City Decides To Postpone Water Repair At Central Avenue And Plymouth Street
(Le Mars) — City officials have changed their minds regarding the water being
shut off today for work at the Central Avenue and Plymouth Street downtown
intersection. Assistant City Administrator, Jason Vacera says the project has
been postponed until next week, and for the most part, the water will stay on.
Vacera says with the new way of making the water main repair, most of the downtown
businesses should not have any interruption with their water services.
Iowa To Lower State Revenue Expectations
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A panel of state budget experts has lowered Iowa revenue
projections for the current fiscal year, though there are no immediate plans to
cut spending.
Citing a slowdown in agricultural income and economic uncertainty from a
divisive presidential race, interest rates and international trade the Revenue
Estimating Conference Thursday predicted the state will take in about $49.3
million less than anticipated in March.
The new revenue estimate, based mostly on individual, business and sales tax
receipts, is $7.31 billion for the fiscal year that began July 1. That’s still a
5.6 percent increase from the previous year.
The three-member group estimated next year’s revenue will grow 4.1 percent to
$7.61 billion.
The group updates the estimates again in December and those figures are the
basis for next year’s state budget.
Education Officials Report Students Scores Have Fallen
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say Iowa student scores have dropped in
statewide reading and math tests.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2dZI9Iv ) that the
percentage of Iowa fourth-graders on grade level in reading fell to 74.8 percent
last spring from 75.7 percent during the 2014-15 school year. In math, fourth-
grade proficiency fell to 79 percent this year from 80.3 percent in 2014-15.
Jay Pennington is the Iowa Department of Education’s bureau chief of
information and analysis services, and he says the tests are only one measure of
success. Until this school year’s tests in spring, results on the Iowa Assessments
have increased every year since the accountability exams were begun in the 2011-12
school year.
Officials say it’s unclear why there were drops for the 2015-2016 school
year.
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Leath Gives And Additional $2500 To Iowa State University For Plane Repairs
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University President Steven Leath has donated
$2,500 more to make up for the costs of his accident in a university airplane.
Leath and his wife announced previously they’d donated $15,000 to the
university to compensate for repair and storage costs the school originally paid
after a July 2015 hard landing in ISU’s single-engine plane.
The school said Wednesday the Leaths gave an additional $2,500 after learning
the actual costs were $17,300. The original payment was based on an estimate for
repair costs that was low.
A pilot, Leath is trying to move beyond questions about his use of university
planes for a mix of official travel and personal business. The Board of Regents is
reviewing whether he violated policies.
The accident came as the Leaths returned from vacation.
Former State Worker Will Get New Trial
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals says a former state worker
who sued claiming employment discrimination and harassment based on race must get
a trial.
Beverly Couch says justice will finally be served.
The 65-year-old black woman sued the Iowa Department of Human Services in
2013 claiming she was fired for testifying in a civil rights trial filed against
the state by another black woman.
A district court judge dismissed Couch’s case citing lack of evidence that a
DHS manager who made disparaging remarks about her was directly involved in her
dismissal.
The appeals court says there are sufficient questions to present
discrimination and harassment claims to a jury.
Her attorney, Leonard Bates, says Couch deserves her day in court.
An Iowa Attorney General spokesman says the state is reviewing options.
