OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) – Offutt Air Force Base will host an air show this weekend after federal budget problems forced the cancellation of last year’s event. The free event on Saturday and Sunday will feature both the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor aerial demonstration teams along with several other flying teams. The public will have a chance to visit Offutt Air Force Base and learn more about the base on the southeast side of the Omaha area. Gates open at 9 a.m. and flying begins around noon.

A free shuttle bus will be offered from various locations around Bellevue, including the former Southroads mall and Bellevue East and West high schools. More details of the air show and all the aircraft that will be on display are available online at www.offuttairshow.com .

The National Taxpayers Union and a D-C based think-tank are touting a new survey which finds a majority of Iowans are opposed to paying sales taxes on internet purchases. Andrew Moyland of the R Street Institute was at the Iowa capitol Wednesday, to discuss the survey with legislative staff and representatives from Iowa business groups. Moyland suggests candidates for all offices should be wary of allowing states to collect internet sales taxes, including prospective presidential candidates like Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Marco Rubio who’ve been campaigning in Iowa. There may soon be a vote in the U.S. Senate on a bill that would give states greater authority to collect sales taxes on internet sales.

“This is definitely coming to a head now and I think that folks who are supporters of this would like to get this done as soon as possible because even supporters don’t want to be on record supporting an internet sales tax bill so close to an election,” Moyland says. Moyland praised Chuck Grassley, Iowa’s Republican senator, for opposing what’s called The Marketplace Fairness Act that would give states broader authority to collect sales taxes on internet purchases. Others who support the legislation say Main Street businesses see more and more people who come in, look over the merchandise, then go online to make the purchase — escaping the sales taxes they’d pay if they bought the product in the store. Moyland rejects that argument.

“There are 46 different states with sales taxes and 9,998 different taxing jurisdictions across the country,” Moyland says, “and so if you’re asking online retailers to have to jump through all those hoops when brick-and-mortar retailers are just jumping through one where they’re physically located, I think that’s the opposite of a level playing field.” According to a University of Tennessee estimate, 88 million dollars in sales taxes that were legally due to the State of Iowa were NOT collected on internet purchases made in 2012. Moyland argues that “pales in comparison” to the sales taxes the State of Iowa fails to collect because the state sales tax is not charged on all services.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A woman who was involved romantically with an Iowa man charged with killing his pregnant wife says she thought he would ultimately leave his wife. Rachel McFarland testified yesterday that she was in love with Seth Techel. He is charged with first-degree murder and non-consensual termination of a human pregnancy in the 2012 shooting death of Lisa Techel.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Madison man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Burlington man. Forty-two-year-old Lenard Polhans is accused of shooting 35-year-old Marvin Sutton to death on June 1st. Authorities say the men were arguing in Sutton’s backyard prior to the shooting.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo officials may soon consider a proposal that would allow authorities to seize vehicles used in certain crimes and hold them until the owners pay a fine. The City Council may discuss the issue at its August 4th meeting. The ordinance would allow authorities to tow and impound cars used in crimes involving drugs and weapons, among others.

MILLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Officials have approved the dis-incorporation of a small city in northeast Iowa. The state’s City Development Board recently approved the dis-incorporation of Millville, a Mississippi River community with about 20 residents. The Telegraph Herald reports the board will handle outstanding claims against the city.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert is encouraging public safety officials in the area to attend a meeting July 24th in Harlan, with regard to emergency communications. The meeting pertains to the “FirstNet” network, and takes place at 7-p.m. on July 24th at the Harlan Fire Hall (906 Cyclone Ave.). The meeting should last about 90-minutes.

The “FirstNet” network will be a single, nationwide LTE network that makes it easier for public safety users to communicate during emergencies and on the job every day. The new network will provide faster access to information and wireless coverage where public safety personnel need it most.

The Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICSB) in cooperation with local communities invites anyone involved in public safety to attend a Public Safety/First Responder town
hall meeting near you about the future of broadband for first responders in Iowa. This is part of a series of meetings to educate Iowa public safety members on FirstNet.

