Saturday News, January 22

Le Mars Community Theater And Postal Playhouse Announce Dates For Audition And Dates For Next Production

(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community Theater at the Postal Playhouse is announcing the dates for auditions for its next production.  “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”, a comedy play from Neil Simon will be the next play production.  The cast would involve two females and seven males.  Auditions are scheduled for Monday, February 7th and Tuesday, February 8th at 7:00 p.m.  Rehearsals will begin on Februrary 21st with tentative performance dates for April 1st through the 10th.  “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” was inspired by the playwright’s youthful experience as a staff writer on Sid Ceasar’s “Your Show of Shows”.  This ensemble comedy features all the attendant comic drama as the harried writing staff frantically scrambles to top each other with gags while competing for the attention of star madman, Max Prince.

Meanwhile, the Le Mars Community Theater and Postal Playhouse will raise the curtain for the next production, “God of Carnage” scheduled for February 4th, 5th, and 6th, and again for February 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th.  Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees to start at 2:00 p.m.  Reservations for the general public can be made beginning on Wednesday, January 26th.  For reservations, call the Postal Playhouse between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at (712) 546-5788.  On-line reservations can be made at www.lemarslive.org.  Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, “God of Carnage” relates an evening in the lives of two couples who meet to discuss a playground incident. Alan and Annette’s son hit Michael and Veronica’s s son in the face with a stick, resulting in broken teeth. The four of them agree to discuss the incident in a civil manner, but as the discussion wears on and drinks are imbibed, the polite veneer breaks down and the problems in the room become bigger than a juvenile playground brawl. Note: This show contains adult themes and language. Parental discretion is advised.

 

 

 

Iowa’s Corn Crop Leads to Rail Car Surge

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Iowa’s record 2021 corn harvest fueled a significant increase in traffic on the rail lines that run through the state.  Iowa DOT Director Scott Marler says the car loads of grain in 2021 were the most since 2008 and it is mostly due to the high volumes that were being exported.  Railroad traffic nationwide increased seven percent in 2021 compared to 2020, but has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.  The volume of cars and trucks on Iowa streets and highways dropped more than 40 percent at the start of the pandemic.  Marler says traffic levels are pretty much back to pre-pandemic levels and are even higher in Iowa’s rural areas.  He says that’s likely because of the high volume of trucks carrying freight on Iowa highways and interstates.

 

 

 

Investigators Say West Des Moines Couple Died in Murder-Suicide

(West Des Moines, IA)  —  Investigators believe a man and woman found in a West Des Moines home Wednesday morning died in a murder-suicide.  Police identified the couple as 52-year-old Dana Fortugno and 59-year-old Justine Fortugno.  Detectives have not revealed how they died or which one committed the murder.  Officers doing a welfare check entered the house and found them both dead.

 

 

 

9-Year-Old Accidentally Shot in Storm Lake

(Storm Lake, IA)  —  Police in Storm Lake are investigating the accidental shooting of a nine-year-old.  Officers found the child with a gunshot wound to the lower body Wednesday evening.  Investigators say another child found the handgun and unintentionally fired it, striking the nine-year-old.  The victim was taken to the Buena Vista Regional Medical center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

 

 

 

COVID Hospitalizations Down Slightly in Iowa, Nursing Home Outbreaks Up

(Des Moines, IA)  —  The number of Iowa hospital patients who’ve tested positive for Covid is down about three percent since Wednesday.  State data show six out of 10 patients were admitted for treatment of Covid.  And about 18-and-a-half percent of those patients are in an intensive care unit.  The number of Iowa nursing homes with Covid outbreaks continues to rise — more than doubling in the past two weeks.  Nursing home residents were at the head of the line when Covid vaccines became available a year ago.  The A-A-R-P’s state director is calling on Iowa nursing homes to require booster shots for residents and staff.  The state’s coronavirus website shows 69 nursing homes have Covid outbreaks today(Friday).   One-point-eight million Iowans are fully vaccinated or just under 60 percent of the state’s population.

 

 

 

House Speaker Not Ready to Pass New Measure on COVID Vaccine Exemptions

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says a new law on COVID vaccination exemptions for employees appears to be working and it’s not clear that legislators need to pass another bill on the topic.  The law passed in October lets Iowa private-sector workers claim religious or medical exemptions from any COVID vaccination requirement in their workplace and, if their exemption is denied and they’re fired, they may file for unemployment benefits.  Grassley said some members are very passionate about the issue, “but if the legislature needs to act on things that come up, we should do that, but we shouldn’t just be passing things just to pass them.”  The U-S Supreme Court blocked a federal vaccine and testing mandate for workers at large companies last week.

