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State tax collections up just 2 % from July-December

News

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

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)

Cruz says Iowa farmers are ‘snookered’ about the RFS

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Republican candidate Ted Cruz supports a five-year phase-out of the so-called “Renewable Fuels Standard” that sets annual ethanol production levels for the country, but Cruz says Iowans are being “snookered” about the R-F-S. “You know, a lot of corn farmers, a lot of people in Iowa have been led to believe by the lobbyists that the RFS is the ‘holy grail’, but the RFS ensures that Washington remains front and center,” Cruz said Tuesday in Sioux Center.

“It ensures that corn farmers have to go on bended knees to politicians in Washington, seeking their regular support and mandates.” Under current federal law, the Renewable Fuels Standard will end in 2022. Cruz co-sponsored a senate bill in 2013 that would have triggered a five-year phrase out of the R-F-S. Cruz says a better answer is improving market access and he promises as president he would end federal regulations that effectively prevent refineries from making higher blends of ethanol, like E-15 and E-30.

Cruz has been trailed this week in Iowa by America’s Renewable Future, a pro-ethanol group that’s headed by Eric Branstad, the oldest son of Republican Governor Terry Branstad, and Cruz is taking issue with their efforts. “Now I recognize, particularly as our campaign has gained more and more support, as we’ve seen conservatives uniting behind our campaign, that a coalition of lobbyists and Democrats have gotten together and are spending an awful lot of money trying to convince you that somehow Ted Cruz opposes corn farmers,” Cruz said in Sioux Center. “I’ll tell you the straight truth: it is utter nonsense.”

Eric Branstad says Cruz “started the Caucus process” by calling for an “immediate” repeal and has been swayed by Iowa farmers, but a spokeswoman for Cruz says the senator first called for a gradual phase out of the R-F-S nearly three years ago.

(Radio Iowa)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th

Trading Post

January 7th, 2016 by Jim Field

WANTED: Good used treadmill, with some kind of incline feature, and display of speed, distance, and time. Phone #712-249-0500.  SOLD!!

FOR SALE:  trundle bed in good condition with mattresses. In Council Bluffs. Asking $50 or offer. Call 402-206-5838.

FOR SALE:  Whirlpool dryer, asking $50.  Also, a very nice antique dresser with 3 drawers and 36″ mirror attached.  Asking $30.  Call 712-249-7749.

WANTED:  Keurig K-cup coffee maker.  Call 712-249-9783.  SOLD!

WANTED: Ski’s that could clamp onto basically any boot… and ski poles- average height. Don’t have to be in perfect shape.  Call 254-1908.

FOR SALE: Hunter green recliner in excellent shape, $125. Old wooden rocking chair with cushions, $100.  Call 712-249-4005.

SANDRA LYNN GALLIGO, 56, of Griswold (Mem. visitation 1/11/16)

Obituaries

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SANDRA LYNN GALLIGO, 56, of Griswold, died Wed., Jan. 6th, at home. A Memorial visitation for SANDRA GALLIGO will be held on Monday, January 11, 2016 from 1-until 3-p.m., at the First Assembly of God Church in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic has the arrangements.

RYAN LEE MIRANDA, 30, of Villisca (Svcs. 1/9/16)

Obituaries

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

RYAN LEE MIRANDA, 30, of Villisca, died Tue., Jan. 5th, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, in Red Oak. Funeral services for RYAN MIRANDA will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat. Jan. 9th, at Zion Lutheran Church, in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic had the arrangements.

Visitation with the family present, is from 5-until 7-pn Friday, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Burial will be in the Brighton Township Cemetery at Marne.

RYAN MIRANDA is survived by:

His wife – Kristi Miranda, of Villisca.

His father – Marcelino (Yolanda) Miranda, of Liberal, KS.

His mother – Dora Fauela, of Liberal, KS.

His children – Isabelle, and Henry Miranda, both of Villisca.

His brothers – Aaron (Trena) Anguiano, of Woodward, OK; Tony Anguiano, of Liberal, KS; Marc (Chelsey) Miranda, of Great Bend, KS.

