(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa legislature are scaling back the governor’s proposals to address Iowa’s housing shortage. House Republicans are proposing a 25-million dollar increase in state tax credits to companies that build low- and moderate income housing for renters and buyers. SENATE Republicans are proposing a lower, 15 million dollar increase in that workforce housing program.

Sen. Dan Dawson, (R), Council Bluffs

Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says the state should be getting millions to boost housing through already-approved federal pandemic relief as well as President Biden’s proposed infrastructure package. “We didn’t want to live in a vacuum and not realize that there’s a lot of other federal monies out there that will be coming down,” Dawson says.

Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, is supporting the plan, with reservations, as Dotzler says an immediate boost to the state’s workforce housing tax credit program is essential to attracting new businesses. “That’s one of the real limiting factors that we’re seeing with some of these new start-ups is one of the questions that they ask is: ‘Do you have affordable housing?'” Dotzler says.

Republican lawmakers say once rules are developed for how states may spend federal money on housing programs, the legislature will review the issue in 2022 and could dedicate more state money for housing.

(Des Moines) – The Iowa Department of Public Health Thursday, reported 531 new positive COVID-19 tests and six additional deaths. At 10 a.m., the health department reported 391,125 total positive tests and 5,899 total deaths since the start of the pandemic. One Iowa care facility continues reports a COVID-19 outbreak. There are 18 positive cases and seven recoveries among residents and staff within that facility. Iowa reports 2,305 long-term care facility deaths.

Iowa’s 7-day positivity rate is 4.3%, while the 14-day average was holding at 4.4%. The number of Iowans hospitalized statewide, increased from 219 to 235 in the last 24 hours. There are 56 patients in ICU,  52 were admitted to a hospital (compared to 38 the day before), and 24 patients on ventilators, four more than the previous day. RMCC Region 4 hospitals (those in western/southwest Iowa) show: There are 31 hospitalized with COVID (up from 22 the day before); 11 COVID patients are in an ICU; six people were admitted with symptoms of COVID, and there remain four COVID patients on a ventilator.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

Cass, 1,435 cases; {+4}; 54 deaths
Adair, 968; {+0}; 32
Adams, 342 {+1}; 4
Audubon, 513 {+0}; 9
Guthrie, 1,266 {+0}; 29
Harrison County, 1,904; {+8}; 73
Madison County, 1,692; {+6; 19
Mills County, 1,756; {+1}; 20
Montgomery, 1,093 {+1}; 37
Pottawattamie County, 11,899; {+24}; 162
Shelby County, 1,350 {+0}; 37
Union County, 1,315; {+1}; 32

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests: At around 9:10-a.m. Thursday (today), Deputies arrested 41-year-old David Daniel Wells, of Red Oak, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. And, at around 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, 26-year-old Seancody Lee Anderson, of Emerson, turned himself-in to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Anderson was wanted on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Interference with Official Acts. His cash bond was set $2,000. The cash bond for Wells was set at $10,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Libraries Association has been accepted as a local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen says the Dollywood Foundation covers the overhead costs of the program, while local affiliates raise funds to pay for books sent to participants in their coverage area.

She says the books are always high quality and age appropriate, and there are some excellent titles.

Andersen said the Cass County Libraries Association had been looking for a county-wide project community members and others in the area would be willing to support. As an accepted affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, their job now is to raise money to send the books.

The Association is accepting donations to fund the start of the program. It only costs $25 to send one child a book every month, for a year. There’s an added incentive for you to donate, according to Andersen.

The Association is also reaching out to businesses and community organizations who are known for supporting local initiatives of this type, as well as literacy in education initiatives. Any size donation is appreciated, and/or you can sponsor a month, and be recognized on the mailing label.

You can make your donation at any Cass County Library. For more information, call Michelle Andersen at 243-5466, extension 3, or your local library. Additional information about the Imagination Library can be found at www.imaginationlibrary.com.

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested Wednesday for Violation of a Protective Order. 33-year-old Samantha Diane Meek, and 35-year-old Skylar Allen Rufenacht, Sr., both of Creston, were arrested at their respective residence’, on outside agency warrants, and Violation of a Protective Order. Both were transported to the Union County Jail, before Meek was transferred to the jail in Adams County. They were being held without bond, until seen by a judge.

And, Wednesday night, 38-year-old Nicki Renee Jones, of Creston, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. She was transferred to the Adams County Jail. Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 700 block of W. Mills Street reported that two of his vehicles had been broken into. The loss was estimated at $15.