Sioux City Diocese Reaches Goal For Tuition Assistance
(Sioux City) — Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation (MLTF) is proud to announce that the 2016 fundraising goal of $2,939,833 has been met. The funds will be used to support need-based tuition assistance to qualifying students
within the Diocese of Sioux City for the 2017-2018 school year. The Diocese of Sioux City has seven Catholic high schools and sixteen grade schools with more than 6,100 students.
The Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization representing all of the Catholic K-12 schools in the Diocese of Sioux City. MLTF raises funds to assist families whose income is at or below 300% of the poverty
level, providing them with need-based tuition assistance. There are twelve Student Tuition Organizations (STOs) in Iowa with a total of $12 million in tax credits available for 2016.
Kristie M. Arlt, director of communications and development for the Diocese of Sioux City says, “The tuition dollars will go to families who want a Catholic education for their children but may have a difficult time affording it. In total, the Monsignor
Lafferty Tuition Foundation has raised over $23 million in tuition assistance dollars over the past ten years.
Contributors to MLTF receive an Iowa income tax credit equal to 65% of their donation, thus reducing their Iowa income tax obligation in the amount of the tax credit received. The
donation may also qualify for federal income tax deductibility.
Gehlen Catholic Development Director, Lisa Niebuhr, stated 92 donors contributed $296,446.98 to benefit Gehlen Catholic School. Niebuhr added, “Gehlen Catholic is humbled by the support of our benefactors & advisers. With three out of five
Gehlen Catholic students residing in homes at or below 300% of the poverty level, the MLTF offsets parish & parental (tuition) investments. Thus, the gift of Catholic education is more affordable for students & their families.”
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Sioux Center Woman
(Le Mars) — A Sioux Center woman was arrested early Tuesday morning by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office after being reported that she was having erratic driving. 23 year old Andrea Clough was stopped on Highway 75 at about 1:43 a.m. An investigation determined Clough was intoxicated, and also in
possession of marijuana and drug related paraphernalia. She was taken to the Plymouth County jail and given a $1,000 bond.
December 15th Is Deadline To Certify Forage Crops
(Le Mars) — Farmers are reminded that the deadline to certify forage crops is today. Farm Services Agency Director for Plymouth and Sioux Counties, Jeff Davis, says December 15th is the last date to complete the certification process. Davis says the program applies to alfalfa, clovers, and grasses on cropland. Farmers who fail to certify their forage crops by today will be
assessed a late filing fee. Farmers who have questions should contact their local county U-S-D-A Farm Service Agency office.
Judge Hears Complaints About Dakota Access Pipeline
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group of Iowa landowners forced to allow a Texas oil company to put a crude oil pipeline under their farmland is asking the state courts to throw out what they consider “illegal easements” through their land and some say if they win they want the pipeline dug up and removed.
A district court judge in Des Moines heard arguments Thursday in the lawsuit challenging the Dakota Access pipeline.
About a dozen landowners seek to overturn the project permit approved by the Iowa Utilities Board and they claim it was illegal for the board to take farmland when the pipeline provides no public service to Iowans.
The pipeline attorney argued the project is completed making the case moot. He says Iowa law gives the utilities board authority to issue pipeline permits.
Any decision is likely to be appealed.
Greene Pleas Not Guilty To Shooting Des Moines Police Officers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the ambush-style shooting attacks of two police officers last month. Scott Michael Greene entered his written plea Wednesday in a court filing in which he also asked for a speedy trial. The 46-year-old is accused of carrying out the Nov. 1 attacks of Urbandale officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio. They were killed within minutes while sitting in their patrol cars miles apart from one another.
State Legislator Wants To Abandon All Traffic Cameras
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa senator is optimistic the state Legislature will ban automated traffic cameras that he argues are primarily revenue sources for cities, but officials in Davenport say the devises have succeeded in reducing
car speeds and preventing crashes. The Quad-City Times reports that Republican Brad Zaun plans to push legislation to ban the cameras during the next legislative session. Zaun says many cameras often show inaccurate data because they’ve been improperly calibrated or checked.
