(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in a case where a woman sued the state for negligence after a multi-state fugitive being chased by a State Trooper ran into her car in central Iowa. The Polk County district court judge ruled Amber Martinez’s lawsuit involving the chase by Trooper Brett Tjepkes could go forward. Attorney David Ranscht, argued for the state that there is no case. “No reasonable jury could conclude on this record which you have in front of you in video format and including audio as well that Sergeant Tjepkes acted recklessly so you should reverse and remand with instructions to enter summary judgment for the state,” he says.

The fugitive, Scott Grimes, had sped away at speeds of 90 miles an hour in Urbandale and was running through stoplights, when Trooper Tjepkes cut off the pursuit just before the crash. “That’s when you see Sergeant Tjepkes say ‘okay it’s going too far I’m going to shut this down’,” Ranscht says. Ranscht says that’s an indication there was no negligence in the case. Martinez’s lawyer, Molly Hamilton, says the district court ruling correctly said the issue should go to a jury. “There was a threshold finding of recklessness and there are facts to support that threshold finding to leave the question of recklessness to a jury,” Hamilton says. She says the radio transmissions the trooper had with other officers prior to trying to stop Grimes are an indication he started the pursuit despite the risk.

“Officer Tjepkes says three times, ‘If we don’t get him in the right place, if he runs, if there’s a pursuit there’s going to be disaster, there’s going to be a problem three times.’ And so, that is to me, that is the not just probable injury. He is consciously aware of that risk,” Hamilton says. Hamilton says Trooper Tjepkes had the duty to avoid that risk and the eventual injury to her client and her kids from the crash. The Supreme Court will consider the arguments and rule at a later date.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County responded at around 10:50-p.m. Thursday, to a reported assault in progress. The incident occurred in the 1900 block of 203rd Street, in Red Oak. Upon investigation and a brief search, Deputies – assisted by Red Oak Police – arrested Michael Josephson for Domestic Assault/1st offense. He was booked into and held at the Montgomery County Jail. Red Oak Rescue also assisted at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The long-awaited renovation of the docks at the Storm Lake Marina is moving forward. D-N-R Conservation and Recreation Division Administrator, Pete Hildreth, told the Natural Resources Commission members Thursday, they’ve taken the first step in the process. “The Department has ordered new docks to replace the old ones. Utilizing marine fuel tax ,the Department is allocating just over a half a million dollars to get new docks,” Hildreth says.

Hildreth says the N-R-C will need to take action in November to get the docks installed. “That was a purchase for goods. And so there’s no requirements to bring a purchase of goods to the Commission,” he says. “But we still have to install those docks — and so next month you will be seeing an agenda item for your review and approval for the installation of those new docks at Storm Lake Marina.”

Hildreth did not indicate how much it might cost to install the docks. Hildreth says they continue working with Buena Vista County on the future of the marina.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel is predicting state tax collections for this budgeting year will fall two-point-seven percent below the last one. Iowa Department of Revenue director Kraig Paulsen says tax cuts for retirees, corporations and individuals in the top state tax bracket are what’s driving that negative number.

“Definitely not pessimistic. I’m not pessimistic about what’s coming at all,” Paulsen says, “but it is somewhat conservative.” David Underwood, a C-P-A from Clear Lake, is another member of the Revenue Estimating Conference. Underwood says he’s heard from employers who have just about given up on trying to find employees — and that is limiting business growth in Iowa.

“The other thing with it is that the wage increases are just about to the levels of where we’re not going to see (that) wage growth going forward,” Underwood says. “I mean I’ve talked to a number of people who say: ‘I just can’t pay anymore. You know the profits aren’t there to support that.'” Holly Lyons of the Legislative Services Agency says while there are national economic headwinds, major indicators offer conflicting data.

“Suggesting that the economy’s not in a recession, but merely in a period of slower growth as it transitions from the rapid recovery from the brief, but harsh pandemic-induced recession,” Lyons says. Underwood says the state recovered quite rapidly from the economic freefall COVID caused in 2020. “But nobody has figured out how to continue that growth level,” Underwood says, “and that’s what worries me about the growth levels that we’re going to see in employment and profitability in Iowa.” Underwood says he wishes he had a more optimistic view of the state’s economy.

“It’s good in Iowa, but how long is it going to be good?” Underwood says. “And I know our leading indicators in Iowa don’t show the recession eminent in Iowa, but there’s a difference between a recession and just a slowness or a halt to our growth.” The last state fiscal year ended June 30th and state tax collections grew nearly 11-and-a-half percent during the 12 month period — far beyond officials’ predictions.

Iowa’s gross domestic product declined slightly in March, April and May. The governor’s top tax and budget advisor says that and other economic measures indicate the economy’s boom cycle has slowed, but is still in positive territory.