Key legislators involved in crafting a bill to raise the state tax on motor fuel by a dime a gallon say the legislation will include an attempt to rein in county borrowing for road and bridge projects. Representative Josh Byrnes, a Republican from Osage, says Black Hawk County, for example, has borrowed over 35 million dollars for transportation-related projects in the past seven years.”That’s $46,000 of debt per mile of secondary road and it’s $269 per person that they’ve got on their backs,” Byrnes says.

Byrnes, who is chairman of the House Transportation Committee, says the problem is many roads will have to be repaired or even replaced long before residents have paid back the 30-year bond for the original project. Senator Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Bowman says the bill to raise the gas tax likely will include a call for counties to match the length of their loans to the “life-expectancy” of the road or bridge.

“We’re not finalized,” Bowman says. “It could change yet before we publish the draft, but there are under consideration some other ideas to be in the bill.” Bowman and Byrnes discussed the issue today (Friday) during taping of Iowa Public Television’s weekly “Iowa Press” program. Iowans for Tax Relief founder David Stanley, a critic of the fuel tax hike, was also a guest. “As I hear these people talk…about the bill, they’re still having trouble putting it together,” Stanley said. “I don’t think they have a done deal yet.” Stanley say the gas tax is the most regressive tax the state levies.

“After several years of recession, we’ve got thousands of Iowans out there who’ve lost their jobs. They’re working for half the money they used to get. Many now have to drive 30, 40, 50 miles to work,” Stanley says. “We’ve got people hurting. This is the wrong time.” Other groups, like Americans For Prosperity, argue state policymakers should prioritize state spending and divert three-and-a-half percent of all the other taxes the state collects into the gas tax fund which is used exclusively for road projects.

Supporters of the gas tax increase say that will pit roads against other priorites, like spending on schools and the mentally ill, and the gas tax is a user fee that is also paid by out-of-state motorists and truckers who drive on Iowa roads.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential prospect Rand Paul says he agrees with outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder on some criminal justice issues. Speaking at a rally in a Des Moines-area winery, Paul says he applauds Holder’s efforts to reduce seizure of property from people facing no criminal charges. He also supports reducing penalties for possession of marijuana. Paul plans to appear with freshman Republican Representative Rod Blum later today.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials say they’re trying to decide the best way to remove ethanol that leaked into the Mississippi River and pooled around the area where several train cars derailed. The Telegraph Herald reports about a half-acre of fuel froze at the site as of Friday, with more covering about an acre of ice on the Mississippi. Fourteen of the cars that derailed Wednesday morning contained ethanol, and eight appeared to be leaking.

BERNARD, Iowa (AP) — Police say an intoxicated man has been arrested after he caused a commotion at an eastern Iowa school that triggered a lockdown. The Telegraph Herald reports 39-year-old Scott Menadue was detained Friday after officials at Bernard Elementary School called authorities about an angry man inside the school who they believed was intoxicated.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines Register was named Friday as the Iowa Newspaper Association 2015 “Newspaper of the Year.” The award was announced at the association’s awards banquet during the INA 2015 Convention and Trade Show held in Des Moines.

Officials with the Cass County Health System are asking anyone who may have been exposed to the measles virus, not to come to the Atlantic Medical Center. Instead, you should call the facility, in order to prevent the virus from being spread to those who are not infected. If you have traveled to states where there is a measles outbreak, and think you may have been exposed to the virus, contact the AMC Immunization staff at 712-243-2850.

What they measles look like on human skin.

Currently there have been 2 confirmed cases of the measles in Omaha, Nebraska as well as some cases in South Dakota, Illinois, and Minnesota. Jeri Orstad, RN, Immunization Nurse at the Atlantic Medical Center (AMC), reminds the public of the seriousness of the disease and importance of containing the spread of measles. “Measles is a very contagious disease that infects 90% of people who are exposed and can lead to serious complications. Vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting measles. People who receive two doses of the MMR vaccine will be 99% protected.”

The measles virus spreads through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Symptoms normally appear 7-18 days after exposure.  A person infected with measles may experience any of the following:
· Fever
· Runny Nose
· Red, Watery Eyes
· Sore Throat
· Cough
· Loss of Appetite
· Koplik spots (small spots with white or bluish white center on the inside of the cheeks)

About 14 days after exposure a rash will develop, first showing at the hairline and progressing down the body. It is important to note people with measles are contagious for almost 14 days, beginning 4 days before any rash appears and about 4 days after all of the rash is gone.

Measles is a serious illness that can require hospitalization. Complications include ear infection, pneumonia, diarrhea, or swelling of the brain. Children routinely get the measles vaccine (MMR) at one year of age and a booster dose as early as four years of age. Jeri advises that the second dose of the MMR vaccine may be given as soon as one month after receiving the first dose. The vaccine does not provide protection until after the child receives the second dose. If parents are unsure if their child received both doses they may contact the AMC Immunization Room at 712-243-2850. AMC participates in a statewide vaccine registry so they can verify vaccines even if they were not administered in this clinic.

No appointment is necessary to receive a measles vaccine at AMC, and funding is available for those unable to afford vaccination either privately or through their insurance. The Immunization Room is open Monday through Friday 8:30 -11:00 am and 1:30 – 4:00 pm. They are also open on Saturday 8:30 – 11:00 am.

A man from Creston has reported to the Union County Sheriff’s Office that someone stole a chainsaw from his machine shed sometime over the past week. Authorities say the machine that disappeared from the shed located on 150th Street, was valued at $250.