His sisters – Jazmin (Scott) Hazelwood, of Oklahoma City, OK; & Yolanda Portillo, of Ft. Worth, TX.

His step-sister: Norma Miranda, of Lawrence, KS.

KJAN listening area forecast (updated 3:40-a.m. 1/7/16)

Weather

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY. AREAS OF FOG. A CHANCE OF DRIZZLE. SOUTHEAST WIND AROUND 5 MPH.

TODAY…AREAS OF FOG THROUGH MID MORNING. PATCHY FOG IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. DRIZZLE…LIGHT RAIN LIKELY AND A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN LIGHT RAIN AND DRIZZLE IN THE AFTERNOON. NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 90 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…PATCHY FOG IN THE EVENING. LIGHT RAIN. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 90 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…CLOUDY. LIGHT RAIN LIKELY IN THE MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF DRIZZLE AND LIGHT SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. LITTLE OR NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.

FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. LIGHT SNOW LIKELY THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. COLDER. LOW AROUND 20. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 70 PERCENT.

SATURDAY…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN ISOLATED FLURRIES IN THE AFTERNOON. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW THROUGH THE DAY. BREEZY…COLDER. HIGH AROUND 20. NORTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.

SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…COLDER. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT. LOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. COLDER. HIGH 5 TO 10 ABOVE.

 

No 4 Texas remains undefeated with 75-54 win over Iowa State

Sports

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Brooke McCarty scored 17 points, making five 3-pointers, and No. 4 Texas defeated Iowa State 75-54 on Wednesday night to remain undefeated and snap the Cyclones eight-game winning streak. Imani Boyette had 11 points and season-bests of 17 rebounds and seven blocks for the Longhorns, whose 14-0 start is their best since they were undefeated NCAA champions in 1986.

Texas, which has won its first three Big 12 games, made a season-high 11 3-pointers. The Longhorns were just 12 of 59 from behind the arc in their previous four games. Seanna Johnson scored 23 points to lead Iowa State (10-4, 2-1), which saw its eight-game winning streak end. The Longhorns led 38-25 at halftime, but not without enduring some trials along the way.

Miller gives Missouri State 59-58 win over Northern Iowa

Sports

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Dequon Miller’s layup with five seconds left lifted Missouri State to a 59-58 victory over Northern Iowa on Wednesday night, snapping the Bears’ four-game losing streak.

Ryan Kreklow made three free throws, two with 42 seconds left, to cut Northern Iowa’s lead to 58-57. After the Panthers struggled to get the ball upcourt, calling two timeouts, Klint Carlson missed on a baseline drive. Kreklow got the rebound and Miller raced down the floor and scored before the Panthers’ Wes Washpun missed a short jumper at the buzzer. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak to Northern Iowa.

Chris Kendrix scored 17 points to lead the Bears (5-10, 1-2 Missouri Valley). Obediah Church added 10 points and eight rebounds. Washpun and Matt Bohannon each had 15 points for the Panthers (9-7, 1-2). The Panthers never trailed in the second half until Miller’s winning basket, leading by 10 with 9:17 remaining.

Indiana State blunts late rally and defeats Drake 79-69

Sports

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Devonte Brown scored a career-high 27 points and Indiana State defeated Drake 79-69 on Wednesday night. Brenton Scott added 14 points — including a layup, steal and two free throws — to blunt a 6-0 run by Drake in the closing minutes. Matt Van Scyoc scored 13 and Khristian Smith 10 for the Sycamores (8-7, 2-1 Missouri Valley). Brown scored 20-plus for the sixth time this season.

Indiana State led 46-26 at the half and pushed its lead to a high of 22 as the second half started. Drake, which made 14 second-half shots after hitting nine in the first half, stormed back with an 11-0 run that cut the lead to 56-52.

Kale Abrahamson ended the run with a 3-pointer and C.J. Rivers made back-to-back baskets after a defensive rebound and a steal by Nick McGlynn. Jacob Enevold led Drake (5-10, 0-3) with 14 points. Rivers had 13 and Abrahamson 11.

 

Iowa News Headlines; Thu., 1/7/16

News

January 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

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.