(Iowa DNR News) – The paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers opens Feb. 1 and goes through April 30 (sunrise to sunset). The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says anglers fishing for paddlefish must have a valid Iowa fishing license, along with a special paddlefish license and unused transportation tag(s).

Please keep track of your catch and effort and complete the electronic survey after the paddlefish season whether you harvested a fish or not. The information collected will help the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) evaluate the success of the season and determine what potential changes/modifications may be needed.

Paddlefish-DNR photo

If you catch a jaw-tagged fish (numbered band in the lower jaw), call the phone number on the tag and report the tag number, date of capture, capture location and eye-to-fork length. The Iowa DNR and other state fisheries agencies tag paddlefish to better understand and manage populations. Tagging provides valuable information to estimate population size, fish movement and growth.

Ongoing drought conditions and low river levels might affect Missouri River boat ramp access. For more information about Iowa’s special paddlefish season regulations, visit the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/paddlefish.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand has released a report of all the property tax levies in Iowa and Sand says it shows the property tax is regressive. “Fairness in taxation is a big issue and knowing now, as we have now proven, that lower income and middle income, middle class Iowans pay a higher rate on their taxes per thousand dollars of valuation than wealthy Iowans, I think that’s an important consideration for policy makers,” Sand says. Sand says the lowest overall levies are in northwest and north central Iowa.”Rates are a little bit higher in central and southern Iowa,” Sand says, “and in most large and mid-sized cities as well.” Sand has released a series of maps showing the tax rates in the 4100 property tax districts in Iowa.

“Until today some people have suspected but we have never known that in fact when compared to median income rates, according to Census data, that property taxes in Iowa are in fact a regressive tax,” Sand says. “What that means is that working class and middle class Iowans pay a higher rate on their property taxes than wealthy Iowans do.”

Sand reviewed property tax rates in 2014, 2017 and 2024. He is not making recommendations for changes in how cities, counties, school districts and other local government entities collect property taxes. Iowans who own property get a notice in August about payments that are due in September and March.

(Radio Iowa) – Teaching a gender neutral version of Spanish, French or any other language would not be allowed in Iowa schools under a bill that’s passed a subcommittee in the Iowa House.

Republican Representative Bill Gustoff of Des Moines says it’s not about pronouns in the English language, but other languages have words in male and female versions. “If that’s part of the language, then teach the language,” Gustoff says, “but don’t rewrite an entire language to remove ‘el’ and ‘la’ and ‘o’ and ‘a’ as endings.”

Gustoff says he introduced the bill because a teacher told him they would be disciplined if they did not teach a gender neutral version of a language. Gustoff says the teacher asked not to be publicly identified and Gustoff is not revealing the district where the teacher works.

Tye Nyhus, a Spanish instructor in Des Moines, says teaching and using gender neutral pronouns in class is important for some students. “Kids that don’t use it will likely not remember it,” Nyhus says, “but those who do will remember the feeling of being seen for a lifetime.”

Europeans have been debating the use of nouns coded as masculine and feminine. The agency that oversees usage of the Italian language has come out against gender neutral terms. In November the French senate voted to ban the use of gender neutral terms in government documents.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County District 5 Supervisor Donna Robinson announced at the end of the Supervisor’s regular meeting, today (Tuesday), that she will not be running for re-election this year. Robinson said four-terms is enough, and if anyone wishes to step-up and run for her seat, the filing deadline is March 22nd. March 4th is the first day for candidates to file nomination papers for the June 4th Iowa Primary, with March 22nd as the deadline. Each candidate must garner a certain number of signatures in order to be placed on the primary ballot. Anyone with questions should contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127. District 5 essentially includes the eastern one-third of Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Supervisor Donna Robinson (Official County photo)

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors received good news, with regard to the rate the County and its employees pay for health insurance premiums. Alera Group representative Tom Schuetz told the Board

Schuetz said that’s a roughly $40,000 increase.

He said unless there is a huge increase in claims across the board, the County should finish the fiscal year, and allow an additional cushion for the Reserve Fund.

Sagacity Benefits spokesman Steve Preader added the expects and $40-to 60,000 will be available to be added to the Reserve Fund.

The Board took no action on renewing the insurance plan at this time. They wanted more time to look over the information.

