City Council Directs CVB Money To Organizations, But Also Asks CVB Advisory Board To Review The Current Policy
(Le Mars) — Two weeks ago, Le Mars city administrator Scott Langel had made the suggestion to the city council to look at the funds generated from the local hotel/motel sales tax and direct those funds to go to the city to be used primary to help fund the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Langel justified his
suggestion by saying the city needs the funds to assist with the city’s growing charter bus tourism business. In past years, the money that was collected through the hotel/motel local tax would be allocated to various organizations and projects, based upon the suggestions and recommendations of the Convention and
Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. Several people had written letters and appeared at Tuesday’s city council meeting to say they wanted to see the hotel/motel tax funds continue to be allocated for various local organizations and projects. Mark
Sturgeon and Mark Strub spoke on behalf of Plymouth County Bicyclists.
Sturgeon had a third suggestion for the city council to consider.
Following Sturgeon’s comments, Mark Strub then approached the podium.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau advisory board had recommended the city council direct the money to 13 different organizations. After much discussion, the city council approved the action to fund the organizations that made the
request for this coming fiscal year. However, the council also advised the CVB advisory board to review the current policy to determine if changes should occur.
Langel says the allocation of nearly $32,000 will be appropriated to the 13 organizations. Langel informed the city council that he believes the hotel/motel tax money should go to five areas that include: the five convention venues, visitor information center, all tourism efforts including bus tours, advertising and promotion events, and advertising and promoting the city of Le Mars.
Langel says, times have changed since the city first imposed the hotel/motel tax 18 years ago, and the city needs to constantly examine its policies to see if they should be updated.
Kim To Speak At Gehlen Catholic Today
(Le Mars) — Nationally renowned singer, speaker, & inspirer, Paul J. Kim, will appear today speaking to the students of Gehlen and Spalding Catholic’s 7th through 12th graders.
According to Kim’s website, he has spoken & performed original music to youth for more than a decade. Kim has emceeded the National Catholic Youth Conference & spoken at the Steubenville Conference. He has earned an international reputation
for his dynamic & entertaining presentations incorporating a life-changing message.
Gehlen Catholic’s Christian Leadership Team (CLT) moderator, Alissa Schipper, noted Kim will share his testimony on what you say & do today & how it truly matters. The theme for his keynote speech is “Trust.”
University Of Iowa To Cut Back On Scholarships
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa is eliminating academic scholarships expected by more than 2,400 resident students for the 2017-18 school year.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports (https://icp-c.com/2mod1ms ) that a letter being sent by university President Bruce Harreld blames the Legislature’s decreasing university funding by $8 million. University officials estimate that cutting the scholarships will save the university about $4.3 million.
The university already has reduced its Summer Hawk Tuition program, tightened residency requirements for out-of-state students and raised the minimum number of credit hours required for students to live in the dorms.
Harreld told state lawmakers Wednesday that the cutbacks were necessary because of the $8 million reduction in state funding that the university is required to handle over the next four months.
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Regents Not Questioning Audit Relating To ISU’s Leath About Guns On Campus
AMES, Iowa (AP) – The board that governs Iowa State University isn’t questioning an audit that found President Steven Leath may have improperly stored and transported guns on campus property.
The chief auditor for the Board of Regents said Wednesday there’s no proof that Leath sought or obtained written approval to store guns in his mansion, the Knoll, or to take them on a university airplane during hunting trips.
The auditor, Todd Stewart, says “memories differed to some degree” on whether any written waiver had been granted as required by longstanding school policy but that there’s no proof it ever existed. He says that the university’s new vice president has now given Leath a waiver.
Regent Larry McKibben, who chairs the board’s audit committee, asked other regents whether they had any questions about the report. A second later, he said, “move right along, thank you.”
Medicaid Insurance Companies Report Losing Money
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three private insurance companies that oversee Medicaid in Iowa say they expect to lose about $450 million in the first year of administering the health care program for the poor and disabled.
Representatives for UnitedHealthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas and Amerigroup disclosed the estimate to lawmakers during a budget committee meeting Wednesday. The figures account for financial losses since the companies took over Medicaid
last April.
AmeriHealth Caritas estimated losses in excess of $200 million; Amerigroup figured losses at about $150 million; and UnitedHealthcare estimated losses in excess of $100 million.
Company representatives and the Iowa Department of Human Services say losses were expected in the first year.
It’s unclear how the figures will impact Iowa’s future Medicaid spending. The state is preparing to negotiate with the companies over how much to pay for each Medicaid patient.
Protesters Crowd Into Governor’s Office
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Protesters have crowded Gov. Terry Branstad’s office to oppose the Dakota Access pipeline that passes through Iowa.
About 20 people came to the Iowa Capitol at 1 p.m. Wednesday, saying they wanted to speak with Branstad about their opposition to the pipeline. Branstad is in Washington for National Governors Association meetings until Monday.
Ed Fallon, the director of BOLD Iowa, has organized a day of protests across the state to confront officials and businesses that aided construction of the pipeline.
Some members of the group say they plan to remain in Branstad’s office after 5 p.m., at which point they could be charged with trespassing.
Federal officials have approved construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline but that decision is being appealed in court.
House Sub-committee Passes Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa House subcommittee approved a bill that would legalize medical marijuana oil and create a state-run program to grow and dispense the product.
People affected by epileptic seizures, multiple sclerosis and cancer spoke Wednesday in support of the bill, telling lawmakers cannabis oil helped them. The GOP-led panel unanimously supported the bill, which now moves to the House public
safety committee.
The Iowa Department of Public Health would run the program, and an agency official said it was important participants receive license cards.
Rep. Jared Klein, a Republican from Keota, noted the legislation doesn’t legalize recreational marijuana but only allows cannabis oil for medical treatment. He says 28 states have passed similar bills.
Iowa approved a marijuana oil program in 2014 for treatment of epilepsy. It
expires this summer.
