AFTON, Iowa [KCCI] — Another Iowa school district has approved a four-day school week. The Creston News Advertiser reports that the East Union school board approved the change last night (Wednesday night). The district says the goal is to improve teacher recruitment and retention. They say other school districts with four-day weeks have had success filling open positions.
The change goes into effect next school year.
(Radio Iowa/UPDATED) – Republican legislators plan to cut Iowans’ income taxes by a billion dollars next year. Cuts approved two years ago would have implemented a flat rate of just under four percent in 2026. The new G-O-P plan goes lower, to three-point-eight percent and it would take effect a year earlier — in 2025. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee that develops tax policy. “This is a culmination of discussions we’ve had over the past few months here,” Dawson says. “…We’ve seen a variety of tax proposals in this building, but the biggest question is how do we get some of these monies back to Iowa taxpayers.”
Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the Iowa House. “This puts Iowa in the driver’s seat for being one of the most conservative states in the country, yet again, when it comes to taxation,” he says. The plan also tweaks property tax limits the legislature enacted last year, letting some cities and counties a bit more property tax revenue. The bill has already cleared a Senate subcommittee this (Thursday) morning. Lobbyists for developers, banks and business groups are praising the legislation. Brad Hartkopt is with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. “We appreciate all the progress that has been made over the last several years in making our tax climate more competitive for both individuals and businesses,” Hartkopt said. “We believe this bill takes us in another step going in that direction and we support it.”
Mike Owen of Common Good Iowa says tax cuts should instead be targeted to Iowa’s working poor. “This bill compounds a patently unfair tax system that we have. It takes us away from a tax system based on an ability to pay.” Owen said. “…I would add this is one more case of taxes directing budget choices rather than the other way around, where we could determine our needs, transparently set priorities, find the best way to fund them.”
Republicans say this latest round of tax cuts are possible because their state budget plan for next year doesn’t spend all of the available tax revenue and there will be a withdrawal from the Taxpayer Relief Fund. It’s where unspent taxes from previous years have been deposited. Representative Kaufmann says that Taxpayer Relief Fund will have more than two BILLION dollars left in it after next year’s withdrawal. “We’re showing here in Iowa that we’re fiscally responsible,” Kaufmann says. “We’re understanding concerns of mistakes made in other states. We’re still able to actualize growth, fund our priorities.”
Senator Dawson suggests there may not need to be a withdrawal from the Taxpayer Relief Fund if the economy grows, which will lead to more tax revenue for the state. “I think that this is the best of both worlds that leaves the conversation for long term, further tax cuts,” Dawson says. “as well as strategic opportunities.” Dawson has proposed investing the nearly four BILLION dollars in the Taxpayer Relief Fund and using the profits to ratchet down the income tax rate over time, but that’s not included in this bill making its way through the legislature this week. There are some other policies in the bill. It lets county boards of supervisors decide whether to keep or disband county compensation boards. Kaufmann says the boards have contributed to the explosion in property tax growth.
“You’ve essentially got a group of friends getting together and recommending raises for each other…Counties cannot split the difference, look at things on merit,” Kaufmann said, “and so you’ve got an autopilot ponzi scheme of property tax growth that the local county supervisors…have no control over.”
The bill also repeals an 1848 law that has required Lee County to maintain TWO county courthouses.
DARRELL SOE, 89, of Elk Horn, died Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the Heritage House, in Atlantic. A Celebration of Life for DARRELL SOE will be held 3-p.m. Monday, April 22nd, at Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2-until 3-p.m., Monday.
Inurnment with Military Honors will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery in Elk Horn.
DARRELL SOE is survived by:
His daughter – Joni (Kevin) Butts, of Minden.
His sons -Jeff (Kim) Soe, of Red Oak, and Troy (Maria) Soe, of Omaha, NE.
His sister – Marsha (John) Brown, of Malvern.
5 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowa farmers are firing up their tractors for the first time this spring, and one expert suggests before you plant the first seed, make sure your equipment, your body, and your mind are ready for the season ahead. Dr. Kimberly Lansing, a family medicine physician with Gundersen Health System, says do a thorough check of your heavy equipment to make sure it’s safe to operate after sitting dormant for the winter. “Even if you checked it in the fall, you want to make sure that some family of raccoons didn’t move into your machine shed and rearrange your hydraulics,” Lansing says. “So, going over everything right before you get out in the field, making sure your finisher’s ready to go, and your equipment’s all functional is probably one of the most important things.”
Farming ranks as one of the nation’s most dangerous professions, and Lansing says all tractors should have rollover protection systems, as many farmers who have to be rushed to the emergency room had an accident with a tractor. “Typically, equipment-related injuries, equipment, motor vehicles, including ATVs, tractors and motor vehicles are among the largest things that bring people in,” Lansing says. “We see the most injuries in these areas between April and September, which of course, corresponds to the time when most farmers are out in the field and active.”
Farming can be a very strenuous profession, placing extreme demands on the body. “Of course, you want to have yourself in as good a condition as you keep your equipment,” she says. “So, making sure you do get adequate sleep, because if you’re sleepy behind the wheel, bad things happen. Also, making sure you’re in condition to do what you’re doing. People that work on farms may have other health problems, and you need to be really careful and cautious about what your own limitations are.” Farmers are considered the toughest of the tough, but Lansing says if you’re having a physical problem, don’t shrug it off for later, as there may not -be- a later.
Photo courtesy of the Iowa State University Extension
“You definitely should not ignore warning signs just because you’re busy. I literally once had somebody who said they were calving and couldn’t come in with chest pain and they got in and they were having an active heart attack,” Lansing says. “Fortunately, he survived but your own health and being there for your family is more important.” Farmers are considered one of Iowa’s most vulnerable populations for mental health struggles, and rural suicide deaths are two times higher than the state’s city and metro areas. Lansing encourages farmers to look after one another.
