Iowa’s Annual Sales Tax Holiday takes place this Friday, August 2nd and Saturday, August 3rd. The annual break from sales tax is the perfect time to save on new clothes or shoes before the kids head back to school or even something special for the upcoming holiday season.

In general, select clothing and footwear are tax exempt – meaning no state sales tax will be collected – but there are restrictions. Check out the Sales Tax Holiday web page for full details.

Washington, D.C. – Third District Representative Congresswoman Cindy Axne today (Monday) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant program has awarded over $4.8 million to Des Moines International Airport and Guthrie County Regional Airport. Des Moines International received an additional $1.68 million, in addition to the $10.3 million they received in June, as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Runway Incursion Mitigation Program to enhance safety at the airport. Guthrie County Regional Airport received nearly $3.15 million to fund runway reconstruction projects.

Axne says “The continued support our local airports receive from the Federal Aviation Administration is instrumental to Iowa’s efforts to develop and repair vital infrastructure to improve safety and development. I’m pleased Des Moines and Guthrie airports are receiving this competitive federal funding which is a direct investment in our growth here in Iowa’s Third District.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has lifted the no-wake speed restriction, which equates to roughly 5 mph, for boating on Lake Manawa. Officials say the water levels in Indian Creek and the Missouri River have dropped to below flood stage and the lake level has returned to normal. The no-wake restriction had been in place since June 5 to minimize the impact of the high water to infrastructure around the lake, as well as boater safety issues associated with flood related debris floating just under the water surface.

(Radio Iowa) — The leader of the labor union which represents a majority of state employees has been re-elected to another term. Danny Homan won his eighth term as president of AFSCME Council 61 in a weekend vote at the union’s convention. AFSCME represents some 20-thousand state employees.

Homan issued a statement saying that despite what he calls legislative attempts to “destroy our union,” Council 61 “will continue to strongly advocate for our members and all working families. We’re not going anywhere.”

AFSCME had sued the state seeking to overturn the new collective bargaining law passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2017 — but the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the law. Homan became a public employee with the corrections department in 1984 and was first elected president of AFSCME in 2005.

(Radio Iowa) — Election officials across Iowa are preparing for combined school board and city elections this fall. Board of education elections used to be held in September, but a law passed in 2017 requires them to be held in November — on the same day as city elections. Clinton County Auditor Eric VanLancker says his staff is preparing for the upcoming combined election and notes many voters will have new polling places.

“Maybe the most logical thing to do is to just use our traditional city election polling locations,” VanLancker says, “and then we will figure out where, say, the people who want to vote in the school election who don’t necessarily live in the city, we’ve assigned them a city polling location to go to so they can still vote in the school election.” VanLancker says he hopes the consolidation results in more people voting in school district -and- city elections.

Clinton County voter turnout in the last presidential election was 74-percent. “These folks here who have control of your local money in your local community, we should be turning out 74% for those, too, instead of 12%,” VanLancker says. “We’ve even seen 6% turnouts for these elections.” He says some urban voters won’t see any change at all, however…

“It won’t be that simple at some of our more rural polling locations. We know we have one location that’s going to have up to six different ballot styles,” VanLancker says. “They’ve got a city ballot and then they’re in the middle of two or three or four other school districts that’ll be going to that polling location as well.”

During July, Clinton County mailed new voter registration cards to its voters so they’ll know where to cast their ballots.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Congressman Steve King says it’s up to Republicans to reach across the aisle and get more Democrats in the U.S. House to support the United States Mexico Canada Agreement.  “Let’s just work the political situation,” King says. “…In the end, it’s an up-or-down vote, non-amendable and a take-it-or-leave-it situation, so I think we’re going to end up taking it.”

Mexico has already ratified the deal and Canada’s government has started the ratification process. King says during a recent meeting with President Trump’s top trade advisor, he got the impression House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports the U-S-M-C-A. “First I thought that she would be resistant and delay because I didn’t think that she wanted to see President Trump get a win…until the time I sat down with Ambassador Lighthizer who had not even an inflection in his voice that he was frustrated with Speaker Pelosi,” King says.

King, though he’s a “yes” on the U-S-M-C-A, suggests keeping the North American Free Trade Agreement in force would be good for Iowa’s economy. “I never would have opened that trade agreement up…NAFTA was good for Iowa agriculture and good for Iowa manufacturing, but not so good for other states across the country,” King says. Mexico and Canada are Iowa’s top two trading partners.

King made his comments during an interview at the Plymouth County Fair.

HARPERS FERRY, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa farmer has died after being attacked by a bull. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick says someone called authorities Sunday to report the attack at a farm pasture northwest of Harpers Ferry.

First responders found the body of 59-year-old John Francis Conway in a wooded pasture area. Deputies determined a bull had attacked him Saturday night.
Deputies killed the bull because of its aggressive behavior.

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds today (Monday), announced 27 collaborative, public-private partnership events will be taking place to help Iowa build a skilled workforce for the future. From Sept. 4 to Nov. 1, 2019, Future Ready Iowa Employer Summits will be taking place across the state.  One of the events takes place in Clarinda, Sept. 5th (more info. can be found here )

Reynolds said “My top priority is ensuring Iowans have the skills they need to succeed in a global economy driven by disruptive technology. Future Ready Iowa is vital for accomplishing that goal as well as meeting our job creators’ needs. That’s why we’re hosting statewide Employer Summits for top business, community, and education leaders to collaborate, innovate, and ultimately, help Iowans thrive in cutting-edge careers.”

Each event will feature presentations about hiring and retraining practices, collaborating with community partners, and upskilling current employees. Employers, local business members, and educators are encouraged to attend. Iowa Workforce Development is partnering with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and the Iowa Business Council to host the events across the state.

Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said “Employer support and participation is absolutely essential to the success of Future Ready Iowa and ensuring we meet our goal of 70 percent of Iowans with postsecondary training or education by 2025. The focus of the summits is on employers and how they can leverage Future Ready Iowa to create and sustain its talent pipeline as well as educating them about all the different options they have to grow their skilled workforce, both internally and externally.”

Iowa Association of Business and Industry President Michael Ralston says “Iowa Association of Business and Industry members look forward to co-hosting these summits and learning about workforce solutions with local employers. We hope they will gain a new perspective about state resources that can help their business succeed.”

And, Iowa Business Council Executive Director Georgia Van Gundy says “Iowa Business Council members understand the critical nature of Future Ready Iowa’s success throughout the state. The Employer Summits will be a way for local businesses to learn about Future Ready Iowa programs and the best practices to address workforce challenges in the region.”

The events are of no cost to the attendees. Registration for upcoming events is now available at www.FutureReadyIowa.gov. If you are an employer interested in hosting a Future Ready Iowa Employer Summit this fall, please contact Shelly Evans, Iowa Workforce Development Executive Assistant, at shelly.evans@iwd.iowa.gov

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports six recent arrests. Sunday afternoon, 38-year old Crystal Marie McCann, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Just before 5-a.m. Saturday, 29-year old Kasey Marie McNeal, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree. 32-year old Seth Allen Simmons, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday morning for Theft in the 1st and Theft in the 2nd Degrees. 33-year old Amanda Kay Malm, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of Probation.

27-year old Angela Marie Kier, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday morning in Mills County, for Theft in the 2nd degree, Driving while Barred, Interference with Official Acts, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Maintain control, and Speeding. And, Friday night, 18-year old Nathan Edward Lee Richardson, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Revoked.