(Radio Iowa) -Republicans on a House subcommittee have advanced Governor Kim Reynolds’ bill that would put definitions of man and woman and mother and father in Iowa law and require changes in how the state issues driver’s licenses to transgender residents. Molly Severn is the governor’s legislative liaison.

“Just like the governor and legislature did with girls’ sports, this proposal protects women’s spaces and rights afforded them by Iowa law and the Constitution,” Severn says. Denise Bubeck of The Family Leader’s church ambassador network says Reynolds is standing up for women by clearly defining the term.  “This bill will help us move in the right direction because without it, we are losing single sex spaces and resources,” she said, “including locker rooms, athletics and even prisons and domestic violence shelters.”

Clara Reynen, a graduate student at the University of Iowa, testified against the bill.  “This bill is completely unconstitutional and worse than that it’s unAmerican,” Reynen said. “…My transgender friends and family deserve to live in peace..” The bill requires Iowa driver’s licenses and newly-issued birth certificates to list a transgender resident’s gender at birth as well as their gender after sex-change surgery. Stefanie Munsterman, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, says the bill sends the wrong signal to the L-G-B-T-Q community.

“I have business leaders across the state of Iowa telling me they are having an exceedingly hard time finding employees to work,” Munsterman said. “People are leaving the state. People are afraid to come here, so we are losing our competitive advantage.” A huge crowd of opponents of the bill rallied and chanted outside the committee room during the half hour hearing.

The bill is now eligible for a vote in a House committee.

(Radio Iowa) – It may be a little easier to get help if you run into a problem filling out your federal tax forms this year, as the Internal Revenue Service is expanding its range of services. Christopher Miller, the I-R-S spokesman for Iowa, says the agency has added more staff to handle calls on its helpline.

Miller says, “We’re expanding our customer callback feature, designed to significantly reduce wait times on the phone.” He says more funding for the agency this year translates to more services and better support. The I-R-S’ website has also gotten a make-over to better assist taxpayers.

“We’re enhancing the IRS online account tool to include chat,” Miller says. “We’re including the option to schedule or cancel future payments, revise payment plans, and even save bank account information.” If you have questions but don’t want to get online or on the phone, Miller says there’s another option.\

“The IRS is expanding in-person service to taxpayers,” Miller says, “by meeting with them where they are, by opening or reopening Taxpayer Assistance Centers in local communities across the country.” You can find a local center, or get help online at I-R-S-dot-gov.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County, today (Tuesday), approved the hiring of Sawyer Ocheltree as Deputy Sheriffs, at a rate of $34.08/hour, in accordance with the AFSCME Union contract. They also approved wage increases for two Secondary Roads Department employees (Kyle Wilmeth & John Johnson), following completion of their respective probation’s.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken updated the Board on various Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities. He also discussed a joint bridge project with Guthrie County, with regard to the Board’s approval of a final voucher for the Boston Road project.

The contractor has already been paid, therefore the Supervisors’ approval of the voucher was essentially a formality. He explained the joint project was made possible through a grant.

The Supervisors also approved the appointments of Dr’s. Elaine Berry and Angela Weppler, as Medical Examiners to a two-year term (Through 12/31/25), and four M/E investigators: Registered Nurses Tabetha Smith, Darci Young, Michelle Schroder and Andrea Stork.

They also approved the re-appointment of Mary Robinson, PA-C, to the Cass County Board of Health, and, Heath Larsen as Cass Township Trustee.
In other business, the Board received Quarterly Reports from: Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Director Mitch Holmes; Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Debbie Schuler, and County Conservation Director Micah Lee.

Their final item of business was to approve a Class-B Retail Liquor License for the Griswold Dollar General Store.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, today (Tuesday) passed a FY 2023-24 Budget Amendment, following a public hearing, during which there were no comments made. Board Chair Mike Olsen…

The Board received a weekly report from Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert, who provided an update on the 250th Street Bridge Project.

Montgomery County BoS mtg, 2-6-24

The Board also approved reports with regard to Recorder and Sheriff’s fees for the month of January, totaling $31,607, and the Treasurer’s Semi-Annual report.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa Senate subcommittee has given unanimous approval to the governor’s proposal to extend Medicaid coverage of post-partum care for new moms for 12 months after their babies are born. Current law provides coverage for 60 days after birth for Iowans with an annual income below 375 percent of the federal poverty level. The governor’s proposal lowers that cap to 215 percent. Iowa Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia says Iowa’s current income Medicaid eligibility for pregnant moms is the highest in the country. “The concept is to bring our (Federal Poverty Level) in line with other states,” Garcia says, “and to use those investment dollars to extend coverage.”

Blank Children’s Hospital lobbyist Chaney Yeast says the lower threshold will hurt working moms who aren’t getting health insurance coverage from their employer. “We have a maternal mortality crisis. We have an infant mortality crisis,” Yeast says. “This is a single policy lever that you can pull to improve the health of moms and babies but also support our workforce.”

Iowa is among a handful of states that has not extended Medicaid coverage of post-partum care for a year after a child is born. The national group that represents O-B/G-Y-Ns says post-partum check-ups should include discussions about emotional well-being and care of the baby as well as a physical exam.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — The federal weapons trial for Adair police Chief Brad Wendt, began Monday. Wendt is charged with making false statements to the ATF about buying machine guns for the police department and instead selling them in his gun store. KCCI reports Federal prosecutors said during opening statements, that Wendt used his position of trust to make money selling firearms for his personal gain. Wendt’s defense attorney told the jury he did nothing illegal and informed the ATF of all of his gun sales and purchases. This began in 2018, when Wendt was hired as the Adair police chief.

The government says he immediately started buying guns. A total of 90 guns over the years, which he said were for the two-man Adair police force. One of the weapons is an $80,000 electric Gatling machine gun that can fire 6,000 rounds a minute. Prosecutors say that the machine gun ended up on his personal Humvee SUV. Prosecutors say many of the guns he allegedly bought for the police department, he later sold at the two gun stores he owns.

Monday afternoon, several gun manufacturers testified about their dealings with Wendt. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted. The trial continues today (Tuesday).