(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic High School Large Group Speech team competed at the District level at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, January 22nd. All ten groups (Varsity and Freshman teams) received a Division 1 rating and will advance to State contest on Saturday, February 5th at West Des Moines Valley High School.

Coaches Trisha Niceswanger and Brandon Baggett are very excited about last weekend’s results. Niceswanger says “It is a huge accomplishment for all ten of our entries to earn a 1 and advance to State! I am really looking forward to how we can improve on our pieces and compete again in two weeks.” (Photos courtesy Coach Niceswanger)

Baggett adds “I have really enjoyed working with this year’s group of students. Our experienced competitors have improved dramatically and our freshmen have some serious potential. It is an exciting time to be involved with the speech program.”

District Results are as follows:

Clarinda, Iowa – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections said Wednesday evening, that 59-year-old Kenneth Louis Howell Jr., who was serving a 35-year maximum sentence for the crimes of Prohibited Acts — Manufacture, Delivery, Possession from Lee County, died late Sunday night at the Clarinda Regional Health Center. Officials his death was likely due to complications related to COVID-19 and other preexisting medical conditions

An autopsy will be completed by the State Medical Examiner. Howell Jr. began his sentence on October 16, 2018.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senate Republicans have released a tax plan to lower the state income tax to three-point-six percent within five years. Governor Reynolds has proposed a four percent rate within four years. A mechanism in the bill could eventually eliminate personal income taxes altogether. Senate G-O-P Leader Jack Whitver.

“Really, we’re in a position where we can’t afford not to do tax cuts. This is important for the everyday Iowan,” Whitver says. “…Their bills are going up and we’re trying to put more money in their pockets.” The Senate GOP bill includes Governor Kim Reynolds’ proposal to eliminate taxes on retirement income and provides a tax break for retired farmers. Whitver of Ankeny says when fully implemented, the plan will reduce state income taxes by two BILLION dollars.

“We think this is really important to keep good on our promise to return an overcollection of tax dollars back to the people of Iowa,” Whitver says. The plan cuts the corporate income tax rate along with changes to reduce tax credits and exemptions for businesses by 140 million dollars. Whitver says it’s an attempt to reform how corporations are taxed.

“We want to have a real conversation in Iowa about what that rate should be and can we lower that rate if we get rid of all those special interest carve outs,” Whitver says. “Your rate shouldn’t depend on how many lobbyists you have here at the Capitol to get you those carve outs and we want to lower it for everybody.”The plan includes a maneuver that reclassifies local option sales taxes as a statewide tax. Whitver says the move would let lawmakers put other state funds in the voter-approved by long empty account voters approved in 2010 to pay for water quality and outdoor recreation projects.

“We’re not going to raise the sales tax. We’re going to work within the parameters that we already have in place,” Whitver says. “We wanted to start that conversation and we’ll see where that conversation goes.” House Republicans plan to release their own tax plan soon and promise it will not raise taxes for any Iowan. The Senate’s Democratic leader says the plan Republicans in the Senate have released will result in higher taxes overall and cuts to state services.

ROCKWELL CITY, IOWA – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety report that on January 25, 2022, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the Rockwell City Police Department was called to Casey’s General Store in Rockwell City for a subject needing help.  It was discovered that a male subject was suffering a gunshot wound.  He was taken by ambulance to the Stuart Memorial Community Hospital and later air lifted to a Des Moines hospital.

Rockwell City Police Department requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  The case is currently under investigation with the assistance of the Rockwell City Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

The victim is not being identified at this time, and is reported to be in stable condition.