 3rd St. Atlantic
• Cumberland Methodist Church, 500 Main St. Cumberland
• Griswold Methodist Church, 100 Cass St. Griswold
• Lewis Library, 412 W. Main St. Lewis
• Marne Masonic Lodge, 418 2nd St. Marne
• Massena – SWI Egg, 74851 Richland Rd. Massena
• Wiota, 108 Pioneer St. Wiota.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County, today (Wednesday), released a list of arrests that took place during the month of April. Beginning with the most recent:

4/27/2024: William Joseph Daeges, Age 61, Harlan, IA. Daeges was transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active warrant in Shelby County.

4/25/2024: Gerard August Rueschenberg, Age 69, Harlan, IA. Rueschenberg was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.

4/25/2024: Amber Lea Nelson, Age 39, Dow City, IA. Nelson was transported to the Shelby County Jail was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.

4/23/2024: James Victor Ayers, Age 49, Macedonia, IA. Ayers was arrested following a traffic stop on M16.Ayers was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI – 2nd Offense, Driving Under Suspension, and Open Container.

4/22/2024: Victoria Anne Griffin, Age 27, Shelby, IA. Griffin was arrested after a call for service. Griffin was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Disorderly Conduct, and Criminal Mischief-2nd degree.

4/19/2024: Christina Jo Bluhm, Age 35, Glenwood, IA. Bluhm was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County warrant; Dylan Michael Jager, Age 29, Elk Horn, IA. Jager was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County warrant.

4/18/2024: Daija Suzanne Buttry, Age 20, Harlan IA. Buttry was arrested after a call for service. Buttry was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault- 1st Offense; Bryan Joseph Schuemann, Age 37, Harlan, IA. Schuemann was arrested after a call for service. Schuemann was transported to the Shelby County Jail and Charged with Domestic Abuse Assault- 1st Offense.

4/17/2024 – four arrests: Tegan Ryan Steinkuehler, Age 18, Harlan, IA. Steinkuehler was arrested following a traffic stop on Ridgeway Dr. Steinkuehler was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License Denied/Revoked; Gerard August Rueschenberg, Age 69, Harlan, IA. Rueschenberg was arrested following a traffic stop on Market St. Rueschenberg was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License Denied/Revoked, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability; Holly Lynn Gross, Age 59, Earling, IA. Gross was arrested following a call for service. Gross was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 5th degree, and Criminal Mischief 5th degree; Kari Jean Elizabeth Nordby, Age 46, Harlan, IA. Nordby was arrested following a call for service. Nordby was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault- 1st Offense.

4/16/2024: Jessica Marie Mark, Age 39, Harlan, IA. Mark was arrested following a call for service. Mark was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance- 1st Offense.

4/14/2024: Janaska Christian Bowles, Age 25, West Des Moines, IA. Bowles was arrested following a traffic stop on Pine St. Bowles was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI – 2nd Offense, and No Valid Driver’s License.

4/13/2024: Marshall Orin Arms, Age 34, Shelby, IA. Arms was arrested and transported to Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County warrant.

4/08/2024: Keith Allen Wise II, Age 32, Council Bluffs, IA. Wise was arrested and transported to Shelby County Jail on a Shelby County warrant Domestic Abuse Assault-1st, and Contempt- Violation of Probation.

4/02/2024: Melody Lynn Miller, Age 44, Omaha, NE. Miller was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an Active warrant in Shelby County.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

TREYNOR, Iowa [KCCI] — People in southwest Iowa spent the day cleaning up tornado debris before more storms moved through. In Crescent, a tornado blew off the walls of homes. And in Treynor, a tornado wiped out homes along Highway 92. An 85-year-old woman was nearly killed in the storm. Her daughter says her mom couldn’t make it to the basement in time.

Remarkably, the 85-year-old woman was not injured. The National Weather Service in Omaha says an EF-3 blew through the county on Friday. Winds reached speeds of up to 145 mph.

Ankeny, IA – From cheese curds to chip dust, burgers as big as dinner plates to multiple patty burgers, fresh veggies to cheeses, and sauces to spreads, this year’s Top 10 Iowa’s Best Burger restaurants had it all. The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC), today (Wednesday), announced the winner of the title of “Iowa’s Best Burger in 2024,” is JJ’s Tavern + Grill in Ankeny, Iowa.

The IBIC’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Kylie Peterson, said owners Rick and Lilia Romero and Michael Roberts, also the general manager, and Liberty Van Genderen, say JJ’s Tavern + Grill is about family. They have worked diligently to build this for their employees, but also want their customers to recognize the family vibe. Michael even went as far as to say they’d like it to have the television show Cheers, “everyone knows your name” feel. The intimate atmosphere and upscale smaller space naturally lend themselves to that feel.

The Best Burger Contest’s timing is intentional and celebrates the kickoff of Iowa’s May Beef Month. JJ’s has several beef options. The menu currently features eight smash burger selections. All look delicious, but Rick and Michael highlighted the JJ’s Smash Burger, the Brock Curdy Burger, and the Jalapeno Cheddar. Each smash burger can be a single patty or double, but for that robust beef taste.

JJ’s Smash Burger

JJ’s Smash Burger is a classic, with tavern sauce, gooey American cheese, and notably fresh lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickle. The Brock Curdy Burger is named for San Francisco 49ers quarterback and former Iowa State player, Brock Purdy. The burger is loaded, with BBQ sauce, ranch, American cheese, cheese curds, pulled pork, and bacon.

The Jalapeno Cheddar Burger is topped with tavern sauce, cheddar, bacon, and of course, jalapenos.

