Jim Field visits with Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Director Mitch Holmes about programs available to local veterans.
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Jim Field visits with Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Director Mitch Holmes about programs available to local veterans.
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A coalition of conservation, recreation and ag groups released a new poll Thursday, showing support for an increase in the state sales tax to fund water quality projects through the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation president, Joe McGovern, says support has been strong since the fund was created by a constitutional amendment in 2010. “But this last polling of 69 percent — and that’s 69 percent saying they support the trust fund by raising the sales tax — those are strong numbers,” McGovern says.
The proposal is to raise the sales tax by three-eights of a cent, and the amendment requires the increase to go into the fund. McGovern says two-thirds of that increase would go to water quality projects. “Right now we estimate that would put 187 million into the trust fund,” McGovern says, “over two-thirds would go directly to water quality measures to help the nutrient reduction strategies.”
The sales tax hasn’t been increased, so the there hasn’t been money put into the fund. He says tax increases are not something anyone wants — but he says Iowans have shown they support one if the money goes to a specific source. McGovern says the recent increase in the gas tax is an example. “You know when you think about the gas tax, we all knew there were needs. We knew that we had failing bridges, we knew that we had roads that needed repair. so, when those taxes are used for what they say they are going to be used for, people understand that, Iowans expect that,” McGovern says. “That’s why we went the route of the constitutional amendment. So that when this fund was created, it would be protected.”
McGovern is hopeful Iowa lawmakers will see the poll and support and approve a sales tax increase. “We know we have budget issues, we know we have tax reforms being talked about. So, if this can be part of a larger conversation, if this can be something that’s comprehensive, we know there’s some water quality needs out there. We’re thinking much bigger,” according to McGovern.
The poll was commissioned by Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy (IWILL) Coalition. The coalition executive council is comprised of leaders from the American Heart Association, Ducks Unlimited, Iowa’s County Conservation Boards, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Iowa Soybean Association, Pheasants Forever and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa.
(Radio Iowa)
Fewer Iowans bought new vehicles in 2017 compared to the previous year. Bruce Anderson is president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association. “Sales dipped in Iowa last year, but only by 299 cars,” Anderson said. “It was almost an identical year to 2016.”
Iowans purchased 137,702 new vehicles last year. The most popular vehicle in Iowa remains the Chevy Silverado. “And it’s neck-and-neck with the Ford F-150,” Anderson said. “Iowans just love their trucks.” Of the new vehicles sold in Iowa last year, 34,345 were cars and 103,357 were trucks and SUVs. “That’s a national trend that Iowa is following or maybe even leading – the conversion from driving passenger cars to driving trucks and SUVs,” Anderson said.
While overall sales dipped a bit compared to 2016, the Iowans who did buy new vehicles last year tended to purchase more expensive vehicles. “I think that’s true,” Anderson said. “Prices are competitive and dealers have great deals right now, but credit has eased a bit and you’re seeing banks and funding sources are lending…that has loosened up somewhat, so people are getting qualified and more into the cars they want and need, rather than just the ones they can afford.”
For example, luxury brands like Audi and Jaguar enjoyed a sales boom in Iowa last year. “Jaguar nearly doubled their new sale footprint. There were 84 new Jags sold in Iowa in 2016 and 163 in ’17,” Anderson said. Audi also nearly doubled its sales in Iowa. According to the records kept by Anderson’s group, Iowans bought 44 different brands of vehicles in 2017.
(Radio Iowa)
The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson
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Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says efforts to cut sexual assault in the military have been successful and similar efforts are needed for civilians. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is a retired Iowa National Guard soldier who has focused on efforts to end sexual harassment in the military since taking office. She says there have been more reports by soldiers while overall cases are down. “What that is saying is that more and more men and women serving in the military have greater confidence in the reporting process. They have greater confidence in their commanders that they will be protected when they come forward with allegations of any sexual assault and sexual harassment,” Ernst says. She says reporting assaults is key to addressing the issue. “That is really important because then it gives that command structure the opportunity to investigate that as well as prosecute if that is what the victim or survivor wants to do. So, I do believe it is working,” according to Ernst.
