(Radio Iowa) – There’s debate among economists about how the American economy will respond to the injection of one-point-nine trillion dollars from the new pandemic relief package. Creighton University’s Ernie Goss predicts it will spur inflation. “It’s the wrong package at the wrong time,” Goss says. Iowa State University’s David Swenson disagrees. “This bill was important and it’s needed,” Swenson says.

Swenson and Goss debated the so-called American Rescue Plan during a joint appearance on this weekend’s “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S. Goss says sending more federal money to state and local governments is a mistake. “I’ll use a good economic term: crazy,” Goss says. “It’s allocated according to the unemployment rate at the end of the year. Now, could that make sense to anyone other than a state that’s been in lockdown, making bad decisions?”

Swenson says there should have been a formula that took into account several factors, not just unemployment rates, for distributing that 350 BILLION dollars to states and local governments. Swenson says the package, overall, covers a wide range of categories that weren’t adequately addressed in the first two pandemic-relief packages. “Businesses that are stressed — restaurants, dining and drinking establishments especially – (get) another big chunk of money,” Swenson says, “…A lot assistance has also been…targeted especially for back rent.”

The plan did NOT include an increase in the minimum wage. Swenson says the minimum wage should be much above the current 7-dollars-and-25 cents per hour and future increases should be tied to the inflation rate, to get the politics out of it. “We create a lot of either misery or underperformance with regard to the labor force as a consequence of an artificially low minimum wage,” Swenson says. “Yes, we have businesses out there that the market wage is higher, but we still have a substantial fraction of people that have to work at that minimum wage.”

Goss agrees the minimum wage is too low, but he says raising the wage at this time would hammer the hospitality industry. “For businesses, manufacturers and the small businesses that we survey, the big issue is finding highly qualified workers,” Goss says, “so they’re bidding up the wage right now, well above the minimum wage for manufacturers.”

There is 10-point-four billion for agriculture in the pandemic relief package President Biden approved last week. Both economists say with expanding exports and rising commodity prices, there won’t be a need to match the extra 46 BILLION in payments the Trump Administration sent farmers in 2020.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Tyson says about a third of workers at its Waterloo, Iowa have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The Quad-City Times on Sunday reported the vaccination rate at the plant, where the virus has already sickened about a third of the site’s nearly 3,000 employees. Waterloo Tyson is linked to at least six worker deaths from the coronavirus. The company hosted vaccination clinics this month for Waterloo workers. The virus has ravaged the meatpacking industry across the U.S.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Iowa, even as residents who qualify struggle to make appointments for a shot. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Friday that Iowa has administered 1.03 million doses. The milestone reflects significant increases in vaccine supplies but it’s unclear how the state will handle surging demand as more adults become eligible in the coming months. Iowa has no centralized system for people to secure a vaccine appointment.

Iowa City (AP) — As virus cases plummeted, Iowa quietly extended a $3.9 million contact tracing contract with a company owned by a major Republican Party donor and supporter of Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Iowa Department of Public Health hired MCI, an Iowa City telemarketing firm, in November to trace the contacts of Iowa residents infected with COVID-19 after a one-day emergency bidding process. The two-month, $2.3 million contract came during an explosion of cases that filled up hospitals with patients and after counties had for months complained of a shortage of contact tracing workers. Four days before MCI’s contract was to expire on Jan. 31, Iowa’s state epidemiologist signed a three-month contract extension with MCI that is worth another $1.6 million.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in northern Iowa are investigating the discovery of what appear to be human bones. Mason City police said in a news release that a resident found the bones, along with clothing, on Thursday on the shore of the Winnebago River. Officers searched the area and found additional bones. Everything that was collected was transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner for examination.

Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand, Sunday (Pi Day), announced the winners of the first Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Awards. Auditor Sand made good on his campaign promise and established the PIE program in 2019. 79 counties and 267 cities took Auditor Sand’s opportunity to share how they are using practical tips and tricks to reduce waste, by filling out the Office’s “PIE” chart.

Iowa’s local governments also developed “PIE” recipes to be shared by their creators with other public entities statewide. Cost-cutting measures range from shutting off the lights to reduce energy costs, to the creation of policies that reduce travel expenses.

