(Radio Iowa) – A key Democrat in the Iowa Senate says the one billion dollars in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund should be used to reduce taxes for working Iowans and invest in schools, hospitals and child care. Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City is the top Democrat on the Iowa Senate’s tax policy committee.

“Iowa GOP tax policies have hollowed out Iowa’s small communities and rural landscapes,” Bolkcom says, “and their tax and economic policies have created rural teacher and health care worker shortages and child care deserts.” The billion dollars accumulated over the past two years as state tax collections surged past official estimates and were deposited in the Taxpayer Relief Fund.

“It was seen as kind of a gimmick by Republicans to draw attention to their desire to cut taxes and I don’t think anybody expected it would have this kind of revenue come to it the way it was designed.” Bolkcom says the latest estimate indicates more than nine billion dollars in federal pandemic relief money and loans has been sent to Iowa during the Trump and Biden Administrations and the state wouldn’t have this billion dollar surplus without that.

“If it were not for the CARES Act money and the American Rescue Plan money from the federal government, Iowa would need every single one of these dollars that people have paid in state and local taxes to solve our problems that have been created by a pandemic that remains out of control in Iowa.” As Radio Iowa reported Monday, Speaker Pat Grassley — the top Republican in the House — says the billion dollars is an overpayment that should be returned to taxpayers. Bolkcom says the across-the-board reduction in individual income taxes he expects Republicans to pursue primarily benefits the wealthiest Iowans.

“I think the tax cuts will absolutely be loved by their Des Moines donors,” Bolkcom says. Bolkcom says he and other Democrat favor increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit for low and moderate income Iowans who work and have little to no income from savings or investments.

(Tabor, Iowa) – A traffic stop late Monday night near Tabor on Interstate 29, resulted in the arrest of a man on felony drug charges. According to the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, 58-year-old Raymond Lamar Greene, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was taken into custody at around 11:03-p..m.

Authorities say the Mills County K9 Unit assisted the Iowa State Patrol on the traffic stop near mile marker 30 on I-29. During an investigation, the K9 “Danken” was deployed around the vehicle, and presented a positive indication for the odor of narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of nearly 40 grams of methamphetamine.

Greene was arrested and transported to the Mills County Jail.

Raymond Greene

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say there were no injuries reported after a car struck a utility pole, Monday afternoon. Authorities said 18-year-old Logan Tanner Wissner, of Fontanelle, was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima eastbound on Russell Street at around 4:20-p.m.

Wissner told Police that as he was passing through the intersection, another vehicle was in his lane traveling in the opposite direction, forcing him to move over. When he did so, right front side of the car hit an Alliant Energy utility pole. The car sustained $2,000 damage, while damage to the pole was estimated at $100.

There were no citations issued.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say three people were arrested over the past week on separate charges. (As reported earlier) Saturday evening, 33-year-old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested on I-29 for Possession of a Controlled Substance, A Controlled Substance Violation, and Eluding. Bond was set at $15,000.

Thursday night, 26-year-old Shayleigh Lauren Small, of Standwood, IA, was arrested on I-29 on three counts of Child Endangerment, and OWI/1st offense. Her bond was set at $2,000. And, on the 24th, 28-year-old Lawrence Albert Pace, IV, of Percival, was arrested on a Harrison County warrant for Failure to Appear. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said also, there were two incidents of 3rd Degree Burglary reported on the 24th, an incident of 4th Degree Theft, and one incident of Trespass.

(Radio Iowa) – Two Fairfield teenagers accused of killing a high school Spanish teacher have pleaded not guilty. Sixteen year olds Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller filed written not guilty pleas to charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the death of 66-year-old teacher Nohema Graber.

Both teens have asked to be released before their trial. A judge is still considering that request — and a request to reduce their one-million-dollar bail. Prosecutors argue the bail should stay the same or be raised to two million dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – A former West Des Moines insurance agent has been charged with a felony for allegedly filing a false insurance claim for coverage of fire damage. According to the Iowa Insurance Division, 48-year-old Tanya Schettler listed the wrong date of the fire on an insurane claim, knowing the fire occurred during a period when no insurance coverage was in effect.

Tanya Schettler

A state investigation of Schettler began in August of 2020. Last Wednesday, she was charged with one count of insurance fraud. If convicted, Schettler could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of 75-hundred dollars.