(Radio Iowa/UPDATED) – Republican legislators plan to cut Iowans’ income taxes by a billion dollars next year. Cuts approved two years ago would have implemented a flat rate of just under four percent in 2026. The new G-O-P plan goes lower, to three-point-eight percent and it would take effect a year earlier — in 2025. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee that develops tax policy. “This is a culmination of discussions we’ve had over the past few months here,” Dawson says. “…We’ve seen a variety of tax proposals in this building, but the biggest question is how do we get some of these monies back to Iowa taxpayers.”

Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the Iowa House. “This puts Iowa in the driver’s seat for being one of the most conservative states in the country, yet again, when it comes to taxation,” he says. The plan also tweaks property tax limits the legislature enacted last year, letting some cities and counties a bit more property tax revenue. The bill has already cleared a Senate subcommittee this (Thursday) morning. Lobbyists for developers, banks and business groups are praising the legislation. Brad Hartkopt is with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. “We appreciate all the progress that has been made over the last several years in making our tax climate more competitive for both individuals and businesses,” Hartkopt said. “We believe this bill takes us in another step going in that direction and we support it.”

Mike Owen of Common Good Iowa says tax cuts should instead be targeted to Iowa’s working poor. “This bill compounds a patently unfair tax system that we have. It takes us away from a tax system based on an ability to pay.” Owen said. “…I would add this is one more case of taxes directing budget choices rather than the other way around, where we could determine our needs, transparently set priorities, find the best way to fund them.”

Republicans say this latest round of tax cuts are possible because their state budget plan for next year doesn’t spend all of the available tax revenue and there will be a withdrawal from the Taxpayer Relief Fund. It’s where unspent taxes from previous years have been deposited. Representative Kaufmann says that Taxpayer Relief Fund will have more than two BILLION dollars left in it after next year’s withdrawal. “We’re showing here in Iowa that we’re fiscally responsible,” Kaufmann says. “We’re understanding concerns of mistakes made in other states. We’re still able to actualize growth, fund our priorities.”

Senator Dawson suggests there may not need to be a withdrawal from the Taxpayer Relief Fund if the economy grows, which will lead to more tax revenue for the state. “I think that this is the best of both worlds that leaves the conversation for long term, further tax cuts,” Dawson says. “as well as strategic opportunities.” Dawson has proposed investing the nearly four BILLION dollars in the Taxpayer Relief Fund and using the profits to ratchet down the income tax rate over time, but that’s not included in this bill making its way through the legislature this week. There are some other policies in the bill. It lets county boards of supervisors decide whether to keep or disband county compensation boards. Kaufmann says the boards have contributed to the explosion in property tax growth.

“You’ve essentially got a group of friends getting together and recommending raises for each other…Counties cannot split the difference, look at things on merit,” Kaufmann said, “and so you’ve got an autopilot ponzi scheme of property tax growth that the local county supervisors…have no control over.”

The bill also repeals an 1848 law that has required Lee County to maintain TWO county courthouses.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowa farmers are firing up their tractors for the first time this spring, and one expert suggests before you plant the first seed, make sure your equipment, your body, and your mind are ready for the season ahead. Dr. Kimberly Lansing, a family medicine physician with Gundersen Health System, says do a thorough check of your heavy equipment to make sure it’s safe to operate after sitting dormant for the winter. “Even if you checked it in the fall, you want to make sure that some family of raccoons didn’t move into your machine shed and rearrange your hydraulics,” Lansing says. “So, going over everything right before you get out in the field, making sure your finisher’s ready to go, and your equipment’s all functional is probably one of the most important things.”

Farming ranks as one of the nation’s most dangerous professions, and Lansing says all tractors should have rollover protection systems, as many farmers who have to be rushed to the emergency room had an accident with a tractor. “Typically, equipment-related injuries, equipment, motor vehicles, including ATVs, tractors and motor vehicles are among the largest things that bring people in,” Lansing says. “We see the most injuries in these areas between April and September, which of course, corresponds to the time when most farmers are out in the field and active.”

Farming can be a very strenuous profession, placing extreme demands on the body. “Of course, you want to have yourself in as good a condition as you keep your equipment,” she says. “So, making sure you do get adequate sleep, because if you’re sleepy behind the wheel, bad things happen. Also, making sure you’re in condition to do what you’re doing. People that work on farms may have other health problems, and you need to be really careful and cautious about what your own limitations are.” Farmers are considered the toughest of the tough, but Lansing says if you’re having a physical problem, don’t shrug it off for later, as there may not -be- a later.

Photo courtesy of the Iowa State University Extension

“You definitely should not ignore warning signs just because you’re busy. I literally once had somebody who said they were calving and couldn’t come in with chest pain and they got in and they were having an active heart attack,” Lansing says. “Fortunately, he survived but your own health and being there for your family is more important.” Farmers are considered one of Iowa’s most vulnerable populations for mental health struggles, and rural suicide deaths are two times higher than the state’s city and metro areas. Lansing encourages farmers to look after one another.

“Farmers are very observant because they need to be in order to keep their farms running,” she says. “You’ve got to look for that animal that’s starting to look sick, or, ‘Oh, the weather’s going to do this,’ but being somebody who will go out and grab an extra cup of coffee and bring it to their neighbor and say, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ Just checking in with them and seeing how they’re doing is probably a nice first step.”

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges in Creston, Wednesday afternoon. According to Creston Police, 24-year-old Bradford Guy Boyer, of Kent, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart Store, around 12:55-p.m. Boyer was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense. He was transported to the Union County Jail and later posted a $1,000 cash or approved surety bond, before being released.

