DES MOINES – Today (Monday), Governor Kim Reynolds signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.   

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through February 23, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.  

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.  

See the proclamation here. 

(Radio Iowa) – In response to last month’s school shooting in Perry, Republicans in the Iowa House are proposing that Iowa school or college employees with professional gun permits be allowed to carry weapons on school grounds. Nathan Gibson, school board president of the Interstate-35 district in Truro,said the bill could help districts that want their staff to be armed, but can’t get liability insurance. “This is long overdue,” he said, “and something we need to do to protect the most precious assets we have in our life.”

Angela Olsen, director of special projects for the Spirit Lake School District, said her district had armed staff for six months, but cancelled the program after struggling to find an insurance carrier. Olsen said having a school resource officer in the high school isn’t enough. “And I would compare it to Perry, like they have an SRO but he wasn’t there,” Olsen said. “…If we have the ability to have multiple people in multiple buildings at all times of the day, it’s the only way to address an active shooter at the time.”

Catherine Lucas, a lawyer with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, told lawmakers the agency has a lot of unanswered questions about the bill, like what kind of weapons would school staff be allowed to carry and who would do the required training for armed school staff. “Ohio has a program like this and they have a staff of 40. Currently the Governor’s School Safety Bureau in Iowa has one sworn member,” Lucas said. “…Rolling out all the training is going to be a very significant lift on the Department of Public Safety.”

Hannah Hayes, a Des Moines high school senior, is in the Students Demand Action group that supports new gun restrictions. Hayes, the only student who testified during the House subcommittee hearing on the bill, urged lawmakers to oppose it. “Making schools a war zone is not going to make me feel safer,” she said.

The bill also would require the state’s 11 largest school districts to hire at least one officer from the local police department or a private firm to provide security in high school buildings. There would be no mandate for other Iowa high schools, but all school districts could apply for a $50,000 state grant to cover the cost of a security officer.

(Radio Iowa) – A man convicted of killing a teenager during a robbery in Davenport in 1974 has died in prison. Kenneth Ray Sheffey was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting and killing of 15-year-old Roddy Lee Hahn. Hahn was helping James Christensen deliver bread to the supermarket early in the morning and the two discovered Sheffey was inside.

Christensen was seriously wounded, and Sheffey was also convicted of assault with intent to commit murder, along with breaking and entering.

He was sentenced to life in prison in November of 1974, and the Department of Corrections says Sheffey died of natural causes on February 8th at the age of 71.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn says more Russian assets need to be seized before he’ll vote for more U-S military aide to Ukraine. “There’s $300 billion in Russian assets that are currently frozen in U.S. banks and European banks, basically money that’s making interest for Russian oligarks,” Nunn says. “Before I put one single U.S. taxpayer dollar into fighting back against Russia, I want to make sure we’re holding Russia accountable in a meaningful way to pay for the destruction, the invasion, the loss of tens of thousands of lives in Ukraine.”

Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, proposed a resolution last year that would use those frozen Russian assets to pay for rebuilding Ukraine. Nunn says it’s too soon to speculate about what might happen in the House if the Senate passes a bill this week that would provide U-S military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.  “I think we need to figure out if the senate’s going to be able to move anything before we start talking about hypotheticals,” Nunn says.

Nunn says no foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel or Taiwan should send cash to those countries and, instead, should be about providing weapons, ammunition and other military assets.

Ames, Iowa – The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) say they are excited to announce the commencement of the 15th annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest. The highly anticipated event has become a hallmark of culinary excellence, showcasing the diverse and delicious burgers crafted by Iowa’s talented chefs and restaurateurs.

This contest is not just a competition; it’s a celebration that showcases the valued partnership between Iowa’s cattlemen and food service providers through memorable and delicious beef experiences. Past winners of the Best Burger contest have seen a significant increase in foot traffic, attracting new patrons eager to savor the award-winning burger.

To qualify for the title of Iowa’s Best Burger, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty and served on a bun or bread product. Nominations will be accepted online through March 12^th. Voting will close at 5 p.m. on March 12^th. The Top Ten list will be announced March 18^th. The 2024 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 1^st with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa.

Key Highlights from the 2023 Iowa’s Best Burger Contest:

Since being named the home of Iowa’s Best Burger for 2023, Flight Bar + Grille in Huxley has been serving a record-setting number of burgers. “Overall, our restaurant sales have doubled since winning this highly-coveted award,” said Matt Pacha, who owns the restaurant with his wife Marianne. “In May, after the announcement, we sold 5,000 Foundation burgers. Before receiving the honor, the most Foundation burgers we sold in a month was 859.”

The Foundation burger at the Flight Bar & Grill, in Huxley.

In addition to crushing the previous sales records, winning the annual Best Burger contest resulted in across-the board increases for many food items during May:

• Foundation burgers sold: 5,000 (last year, the average monthly sales were 250)
• Pounds of beef turned into burgers: 4,600 (compared to 1,200 pounds in May 2022)
• Pounds of French fries sold: 4,500
• Pounds of white onions used: 1,300

“Through initiatives like Iowa’s Best Burger contest, we aim to highlight the quality and flavor of beef while fostering a sense of community and culinary pride,” said Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing and Communications for IBIC. “As we commemorate the 15th anniversary of this contest, we extend an invitation to all Iowa restaurants to participate.”

