(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says President Biden should focus tonight’s (Tuesday’s) State of the Union speech on federal spending plans. “The Biden Administration must change course and move away from the fiscal insanity and partisan politics that dominate Washington,” Grassley says. Resetting the federal budget to pre-pandemic spending levels would be the place to start, according to Grassley.

“During 2020, there was about $3 trillion spent to get us back on track after the government shut down the economy,” Grassley says. “Then we go back to that level of spending in 2020 and add to it whatever needs to be added to it, but we don’t use the present baseline to continue spending.” As lawmakers craft the next federal budget, Grassley says more should be spent to replenish U.S. stockpile of weapons that have been shipped to Ukraine.

Grassley says Medicaid and Social Security benefits need to be restructured, but that should be a separate conversation. “You’ve got to tackle our entitlement programs by themselves and when we do tackle them, we’re got to make sure that people who are on retirement or close to retirement don’t get cut,” Grassley says. Grassley cites the reforms adopted 38 years ago as a guide, suggesting any changes for younger Americans’ Social Security and Medicare benefits be slowly phased in over several decades.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a woman from Lenox faces a Possession of Contraband/Weapon – inside a Correctional Facility. 44-year-old Cassandra Marlena Davis, who is serving time in the Adams County Jail on other charges, was assessed the additional charge Monday evening. Davis’ bond was increased to $12,000 (cash or surety).

(Ottumwa, Iowa)  – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 36-year-old Ross Thomas Cobler, who was convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault-3rd or Subsequent Offense, in Wapello County, failed to report to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required Friday.

Cobler is a white male, height  5′ 10″, and weighs 203 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on 10/26/22.  Persons with information on Cobler’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Ross Cobler

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Education for the Atlantic Community School District will meet in a regular session beginning at 6:30-p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2023, in the High School Media Center. Discussion items during their meeting include:

• Washington Playground – Present Final Plans & Specifications.
• Proposed District Calendar for 2023-24
• FY23-FY25 Audit Services.

Action items on their agenda include:

• Bus Driver Appreciation Day – Feb. 22nd
• Set Public Hearing for 2023-2024 School Master Calendar
• FY23-FY25 Audit Services Contract
• Extra-curricular activities (MS Girls Softball/Girls Swimming)
• Out-of-State Trip: High School Track
• Disposal of Vehicles
• A Resolution Authorizing Bid Letting & Setting Public Hearing
• Pay App #2, re: the HS Air Quality Project.

ACSD Superintendent Steve Barber will remind the Board about the following dates of interest to the Board:

• Day on the Hill – Feb. 14th
• ISL Public Hearing & Board Work Session – Feb. 22nd at 5:30-p.m.

Immediately following the regular meeting, the Atlantic School Board will move into an exempt (Closed) session, for the purpose of negotiations with the Atlantic Education Association, representing the District’s Certified & Non-Certified Staff.