(Radio Iowa) The State of Iowa has a more than one-point-nine BILLION dollar budget surplus. Governor Reynolds has announced the state has 830-million dollars in reserve funds and holds more than a BILLION dollars in its Taxpayer Relief Fund. Larger than expected corporate tax payments are triggering a corporate tax cut as well. In a written statement, Governor Reynolds said it shows tax cut critics were wrong and growth oriented policies and fiscal restraint are paying off. House Democratic Whip Lindsay James of Dubuque says instead of lowering costs for Iowans and investing in public schools, Reynolds is celebrating another huge handout to corporations. ANNOUNCER OUT: The last state fiscal year ended June 30th, however this is the week the books are officially closed. That’s so late-arriving payments or expenses are accounted for in the previous state budget.

(Radio Iowa) Iowa Lottery C-E-O, Matt Strawn, predicted it would be hard to match the last two fiscal years — which were the most profitable in the organization’s history. But he says the first two months of this fiscal year that started in July have far exceeded expectations.

Gross sales totaled nearly 78 million dollars in the two months and are around 32 percent ahead of budget projections.

Large jackpots in games are unpredictable, and Strawn says they are still remaining cautious about how the full year will go.

Strawn says they have been focusing on ways to improve revenue and that has included the lotto game category and more drawings.

He says along with the additional draw for Lotto America, the jackpot has exceeded 20 million dollars for the first time in a number of years. Lottery Chief Revenue Officer John Ross says they also have increased the number of stores selling Lottery products by adding 57 Walmart stores. Ross says the economy still remains a concern for the fiscal year ahead.

The two made their comments at today’s (Tuesday) Iowa Lottery Board meeting.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a number of recent arrests.

On September 18th 34-year-old Blake Tobin of Sidney was arrested for Probation Violation. He was later released on $5,000 surety bond.

On September 20th Deputies arrested 43-year-old Dewight Binau of Sidney on a charge of Public Intoxication and Violation of a No Contact Order. He was later released on his own recognizance.

On September 21st 37-year-old Zachary Anderson of Sidney was arrested for Probation Violation. Anderson was later released on $10,000 surety bond.

On September 22nd 23-year-old Jeremy Rhoades of Hamburg was arrested on 15 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order. He was held in the Fremont County Jail on $1,000 bond.

On September 26th 24-year-old Chase Carlson of Syracuse, NE was arrested on a charge of Theft 4th Degree. He was later released on $500 surety bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Thurman man following an investigation into a report of neglected animals on September 17th.

Deputies were called to a home in rural Thurman for a report of neglected animals. They discovered 8 puppies and one deceased puppy that were kept in neglectful conditions. The puppies were taken to a local vet clinic for treatment. The next day two more of the puppies had died and a third had to be euthanized due to illness.

The owner, 24-year-old Morgan Moe of Thurman, was arrested for 4 counts of Animal Neglect Resulting in Death and 5 counts of Animal Neglect, No serious injury. Moe was booked in to the Fremont County Jail and later released on his own recognizance after an initial appearance before a Magistrate.