(Radio Iowa) – The drought has taken a toll in northwest Iowa, but two communities have found relief through hundreds of thousands of gallons of high-quality water from the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System piped into their communities. Sioux Center and Hull had been waiting for more than 30 years for their hook ups that came one month ago. They celebrated Tuesday with a ribbon cutting, where Lewis & Clark Executive Director Troy Larson talked about getting the project to this point. “This has been a long slog, and it’s taken us a lot longer to get here than we ever thought it would,’ he says. “I mean, this idea of Lewis and Clark started in the late 80s. Back when parachute pants were still popular. It was incorporated in 1990. We thought we’d get here about 2016 but for unfortunately, we didn’t get the federal funding as quick as we thought.”

Larson says adding Lewis & Clark water, which comes from the Missouri River and an aquifer will be transformational for the communities of Sioux Center and Hull. Sioux Center will receive 600-thousand gallons each day, while Hull pumps in 400-thousand gallons a day to blend with their current water supply. There were originally 59 communities which signed up for the project in 1993 — but the latest two make the total hooked up at 20. “In 1993 the rubber met the road in terms of committing to the project from the late 80s to 93 it was what I call the dating phase in 93 they had to get married,” he says. Larson says the project is working on expanding the system from producing 40 million gallons per day to 60 million gallons by 2031.

Congressman Randy Feenstra, grew up in Hull, and served on the Lewis & Clark board for seven-and-a-half years. He recalled the condition of the water in his home town was so bad they gave visitors a warning. “People who came to our house, you know people from outside just don’t drink the water because you’re gonna get sick I mean you’re gonna have problems some from this is true in Hull,” Feenstra says. Feenstra also recalls the meeting when funding plans were made known. “I remember being at the meeting where we finally heard that it was gonna be an annual appropriation, that we we’re gonna get funded,” Feenstra says. “But probably didn’t understand what that annual appropriation really meant. What a battle, a literal battle it would be every single year to get funding. But here we are.”

Feenstra commends all those involved in connecting the 377 miles of pipe that was laid and the additional infrastructure. The remaining communities to be connected to the service include Sheldon, which should connect to the system late this year or early next year; Madison, South Dakota should connect in the middle of 2024; and Sibley should connect in late 2024 or early 2025.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop in the 1000 block of 110th Street in Montgomery County at around 12:40-a.m. today, resulted in the arrest of a man from Clarinda. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 52-year-old David Allen Holste was taken into custody for Driving While Barred – an aggravated misdemeanor. Holste was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The legislature has voted to create a state fund to provide 750-thousand dollars in grants or loans for upgrades at Iowa dairy farms. Representative Norlin Mommsen of DeWitt says the Iowa Department of Agriculture will manage the new Dairy Innovation Fund.

“It will provide funds for development, expansion and refurbishing of dairy facilities,” Mommsen says. “It also provides funds for labor reduction equipment such as robotic milkers and manure handling systems.” Representative Monica Kurth of Davenport says the money could help on-the-farm start-ups, like dairies that make cheese or yogurt. “I think that the idea of helping to modernize our dairies is important for the state of Iowa,” Kurth says. Senator Dan Zumbach of Ryan says the legislature has set some guidelines for the grants, loans or forgivable loans.

“If it creates new jobs,” Zumbach says, “if it creates or expands opportunity for local, small scale milk producers; if it provides greater flexibility or convenience for local small scale farmers or it reduces labor associated with on-farm production and storage of milk.” Iowa ranks 12th in dairy production, with about 220-thousand dairy cows in the state today. But Senator Eric Giddens of Cedar Falls says the number of dairy farms in Iowa has fallen to about 850.

“It’s more difficult for our small producers to stay in business and to stay competitive,” Giddens says. “This is a good program that will help them.” The money for the Dairy Innovation Fund is included in a budget bill that won final legislative approval in the House on Tuesday. The program guidelines are in a separate bill that the Senate approved yesterday (Tuesday) and sent to the governor.

(Radio Iowa) – Sixty Republicans in the Iowa House have given final legislative approval to a bill outlining state spending for administrative and regulatory agencies. One Republican and 34 Democrats in the House voted against the plan. Representative Megan Srinivas, a Democrat from Des Moines, says the bill provides a nearly 22 percent increase in the budget for the governor’s office.

“There’s an unprecedented half a million dollars that is completely unearmarked that we are giving to the governor’s office with no answers as to how that money is needed or needs to be spent,” Srinivas says. A spokesman for Governor Kim Reynolds says the money will be used to recruit and retain staff in the governor’s office. Representative Michael Bergen, a Republican from Dorchester, says the governor and her staff are implementing a major reorganization of state government and the budget for Reynolds’ office is smaller than governor’s offices in states of similar size, like Utah and Kentucky.

“So I fully support the governor’s ask and feel that it’s merited,” Bergen says. Several budget bills were passed in the House and Senate Tuesday, with more on today’s (Wednesday’s) docket.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to make changes in a Senate bill that expands the hours teenagers may work and the types of jobs they may perform. Sixteen and 17 year olds would be able to sell or serve alcohol in a restaurant, but not a bar — and the House voted to require that two adults be present. If the kitchen is closed and food service has stopped, teenagers would have to stop serving alcohol. Republican Representative Dave Deyoe of Nevada says the overall package provides reasonable work opportunities for teenagers.

“Here are some of the things that are the benefits for employment for young people…less poverty, money for future education, less delinquent behavior, experience in the workplace and access to role models,” Deyoe says. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst thanked Republicans for accepting some of the ideas House Democrats proposed. “This is how it’s supposed to work,” Konfrst says. “The bill is better than the Senate’s…doesn’t make it great, but it makes it better and it makes it better for Iowans.”