The meeting is designed to answer questions such as: Will I be forced to adopt FirstNet services?; Who is this network for?; How does it relate to NG911 (Next Generation 911)?; When will it be built in Iowa? Will this replace LMR?; How much will it cost and what equipment will I need?

The Iowa Statewide Interoperability Board is sponsoring the presentation for public safety officials. For more information about the meeting and to register, go to: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e9khws928ddc7a62&oseq=&c=&ch=

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley has $2.7 million in the bank for his general election campaign. Braley’s campaign said Wednesday that the congressman from Waterloo raised nearly $1.7 million between April 1 and June 30. Braley had over $2.7 million in cash on hand at the end of that period. Since announcing his candidacy last year, he has raised over $7 million.

Financial reports were due to the federal government Tuesday. Braley faces Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst in the fight for the seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin. Ernst recently won a five-way primary battle for the GOP nomination. Her campaign had not released any fundraising data as of Wednesday afternoon.

The race is expected to play a key role in the battle for Senate control.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) voted against recommending approval to the DNR, plans by two farms near Orient to expand their hog confinement operations. Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer told KJAN News their decision was based on scoring of the Master Matrix. She said the Board didn’t agree with the points taken on the Master Matrix application, and since there needs to be 440 points and 425 were allowed, it falls under the amount required for recommended approval.

The Geidel family wants to double each of two of their farming operations from 2,500 head to 5,000. Schaefer says failure to approve the Master Matrix application doesn’t mean the matter is decided. She says the Board of Supervisors don’t have all that much control over the matter. All they can do is to recommend the DNR approve or reject the application. The DNR can either affirm the Board’s recommendation and deny the expansion plans, or they can reject some or all of the points removed by the Board.

If the final number of points meets the requirement, the expansion plans can proceed.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest of a local woman on drug charges. Officials say 29-year old Chanel Nord, of Glenwood was arrested this (Wednesday) morning, on charges that include Driving While Revoked, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Medication and Open Container. Nord was being held in the Mills County Jail on $4,600 bond.

The Glenwood P-D reports also, 24-year-old Kyle Geurtz, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday, on a Mills County warrant for 5th Degree Theft. Geurtz was being held in the Mills County Jail on $300 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa – For thousands of low-income families in Iowa, summer vacation is a time of increased hunger, as children don’t have school meals to rely on. But progress is being made to close that gap. A new study from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) shows the number of children in the state taking part in federal Summer Nutrition Programs is rising.

That mirrors the national improvements, after the big hit many programs took during the recession, according to Signe Anderson, a senior child nutrition policy analyst with FRAC. “During the economic downturn a lot of schools shut their doors and no longer offered summer school,” she says. “And so, along with that, the summer meals disappeared because oftentimes, the meal program are set up with summer school programming that goes on.”

As of the summer of 2013, the number of Iowa children served by Summer Nutrition Programs had reached more than 16,000, although that’s still just 10 percent of the 165,000 who receive free and reduced-price lunches during the school year. Another way to reach those children going without regular meals over the summer, explains Anderson, is through local parks and recreation programs.

“That’s another area where oftentimes, kids are in the parks, and they’re outside and ideally that’s where you want them to be, is outside and active in a safe space,” she explains. “Working with Parks and Rec has also been a good avenue, and then also, YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs.”

Nationally, the average daily participation in summer meal programs rose about 6 percent from 2012 to 2013, while the increase in Iowa was nearly 17 percent. Anderson points out that in addition to nutritious food, these programs also help children with enrichment and recreational activities that keep them engaged, learning, and safe during summer vacation.

(Iowa News Service)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday, approved a Resolution to enter into a 28-E agreement with Montgomery County. Cass County Engineer Charles Marker explained the agreement with Montgomery County Engineer Brad Skinner is with regard to the joint responsibilities for a county-line bridge replacement project that Cass County will bear 50% of upon completion.

Montgomery County is the lead agent for the project, meaning they will handle the planning and specifications for the bridge, which is located in section 32, of Noble Township.

The Board also heard from a couple of Cass County citizens with regard to various inquiries that essentially boil down to private legal and zoning matters.

w/ Ric Hanson

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