(Radio Iowa) – Key lawmakers say the Republican-led legislature is focused on cutting personal income taxes and the corporate income tax cut Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed isn’t part of their plans at this point. Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “One thing that my members tell me time and time again and we are trying to craft a bill in that way is that there will be no corporate rate reduction without corporate credit as well as sales tax exemption modifications,” Dawson says.

“There’s just no interest in touching the corporate rate without touching exemptions and credits,” he says. Some of the current credits are so lucrative some corporations get a tax refund check from the state. House Speaker Pat Grassley says corporate tax credits and sales tax exemptions have to be reduced or eliminated if the corporate income tax rate is to be reduced. “If we’re going to go down the path of making changes to the corporate tax rate, that should be part of the conversation,” Grassley says.

Senator Dawson says the governor’s other tax proposal, to have just one rate of four percent for personal income taxes, is the focus. “From a Senate Republican standpoint, the goals that she laid out in her bill aren’t so different from our goals as well,” Dawson says. “The first step to getting to a zero income tax is to get to a flat tax.” The governor’s proposal retains current credits and deductions for individuals and couples filing personal income taxes.

Reynolds is calling for a study about which tax breaks to get rid of and which ones to keep. Dawson says of some credits could also be called tax shelters for upper income Iowans. “If someone wants to donate money to build a new building in downtown Des Moines and they want their name on the building, then taxpayers shouldn’t have to incentivize that,” Dawson says.

Dawson says Republicans do not intend to do away with the standard deduction, credits for the parents of minor children or the minimum income threshold for filing, all of which ensure the poorest Iowans don’t pay income taxes.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Joni Ernst says now is the time for the U.S. to impose sanctions on Russia, to try to prevent an invasion of Ukraine. Ernst is a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and, during an appearance on CNN Sunday morning, she discussed the situation in Ukraine. Ernst said without sanctions now, President Biden is appeasing Russian President Vladmir Putin as 100-thousand Russian troops sit at Ukraine’s border.

The Biden Administration just sent 90 tons of military supplies to Ukraine, part of 650 MILLION in defense equipment and supplies the U.S. has provided the country in the past year. Ernst said the U.S. should provide even more resources to bolster Ukraine’s military. C-N-N host Dana Bash asked if that includes sending U.S. troops to Ukraine.

Ernst said stable democracies in Europe and around the globe make the U.S. safer, but Ernst did not say whether she believes American soldiers should be sent to defend Ukraine.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. At around 2:50-a.m Thursday (Jan. 20), Deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of  Highway’s 34 and 148, and upon further investigation, arrested 26-year-old Austin Michael Welborn and 19-year-old Xavier Caine Crow, for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were being held in the Adams County Jail on a $1,300 bond, with additional charges pending.

On Jan. 19th at around 10:50-a.m., Adams County Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop at Highway 25 and 275th Street. When the vehicle failed to stop, a brief pursuit began. The vehicle stopped at a field entrance near 270th and Willow Avenue. Upon further investigation, Deputies arrested 25-year-old Wesley Oliphant for Eluding, Driving While Barred, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 3rd or subsequent offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and for being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon. Oliphant was being held without bond in the Adams County Jail.

And, on Jan. 17th, at around 1:11-a.m., Adams County Deputies stopped a vehicle at Highway 148 and 150th Street. Authorities say 23-year-old Ashley Dawn Eblen was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

“Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations, and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Creston, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Union County report no injuries occurred after a car struck a deer Saturday evening, near Creston. Authorities say 18-year-old Shalaya Armstead, of Independence, was driving a 2013 Dodge Dart northbound on Osage Road at around 6-p.m., when the right front side of her car struck a deer that had entered the roadway out of the east ditch.

The vehicle sustained $4,000 damage.

(Adair, Iowa) The search for a new Superintendent of the AC/GC School District has been narrowed down to three candidates. The process began in Oct. 2021, when current Superintendent Dennis McClain submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the 2022 School Year. McClain has served as the shared district’s Superintendent since July 1st, 2019.

The search process to find his replacement began in Dec., 2021, with a stakeholder survey. It will conclude this coming week, with a formal interview of the three finalists: Brett Abbotts, Jeremy Christiansen, and Josh Rasmussen.

Rasmussen is currently the middle school principal in the Atlantic CSD. He previously served as an assistant principal in the Atlantic CSD, as well as the high school dean of students. He holds a master’s degree in K-12 administration from Iowa State University and a bachelor’s degree in business education from Buena Vista University.

Abbotts was previously an assistant principal, athletic director, and special education director in the AHSTW Schools. He is a doctoral student in educational administration at the University of Nebraska, along with a master’s degree and specialist degree in educational administration from Fort Hays State University and a master’s degree in special education from Morningside College.

Christiansen is the 5th-12th grade Principal in the Fremont-Mills CSD. He was previously an activities director and activity transportation coordinator in the Fremont CSD. Christiansen holds a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Buena Vista University.

The new superintendent will begin serving both districts effective July 1, 2022.