But Konfrst and other House Democrats still voted against the bill, citing concerns about having teenagers engaged in some jobs — and being too tired for school. The House-passed bill specifies that 14 and 15 year olds cannot be eligible for state waivers to work at certain occupations, but Deyoe says it will let 16 and 17 year olds be involved in work-based learning programs.

“I learned welding, I learned electrical wiring — I learned all that stuff in shop when I was in high school, but a lot of the high schools can’t afford to maintain (the equipment),” Deyoe says. “…It costs thousands and thousands of dollars to buy the equipment and they’ve got to continue to buy new stuff all the time to keep it updated.”

The bill says teenagers cannot work in meatpacking plants or in the mining industry. Deyoe is optimistic the Senate will approve House adjustments in the bill and send it to the governor.

(CRESTON, Iowa DOT Construction Office) – May 2, 2023 – If you’re planning to drive on Iowa 141 in Dallas and Guthrie counties, there’s an upcoming asphalt crack filling project that could slow down your trip.

Beginning on Monday, May 8, weather permitting, construction crews will work on crack filling on Iowa 141 from Iowa 4 to U.S. 169 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Thursday, June 1. You will be assisted through the work zone with the use of flaggers and a pilot car. A 12-foot lane-width restriction will be in place during this project.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Radio Iowa) – To many Iowans, it seems like winter ran long this year, with plenty of springtime snowstorms and frigid wind chills, but it turns out that our temperatures were right on target during April. State climatologist Justin Glisan says there were extremes on both ends of the thermometer, but it all averaged out to be normal for the month.

“If we look at the statewide average temperature, it was right on the average of 49 degrees,” Glisan says. “We did have pockets of slightly above average temperatures in southwestern Iowa, and then over into eastern Iowa, but overall, near-normal temperatures across the state.” There was severe weather on April 4th that included large hail, high winds and several funnel clouds and tornadoes, as well as multiple bouts with snow during the month, but overall, Iowa was lacking for rainfall during April.

“So if we look at the statewide average, it was a little over two inches, and that’s about an inch and a half below average,” Glisan says, “with the driest part of the state down in southeastern Iowa, with departures of up to one to three inches below average.” Computer models are pointing to a continued dry spell for the month ahead, while Glisan says the immediate forecast looks about right.

“Basically, across the upper Midwest and through the Corn Belt, an elevated signal for drier conditions in May,” Glisan says, “and May is the second wettest month climatologically for the state with almost five inches, so we don’t like to see that dry signal, but at least in the short term, we are seeing near-normal precipitation.”

Forecasters anticipate an El Nino weather pattern will develop over the region within the next few months, which typically means moderate temperatures and better chances for precipitation.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two women were arrested on the first day of May:

35-year-old Nicole Katherine Spracklin, of Plattsmouth, NE., was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. She was being held without Bond; and, 35-year-old Jessie Amanda Harman, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for two counts of Violation of Probation, and Violation of a No Contact Order. She too was being held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The Drake Relays attract an international roster of athletes and spectators to Drake University every year, but last week’s event left the Des Moines campus with something extra — an outbreak of COVID-19. What’s billed as America’s Athletic Classic is considered one of the nation’s top track and field events, drawing some five-thousand high school, college and elite-level competitors and 40-thousand fans.

The 113th annual event ran last Thursday through Saturday and university officials are now reporting at least 76 Drake students have tested positive for COVID-19. Finals start next week at Drake and all instructors are being told to use their best judgment as to whether to hold the remaining classes — and those finals — online or in-person.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa legislature has approved a compromise bill designed to limit future property tax increases. Many Iowans saw the assessed value of their home or farmland rise dramatically this spring. Those assessments will impact property taxes due in September of 2024. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says the bill includes a formula that requires cities and counties to lower property tax levies next year. “We stop the old practice of assessement windfalls being a windfall for local government budgets,” Dawson says. The bill is projected to save Iowa property owners about 100 million dollars.

“It’s a complicated system that’s going to require multiple bills over multiple years. The work here isn’t finished. It’s only just begun.” The bill hikes the homestead credit for property owners who are 65 and older, providing relief for an estimated 200-thousand Iowans. More than 100-thousand Iowa veterans will get a property tax exemption that’s double the current homestead credit for veterans. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says those are big moves for veterans and older Iowans.

“For all Iowans the predictability and the transparency that this bill brings is a big deal and for all Iowans the foundational changes that we’re making is a big deal,” Kaufmann said, “and what I’m going to sit here on the floor today and say is phase one of bold property tax relief.” The bill passed the Senate this (Tuesday) morning unanimously. Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says it will slow the growth of property taxes.

“It’s a $6 billion-plus system,” Jochum says, “and we all know that every tax system can use some change” The bill passed the House this (Tuesday) afternoon on a 94-to-one vote. Representative Elinor Levin, a Democrat from Iowa City, was the only no vote in the legislature. All other House Democrats, like Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City, voted for it, but say they prefer the proposals in the original House version of the bill rather than the final compromise.”I wonder why we’re rushing it through,” Steckman said. “Do we not want any comments from people that this might affect? I thought we were all for local control. We’re taking away that local control.”

Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, says despite its flaws, the bill is a move in the right direction. “We’ve listened to the taxpayers of Iowa, we’ve listened to the property owners, we’ve listened to the leasees who are saying: ‘I can’t afford to live here if my taxes go up astronomically,'” Jacoby said.

Governor Reynolds says the package provides much needed property tax relief and lays the groundwork for more reform in the future.