KJAN’s sister-station KNOD in Harlan reported on their social media page, Monday evening, that an accident involving a van occurred at Concerned, Inc., in Harlan that same evening. The van collided with the side of the building, but it wasn’t immediately clear if there were injuries. We’ll have more additional information when it becomes available.

Photo by KNOD staff

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Two more former Glenwood State Resource Center workers charged with mistreating residents have pleaded guilty. The Des Moines Register reports that 50-year-old Darrel Case pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of wanton neglect of a resident of a health care facility. His wife, 43-year-old Dana Case, pleaded guilty to one count. They’re scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 12.

Earlier this year 13 workers at the center quit or were fired over abuse allegations. An Iowa Department of Human Services investigation that found several clients were physically abused or subjected to verbal abuse or neglect. The center provides services for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

History will be made in the Iowa Capitol today (Tuesday) when Kim Reynolds becomes the first female governor to deliver the annual “Condition of the State” address. Reynolds told reporters yesterday (Tuesday) she’ll emphasize that when you “challenge yourself, big things can happen.”

“It’s more about acknowledging that, you know, as a small town girl from rural Iowa, if you dream big and work hard, anything can happen,” Reynolds said during a statehouse news conference, “and I think that applies to anybody.” This will be the third major speech Reynolds has delivered since she took over as governor in late May. Over the past several weeks, Reynolds has said she’ll use today’s (Tuesday’s) speech to unveil the “broad ideas” she has for tax cuts. “Delivering my vision for not only tax reform, but for Iowa moving forward,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds has been arguing cutting the state’s income tax rate will make Iowa more competitive. She’s also been promising to focus the tax relief on “working class families.” “We ought to do everything we can to make sure they can keep more of their hard-earned money,” Reynolds said. “People are working hard and what I still here is they’re struggling to make ends meet.”

Reynolds has hinted water quality and developing a more skilled Iowa workforce are among the other “pressing issues” she’ll discuss today (Tuesday). The annual “Condition of the State” address also requires a look back at 2017 and Reynolds has been telling crowds these are “exciting and critical times for Iowa.” “We have a great story to tell,” Reynolds says. “Iowa has so much capacity and opportunity within our borders.”

Republican legislative leaders have been talking about reducing Iowa’s income taxes and an analysis obtained by a blogger indicated the G-O-P would like to phase out the state inheritance tax as well. Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix says voters sent Republicans to Des Moines to cut taxes.”Tax relief is about emboldening our middle class and encouraging our citizens to invest in themselves, their local businesses and in our state,” Dix said yesterday during a speech on the legislature’s opening day.

Democrats in the legislative warn against mimicking the 2012 tax cut package in Kansas that’s left a current 900 million dollar state budget deficit there.  Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines said “It would be irresponsible for Iowa to go down that road. Iowans want us to make wise decisions to improve our state. We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of others.”

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has formally launched its latest session. Legislative leaders from both chambers gaveled in shortly after 10 a.m. Monday at the state Capitol in Des Moines. The day is expected to be focused mostly on ceremonial speeches. Republicans with majorities in the Senate and House will set the agenda for the session, and they’ve indicated that overhauling Iowa’s tax code will be high on their to-do list. A proposal has not been shared publicly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has hired a human resources director to oversee harassment complaints at the state Capitol. Colin Tadlock, a spokesman for House Republicans, confirmed Monday the manager will begin work Jan. 21. The state agreed in September to pay $1.75 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former GOP Senate staffer who said she was fired after reporting sexual misconduct in the workplace. The Legislature is still grappling with the fallout.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against a former Sioux City council member alleging the improper storage and disposal of millions of pounds of electronics and hazardous waste. The Sioux City Journal reports the state filed the lawsuit Monday against Aaron Rochester, seeking unspecified civil penalties and a permanent injunction against his recycling businesses. The state says more than 17 million pounds of waste has been stored at facilities in Iowa and Nebraska.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A California man from Russia charged with using stolen identification from Russian immigrants to file fraudulent unemployment benefits in Iowa and two other states has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. Court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Iowa say Nikolai Monastyrski also must repay the state of Illinois more than $230,000, Iowa more than $114,000 and Pennsylvania $46,000.