A little before 5-p.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 27-year-old Adam Edward Lee Austin, of Creston, in the 100 block of N. Elm Street, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or Subsequent Offense. Adam Austin was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a judge.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – As mentioned in an earlier report, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Wednesday issued a disaster proclamation for Cass and five other counties affected by severe storms on Tuesday, April 16^th, 2024. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon was in a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday morning. Afterward, he received word from residents and local officials in the area, wanting him to take a look about damage from a possible tornado having occurred in Anita, near the golf course, across a subdivision, a business on the north side of Highway 83, and at Lake Anita State Park.

Damage area image courtesy Mike Kennon

The damage occurred at around 10-a.m., Tuesday. Kennon says 12 homes were identified as having some minor damage. Broken windows, siding and trim, shingles and ridge caps, as well as garage doors, sustained damage in some parts of Anita. Numerous trees also fell, to varying degrees. Mike Kennon said the nursing home in Anita also appeared to have sustained damage from the weather event.

While the skies turned dark in Atlantic and parts of Cass County, late Tuesday morning, Kennon said there were no warnings issued by the National Weather Service at the time.

As mentioned, the governor’s proclamation open’s up the possibility of individual assistance that can be accessed, according to Kennon.

He said there may also be other, widespread damage from a storm front that passed through Cass County Tuesday afternoon. Strong winds affected most, if not all of the county. Kennon said Persons with property damage, who have not already done so, should contact Mike Kennon at 712-254-1500. And, if you happen to have photos of the severe weather event as it was occurring, you can send those to Mike Kennon at mkennon@casscoia.us .

CLIVE, Iowa — A man from far eastern Iowa has claimed a $2 million Powerball prize he won in November. According to an Iowa Lottery press release, 72-year-old Mark Krogman, of Clinton, who is retired, claimed his prize on Wednesday. He said he felt “shock and joy” when he found out he’d won. Krogman’s ticket was purchased at Clinton Liquor and came within one number of winning the $337.9 million jackpot in the Powerball drawing on Nov. 25.

Krogman’s ticket was the only one in the country to win a $2 million prize in that night’s drawing. His ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. Krogman had also added the Power Play option to his purchase, which multiplies the prize at the Match 5 level to $2 million, the release said.

Krogman has specific plans for his winnings, including paying off his house with a possible add-on, helping his family financially, and simply enjoying life.

Clinton Liquor received a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the winning ticket.

NORWALK, Iowa — Norwalk police are investigating a case of 60 dogs and cats living in filth at a Norwalk home. Police got a tip about a house full of animals that smelled bad.  They notified the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, who removed the animals. The ARL says the scene at the Norwalk home was like a nightmare: “57 dogs and puppies, some just days old, and 3 cats were trapped inside the home. The floors of the house were covered in trash and feces, and the smell was overwhelming. Some dogs were trapped in kennels while others roamed free.

Charges are pending against the homeowner. The ARL says you can make donations if you’d like to help care for the surviving dogs and cats. They also hope to put the animals up for adoption once their health improves.

ARL Facebook page photo (4/17/24)

WATERLOO, Iowa — (KCRG) – A community is mourning after a member of the Hudson Volunteer Fire & Rescue team was killed in a motorcycle crash Tuesday evening. According to police, 26-year-old Riley Gilbert was killed in a crash on April 16th, 2024. He reportedly struck a curb near the Fletcher Avenue traffic circle in wet and slippery conditions from recent rain. The motorcycle spun out, and Gilbert was thrown and struck a yield sign. When responders arrived, Gilbert was not breathing. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Hudson Volunteer Fire Department said he was a newer member of the department and was eager to learn.

Riley Gilbert (Hudson, IA Volunteer Fire & Rescue Facebook page photo)

DES MOINES, Iowa — [KCCI] – Blank Children’s Hospital is running out of beds amid an unseasonable spike in hospitalizations of young children with respiratory diseases. Pediatric infectious disease Dr. Joel Waddell said the hospital staff is working overtime to care for the unusual number of patients with RSV, flu and other respiratory illnesses at the hospital. Waddell said cases typically drop off in the spring as cold and flu season comes to a close, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s noticed more illnesses happening outside the “sickness season.”

He also said the types of patients experiencing serious symptoms are unusual. Illnesses that usually only manifest severely in babies or immunocompromised patients are impacting healthy 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds similarly, contributing to the number of patients requiring hospital support. By quarantining during their formative years, Waddell is concerned many of his young patients were not exposed to elements that would’ve boosted their immune systems, leaving them more vulnerable to disease now.

To protect your children, Waddell recommends checking that they are up to date on vaccinations. If your child does get sick, keep them home if they’re experiencing a fever and seek medical attention if their fever spikes or they’re having trouble breathing.

CLIVE, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is taking nominations for the state’s best breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. From now  through to June 3rd, Iowans can nominate a restaurant or establishment that they believe offers the state’s most “delectable” sandwich, according to a release. Each person can nominate one restaurant, and those who nominate the eventual winner may win $100.

The 22nd annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest celebrates a sandwich that’s a mainstay in restaurants in Iowa, the nation’s leading pork producer. You can nominate a restaurant by clicking here. Establishments must be consistently open year-round and offer the sandwich on their regular menu in order to be eligible (for example, food trucks are not eligible).

Courtesy of the Iowa Pork Producers Association – 2021 winning pork tenderloin sandwich

After the nominations are over, the top 40 restaurants’ breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches will be ranked by “pork quality, taste, physical characteristics, and overall eating experience,” the release states. The top five will be revealed in October, which is National Pork Month. The winning restaurant gets a plaque, $500 in cash, and statewide publicity.

Last year, Cliff’s Place in Manning took home the top prize, while The Roadhouse in Orange City was runner-up. 774 different places were nominated that year. A list of past winners going back as far as 2003 can be seen by clicking here.