She still isn’t satisfied enough has been done. “I can’t say that it is ever enough,” Ernst says, “I think we have to keep moving forward. I think greater education of our young people when they are coming into the military is extremely important. So,even before they are sworn in they need to understand that this is not acceptable behavior.” The issue has taken center stage outside the military in recent weeks. “When we look on the outside of the military in our civilian population — there are problems there as well — as we have witnessed not just here in the United States Congress, in the political arena….but we see it in all the talk that has been in Hollywood and elsewhere.”
Ernst says the efforts to prevent sexual assault should be the same whether in or our of the military. “We have to keep working on this. Is this something that will be solved overnight, probably not,” Ernst says. “But I do think that it is important that our public is aware that again, it’s never okay to sexually harass someone. It is never okay to assault someone in any circumstance. We’ve got to start teaching this from a very young age, just the respect and dignity of all people.” Ernst says everyone has to take a role in making changes. “We all have a lot of work to do, not just Congress in making laws, or the administration in writing rules. We all have a responsibility in our communities to make sure we are raising people to understand that every life has dignity and we need to respect that,” Ernst says.
Ernst made her comments during a conference call with reporters.
(Radio Iowa)
Iowa farmers face continued low commodity prices, with little hope for improvement, but a technique called forward contracting may help boost the bottom line. Ed Kordick, a marketing specialist at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, says farmers have a better chance of earning profits if they implement a marketing plan that includes forward contracting to sell their grain in the spring instead of fall. “History has shown us that, not every year, but often that springtime — March, April, May, early June — can be some of the best pricing opportunities,” Kordick says. “It’s not going to happen every year but the uncertainty is greatest in the market at those times.”
Kordick says the strategy isn’t ever guaranteed, but over the course of time, it will prove to be successful. He says farmers need to formulate price goals. “Those are set up by their own cost of production and what type of a realistic price rally could be seen,” he says, “but then also tying that price goal to a date, March, April, May, early June, and get what they think is comfortable done in a pre-harvest sale.” Kordick suggests farmers take out crop insurance as another means of risk protection, but he recommends following pre-determined marketing dates from their plan. “The folks that follow a disciplined marketing plan come out just a little bit better,” Kordick says. “Plus, what I think is very important in these tight margin times, is they reduce their risk before harvest. If we wait until that harvest price, that’s often when supplies are greatest and we can take some of that risk off the table ahead of time.”
In order for farmers to be successful marketers, he says they need to know their cost of production, remove emotion when making decisions, have a marketing plan, and have the discipline to follow that plan.
(Radio Iowa)
COLLEEN WHEATLEY, 79, of Atlantic, died Thursday, Jan. 11th, at Avoca Specialty Care. A Prayer service for COLLEEN WHEATLEY will be held 6:30-p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16th, at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic. Roland Funeral Home, in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, from Noon until 5:30-p.m., and on Tuesday, from 8-a.m. until 3-p.m.; Visitation with the family will be held at the United Church of Christ on Tuesday, from 5-until 7-p.m.; Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
A private family burial will take place at a later date, in the Atlantic Cemetery.
COLLEEN WHEATLEY is survived by:
Her children – Steve Wheatley, of Clarinda; Rick (Peg) Wheatley, of Massena, and Jody (Frank) Young, of Avoca.
9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Today: Mostly sunny this morning; P/Cloudy to cloudy this afternoon. High 14. N @ 10-15mph. Wind chill around-20.
Tonight: Cloudy to P/Cldy w/some flurries. Low -4. N @ 10. Wind chill -10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 10. N @ 10-15. WC -10.
Sunday: Mo. Cldy w/light snow. High 16. (less than 1” snow expected)
Monday: P/Cldy. High 8.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 18. Our Low this morning, was -4. We received 1.2″ of snow yesterday (for a storm total of 1.4″). The liquid value of the snow amounted to just .03″. Last year on this date our High was 23 and the Low was 10. The all-time record High in Atlantic on this date was 57 in 1961 & 1987, and the Record Low was -37 in 1974.
Iowa needed overtime to post its first Big Ten win at Illinois, Thursday night. Iowa outscored the Illini 10-0 to start the extra session in a 104-97 win, a game they trailed by 20 in the opening half. Sophomore Jordan Bohannon led the Hawks with 29.
A key was free throws. The Hawkeyes were 33-40 at the stripe. Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says the Hawkeyes stepped it up defensively after giving up 54 points in the opening half.
Iowa is now 1-5 in the Big Ten.
(Learfield Sports)