The competition and being named as a Top 10 contestant in Iowa’s Best Burger competition has already had a significant impact on their business. Since being named a Top 10 contestant on March 12, they went from selling 13 burgers a day to over 36 burgers a day.

JJ’s recently opened in late November 2023. They have recently added a patio for an outdoor dining experience and additional seating. Rick shared that thanks to the contest they may consider moving up plans for a second location.

This was the 15th year for the annual Iowa’s Best Burger Contest and had the added excitement of allowing previous winners the chance to be nominated again. There were three previous winners in the list of Top 10 contestants. The Best Burger Contest is sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association to showcase the valued partnership between Iowa’s cattlemen and food service providers through delicious burgers crafted by Iowa’s talented chefs and restaurateurs.

(Radio Iowa) – Veterans from across Iowa are in Washington D-C today (Wednesday) as part of the 50th Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. The trip honors 99-year-old World War Two Veteran Mike Wilson. Wilson tells K-C-R-G T-V that he and his late wife Esther were happy to donate to events like the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight.   “She also believed in sharing, and we always got a lot of gratitude out of the people that we shared with,” Wilson said.

Together, they donated five to six million dollars to organizations across Cedar Rapids. Wilson was drafted into the navy in August 1944. He says he wants all veterans to get the attention they deserve, especially those who served in Vietnam who didn’t get a warm welcome home. “The public kind of turned on it and made it really tough for the veterans,” Wilson said. “They didn’t have a real good welcoming cap coming home, and yet what they did was just as honorable as what anybody did in World War Two.”

Photo from https://eihonorflight.org/

Eighty-eight veterans are on the Honor Flight. Friends and family will greet them as they return to the Eastern Iowa airport around 7 p-m. for the welcoming party.

The next Honor Flight is May 28th, the day after Memorial Day. The waiting list for the Honor Flight is roughly two and a half years, with around 700 veterans currently signed up. Veterans can learn more or apply by clicking here to visit the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight’s website. The trip is free for Veterans, but guardians will have to pay to tag along.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday (today), approved a request from Auditor Mandy Berg, for 6-month pay increases for the Courthouse Custodian and Auditor Clerk. Supervisor Jodie Hoadley said she’s “heard nothing but good things” about the two County employees. The Board also passed a Resolution to issue General Obligation Bonds, not to exceed $5-million. Auditor Mandy Berg…

On a related note, the Supervisors in Adair County passed a resolution to take additional action on the bonds, along with a resolution directing the advertising for sale of, and electronic bidding, and an Official Statement. In other business, representatives of Main Street Greenfield requested from the Board a courtyard use permit for the July 23^rd RAGBRAI® event. Main Street Greenfield Executive Director Stacie Eshelman laid-out the tentative arrival plan.

Some of the support vehicles for the riders will be arriving in town the night before.

Vendors for the event will be located on the square in Greenfield, and at the park. Local vendors have dibs on where they will locate their items. The Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a permit issuance. The Adair County Supervisors held a public hearing to vacate a portion of 292^nd Avenue/Lane, south of Bridgewater. Rich Hall, of Massena, who owns property in the area, asked the Board not to close the road.

Hall previously told Supervisor Jodie Hoadly, according to Hoadley, that it would decrease the value of his property, and make it harder for someone who wants to build a new home, access to the property. It’s unclear what the road is classified as. It is maintained by the County, as if it were a Level B road, even though it is not posted as such. After considerable discussion, the Board voted three-to-one to pass a resolution vacating the road, as proposed. Supervisor Hoadley was the lone no vote.

In other action, the Adair County Supervisors approved a Hungry Canyons Project agreement, contract and performance bonds. County Engineer Nick Kauffman reported on the effects of the heavy rains and hail received in the County, Tuesday evening.

Kauffman said some roads were closed overnight due to water flowing across the them.

(Radio Iowa) – A spokesman for Governor Reynolds says just over 10 percent of state government job classifications require a bachelor’s degree. Kollin Crompton, the governor’s spokesman, is responding to State Auditor Rob Sand’s announcement that he’d collaborated with a non-profit and found 28 job classifications in state government where a four year college degree was not necessary.

Crompton says two years ago Governor Reynolds directed the state’s human resources agency to review the more than 800 unique job classifications within state government. The goal was to allow alternative requirements for employment wherever possible.

Today, just 10-point-two percent of job classifications require a bachelor’s degree. Crompton says the Reynolds Administration will continue to look for opportunities to update job requirements, making state government employment as accessible as possible to Iowans.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley says congress must move carefully as it considers legislation to crack down on Chinese money laundering organizations. “Now is the time to make it harder for criminals to move dirty money and buy assets in the United States, not making easier,” Grassley says. “This complex money-laundering problem requires well thought-out solutions.”

Experts say underground Chinese networks are helping transfer money from Mexican drug cartels and international gangs. Just last month, five Chinese nationals were charged with money laundering after depositing money from drug deals in banks in Charlottee, North Carolina. Grassley cites a mass shooting at a medical marijuana farm in Oklahoma where workers were all Chinese nationals.

“According to Oklahoma law enforcement, 2,000 of the 3,000 licensed marijuana farms flagged for suspicious activity over the last year had a Chinese connection providing funding, labor, or both,” Grassley says. Grassley says legislation under consideration in the Senate would not adequately address money laundering by Chinese nationals and drug cartels because it assumes state and local regulations are preventing organized crime from infiltrating the U-S marijuana industry.

A KJAN listener sent us photo of a tornado on the ground and hail that fell, Tuesday evening, near Elliott. Thank you!