(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Court of Appeals says a man accused of murdering a coworker at a packing plant in Wright County is not yet competent to stand trial. Lukouxs Brown was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing co-worker, Wayne Smith at the Prestage pork plant near Eagle Grove in 2021. He was treated for schizophrenia at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center, but after several months was declared still not competent for trial.

The state brought in an outside expert for a second opinion, and the expert found Brown was competent. The Iowa Court of Appeals ruling says opinions of the experts at the classification center hold more weight, and the district court erred in determining that Brown’s trial could proceed.

The ruling says Brown is making progress in regaining competency and the criminal proceedings are suspended indefinitely.

(Radio Iowa) – One of the big lotto jackpot runs has ended after a ticket bought in New Jersey had the winning numbers for the one-point-one BILLION dollar Mega Millions drawing. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says three Iowa tickets were one number away from getting a share of that prize. The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s (Wednesday) drawing is estimated to be 865 million for the long-term annuity payout, or 416 million dollars for the lump sum option. Neubauer says the two payout options are often misunderstood. “One of the urban myths associated with the jackpots in Powerball and Mega Millions is that the cash amount is the jackpot amount minus taxes. And that’s definitely not the case,” Neubauer says. She says the amount of the jackpot does not immediately include the subtraction of taxes.

“The cash amount, if you take that option, is the amount that’s on hand in the jackpot pool from the sale of tickets at the moment that the jackpot was won,” Neubauer says. “If you take the annuitized payments over time, you get that cash amount that was on hand from the sale of tickets, plus all of the interest that would be built up over the 29 years that you would be receiving payments.” Neubauer says taxes are taken out after you decide which payout option you will receive. She says that is why they always advise winners of bigger jackpots to consult a financial advisor.

“There are so many decisions that would come along with claiming a prize of this amount and we would just want to make sure that people have their questions answered before they come forward. Definitely a life-changing amount of money, she says. The three near miss Mega Millions tickets matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball in Tuesday’s drawing. One of those tickets is worth 10-thousand dollars and the other two used the multiplier and are worth 20-thousand dollars.

The deadline for purchasing a Powerball ticket for tonight’s drawing is 8:59 p-m.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing this (Wednesday) morning on the County’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Property Tax Levy. The Board was asked by a member of the audience attending the hearing, why the taxing entity breakdown for which was sent to property owners in the County, was needed. Board Chair Jerry Walker and Auditor Mandy Berg offered these reasons, which basically boils down to: the State ordered it to be done that way.

It’s an unfunded mandate that cost the County. Supervisor Jodie Hoadley….

After the Public Hearing was adjourned, the Adair County Board of Supervisors held their regular, weekly meeting, during which they set the date/time for a Public Hearing on the FY 25 Budget, as 9:15-a.m., April 17^th, as part of the regular Board meeting. They also approved a 28-E (Cost sharing) Agreement to join the Heart of Iowa Mental Health Region. Supervisor Jodie Hoadley was not in favor of the arrangement, but voted for it in the end.

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal would consolidate the state’s 32 mental health and substance abuse regions into seven unified behavioral health districts. Rachel Cecil, with Heart of Iowa Community Services said a bill consolidating Mental Health regions has not yet come before the Governor to sign, because there are still many unanswered questions.

The Adair County Supervisors approved the Secondary Roads Dept. DOT budget and five-year Construction Program, beginning in FY25. They awarded: a Farm-to-Market (FM) rock contract to Schildberg Construction, in the amount of $249,862.80, which was slightly under the Engineer’s estimate; a granular surfacing contract to Gus Construction in the amount of $464,046, for FY24 FM road(s), and an N-36 Lee (Township) Reinforced Concrete Box (RCB) Project.

The Board also passed a resolution setting a Public Hearing to vacate a portion of Gibbon Avenue, as 9:30-a.m. Tuesday, April 2^nd. Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman then presented a report on Secondary Roads Dept. Maintenance and activities.

DES MOINES — U.S. Republican Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) has announced the start of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. Each year, the U.S. House of Representatives hosts a nation-wide high school art competition with each member showcasing art from their district.  Nunn said Tuesday, “I can’t wait to showcase the talent of Iowa’s high school students. This is a long-standing tradition that I am proud and honored to take part in. Iowa has so much to offer, and I look forward to seeing all the creativity that Iowa students have to share as they showcase our state, culture, and talent.” The competition is open to those residing in the Iowa Third Congressional District and currently in high school.

Each artwork submission will be reviewed by a panel of judges and selections will be made for a winner. The winner will have their artwork placed on display at the U.S. Capitol for the next year. The winner will also be flown to Washington, D.C. to attend the official art show opening. In addition, three winning art pieces will be selected to receive the People’s Choice Award and placed on display in Rep. Nunn’s offices.

Important Dates:
April 26 – Final Day for Student Submissions
April 29- May 3 – Public Popular Vote Period
May 3 – Judge’s Panel Private Showing
May 8 – Winner Publicly Announced

For additional questions, please visit nunn.house.gov/artcompetition or contact Rep. Nunn’s office at (515) 400-8180.