A critical meeting at the capitol tomorrow (Tuesday) will determine whether the current year’s state budget needs to be cut more AND whether legislators will have to dramatically scale back their tentative plans for the NEXT year. “That could definitely happen.” That’s State Representative Pat Grassley, chairman of the budget-writing committee in the Iowa House.

The reason for the uncertainty? State tax collections are running far behind expectations, barely two percent ahead of last year. Jeff Robinson is a fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency. “Although the revenue news is fairly grim thus far for fiscal year 2017, the bulk of tax year 2016 income tax processing remains and there are reasons to believe the tax filing season, when completed, will be positive for revenue growth.”

Although charts show the state of Iowa has collected 88 million dollars MORE in taxes during the past eight months, Robinson says there are processing issues that make revenue growth over the previous year far, far lower — in the range of only eight MILLION dollars. With just three months left in the state’s CURRENT budgeting year, any NEW spending cuts will likely lead to layoffs in state agencies. Representative Chris Hall of Sioux City is the top-ranking Democrat on the house budgeting committee. “It is hard times and very hard morale for anybody who is working in public service,” Hall says.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the situation is compounded because most state agencies have NOT had a budget boost for the past six years and layoffs may be the only option left if more reductions are required. “There’s just not a lot of other areas that we can cut,” Reynolds says.” We’ll just have to wait to see what the REC says and go from there.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference — the R-E-C — is a three-person board that sets the official estimate of future state tax revenue. Their estimates govern how much state officials may spend. State agencies are already implementing the agreement legislators and the governor made LAST MONTH to cut 118-million dollars in spending, to avoid a deficit.

(Radio Iowa)

This is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program, Eric Pruess, says the goals are simple. “To help promote the awareness of problem gambling…and to have the conversation among family members, professionals and others about problem gambling,” Preuss says.

Preuss told the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission last week that it’s important to continue pushing awareness of the issue. “We know that there are between eight and 12 million people in the United States who meet the criteria for a gambling disorder — and yet fewer than one percent actually receive the services that they might be in need of. So, that’s important as to why we continue to have not only a focus in the month of March but throughout the year, encouraging Iowans to have the conversation with each other,” according to Pruess.

He says those with a gambling addiction need to know lots of help is available. “Many suffer in silence because they don’t know,” Pruess explains. “they don’t know that there is a hope for a better tomorrow. They don’t know that what they are experiencing is not something that is just happening to them. This is a serious of events and behaviors that they are experiencing that are common with maybe up to ten to 12 percent of other Iowans.”

He says his organization’s job is to continue to reach out to spread the message. “That free confidential help is available 24-7 anytime of the year. That recovery is possible, treatment works and that we are the messengers of hope to those Iowans struggling from problem gambling,”Pruess says. Pruess says people need to understand the nature of problem gambling.

He says the research in the last decade indicates that gambling disorder is actually a brain disease. “When you look at the CAT scans and C-T scans of individuals who are engaged in gambling activities — it lights up the brain much like a cocaine addict or meth addict– or someone who over imbibes in alcohol. Gambling modifies how the brain works and it is similar to how other drugs also affect the brain,” Pruess says.

He says around one percent or some 20-thousand people in Iowa are problem gamblers but a small percentage of them are taking advantage of the help that is available. “We have fewer than 800 people who actually seek assistance in Iowa in any given year — so there’s a huge gap in those who actually need services and those who seek services,” Pruess says.

Free help with problem gambling is available by calling 1-800-BETS OFF or online at www.1800BETSOFF.org.

(Radio Iowa)

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say three tanker cars of ethanol remain in a rural creek, three days after a fiery train derailment in northwestern Iowa. Environmental specialist Amber Wolf with the Iowa Natural Resources Department said Monday the fire finally went out midday Sunday.

The blaze erupted after the derailment around 1 a.m. Friday on a trestle bridge spanning Jack Creek near Graettinger, about 160 miles northwest of Des Moines. Federal safety officials say 20 tanker cars filled with ethanol left the tracks, with five plunging into the creek.

Wolf says two of the five cars have been pulled out, but three were left in the creek Sunday after recovery work was suspended because of a snowstorm. The department says creek water checks downstream found no obvious signs of a spill.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Arispe resident reported Sunday, someone had entered his home and taken several items. Those items include two wallets, a cell phone, and a purse.  The loss was estimated at $850.