In other business, Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert said with all the recent winter weather, she has not had time to contact applicants for the truck driver labor openings, but they hope to do so this week. And, the Supervisors approved a request for program support from West Central Community Action, in the amount of $3,500 for FY2025.

ESSEX, IA- Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) recently implemented an Iowa West Foundation Home Repair Grant to help a rural Essex resident address some urgent needs, ultimately keeping her in the home.

Cynthia Samuel had some foundation issues that led to freezing pipes and in turn a deteriorating bathroom. She said she started searching for the possibility of funding to help her correct the issue and got connected with SWIPCO. After speaking with SWIPCO Inspector Mathew Lee, Samuel was quickly put on track to get some repairs. SWIPCO officials say they were able to help get Samuel approved for funding to repair the foundation cracks to prevent the temperature issues from continuing. Once that was corrected, updates were then made to the flooring structure and plumbing of her bathroom. That was followed by renovation and finishing of the entire room.Samuel said it was a blessing to find help, “I didn’t think I was going to be able to stay here with the continuing water issues. I started looking for other places to live. I’m so grateful for the work as I plan on staying here as long as I can.”

Photos of the completed bathroom project and of the resident; Cynthia Samuel in the updated room. (Photos & info. courtesy SWIPCO Communications Coordinator Chris Parks)

Samuel grew up in the area and moved away for an extended period. She came back to take care of her parents that both had cancer. She eventually purchased the home she’s in now.
Samuel had high praise for everyone she worked with during the repairs. “Mathew was so great to work with, we talked like we had been friends. The contractor was excellent and just came and took care of his business.” She liked the simplicity of the renovation. “They just sent me some pictures of a couple options on flooring and fixtures, and I picked what I liked out. They took care of the rest. I’m proud of it even though I didn’t do it.”

SWIPCO implements several different funding sources and programs to help residents in the region get needed repairs to their homes. If you have a need for your home and would like information about what assistance could be provided, please contact SWIPCO at 712-243-4196 or 1-866-279-4720.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a Work Session on Wednesday, Jan. 24th, beginning at 5:30-p.m. The meeting takes place in the High School Media Center (it will also be viewable through this LINK). The Board’s agenda is shown below.

PRIMGHAR, Iowa (KCAU-TV) — An arrest was made Monday in connection with a bank robbery in northwest Iowa.  According to a release from the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call at about 1:02 p.m. Monday alerted officials of a bank robbery at the Sanford Savings Bank. Bank officials said that a man, identified as Del Martinnez Evans, Jr., entered the bank and allegedly handed the teller a note that said “this was a robbery and demanded cash.” He did not show or mention a weapon, officials said.

An unknown amount of cash was taken, and the alleged robber left the bank. When officers arrived, a perimeter was set up around 201 West 5th Street. Local schools and businesses were advised to lock down until further clearance by officials.  Evans, Jr. was arrested without incident a little more than an hour later. He was charged with second degree robbery and second degree theft and placed into the O’Brien County Jail with a $15,000 bond.

The incident remains under investigation.

URBANDALE, IOWA [WHO-TV]— Urbandale Police have released the name of a man who was found dead outside an Urbandale gas station earlier this month in subzero temperatures.  The body of 52-year-old Ibrahim Shoddo, of Des Moines, was found early in the morning of January 13th near the gas pumps at a gas station in the 8700 block of Hickman Road. Police say he died of exposure. Temperatures that evening were more than ten degrees below zero, with wind chills making it even more dangerous to be outside. His death remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) –  An Iowa DCI agent is being accused of improperly investigating sports wagering by student-athletes. The investigation involves athletes and others associated with athletic programs from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. KCCI reports an attorney for Eyioma Uwazurike and Isaiah Lee made the accusation in a new filing Monday. The two former Cyclones football players are charged with identity theft and tampering with records related to illegal sports wagering.

In the new filing, Van M. Plumb says Special Agent Brian Sanger conducted a “warrantless search” by placing a GeoFence around certain dorms to investigate underage gambling. Plumb says this was done without any tips to DCI.

The filing also shows the software Sanger used gave him access to see online betting apps that were being used. However, he could not see if bets were actually being made, according to court documents.