“Farmers are very observant because they need to be in order to keep their farms running,” she says. “You’ve got to look for that animal that’s starting to look sick, or, ‘Oh, the weather’s going to do this,’ but being somebody who will go out and grab an extra cup of coffee and bring it to their neighbor and say, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ Just checking in with them and seeing how they’re doing is probably a nice first step.”
Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.
(Eagan, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings continue with voluntary off-season workouts this week at team headquarters in the Twin Cities. One of the players in the weight room has been star tight end T-J Hockenson, who is recovering from a serious knee injury he suffered in a game last year on December 24th against Detroit. Hockenson, a former Hawkeye standout, says rehab has been going well on his surgically-repaired knee. He says he continues to work hard to get the knee ready to play and would not put a timetable on when he would be ready to play in a game. The Chariton, Iowa product also says he isn’t sure of the solution, but he was not totally happy with the hit he took that caused the injury. Detroit defensive back Kerby Joseph went low to make the tackle, chopping at his knee, which caused the injury. Hockenson says he doesn’t think there was intent to injure, but he would have preferred to have been tackled higher on his body.
Vikings tight end T-J Hockenson says rehab on his knee continues.
Hockenson says he was not thrilled with the hit he took from Kerby Joseph that caused the injury.
Hockenson says he isn’t sure what the solution is on low hits, as the league also doesn’t want hits around the head and neck.
Hockenson says both he and Rams tight end Tyler Higbee suffered similar injuries on similar low hits, both from Kerby Joseph.
Hockenson says he is working hard in rehab but isn’t sure when he will be able to do football activities again.
Hockenson says things are on a great path on his road to recovery after his surgery.
Hockenson says early in his rehab it wasn’t easy.
Hockenson says it is good to be back at the team’s facility is good.
Hockenson says he is ready to push forward on his recover.
Hockenson says it is great to see new running back Aaron Jones in the building.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is excited about T-J Hockenson’s progress.
O’Connell says he is comfortable with knowing Hockenson will be back at 100% in 2024.
Jim Field visits with comedian Austin Anderson, who will perform Saturday night at the Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak.
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team defeated Bradley, 11-6, on Wednesday night at Duane Banks Field.
The Hawkeyes trailed twice in the contest but responded both times to take the midweek contest with the Braves. Bradley struck first with a solo home run in the first, the Hawkeyes responded with a three run second inning.
After the Braves added five runs between the fourth and the fifth, Iowa again battled back scoring eight runs in the final three innings.
“I think for the most part it was a very good job,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Had the one bad inning in the fourth that looked like it was going to cost us. But other than that, we got off to a great start. The first three guys that went out there they did a nice job. Archer had a good start other than the solo home run to O’Brian.”
10 different pitchers saw action in the contest for the Hawkeyes. Anthony Watts had the longest outing throwing 1 1/3 innings to earn his second win of the season.
Ben DeTaeye threw the final inning of the game to close out the win. He joined Reese Beuter and Brandt Hogue as Hawkeyes who did not allow a hit or a run in the contest.
Andy Nelson, led the offensive charge for Iowa, plating three RBIs. Raider Tello and Reese Moore were both 2-for-5 and Moore scored three runs. Kyle Huckstorf and Gable Mitchell both scored two runs.
“What we were trying to do tonight is just be who we are,” said Heller.” We’re seeing that we do a good job of holding the zone and not expanding. Taking what they can get even if it is a walk, as well as being ready to do some damage if they get it over the big part of the plate. It was good to see.”
Iowa stole seven bases and hit .324 en route to the victory.
Iowa continues its home stand hosting Rutgers for a three-game series starting Friday at 6:05 p.m. (CT).
(Creston, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges in Creston, Wednesday afternoon. According to Creston Police, 24-year-old Bradford Guy Boyer, of Kent, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart Store, around 12:55-p.m. Boyer was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense. He was transported to the Union County Jail and later posted a $1,000 cash or approved surety bond, before being released.
A little before 5-p.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 27-year-old Adam Edward Lee Austin, of Creston, in the 100 block of N. Elm Street, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or Subsequent Offense. Adam Austin was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a judge.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – As mentioned in an earlier report, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Wednesday issued a disaster proclamation for Cass and five other counties affected by severe storms on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon was in a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday morning. Afterward, he received word from residents and local officials in the area, wanting him to take a look about damage from a possible tornado having occurred in Anita, near the golf course, across a subdivision, a business on the north side of Highway 83, and at Lake Anita State Park.
Damage area image courtesy Mike Kennon
The damage occurred at around 10-a.m., Tuesday. Kennon says 12 homes were identified as having some minor damage. Broken windows, siding and trim, shingles and ridge caps, as well as garage doors, sustained damage in some parts of Anita. Numerous trees also fell, to varying degrees. Mike Kennon said the nursing home in Anita also appeared to have sustained damage from the weather event.
While the skies turned dark in Atlantic and parts of Cass County, late Tuesday morning, Kennon said there were no warnings issued by the National Weather Service at the time.
As mentioned, the governor’s proclamation open’s up the possibility of individual assistance that can be accessed, according to Kennon.
He said there may also be other, widespread damage from a storm front that passed through Cass County Tuesday afternoon. Strong winds affected most, if not all of the county. Kennon said Persons with property damage, who have not already done so, should contact Mike Kennon at 712-254-1500. And, if you happen to have photos of the severe weather event as it was occurring, you can send those to Mike Kennon at mkennon@casscoia.us .
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