(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says with a billion dollars sitting in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund, cutting personal income taxes — as quickly as possible — is the goal for House Republicans.  “We want to get that back in the economy,” Grassley says. The state’s economic emergency fund and cash reserve are full. Another account, called the Taxpayer Relief Fund, has more than a billion dollars because state tax revenue soared past official estimates. Grassley says Iowa is in an enviable position.

“This is good news when you look at other states. We have a billion dollars,” Grassley says. “Now we have to decide: ‘How’s it going to go back?’ We’re looking at, in lifetime, record inflation and other things that are going on, so we want to provide that relief to Iowans as quickly as possible, but I also think we need to do it in a way that we’re not necessarily picking winners and losers.” Fellow Republicans in the Iowa Senate AND Governor Kim Reynolds are all exploring tax cutting ideas, but no one is ready to reveal the details.

“We’re not all in agreement on one bill, but I think we are in agreement we want to continue to lower the rates on Iowans, so I think that being the goal, it’ll work itself out.” Business groups are pressing for a reduction in the state’s CORPORATE income tax as well. “While the number of a corporate tax rate may give some folks some sticker shock, don’t forget in Iowa we have some very, very what I would call aggressive credits and other things that we use to help incentivize business growth.”

A few years ago, Grassley led discussion of reducing the corporate tax rate IF the tax CREDITS were reduced as well, but could not find enough support to make those changes. The 2022 legislative session begins January 10th.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Sunday on an SUV resulted in the driver’s arrest. 77-year-old Sandra Kay Aparo, of Clarinda, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. She  was transported to the Page County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports two arrests took place last week. On the 16th, 57-year-old Donald Duane Worth, of Lewis, was arrested in Adair, by Adair Police, for OWI/1st offense. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop at around 8:40-p.m., for failure to operate headlights and taillights. During the traffic stop, and while running Worth’s registration information, the Adair Police Officer noticed Worth pour something out his vehicle.

Worth admitted the substance was whiskey and water, and that he had consumed a couple of drinks at a bar, and that he stopped at the Kum and Go in Adair to get some food, before driving back to his semi truck. The Officer conducted a Field Sobriety Test on Worth, along with a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT), the results of which showed a breath alcohol content of .162%.  Worth was taken into custody soon thereafter, and transported to the Sheriff’s Office. He was released later that same night on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on Dec. 12th, 26-year-old Aspen Renee Riley, of Bridgewater, was temporarily arrested in Bridgewater, for Driving While Barred. She was released at the scene with a citation.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) today (Monday) announced that the statewide, independent external review of its prison system is complete. Following the tragic events of March 23, 2021, the IDOC conducted the state’s standard bidding process to bring in an independent, outside organization to perform an in-depth security review of its prison system. Once the bidding process was complete, CGL Companies, a nationally recognized corrections consulting firm, was selected to lead the review.

Commenting on the completion of the external review, IDOC Director Beth Skinner said the following: “The completion of this review is the next step in improving the safety and security of operations in this department. There are challenges that lie before us but they are an opportunity to build upon our efforts that lead the country.”

Director Skinner went on to say, “I am thankful for CGL’s professionalism and hard work throughout this process. We look forward to carefully analyzing their findings and working hand-in-hand with our facilities around the state to implement them. The events that took place in Anamosa earlier this year were an unimaginable tragedy, and we continue to work through it together as a corrections family. I am confident that the completion of this review is another positive step in the right direction for this department.”

A summary of the findings and recommendations of the external review can be found here. The IDOC has also made available an updated timeline of safety and security measures implemented at the Anamosa State Penitentiary since March 23, 2021. A copy of that document can be found here.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, this (Monday) afternoon, reports N. Olive Street (Cass County Road N-16) (north of Atlantic & south of I-80)….is now OPEN! The road had been closed following severe storms last Wednesday, that caused damage to power poles and power lines, several of which fell across N. Olive Street.

Crews worked throughout the weekend and into today, to remove the lines and set new poles in place to support them.

The Glenwood Police Department reports three arrests: 25-year-old Clayton Miller, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI/1st offense (bond $1,000). 46-year old Brent Michael, of Malvern, was arrested Sunday, for Probation Violation ($1,000 bond), and 26-year-old Robert Farley, of Glenwood, was arrested on Burglary, Willful Injury and Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, charges. His total bond was set at $55,000 cash or surety.

(12-p.m. News)