(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa National Guard’s adjutant general is retiring on March 1st. Major General Benjamin Corell has been in the National Guard for 37 years. “My wife has sacrificed much for my career. We’ve got seven grandkids,” Corell says. “My grandparents influenced me growing up, gave me the values that I have. I want to put some values in my grandkids that have been passed down through my family.”

Corell grew up on a farm near Strawberry Point. His wife saw an ad for the Iowa National Guard in the newspaper and Corell joined a unit based in Oelwein in 1986. In 2017, Corell assumed command of the famed “Red Bulls” in the 34th Infantry Division. Governor Reynolds appointed him to lead the Iowa National Guard in August of 2017 and she will name his replacement.

(Radio Iowa) – The Home Builders Association of Iowa is urging the legislature to pass new limits on city rules for construction and renovation of residential property. Dan Knoup, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines, says building codes should govern life and safety issues, not aesthetics. The group says ordinances that forbid the use of things like vinyl siding or require a certain number of windows drive up the cost of building houses, condos and apartments. Hubbell Homes vice president Rachel Flint oversees construction of the company’s home building operations in central Iowa. She says they’re not asking to get rid of building codes.

A senate subcommittee has advanced a bill that would limit residential building codes that include design standards. Angela Caulk, a lobbyist for the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, says the group has concerns. “We are kind of worried that some of the language having to do with the abundance of codes, with how broad that is, could produce a race to the bottom where people will are just looking to see if they can make the cheapest residential housing,” she says. Tom Cope, a lobbyist for the American Planning Association’s Iowa Chapter, says the group hopes senators make some adjustments to the bill.

“We do have members that do come from communities with older housing stock that want to be able to have the ability to maybe provide an incentive to developers by saying: ‘If you do a certain design standard you might be able to qualify for tax abatement or those types of opportunities,'” Cope said. The bill would allow cities to maintain design standards for some historic structures — and homeowners associations that have rules for roofing, siding or other design elements could stay in effect. The bill does NOT apply to retail, commercial or industrial properties.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has announced funding to complete phase two of Iowa State University’s new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The governor announced that I-S-U will receive 40 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding and is proposing that an additional 20 million dollars from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund go to the project. I-S-U President Wendy Wintersteen earlier said phase one construction would end this year — but phase two is needed to provide an additional 70-thousand square feet for laboratory testing, research and support functions — and would put them all under one roof. Governor Reynolds has earlier indicated her support — saying the Vet Lab is critical to supporting and protecting the country’s ag industry and food supply.

(Dedham, Iowa) – One person is dead and another was injured during a collision early  this (Wednesday) morning near Dedham, in Carroll County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2016 Chevy Tahoe was traveling westbound on Highway 141 and approaching the intersection with 330th Street, at the same time a 2023 International semi was traveling eastbound past the same intersection. The SUV went left of center and collided with the semi in the eastbound lane before it struck cable barriers on the north shoulder and came to rest. The semi came to rest in the south ditch. The accident happened at around 5:50-a.m.

The driver of the SUV, 29-year-old James Stovall, from Mobile, AL, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The driver of the semi, 34-year-old Derek Pittenger, of Owens Cross Roads, AL, was injured and transported by Carroll EMS to St. Anthony Hospital, in Carroll.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department.

(Manning, Iowa) – The IKM-Manning School Board has approved a measure that will appear on the ballot Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The measure asks voters to approve the use of $7.9 million in school infrastructure sales service and use tax revenue bonds toward a series of construction and renovation projects on the Manning campus, including:

• A New gymnasium
• A New commons area
• New locker rooms
• A New spark/fire room

School officials say the work would take place in the northeast corner of the building. To view a diagram with details on the work to be completed, visit https://bit.ly/ikmmprojects. With an approved vote, the district would use Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE)—also known as the statewide one-cent sales tax for education—to complete the projects above. Officials say “This would have no impact on property tax or sales tax rates in our community.”

The measure will pass if more than 50% of voters approve it. This is different from a bond issue, which requires more than 60% approval. The District will share more information and answer community members’ questions as the matter moves forward.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston arrested a man at around 3:50-p.m., Tuesday. Authorities say 38-year-old Curtis Lee Lamasters, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Barred. He was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.

(Ida County, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol has updates their report on a fatal crash that took place early Friday afternoon, near Holstein, in Ida County.  Authorities say 23-year-old Alexis Grace Renze, of Cushing, died at the scene, when her car was struck by a semi tractor-trailer, near Holstein. The Iowa State Patrol had reported previously, that a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Renze was traveling southbound on Highway 20 and failed to yield during a left turn onto northbound Highway 59. The car was struck on the passenger side by a 2006 Freightliner semi.

The impact resulted in the car bursting into flames. The vehicle came to rest in the intersection. The semi came to rest on Highway 20, west of the intersection. Renze died at the scene. The driver of the semi, who is from Minnesota, was not hurt.

(Radio Iowa) – Parents, educators, school board members and a couple of students testified at last (Tuesday) night’s public hearing on the governor’s plan to give parents state money to cover private school expenses. Bill backer Jennifer Sulgrove told lawmakers she objected to the curriculum at Pleasant Valley high school in Bettendorf and is now teaching her daughter at home.

“We would have loved to have put her in a private school this year, but the cost is prohibitive,” Sulgrove said. “…As a parent, I want my child to have an education that has an academic rigor and challenges her thinking without crushing her moral compass in the process.” Bernie Scolaro, a retired educator who’s now a member of the Sioux City School Board, says the governor’s bill will chip away at public schools.

“Taking more money away from schools who are already struggling financially will force them eventually to shut down,” she said. “How is that providing more choice for your communities?” Patty Alexander of Indianola, a retired teacher, says public schools are now a monopoly that needs to be broken up.

“Public education has become socially destructive, ruled by selfish elitists that do not care about our family values or our society in general,” Alexander said. Several parents and teachers told lawmakers private schools won’t accept all students as public schools are required to do. Kerry Lust, the mother of three children who attend Ankeny public schools, has a 15 year old son who has been diagnosed with autism and other disabilities.

“The reality is that a private school will not accept my son because of his disabilities,” Lust said. “…When you hear the term ‘school choice,’ remember that private schools have the choice who to accept.”

More than 50 people testified at last (Tuesday) night’s hearing and large crowds gathered around video screens in the Capitol that were broadcasting the hearing. More than 12-hundred people submitted written statements opposing the legislation, with about 430 writing they supported it.