Home News Tuesday Afternoon News, April 24th

Tuesday Afternoon News, April 24th

CANDIDATE FOR IOWA GOVERNOR JOHN NORRIS STOPS BY KLEM STUDIO

John Norris, Democratic candidate for Iowa governor made a stop in Le Mars Tuesday morning to talk about issues concerning rural Iowa, and why he is running for governor.

Norris worked as chief of staff to former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack when he was governor and secretary.

Norris has also served as U.S. Minister Counselor for Agriculture to the United Nations in Rome and has served on the Iowa Utilities Board and on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Norris says the reason he is running for governor is because he is worried about Iowa’s rural economy.

Speaking on agriculture, Norris says Iowa must begin to plan for the future of agriculture by taking aggressive measures to diversify crops for the markets of the future.

Norris believes that growing Iowa’s economy and increasing wages, particularly in rural communities, starts with investing in public education.

John Norris is one of six Democrats running for Iowa governor. When asked why people should choose him over the other potential candidates, Norris replied “experience”.

For more information on democratic candidate John Norris, you can go to his website —  www.norrisforthepeople.com

HO-CHUNK FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST NEBRASKA OVER TRIBAL TOBACCO INDUSTRY:

Ho-Chunk Incorporated and two affiliated entities have filed a federal lawsuit against the State of Nebraska, alleging that the state is attempting to unlawfully regulate tribal tobacco.

The lawsuit claims action by Nebraska is an intrusion into the sovereignty of the Winnebago Tribe.

Federal law enforcement agency personnel showed up at three of Ho-Chunk’s Winnebago facilities in late January to investigate tobacco operations.

Officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms entered Ho-Chunk’s corporate offices and their Rock River Manufacturing and H-C-I distribution sites.

The federal agents reportedly seized financial records and computers.

The entities are now jointly suing Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton.

Frank White, Chairman of the Winnebago Tribe, says in a statement that “This attack has damaged our Tribal economy and in turn threatens our sovereignty, self-determination and self-governance.”

White’s statement says the Winnebago Tribe collects its own tobacco taxes that directly fund programs including health, education and infrastructure.

The taxes were $122,658 in 2017.

White says the taxes have helped 40 families purchase new homes through a down payment assistance program in recent years.

The Nebraska attorney general’s office has not commented on the lawsuit.

CORN PLANTING WAY BEHIND FIVE YEAR AVERAGE

The latest crop report shows there was very little activity down on the farm last week. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.


The U-S-D-A weekly report says there were only one-and-a-half days last week that were suitable for any type of fieldwork.

Below normal temperatures and snow in the northern part of the state kept farmers from even thinking about doing much of any planting prep in the fields.

The five-year average shows farmers normally have 11 percent of the corn planted by April 22nd — and this year there hasn’t been any seed put in the ground.

Farmers still need some extended warm weather to raise the soil temperatures and dry out the wet areas before the planting can get underway.

IOWA SENATE BILL WOULD ALLOW MORE POTENT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers may vote on a bill on medical marijuana in the coming days, although it’s unclear if there’s enough time before the session ends.

A Senate committee voted 11-3 on Monday to advance a bill to eliminate a cap on THC in the cannabis oil that goes on sale Dec. 1 in five Iowa dispensaries. THC is the compound associated with marijuana’s psychoactive effects.

The bill would also exempt cannabis oil from sales tax and expand eligible medical conditions to any that a doctor says is medically beneficial.

MedPharm Iowa, the state’s first cannabis oil manufacturer, says eliminating a cap on THC is needed to create a large enough market for medical marijuana sales. As of last week, about 700 permits have been issued to Iowa patients and caregivers.