The Iowa Association of Realtors report for July says the state housing market continued to see sales and inventory drop.

Home sales were down by nearly 21 percent in July compared to last July. That’s a drop of 677 homes sold for a total of three-thousand-11 in the month. The number of sales from June to July of this year mirrored the yearly trend, down 20 percent.

The report says higher interest rates and a lower inventory led to the decline. The number of homes on the market in July decreased by a little more than 12 percent compared to July of last year. Homes sat on the market for 33 days this July before a sale — compared to the 23 day average of July 2022.

This (Wednesday) is the first day of school in many Iowa districts and motorists are being warned to slow down and stay alert for darting kids and for school buses. Hamilton County Supervisor Rick Young of Jewell says there’s been a recent rash of bad behavior from behind the wheel.

Speeding on gravel roads can be very risky, especially if a school bus is making a stop over the next hill, or as you’re approaching a rural intersection that’s partly obscured by crops.

The Iowa legislature unanimously passed Kadyn’s (KAY-dinz) Law in 2012, targeting motorists who pass a stopped school bus with the stop arm extended. On the first offense, a conviction could bring a fine of up to 675 dollars, up to 30 days in jail, and a 30-day suspension of the driver’s license.

In Sioux City alone, police report issuing 32 citations last school year to motorists who passed a parked school bus with its stop sign extended.

Landowners who object to letting the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline run through their property are making their case to state utility regulators. The Iowa Utilities Board opened a public hearing on the company’s application for a pipeline permit this (Tuesday) morning. The hearing is expected to continue through next month. Lawyers spent part of the opening day arguing about what kind of questions they’re allowed to ask of landowners. Bret Dublinski (doo-BLIHN-skee) represents Summit Carbon Solutions.

Brian Jorde (JOR-dee) represents landowners who don’t want Summit’s pipeline on their property.

Utilities Board chairman Erik Helland is presiding over the hearing.

Helland and the other two members of the Utility Board are also asking questions of landowners. A lawyer for the state’s Office of the Consumer Advocate is also asking questions.

Landowners who object to letting the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline run through their properties are making their case to state utility regulators. The Iowa Utilities Board’s hearing on the company’s application for a pipeline permit began Tuesday morning. Marcia Langner (LANG-ner) of Ayrshire spent an hour and a half testifying about her concerns about the proposed pipeline route through her Clay County farm.

Langner says developers are using scare tactics when they say corn prices will tank if the pipeline isn’t built.

Nelva Huitink (NELL-vuh HOYT-ink) of Hospers says her family put a plan to build an automated milking facility on hold after learning Summit’s pipeline might run through their farm.

Huitink says the Dakota Access crude oil pipeline already occupies seven percent of her farm, drainage tile has been damaged and a sinkhole opened up a month ago.

Jessica Marson was the other landowner who testified on the hearing’s opening day. Her family farm is near Rockford, in Floyd County. She says Summit’s easement contract isn’t just for where the pipeline is buried, it would give the company access to the entire farm.

Marson says the Iowa Utilities Board should put Summit’s application on hold because North Dakota regulators haven’t approved the company’s plan to take liquid carbon to that state for underground storage.

The hearing will continues today (Wednesday) and ten more pipeline opponents are scheduled to testify. The hearing is expected to last for several weeks, perhaps to the end of September.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is joining the chorus of critics accusing the Biden Administration of releasing six-billion dollars to Iran in order to secure the release of five Americans being held hostage. Grassley and fellow Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina have sent a letter, asking the White House about what they’re calling a “secret deal” with Iran.

A New York Times report says President Biden negotiated the release of the hostages in exchange for unfreezing Iran’s assets in South Korea, transferring the near-six-billion dollars to an account in the central bank of Qatar (kah-TAR). In a tweet on Monday, Grassley said, “That’s a lot of money to fund more terrorism + will make taking Americans hostage more likely.” Grassley talked with Iowa reporters in a conference call on Tuesday morning.

According to the Times, Biden administration officials have declined to comment or to confirm details about the agreement. Grassley is incensed the U-S would negotiate with Iran, which he says is negotiating with terrorists.

Reports say three of the Americans were being held in Iran on unsubstantiated charges of spying. The other two are reportedly a scientist and a businessman.

All systems that were affected by Monday’s faulty fire alarm at the library have been checked and are functioning normally again. The library will re-open at 9 am on Wednesday, August 23 and follow regular hours.