(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s looking forward to digging into President Biden’s massive, near-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. Grassley, a Republican, says the Senate has voted to proceed with consideration of the bi-partisan bill. “I voted yes on the procedural vote but I’m still undecided on the final legislation,” Grassley says. “That has to do more with costs than with the expenditure part of the bill.”

Over five years, the measure calls for some 550-billion dollars in new spending beyond projected federal levels. Grassley says he wants to be sure it’s dealing with “traditional, physical infrastructure,” things like roads and bridges, and not new social programs. “The text of the legislation is more than 2,700 pages,” Grassley says, “so I and my staff are going through that now and we’re working with other offices as well to understand exactly everything that’s in it.”

Family farmers rely on the state’s highways and waterways to get their products to consumers, Grassley says, and maintaining those routes is paramount in the bill. Access to high-speed internet is another key element.  “At nearly all the 85 counties I’ve been in, I’ve had a Q-and-A this year,” Grassley says, “and Iowans bring up infrastructure, particularly broadband and there’s $65-billion in this bill for broadband.”

Grassley says he’ll make a final decision on whether he’ll back the measure after weighing the full bill as well as any amendments that are adopted.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet 9-a.m. Wednesday in the courthouse courtroom, in Greenfield. On the agenda, is discussion and possible action on a Fireworks Permit application, Homestead and Military Disallowances, and Compensation Board appointments. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg will present a Backup Internet Connection Proposal to the Board, and discuss a laptop Grant Program through the Iowa Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).

County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will discuss a new hire Treasurer Clerk, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present two final vouchers for the Board to sign, for the: G-27 HMA Paving/Resurfacing Project, and, W-35 Jefferson Bridge Project. He’ll also update the Board on his department’s maintenance and other activities.

(Please note: The conference phone will still be available for those wish to, but cannot attend the meeting in-person. It can be accessed by calling (605)-313-6157, and when prompted, enter 526272#)

(Red Oak) – After taking a year off due to the pandemic, more than three-dozen Iowa communities will be taking part in the National Night Out this (Tuesday) evening. In Red Oak, Fountain Square Park is the site for a showcase of area law enforcement, fire and EMT agencies. Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy told KJAN News it’s not just about Red Oak’s Police, Fire and EMS…they reached out to surrounding counties and jurisdictions and asked them to attend, just like many communities are doing across the country.

You may even have a chance to meet the people who protect the President.

While you’re at Fountain Square Park, you’re welcome to look at the various pieces of equipment, talk with Police, Fire and 1st responders, and pick up some free food.

Rhamy said you’ll find lots of information from medical professionals abut staying healthy and safe in the sun, on the farm, and more.

The Iowa DNR will talk about hunter safety and hunter education, as well. After a one-year absence due to COVID-19, National Night Out takes place from 6-to-8 p.m.  Find the community nearest to you that’s having National Night Out events at: www.natw.org. The list locally, includes: Bridgewater, Council Bluffs, and Stuart. This marks the 37th year of these events.

(Radio Iowa) –  Don’t forget: You can save some money while shopping this Friday and Saturday during the annual tax-free holiday. Iowa Department of Revenue spokesman, John Fuller, says it was started to help parents shopping for back-to-school items, and is very popular. “In general, the holiday runs for two days, Friday and Saturday, August 6th and 7th this year,” he says. “No state sales tax and no local option sales tax will be collected on clothing and shoes under a hundred dollars.” He says the savings can add up. “We have an estimate that Iowans saved about four-point-six million dollars in sales tax last year during the two-day event,” according to Fuller.

Fuller says you can find out more information on what can and cannot be accepted during the two-day period at the Iowa Department of Revenue website. “Go to tax.iowa.gov. There is a picture on our website of a bunch of shopping bags and they can click the link and get a lot more information on what would be tax-exempt and what would not, and there is a whole bunch of lists of different items and what qualifies,” Fuller says.

The tax-free weekend starts at 12:01 a-m Friday, August 6th, and runs until 11:59 a-m on Saturday, August 7th.