CLICK HERE FOR CONTEST DETAILS.

(Radio Iowa) – A leader in the Teamsters union is calling on members to prepare for action if the legislature passes a bill that could dissolve some union bargaining units that represent government employees. Jesse Case is secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 238, which represents workers in the private sector as well as state and local government employees, including school bus drivers and snow plow drivers. “We’re not going to let them burn down the house of labor without a fight,” Case said. “…Prepare for rolling strikes across the state of Iowa.” Public employees in Iowa are barred from striking. A statement on the local Teamsters union’s website does not mention strikes, but says there will be rallies, pickets, press conferences and protests against the G-O-P legislators who back the bill.

“Here’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to take the fight to them,” Case said. “We’re going to take the fight to their town, to their county, to their farm, to their business.” In 2017, the legislature passed a law that requires public employees to vote before contract talks begin on whether they want union representation in negotiations. The bill would automatically end union membership for public sector workers if their employer fails to send a list of eligible voters to the state agency that oversees the recertification elections. The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board says 40 percent of government agencies failed to submit those lists in the past four years and Republican senators say they believe union members are pressuring their bosses to avoid recertification votes. Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque says it’s not the union members who failed to follow the law, but their managers.

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum (D=Dubuque) on Iowa Press set on Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Iowa PBS)

“That bill is a union busting bill,” Jochum says. “…It’s just wrong and it’s just the final nail to try to end collective bargaining for public workers.” Jochum supports the Teamsters’ call for protests and pickets if the bill passes. “It’s a call to action,” Jochum says. “If you believe in your right to collectively bargain in good faith for your wages, your benefits and your working conditions we need you and we need your voice now.” Jochum made her comments this weekend during an appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a central Iowa man was arrested last week on an Adair County warrant. 23-year-old Trayvon Damontas Patrick Taylor, of Des Moines, was arrested Wednesday morning on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original Violation of Probation, charge. Taylor was being held in the Adair  County Jail without bond, until being released later that same day following time served.

And, on Feb. 6th, 25-year-old Austin Brian Lanny Benge, of Greenfield, was pulled over for a traffic violation (no seat belt). A records check confirmed Benge’ drivers license was barred and there were three withdrawals in effect: for a suspension related to failure to re-file an SR-22 Insurance form; Habitual Offender; and a Revocation for OWI. The Deputy noted also, the vehicle’s registration was not current.

Benge was transported to the Adair County Jail and issued a citation for Driving While Barred and the Registration violation. He was issued written warnings for No Seat Belt, No Insurance, and Unlawful possession of a license, as well as failure to transfer a vehicle’s title. Benge was released after being issued his citations.

(Radio Iowa) – A state senator from southeast Iowa says the Iowa Fertilizer Company near  Wever has been a massive economic success for the region and is poised for possible expansion. The Dutch company that owns the facility is selling it to Koch Industries for three-point-six BILLION dollars, if federal regulators approve the deal. Senator Jeff Reichman is a Republican from Montrose, which is about 20 miles northeast of the plant.

“I am personally excited about the sale and I share the excitement with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning, Greater Burlington Partnership and Lee County Economic Development about the possibilities of expansion and investment,” Reichman says. Democrats in the Iowa House say the sale will make consolidation in the fertilizer industry worse and will likely lead to higher fertilizer prices for Iowa farmers. They also say the tens of millions in state and local tax breaks awarded more than a decade ago to the company that built the plant were intended to spur competition with Koch Industries, which is the country’s largest privately-held company.

Reichman says liberals are obsessed with Koch Industries because Charles and the late David Koch have been influential donors to Republican candidates. “They are a leader in this fertilizer market and do want to continue to grow,” Reichman says. The fertilizer plant was first proposed in 2012 as a project of Orascom, a construction company based in Egypt. Orascom was purchased the following year by O-C-I, which is headquartered in the Netherlands.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to set new standards for future pipelines and electric transmission lines as well as wind farms and solar arrays is among the many bills that face a deadline. Bills have to clear a committee in the Iowa House or Senate by the end of this week or they’re set aside for the year. Republican Senator Dennis Guth of Klemme says one goal of his bill is to ensure companies that install pipelines and electric generating facilities on farmland are responsible when problems — like sink holes — crop up long into the future. “It’s pretty scary when you’re going through a field with combine and suddenly there’s a hole right in front of me,” Guth says. “I stopped one time with my corn head hanging over the hole going, ‘Oh! I need to back up here.’”

Guth’s bill would require that all pipelines and any underground transmission lines be buried at least eight feet deep to ensure proper drainage through tile lines. “It also makes sure that landowners that are resistant are not harassed by the companies. It allows for initial contact and, after initial contact, the landowner has to sign off on a letter to say: ‘Yeah, it’s OK. I want to continue negotiating,’” Guth says. “I know there have been some landowners, especially older landowners, that finally gave in just because they just wanted these people to go away and that’s really not the way to win a contract.”

Governor Reynolds has said she’s open to changing state regulations for pipeline permits in the future, but she says it would be unfair to change the rules for carbon pipeline developers Summit and Wolf. Guth’s bill is not retroactive. “It does not actually affect the current pipelines,” he says. “Kind of wish it did, but I know that anything that’s doing that is not getting anyplace in the senate.”

Earlier this month, the GOP leader in the senate said there’s no consensus among the 34 Republican senators on a pipeline-related bill.