Cities and counties were awarded points, based on the number of cost-cutting measures implemented in 2019 and 2020.
This year’s PIE Awards go to:
• Largest City: Cedar Rapids, population 132,301*
• Smallest City: Beaconsfield, population 18* (Ringgold County)
• Largest County: Polk County, population 490,161*
• Smallest County: Ringgold County, population 4,964*
• Most Submissions Within a County: Johnson County, 100% participation among agencies.
• Most Improved: A tie between the cities of Dysart and Wilton. Each more than doubled the number of efficiency measures from 2019 to 2020.
• Overall Best Performing City: Montezuma, 42 efficiency measures.
• Overall Best Performing County: Fayette, 50 efficiency measures.
• Best Performing County, Largest Fifth in Population: Johnson County
• Best Performing County, Second Fifth in Population: Fayette County
• Best Performing County, Middle Fifth in Population: Tie between Iowa and Cass Counties.
• Best Performing County, Fourth Fifth in Population: Mitchell County
• Best Performing County, Smallest Fifth in Population: Ida County
• Best Performing City, Largest Fifth in Population: Cedar Rapids
• Best Performing City, Second Fifth in Population: Montezuma
• Best Performing City, Middle Fifth in Population: Plainfield
• Best Performing City, Fourth Fifth in Population: Alleman
• Best Performing City, Smallest Fifth in Population: Ricketts

The winners of this year’s PIE Awards will receive a pie of their choice, hand delivered by Auditor Sand.
Auditor Sand thanks all of the PIE participants and appreciates their efforts to save taxpayer money.
*Based on 2019 Census

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Tyson says about a third of workers at its Waterloo, Iowa have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The Quad-City Times on Sunday reported the vaccination rate at the plant, where the virus has already sickened about a third of the site’s nearly 3,000 employees.

Waterloo Tyson is linked to at least six worker deaths from the coronavirus. The company hosted vaccination clinics this month for Waterloo workers. The virus has ravaged the meatpacking industry across the U.S.

One person died during acollision between a Jeep and a semi in southeastern Iowa early Sunday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2020 Jeep Liberty driven by 21-year-old Griselda Lisbet Chavez-Pazcual, of Ottumwa, was traveling west on W. 2nd Street in Ottumwa, when the SUV went out of control. It crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2005 International truck driven by 80-year old Wayne Deen Waters, of Blakesburg. The accident happened at around 1:10-a.m.

Chavez-Pazcual, who was not wearing a seat belt, died after being transported to the Ottumwa Regional Hospital. Wayne Waters was not injured in the crash. The State Patrol was assisted by Ottumwa Police and Fire, and Ormics Ambulance.

Area school boards are set to hold separate meetings, Monday evening. To start them off, the Griswold School Board will gather in the Conference Room at 5:30-p.m. for a public hearing on the 2021-22 Budget. The regular session will follow, and includes:

• Discussion and possible action of a Mask Mandate.
• Consider approval of a Resolution Authorizing the redemption of General Purpose Obligation School Bonds, Series 2017, levying a tax for FY 2022, and related matters.
• Consider approval also, of: the 2021-22 Budget; A Senior FFA trip; Mowing bids, and Driver’s Ed fees.
• Approve Master Contracts for GCEA and a School-Based Interventionist, Technology Coordinator, Master Contract for Non-Certified Staff, Contract renewals for Certified Staff, Coaches/Sponsors, Administration, etc.
• Approving also: Elementary Guidance, and School Business Official sharing agreements with the Riverside CSD; and a Transportation Director & Industrial Technology Program sharing agreements with the Atlantic CSD.
• They will also consider approval of a Stage Curtain purchase.

The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board meets 6-p.m. Monday in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. Among the discussion/action items on their agenda, is:

• Approving a 30/70 Sharing Agreement with IKM-Manning
• Setting the date for a Public Hearing on the proposed 21-22 Budget for 6-p.m., April 12th.
• Approving: Certified Teacher and Support Staff salaries; and a Return to Learn (face mask/covering) policy.

The CAM School Board will meet 6:30-p.m. Monday in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. Among the items on their agenda is:

• Approval of the CAM/Nodaway Valley SBO (School Business Official) Sharing Agreement, a Budget Guarantee Resolution and the makeup of the Facilities Committee.
• Presentations of the FY21/22 School Calendar and FY21/22 Budget, along with the setting of Public Hearing dates.
• Discuss with regard to a daycare in Massena.

And, the Audubon School Board will meet 7-p.m. Monday, in the High School Board Room. Their action items include:

• Approval of a tentative agreement with the Audubon Education Association
• Setting the date/time for a Budget Hearing
• Approval of Weight Room quotes (weight equipment, flooring & concrete replacement at the drain)
• Approval of: Surplus property (Old weight room equipment & flooring); Technology Updates; Softball Field Improvements; the FY 22 School Calendar; Hiring an additional Kindergarten Teacher, if necessary, and the hiring of an additional Elementary Special Education Teacher.