(Radio Iowa) – A U-S House committee hosted a hearing at the Iowa State Fair today (Friday) to tout Trump-era tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of 2025. Steve Sukup, president and C-E-O of Sukup Manufacturing in Sheffield, says the tax reform law of 2017 was a shot in the arm to the manufacturing sector. “Thanks to lowering the corporate tax rate to 21%, Sukup grew our workforce by a third,” Sukup said, “adding 200 well-paying manufacturing jobs in our community.” Sukup also urged congress to address a tax policy which had allowed 100 percent of equipment purchases to be claimed in the year they’re made.

“Unfortunately, full expensing began to expire in 2023. We believe that was a mistake. It is common sense that our tax code should encourage investment that leads to growth,” Sukup says. “Many manufacturing teams, including our company, would benefit from seeing this provision restored and congress should do it immediately.” Iowa Corn Growers Association president Jolene Riessen, of Ida Grove, says being able to claim that expense in a single year is a big deal when buying farm equipment, since a new combine costs 750-thousand dollars.

“Being able to use that 100% depreciation now it just freed up money so I can make those payments,” Riessen said. “You know, people have 20 to 30 years to pay off a house. Nope, I’ve got to pay off in three to five years.” Riessen and Lana Pol, of Pella, who owns four businesses, urged federal lawmakers to address inheritance taxes, too. “While I agree with others that this tax should be eliminated entirely, if congress does not at least act to preserve the expanded exemption of the estate tax, it will be increasingly harder to pass if from generation to generation,” she said.

The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee convened a field hearing at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16, 2024. (RI photo)

The standard deduction and child tax credit doubled in 2017 and are set to return to previous levels at the end of 2025. Sarah Curry, of Glenwood, is the mother of three boys and most of the services for her youngest, who has been diagnosed with autism, are not covered by insurance. She says the increased child tax credit and standard deduction for each child has made a difference. “I mean, every dollar that my husband and I earn that we get to keep goes to our children,” Curry says. “…Reducing it by any amount would negatively impact my family, our children and our ability to pay for services.”

Curry, who is the research director for Iowans for Tax Relief, says if she and her husband pay more in federal taxes, they’ll likely pay more in state income taxes. That’s because federal taxable income is the starting point for calculating how much is owed in state income taxes. Congressman Randy Feenstra is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, that panel that held today’s (Friday’s) hearing about the Trump-era tax cuts.  “But if all these things go away, it will have a dramatic effect, for our families, for our businesses, for our Main Streets,” Feenstra said, “…and so many other things.”

The three other Iowa Republicans who serve in the U-S House also attended the hearing.

(Radio Iowa) – A man has been charged following the investigation of signs posted on the doors of Latino-owned businesses in Hampton. The signs were placed on the doors of numerous Hispanic businesses Tuesday morning. The flier, with a black-and-white image, reads: “U-S-A Illegal Immigrant Hunting Permit – No Bag Limit – Tagging Not Required,” and at the bottom it said “Trump 2024.”

Daniel Alan Embree

Hampton Police Chief Mark Morrison announced a search warrant was executed Thursday at a residence and in Hampton and Daniel Alan Embree was charged with eight counts of second-degree harassment, and trespassing with intent to commit a hate crime. Morrison said the investigation is ongoing.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City is stepping back in time this weekend to highlight an important event that happened there in the 1800’s. Sioux City Museum spokesperson Theresa Weaver says the annual Lewis and Clark encampment starts Saturday at 10 a-m. “We’re basically marking the days that Lewis and Clark and their whole crew traveled through 200 years ago at this time. And you’ll see the tents and the gear, and there’s usually a blacksmith. People will be in uniform, and they’ll be reenacting parts of some of the core members of the crew that were with them at that time,” Weaver says. Lewis and Clark came through what is now Sioux City in 1804 as they explored the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase and sought a northwest passage to the west coast. Weaver says some of the re-enactors have been taking part for several years and take their roles very seriously.

“They’re really experts on their character that they’re portraying, and they have particular gear and items, replica items, that are focused on what their person might have worn,” Weaver says. “So there might be a private they might be one of the captains. And it is so neat to see the tents and the gear and the equipment that they use, because it was very much cutting edge at the time.” As the expedition came up the Missouri River Sergeant Charles Floyd became ill and died. He was buried on a bluff overlooking the river and the site is now marked by a monument overlooking Interstate 29. Re-enactors will hold a commemoration of Floyd’s burial at 6 Saturday evening.

“The captains and several of the sergeants wrote in their journals, and they, of course, all write about losing Charles Floyd, and we kind of draw on, you know, what were military funerals like at the time? It’s really an important piece of our Sioux City history and national history as well,” she says.

The encampment will run from 10 a-m until 4 p-m Saturday and then from 10 a-m until 3 p-m on Sunday at Chris Larson Park off the I-29 Hamilton Boulevard exit.

(Radio Iowa) – Ryan Melton, the Democrat running in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says the 36 counties in the district would benefit if Congressman Randy Feenstra joined the other three Iowa Republicans in the U-S House and asked for “earmarks” in spending bills. The requests for funding for specific projects are now called “Community Project Funding.” “The other three Republicans representing the other three House districts just this year alone asked for a collective $115 million and they should,” Melton says. “That’s why we elect them. That’s why we pay federal income taxes, so that our communities can be rejuvenated, but Feenstra’s doing the exact opposite.”

