Home News Tuesday News, February 23rd

Tuesday News, February 23rd

County Supervisors To Discuss The Auction For The Residential Care Facility

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene for its weekly meeting today at the County Courthouse Board Room. The county governing board will discuss the recent auction of the Residential Care Facility. They will discuss the minimum sale price for the building and grounds, plus any
future sale options for the Residential Care Facility. County Emergency Management Agency Director, Duane Walhoff is scheduled to appear before the county board. Walhoff will discuss lighting repairs for the County EMS building. County Engineer Tom Rohe will also appear before the county board.
He will discuss with the supervisors a proposed cell phone reimbursement plan, as well as discuss various road construction projects.

 

 

 

Reynolds And Naig Comment On E-P-A’s Announcement

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds has released a statement following the announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will defend the Tenth Circuit Court’s ruling on small refinery exemptions:  Reynolds says “The small refinery exemption waivers have undermined the Renewable Fuel Standard for far too long, diminishing demand for ethanol and
biofuels. Today’s announcement by the EPA in defense of the Tenth Circuit Court’s decision to rein in these waivers is a victory for Iowa farmers, our renewable fuels industry, and our rural economy. It is an encouraging sign from the Biden Administration on renewable fuel policy, but we cannot let up
until the 10th Circuit’s ruling is fully upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig says, “The decision to uphold the RFS is great news for all Iowans…our farmers, our rural communities, and our drivers who get more affordable, more environmentally friendly choices at the gas pump.” Naig continued to say, “The renewable fuels industry plays a
critical role in our state’s economy and workforce. We must continue to invest in infrastructure that allows fuel retailers to offer biodiesel and ethanol at even more pumps around the state so we can continue to grow demand for this important Iowa-made product.” According to a recent study commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, the production of ethanol and biodiesel accounts for nearly $4 billion dollars in state’s economy, and supports 37,000 direct and indirect jobs, and boosts Iowa household income by $1.8 billion. Iowa leads the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel. Iowa has 42 ethanol refineries and 11 biodiesel facilities.

 

 

 

Grassley Comments On E-P-A With Renewable Fuels Announcement

(Washington) — U-S Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa also weighed in on the E-P-A’s position with granting waivers to several petroleum refineries during his weekly news conference held Monday. Grassley told reporters, that
so far, he has had good conversations with the E-P-A regarding renewable fuels, and likes what he sees from the Biden’s E-P-A regarding ethanol and other renewable fuels.

 

 

 

Grassley Admits He Is Impressed With Attorney General Nominee Merrick Garland

(Washington) — Confirmation hearings began Monday for President Biden’s nominee for the Attorney General position, Merrick Garland. It was Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa who help blocked Garland from becoming a U-S Supreme Court nominee, by then president Barrack Obama. At the time, Grassley was the chairman of the U-S Senate Judiciary Committee. So, what are Grassley’s thoughts today of Garland as the possible next Attorney General?

Grassley serves as the ranking minority party member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

 

 

 

Grassley Say Biden Is Hurting Jobs With Executive Orders

(Washington) — President Joe Biden has been the president for a month, and already he has signed more than 50 Executive Orders, many of which have rescinded those Executive Orders that were implemented under President Trump’s administration. During his weekly news conference with Iowa media,
Republican U-S Senator Chuck Grassley says he is disappointed with Biden for taking actions that have meant the loss of thousands of jobs.

Grassley pointed to the stopping of the XL Keystone Pipeline as an example of lost jobs through the stroke of a pen by President Biden.

Grassley says he is concerned that Biden may eliminate even more jobs, at a time when because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more jobs need to be created.

 

 

 

Grassley Says He Will Decide And Make Announcement In Autumn Regarding Future Intentions

(Washington) — Republicans across the state are anxiously awaiting to hear from U-S Senator Chuck Grassley as to his intentions for the future. Will the seven-term Republican run again for an eighth term for the U-S Senate, or will he choose to step aside and retire following the conclusion of his
current term. During his weekly news conference with Iowa reporters, Grassley didn’t indicate a decision, but informed the media that he would decide and make the announcement sometime during the autumn months.

