(Radio Iowa) [updated]- The governor’s budget director says he’s been told by a top court official that the computer programming error that has improperly distributed over 53 million dollars in court fees and fines has NOT been fixed. Kraig Paulsen spoke with reporters late this (Thursday) morning. “My understanding is that the system is still not corrected and I have offered assistance to the chief justice and she is taking me up on that and we’re meeting here very soon, as in yet this week,” Paulsen said. “…We don’t have the code, we haven’t seen the code and by this I mean the programming code and so that all has to be analyzed, but it is my understanding that the errant distributions continue to this day.”

The Judicial Branch has not issued a statement on the situation. Paulsen says the state fund for road and bridge projects has been shorted by nearly 10 million dollars over the past few years, for example, and some of the money it should be getting is still being sent elsewhere. Paulsen says he’ll discuss all the misdirected funds with the chief justice.  “What has to be corrected from what’s already been done and how do we fix this prospectively,” Paulsen said. The state court system is an independent branch of state government. However, the legislature and governor approve the budget for the courts. Spending levels for several programs that were changed five years ago were not programmed correctly into the court’s computer system.

Paulsen says court officials have given his department spreadsheets explaining the under-funding and where the over-payments have gone. “Some counties got more than the distribution dictated or the law dictated and some got less, so on and so forth and we’re going through that right now,” Paulsen says. “It’s a lot of money and a lot of different distributions. It’s going to take a little bit to unwind.”

Paulsen says he believes the age of the computer system for Iowa courts is a factor in this, but he’ll find out more when he meets with the Iowa Supreme Court’s chief justice.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Vision Atlantic have announced Community 1st Credit Union (C1st), with a location in Atlantic, recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Vision Atlantic through their foundation to support the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of Atlantic. C1st grant funded project awards are made possible through the C1st Credit Union Impact Giving Fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

Community 1st Credit Union President and CEO Greg Hanshaw says “One of the most important goals we have at Community 1st Credit Union is to help people enjoy a secure future. The C1st Foundation, developed in 2016, supports causes close to our hearts – financial literacy, mental wellness/suicide prevention, and community betterment. We couldn’t be more thrilled to support this project and continue to make our community better – Together IS Better!”

A new child development center is being built to meet the increased need for childcare in Cass and surrounding counties. According to Dianna Williams, Director of the Ann Wickman Child Development Center, they are out of space at the current facility. “Over the past four years, our center has been at full capacity, and we consistently have a waitlist of over sixty children. The lack of available childcare in the region negatively impacts families and employers,” Williams said.

According to a study conducted in 2023, it was discovered that Cass County has a childcare availability shortfall of over 1,000 children. The new center will be constructed on south Olive Street in Atlantic and will have capacity for 300 children. The Jack and Jill Preschool, currently housed at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, will be co-located with the new child development center. Rates for the new center have not been determined yet, and reservations for childcare spots have not been opened. More information relating to the operation of the center will be made available as the project progresses.

Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman said “We are excited about this award to support the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of Atlantic. We know that the new center will provide quality care for children, which is a critical component of economic development of the region, and an important consideration for families when they choose where they want to live.”

If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Follow Vision Atlantic on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates. Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – A libertarian think tank’s latest Fiscal Responsibility Report Card on America’s Governors gives Iowa’s Kim Reynolds its highest score. The CATO Institute’s report says Reynolds has overseen lean budgets and been a champion tax reformer. She got an “A” grade for signing five income tax cuts into law, including one earlier this year that will shrink Iowa’s income tax to a single rate of three-point-eight percent for the 2025 tax year. The group’s “Fiscal Responsibility” score card gave Reynolds its highest rating in 2022 as well. Reynolds says it’s an honor to be recognized by an organization that promotes limited government and free markets. The CATO Institute hosted Reynolds at a forum in 2023.

“The great thing about Republican governors is we’re very competitive,” Reynolds said, “…which means I’m going to have to continue to cut taxes for Iowans that I have the amazing opportunity to represent.” Reynolds has said her goal is to eliminate the state income tax before her current term as governor ends in early 2027. The CATO Institute gave five other Republican governors “A” grades for fiscal responsibility, including neighboring governors in Nebraska and South Dakota.

Governor Kim Reynolds (File photo)

The Democratic governors of Wisconsin and Minnesota are among six who got failing grades. The Republican governor of neighboring Missouri got a “D” in the group’s “Fiscal Responsibility” rating and the Democratic governor of Illinois got a “C” grade.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – The Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board met in a regular monthly session Tuesday evening. Superintendent Trevor Miller said the Board approved an agreement with the Heartland Therapeutic School in Winterset.

The agreement is year-to-year, and based on a consortium that looks at the qualifications and helps the student find a spot in the program. The Board also approved an agreement with Stalk Chiropractic & Health in Exira, for district transportation personnel physicals.

The Exira-EHK Board approved the sale to the IKM-Manning School District, of a 65-passenger, 2016 Bluebird Bus, with a little more than 52,000 miles on it.

And, the Board approved the hiring of two additions to the Transportation staff – Michael Miller and Daniel Turpin – pending completion of background checks. Superintendent Miller said also, during his regular report to the Board, he mentioned the District’s Certified Enrollment numbers, which were finalized Tuesday (Oct. 15th).

He says it’s a busy time of year for athletics and the FFA. Parent-teacher conferences are coming up Oct. 28th and 29th, as well. Miller said “It’s hard to believe we’re almost through the first-quarter.”

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report a man from Missouri was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, on drug charges. 24-year-old Dagon Michael Cooper, of Grant City, MO., was arrested at the Creston Hardee’s restaurant. He was taken into custody a little after 1-a.m., and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. Cooper was taken to Union County Jail and later posted at $1,300 bond before being released.