(Radio Iowa) – It appears Iowa legislators will return to the Capitol next week to make final decisions on the state budget. The Senate’s budget committee met in public and in private for seven hours Wednesday to pass ten budget bills. Republican Senator Tom Costello of Imogene is leading negotiations with House Republicans on the bill that will provide funding for the state’s human services and public health agencies.

“We have an agreement, but not all the kinks are ironed out of it yet, so we are not solid on it yet,” Costello said, “so I can’t really say: ‘Yeah, we’ve got an agreement.'” Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City says she and her fellow Democrats are in the dark when it comes to details in the health and human services budget.

“It’s one of the larger bills and larger budgets, so I think it’s critical that we have some opportunity to really examine it before we vote on it,” Ragan says. Senator Todd Taylor, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, is raising the same concerns about the budget for the state’s court system. “This is about the worst process possible,” Taylor said. “Normally, we meet multiple hours, multiple weeks, multiple months throughout the session.”

Republican Senator Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He says the marathon one-day meeting to review state budget plans was necessary. “This isn’t normal,” Kraayenbrink says. “The last several years haven’t been normal.” Republicans hold the majority of seats in the House and the Senate, so they determine what bills pass. Governor Reynolds and G-O-P leaders say details of the entire eight-point-two BILLION dollar state budget should be hammered out soon.

The governor continues to lobby for House passage of her state scholarship plan for private school students. Reynolds has begun endorsing Republican Primary candidates running against Republican House members who’ve said they oppose it.

(Emerson, Iowa) – A pursuit that began west of Red Oak Thursday night, ended near the Emerson Cemetery north of Emerson, and lead to the arrest of a man from Fremont County. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Brandon Logan, of Sidney, was arrested around 8:45 p.m. Thursday. He faces numerous charges, including speed 25 miles per hour over the limit, and driving with a suspended, denied, or revoked license. Logan was also cited for speeding at 108 mph in a 55 mph zone, failure to carry financial liability, and failure to obey a traffic control device. His bond was set at $2,000.

The pursuit started when a deputy noticed a motorcycle traveling west on 200th Street near Evergreen Avenue at a high rate of speed. The chase that ensued went through Emerson, and back onto U.S. Highway 34, before ending in the 59,000 block of Highway 59.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Communications.

(Dubuque County, Iowa) – A crash involving a semi tractor-trailer in eastern Iowa Friday morning, claimed the life of a from California. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2016 Western Star tractor-trailer driven by 54-year-old David B. Attebery, of Rialto, CA, was northbound on Highway 151 south of Dubuque at around 9:40-a.m., when he failed to negotiate the sharp curve of on the ramp to Highway 61 northbound.

When the semi rolled over, Attebery was ejected from the cab and died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dubuque Police and Fire Departments, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVA), and the DOT Highway Dept.

The semi involved was registered to a trucking company from Caldwell, Idaho.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest today (Friday), of 29-year-old Timothy Jennings, from Glenwood. Jennings was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree and Possession of drug paraphernalia. His cash/surety bond was set at $2,300.

May 20, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for three companies, which will assist in the creation of 163 jobs and result in over $106 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Armstrong/Estherville, Dyersville and Le Mars. The board also approved innovation funding in support of six startups located in Ankeny, Bettendorf, Clive, Coralville, Prole and Tabor.

Awards for expansion/job creation went to :

• moveero to expand operations in Armstrong and Estherville – moveero, Inc., founded in 1967, manufactures hubs, spindles and wheels for the off-highway market of agricultural, construction and mining equipment with customers in North and South America. The company plans to expand their capabilities and equipment at the Armstrong and Estherville locations. The project is expected to create 11 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $19.05 per hour. The company was awarded tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program for this $9.6 million capital investment.
• Ancient Brands Milling to increase capacity in Dyersville – Ancient Brands Milling is a leading North American manufacturer of organic and non-GMO puffed grains for market-recognizable brands and co-manufacturers of cereal, granola, energy bars and plant-based alternatives. The company plans to increase its product capacity in Dyersville with the construction of a 92,000 square foot facility. The project represents a $26.5 million capital investment and is expected to create 17 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $22.63 per hour. The board awarded the company tax benefits through the HQJ program.
•  Wells Enterprises to add product lines in Le Mars – Founded in Le Mars in 1913, Wells Enterprises, Inc. manufactures frozen treat brands such as Blue Bunny, Bomb Pop and Halo Top found in grocery, convenience and club stores throughout the U.S. The company plans to add new product lines and upgrade equipment at their facility. The board awarded this $70 million capital investment project tax benefits through the HQJ program. The project is expected to create 135 jobs, of which 82 are incented at a qualifying wage of $23.94 per hour.

Awards made to six startups include:

• Axis-U of Ankeny, which developed an online pre-apprenticeship training platform that helps Iowa employers connect to job seekers. After starting with the healthcare industry, the company is now committed to serving manufacturing companies with their CAD, CNC and welding apprenticeship programs. The company was awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for market analysis, product refinement, key personnel and equipment.
• Bettendorf’s Learning Couture created a web-based Customizing Learning Platform that supports professional learning for teachers. It engages teachers in self-reflection and growth, allowing for teachers and leaders to monitor growth patterns over time in both teacher practices and student outcomes. The company was awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for IP development and evaluation, market analysis, proof of concept work, product refinement, and marketing planning and entry activities.
• Clive-based Groov, Inc. is a software as a service (SaaS) company for residential land developers that organizes all land development data in one place. The company was awarded a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan for market analysis and key personnel.
• ProCircular, doing business in Coralville, is a cybersecurity and compliance firm that is launching an interactive, virtual version of their table-top cybersecurity escape room game. The company was awarded a $250,000 Innovation Acceleration Propel Fund loan for IP development and evaluation, market and competitive analysis, proof of concept work, product refinement, market planning and entry activities, and key personnel.
• Located in Prole, Aronson Woodworks is an artisanal, craft furniture manufacturer that utilizes recycled lumber from diseased ash trees to create hand-crafted furniture specializing in the application of the patented Claize^TM finish. The company was awarded a $250,000 Innovation Acceleration Propel Fund loan for key personnel and equipment.
• Hellcat Technologies in Tabor developed the Hellcat Office Command and Hellcat Field Command applications to optimize management efficiencies and data accuracy by digitizing paperwork and communications in the office and field. The integrated, cloud-based software platform allows for all levels of the telecom construction industry to seamlessly manage projects in real-time. The company was awarded a $25,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance loan for product refinement and market planning and entry activities.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the Technology Commercialization Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.