House rules let members request funding for up to 15 projects in their districts and Representatives Zach Nunn, Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks each submitted 15 requests. “Every member of the House of Representatives has this opportunity, to ask for community improvement money,” Melton says. “Four years in a row, representing a congressional district that is struggling so severely financially, he not only has asked for $0.00, he brags about it.”

Ryan Melton, a Democrat from Nevada, speaks at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox. (RI photo)

Melton made his comments on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Feenstra describes himself as a strong fiscal conservative and his campaign website says Feenstra does not support wasteful earmarks that fund liberal pet projects in New York and California.

Feenstra is at the State Fair today (Friday), hosting a congressional hearing about tax policy.

Des Moines, Iowa — Iowans affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding of April 26-27 and May 20-31 have until August 23, 2024 to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance.
Iowa homeowners and renters affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Adair, Adams, Cedar, Clarke, Harrison, Jasper, Mills, Montgomery, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Story and Union counties may apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance until August 23, 2024.

How to Apply with FEMA

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
• Download and use the FEMA app

Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.

Recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

(Shelby County, Iowa) – An official with the 1848 Danish Windmill in Elk Horn (IA) has announced a new, FREE, virtual tour of the authentic windmill, that’s viewable from the comfort of your favorite chair, and a new capital campaign to raise funds for repair of the windmill’s windshaft and cap frame, and prevent further damage. Danish Windmill Director Shaun Sayres says they are still encouraging everyone to visit the windmill, and while you’re in-town, visit all the other attractions and businesses.

Those who chose to participate in the virtual tour, will experience the attraction inside and out.

Screenshot of the Windmill Virtual Tour

There are also site-perspective videos of the windmill in operation, from whatever angle you wish to view it.You can sign a virtual guest book in the gift shop,

Other features will be added to the virtual tour as the material is created. Sayres said work on the project began in January. A skilled crew from Denmark is preparing to come to Elk Horn, and are expected to arrive in a few weeks, to made urgent repairs and install a grease hub and brake cable that will make it easier and safe to operate and maintain. Those repairs don’t come free. Sayres said their new capital campaign, “Back on the Grind,” aims to raise $60,000 for Phase 1 of the repair/upgrade of the Danish Windmill, which is set to begin in October.

Sayres said it’s an old building with moving parts, and there are challenges that come with keeping in functioning the way it what designed.

He said if all goes well with the repairs this Fall, and if time allows, they’ll be adding a new, sack-hoist wheel.

To learn more about the fundraising campaign, or to take a virtual tour of the windmill, go to www.danishwindmill.org., or call 712-764-7472. The Danish Windmill is a 501(c) tax-exempt organization.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is criticizing the governor’s proposed alternative to providing federal food assistance next summer to low-income households with children. Governor Kim Reynolds did not sign Iowa up THIS summer for the U-S-D-A program that would have provided families an extra 140 dollars for every child who qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch at school. Families can use the money to buy groceries at stores where food stamps are accepted. Reynolds is opting out of the program NEXT summer, too, but has asked the agency to let the state use 29 million dollars in federal money to buy groceries and provide food boxes to qualifying households.

A spokesperson for the U-S-D-A says the governor is asserting the State knows better than its own families do about what their needs are. Reynolds says her program would provide healthy meals and snacks for about 60-thousand more school-aged children because the state would make bulk purchases of food. The U-S-D-A’s spokesperson says there’s been rigorous evaluation of the agency’s summer food program showing it works to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets.

Friday evening, the Governor’s office issued the following statement:

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa schools are already back in session, while most others will be resuming soon, and motorists are being reminded to stay vigilant for young pedestrians, and for those big, yellow school buses. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says if you’re behind the wheel and spot a bus, take the cue to be watchful for kids, whether you’re in town or in the country.

“Our school buses have very visible lights,” Palmer says. “They have a little white flashing light on top, plus your ambers and reds to indicate they are preparing to stop or stopping, and putting that stop arm out to load or unload children.” When approaching a school bus from behind, the sheriff says motorists should use extra caution and slow down.

“Flashing red or amber warning lights means, according to the Iowa Code, you’re not permitted to pass a school bus and should be ready to stop,” Palmer says. “When the school bus stops and the stop arm is extended, stop behind the school bus. It doesn’t take that long for them to load or unload kids. Don’t stop any closer than 15 feet from the rear of the bus.” If there’s a school bus pulled over in the far lane or a slow-moving vehicle lane, it could be a very costly mistake to assume it’s okay to pass.

“Probably 90% of our school bus violations come from Highway 2 about 4 to 6 miles east of Shenandoah,” Palmer says. “It’s because we have a slow-moving vehicle lane there. People think, ‘Since the bus got over, I can go around,’ or, ‘Since the bus is over and I’m meeting it, I’m okay.’ Well, that’s not okay. You’re still going to get a citation.” When the stop arm of a school bus is extended, it’s the same as a stop sign. Also, he says to give that bus — and the kids — plenty of room when you come to a halt.

“Make sure that you stop prior to the front of that school bus,” he says, “because a lot of times, if there’s children crossing the road, they’re going to cross in front. They’re not going to cross in back of the school bus, they’re going to cross right in front of it. So, be prepared to stop and stay stopped until the stop arm comes back in.”

In addition to stiff fines, Palmer says violating school bus laws may result in your license being suspended for up to 180 days.