All three Republicans in Iowa’s congressional delegation have voted FOR the House G-O-P’s tax plan. Iowa Republican Congressmen Rod Blum of Dubuque, David Young of Van Meter and Steve King of Kiron voted yes. King told Radio Iowa in late October that he was ready to support the package. “I’m willing to compromise more than I’ve been for probably 10 years because I see the urgency,” King said. “We need to get these things done and I’m supporting this tax policy even though I think that we ought to go with the ‘Fair Tax’ and abolish the IRS.”

King issued a written statement shortly after the bill passed, calling it “historic,” but adding that “it would have been much improved” if the plan had included repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s penalty for those who do not have health insurance. That proposal is part the tax package pending in the U.S. Senate. In early October, when just a “framework” of the tax plan emerged, Congressman YOUNG indicated he’d support getting rid of the estate tax, reducing the corporate tax rate and cutting income taxes on the “middle class.”

“I tell you this, everywhere I go in the third district, people are talking about (this): Their taxes are too high,” Young said. The lone Democrat in Iowa’s congressional delegation is Dave Loebsack of Iowa City. He voted against the House G-O-P’s tax plan. Loebsack said in a written statement that the plan “slashes taxes for millionaires, billionaires and corporations” and “will hurt everyday Iowans.” Loebsack pointed to the bill’s cuts to “Medicare, Medicaid, education and job training initiatives” in order to finance the tax cuts.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two people were arrested, Wednesday. 44-year old Dwayne Darrell Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. Rollins was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond. And, 44-year old Lynette Kae Linkenhoker, of Tabor, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office also investigated two separate, vehicle-versus-deer accidents, both of which took place on Monday. The drivers were identified as 49-year old Kristi Barrett, of Sidney, and 61-year old Gregory Gregston, of Scottsdale, AZ. No injuries were reported.

One person was injured during an accident Tuesday, in Page County. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports 69-year old Donald Lee Ridnour, of Clarinda, was transported from the scene to the Shenandoah Medical Center by Shenandoah Ambulance. The collision happened at around 10:19-a.m., Tuesday. The Sheriff says 45-year old Teresa Deann Madison, of Clarinda, was stopped at the intersection of Highways 2 and 59, and waiting for traffic to clear to continue westbound on Highway 2. Madison was the driver and only occupant of a 2010 Kia Sedona van. Donald Ridnour was traveling westbound on Highway 2 approaching the intersection in a 1994 Plymouth van, when he failed to stop.

Both vehicles are considered totaled. Charges are pending. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Shenandoah Police Department, Shenandoah Fire Department, and Shenandoah Ambulance.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident at 5:03-a.m. Monday, in Page County. Sheriff Palmer says 22-year old Haley Lynne Fundermann, of rural Red Oak, was traveling north on O Avenue near the intersection with 180th Street, when the 2006 Mercury Montego she was driving struck five cows on the road. The cows were the property of Norman Buch, of Clarinda. Palmer says there was dense fog in the area at the time, obscuring visibility of the stray animals. All five cows died in the accident. The vehicle was totaled.

A woman who used to live in the tiny northwest Iowa town of Wallingford will spend time in federal prison after pleading guilty to embezzling from a bank. Fifty-one-year-old Cindy Harris of Wallingford worked for the Emmet County State Bank in Estherville. Prosecutors say over a period of more than a decade, she embezzled nearly 300-thousand dollars from the bank. This spring, Harris pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, bank theft and misapplication of funds. She’s been sentenced to three months in federal prison and then three months of home confinement, Harris has been ordered to pay nearly 300-thousand dollars in restitution — an amount equal to the money she stole from the bank.

The Emmet County State Bank in Estherville was founded in 1927 and was family owned. In 2012, it was sold to NorthStar Bank in Estherville — another locally-owned bank. Investigators say Harris’ embezzlement started in 2002 and continued through July of 2013.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Hemp Association is hosting an informational meeting in Spencer tonight (Thursday). Chris Disbro is the association’s founder and president.  “The Iowa Hemp Association has been working now for about five or six years to push for agricultural and industrial as a third major rotational crop and commodity here in Iowa,” Disbro says. “We’ve dedicated ourselves to the reintroduction of this crop as a staple of Iowa agriculture.”

Industrial hemp was once grown throughout the country and used to make clothing, rope and even paper, but it was outlawed in 1970 because the plant is part of the cannabis family. The 2014 Farm Bill has allowed hemp to be grown for research or as a registered cash crop. Thirty states have legalized hemp production. Iowa has not. Disbro hopes to change that. “We do a lot of educational events,” Disbro says, “bring in experts from other states where they’re already growing it and try to inform the community and lawmakers at large about the benefits of this crop.”

Lawmakers in the neighboring states of Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota have voted to allow hemp production. A Minnesota farmer who grew 80 acres of hemp this past year will be in Spencer tonight (Thursday) at the forum. In addition to the emerging market for hemp-based products, the Iowa Hemp Association argues the plant helps prevent soil erosion in farm fields and its roots trap fertilizers that would otherwise wind up in nearby lakes and streams. Tonight’s (Thursday’s) event will be held at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. It starts at 5 p.m. Those interested in attending are asked to register on the Iowa Hemp Association’s Facebook page.

(Radio Iowa)

If you’re traveling over Thanksgiving, you’ll have even more company than last year. AAA predicts that 50.9 million Americans will travel over the holiday, a 3.3 percent increase over 2016. The auto club credits a growing economy and low unemployment for putting people in the traveling mood. More than 45 million will travel by car between next Wednesday and the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the auto club said Thursday.

AAA says about 4 million will fly, a 5 percent increase. AAA and research firm IHS Markit base their forecast on recent and predicted growth in the economy, consumer spending, household wealth and other measures. Road trips will cost more, however. The national average for a gallon of regular is $2.56, up from $2.16 a year ago.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — An elementary school in eastern Iowa is using a therapy pig to help special education students manage emotions and focus on learning. The Muscatine Journal reports that Frankie the pig serves as a calming mechanism. Students showing signs of emotional distress are asked to sit and read to the therapy pig for 15 minutes. The practice has proven to help students recover and return to learning more quickly.

Students are also in charge of feeding and caring for Frankie. It has created a sense of ownership and responsibility in the classroom. Special education teacher Trina Hepker knows her students might not want to tell her everything. She says Frankie can be a confidant when her students are upset. She says that thanks to Frankie, her young students are excited to come to school.