Grassley is currently 87 years old. If he chooses to seek another term and wins, he will be 94 years old at the conclusion of the term. So far, State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City has announced he is seeking to run for the U-S Senate seat currently held by Grassley. Should Senator Grassley decide to not seek another term, several other prominent Republican names have been mentioned as possible candidates, including Grassley’s grandson, Pat Grassley, the current Speaker of the Iowa House. Other names include former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and USDA Under Secretary, Bill Northey, as well as Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Other
Republican names may enter the conversation as time progresses. As for the Democrats, Congresswoman Cindy Axne has hinted that she may pursue a run for the U-S Senate position.

 

 

 

Voting Law Bill Expected To Pass Wednesday

(Des Moines, IA) — A bill that shortens Iowa’s early voting period and makes other election law changes could get final approval Wednesday. Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann (COUGH-man) of Wilton convened a public hearing
Monday night and announced that the bill will be slightly adjusted, to set up a 21-day period for absentee voting. Election officials from four Iowa counties drove to Des Moines to urge legislators to make major changes in the bill. Rebecca Bissell, a Republican who is the Adams County Auditor, says due to Postal Service delays, the shorter window for mail-in voting will cause problems. Auditors from Grundy, Woodbury, and Sioux
Counties also testified against the bill.

 

 

 

Investigators Look For Cause Of ISU Building Fire

(Ames, IA) — Iowa State University and Ames police are investigating the cause of a fire Monday morning that left heavy smoke damage to Ross Hall on the I-S-U Campus. Firefighters were called just after 6 A-M and quickly put out the fire. Ames police say there was one person in the building at the time of the fire who made it out safely. Ross Hall is used for a variety of classroom instruction, primarily in English, history, and
political science.

 

 

 

Seasonal Temperatures Pull Iowa Out of Deep Freeze

(Johnston, IA) — It’s the first day in a long time where you can head outside in Iowa and not worry about freezing temperatures. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff (HAY-gen-hoff), says temperatures that are reaching into the upper 30s and lower 40s are closer to normal for this time of year. Hagenhoff, we could see another really cold spell — but climatologically we’re moving into a time of year where that
would be a little more difficult to achieve. The Weather Service warns any snow that melts on roads Monday will likely refreeze quickly tonight once the sun goes down, producing icy spots and potentially hazardous travel.

 

 

 

Girlfriend Accused Of Killing Boyfriend In Dow City

(Dow City, IA) — A Crawford County woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of her boyfriend. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Beth Guzman was arrested after 46-year-old Jeremy Frank was found unresponsive and bleeding on a street in Dow City around 9:15 p-m Sunday after a call from a concerned friend. Frank was taken to the hospital but died. An autopsy determined that Frank died of a single gunshot wound.

 

 

 

Red Oak Man Sentenced On Second Child Porn Conviction

(Red Oak, IA) — A western Iowa man is going back to federal prison for his second conviction on receiving child pornography. The Nebraska State Patrol discovered internet addresses associated with 63-three-year-old Mark Frederick Sandell received child pornography. Officers got a search warrant
and seized numerous electronic devices and a forensic examination identified a total of 483 videos and 125 images of child pornography at his Red Oak home. Sandell was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the latest charge — and his supervised release for a prior conviction was revoked — leaving him
with a total sentenced of 17-and-a-half years.

 

 

 

 

Stabbing Victim In Cedar Rapids Identified

(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Cedar Rapids Police have identified a woman who was stabbed to death Saturday at a local motel. Police say an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner confirmed that 34-year-old Katrina Latrese Brinson of Cedar Rapids was stabbed to death. A second 32-year-old woman was stabbed
at the Rodeway Inn and was treated and released at a local hospital. A Cedar Rapids police officer shot a man who was fleeing the scene. That man has not yet been identified — and remains hospitalized in critical condition. No other information has been released.

 

 

 

Bill Would Give State Credit For Donation To Hoover Library

(West Branch, IA) — State lawmakers are considering a bill that would give a partial state tax credit to those who donate to help with upgrades at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch. Hoover is the only native Iowan ever elected to the highest office in the land. His great-grandson, Allan Hoover the third, says the last updates were completed in 1992.
Hoover says it is the longest time period for any presidential library in the United States to go without having a major renovation. The goal is to complete this new round of renovations by August 10th, 2024, in honor of
Herbert Hoover’s 150th birthday. Governor Kim Reynolds is asking legislators to appropriate five million in state tax dollars — plus create a state income tax credit worth 25 percent of any donation made to the project.