State tax receipts over the past six months are up just two percent compared to the same period last year. Jeff Robinson, the senior fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency, calls that “modest” growth. “As we head into the second half of the fiscal year, growth will need to accelerate,” he says.

That’s because a three-person panel of financial experts is predicting state tax collections will grow almost twice as much, by three-point-eight percent. That estimate is what the state budget plan for the next fiscal year is to be based upon. The data on state tax collections for just the month of December is a bit muddled because the Thanksgiving holiday was so late in November. While the state treasury’s actual cash receipts show a dip of nearly 26 million last month compared to December of 2014, Robinson says that’s off by about 42 million.

“In reality, December 2015 was a mildly positive General Fund Revenue month,” Robinson says. The 2016 Iowa Legislature convenes on Monday and legislators from both parties acknowledge coming up with a state budget plan will be difficult.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lottery official says there is no jackpot winner in the drawing for a Powerball prize worth an estimated $500 million. The winning numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the “Powerball” game were: 02-11-47-62-63, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 3. Kelly Cripe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Lottery, says no one matched the numbers drawn Wednesday night. She says that means the estimated prize for Saturday’s drawing is $675 million, the largest jackpot of any lottery game in U.S. history. The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former U.S. Representative Tom Latham of Iowa says he has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. The former Republican congressman wrote on his public Facebook page Wednesday that he was diagnosed recently with a form of lymphoma. His post, which the 67-year-old linked to his verified Twitter account, says he is working with doctors and there’s a treatment plan. He didn’t release more information.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — Texas Senator Ted Cruz is pushing back against a pro-ethanol group in Iowa that claims he’s softened his opposition to a renewable fuel subsidy as the February 1st caucuses near. Cruz said Tuesday he wanted to end the renewable fuel subsidy in 2022, the same year it’s currently scheduled to stop. The director of a pro-ethanol group that’s been following Cruz across Iowa said Wednesday that Cruz calling for the phase-out to run through 2022 is a “big step forward.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Altoona police say a worker was killed when a trench collapsed on him as he was installing lines for a residential development. Sergeant Jason Ferguson says the man died Wednesday morning when the trench collapsed as he and others were laying utility lines for the housing project. Police haven’t released his name.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Brooke McCarty scored 17 points, making five 3-pointers, and Number 4 Texas defeated Iowa State 75-54 on Wednesday night to remain undefeated. Seanna Johnson scored 23 points to lead Iowa State.