Governor Kim Reynolds says she has an “obligation” to balance the new state budget and some state worker layoffs may be necessary. “I think they’ll be minimal, so I’ve not had many that have come to our desk,” Reynolds says. “I think the message that we want to really portray is that services have not been impacted so far. That is what each one of our directors are doing, really, the best job that they can to manage a very tight budget.”

The state’s new budgeting year began July 1st. Last week, seven workers in the Department of Natural Resources laid off as managers reorganized the agency to deal with a budget cut.  “Even with the recent layoff at DNR, no services were impacted,” Reynolds says. “And every single day we should be looking at our agencies and looking for ways that we can provide a more efficient and effective service to Iowa, by really being mindful of the taxpayer dollars that are funding state government.”

Reynolds says state agency directors are aiming to “minimize” the need for layoffs. “I want to also though take this opportunity to complement our state workers that do a phenomenal job every single day,” Reynolds says. “They are the face of Iowa government and they are on the ground, delivering services, and we’re very appreciative.”

Reynolds plans to wait until late September before deciding whether to call legislators back in special session. Reynolds has the authority to withdraw up to 50 million dollars from the state’s Economic Emergency Fund to cover any shortfall in LAST YEAR’S state budget. The full extent of the deficit won’t be known until all accounts are settled September 30th.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police and prosecutors will pay $285,000 to an Iowa lawyer who spent 16 days in jail after he was allegedly framed by a longtime tormentor and falsely accused of threatening witnesses and a juror. The payment from the city of Coralville and Johnson County settles a lawsuit filed by Raymond Tinnian, who alleged that authorities were fooled and pursued the wrong man. Tinnian says the settlement compensates him for a personal nightmare and travesty of justice

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An agency has chosen a vacant riverfront block in downtown Des Moines for a $137 million courthouse. The General Services Agency announced Monday its preferred site was a block along the Des Moines River that for decades was home to the downtown YMCA. That building was imploded in 2015, when the Y moved several blocks to a new location. The Des Moines Register reports the selection of the 1.8 acre site was a setback for city officials who had proposed building the courthouse in another area.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants Congress “to get something done” on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, but she declined to offer specifics. The Republican governor told reporters Monday that lawmakers need to put in a “long-term solution” for replacing the health care law. She didn’t answer questions about alternatives she supports or whether she backs any GOP-led health care bills moving through Congress, noting that details are still being sorted out.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say Cedar Rapids firefighters have finished their two-day battle against flaming bales of recycled cardboard. Firetrucks were sent to International Paper around 7:35 a.m. Saturday. The city says firefighters worked with company employees to remove the bales, break them open and extinguish any flames or embers. The release says firefighters ended their work Monday morning. One firefighter received minor injuries.

A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced Monday (today) in Cass County District Court to a total of 25 years in prison. The sentence was with regard to a pursuit last year that resulted in a collision with a law enforcement vehicle. 38-year old Joseph Lee Ray Bartlett, of Council Bluffs, was found guilty last month, of two counts of Assault on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations, two counts of Second Degree Criminal Mischief and one count of Eluding.

He was sentenced to five years in prison on each count, with the sentence to run concurrently. Bartlett was given credit for time served. He was also ordered to pay all related fees and any victim restitution.

His arrest followed a July 3^rd, 2016 high-speed pursuit that went from Pottawattamie County into and through Griswold on Highway 92. It ended near the Highway 71 and 92 intersection near Lyman, but not before the SUV Bartlett was driving rammed a Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy’s vehicle and nearly struck a Sheriff’s SUV. No injuries were reported.