 

 

 

Iowa Supreme Court Throws Out Charges From Polk County Jail Conversation

(Des Moines, IA)  —  The Iowa Supreme Court is dismissing charges brought against a Polk County man following an online jail conversation with his former girlfriend.  Kourtney Hall told Emily Bowers if she doesn’t go to church that doesn’t mean she will go to jail.  That was a code telling her not to show for a deposition seeking information in a criminal case against Hall.  She did show up and gave testimony, and Hall was then charged and convicted of suborning perjury and obstructing prosecution.  The Iowa Supreme Court overturned the perjury conviction — saying Hall did not offer any inducement that she testified falsely under oath or that she concealed material information.  And the ruling says there is no crime of “attempted obstruction of prosecution,” it only prohibits actually causing a witness to fail to appear when subpoenaed.

 

 

 

Northwest Iowa Man Charged With Sexual Exploitation of Minor

(Cherokee, IA)  —  A northwest Iowa is man is accused of attempting to solicit sexual material from a minor in Cherokee County.  Thirty-nine-year-old Marvin Sowards of Marcus was arrested Wednesday.  Police say Sowards used the internet to make contact with a minor asking for explicit photographs.  He’s charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and child endangerment.

 

 

 

Iowa Pork Congress Scheduled For Next Week

(Des Moines) — Pork producers from across the state will converge at Des Moines next week for the annual Iowa Pork Congress.  The industry trade show along with the educational sessions will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, but on Monday, several chefs have been invited to participate in the “Taste” contest.  Dal Grooms serves as the Director of Communications for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.  She says at least ten chefs from across Iowa have been invited to create an interesting pork entrée using ground pork.

Grooms says although the competition is fun, there is a reason for the contest.  She says 30 years ago, few restaurants would offer any pork entrée items.  Now today, thanks in part to the pork check-off program with promotion slogans as “Pork, the other white meat”, and “Be Inspired” pork entrees is becoming more popular as a regular featured menu item.

Grooms says many recipes that call for ground beef can be substituted with ground pork. On Tuesday, voting delegates from the 99-county organizations will decide upon resolutions and establish policy.  Grooms says a special task force report will be delivered to the county delegates that looks at the responsibilities of the member-based pork association, and the responsibilities of the Pork Board with the required investments.

Another topic to be discussed is a proposal to lower the rates for the pork checkoff program.  Currently, producers’ share of the pork checkoff is 45 cents per $100 dollars value of pork.  Membership dues are utilized for lobbying purposes, while check-off funds can only be used for promotion and education, research, market development, and exports.

The industry trade show and seminars will be featured on Wednesday, January 26th, and Thursday, January 27th.  The Master Pork Producers banquet will be held Wednesday evening.  KLEM will have special reports from the Iowa Pork Congress next week.

 

 

 

ISU Ag Economist Tells Farmers To Forward Contract Their Grain

(Ames) — An Iowa State University Agricultural Economist is suggesting to farmers to seriously look at selling their crop before it is planted.  Chad Hart has been a featured speaker at the Crop Advantage seminars that have been held across the state and sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.  Hart says farmers are seeing good prices for their commodities, mainly due to strong exports, and they should consider forward contracting.  However, the agricultural economist says there are signs the export trade may weaken during 2022.

Hart says the futures trade today shows profitable levels extending for both corn and soybeans for the next couple of years, and he says farmers should take advantage of the opportunity.

China remains a good trading partner with the United States, but Hart says they are beginning to “back off” from their buying spree.

Hart will appear at Le Mars on Wednesday for the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach “Crop Advantage” seminar.

 

 

 

Jeneary Journal

Greetings,

During week two of the 2022 Legislative Session, we were able to accomplish a lot of great things for the people of Iowa. I am keeping very busy with several committee memberships with aspirational visions for continuing the prosperity of all Iowans. I am working diligently as the Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Committee, Human Resources Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Public Safety Committee, and Agricultural and Natural Resources Budget Sub-Committee.               There is nothing more important than being able to preserve our natural resources. Hunters, fisherman, and lovers of the great out doors everywhere in Iowa are looking to conserve these resources for future generations to enjoy. This week it has come to our attention there is a disease going around Iowa Deer population that will adversely affect the ecosystem called Chronic Waste Disease, CWD. Currently the DNR is investigating the root causes and are working on a solution.               We are not only focused on the health of our natural resources, but also the health of all Iowans. On the Human Resources committee, we are working to keep our kids safe in school. We are looking to pass a bill to make bronchodilators and bronchodilator canisters and spacers available for self-administration to students in schools. Many children in Iowa struggle with asthma, and this bill would provide the treatment students use every day to be accessible to them when asthma attacks. Safety and protection of our children in schools will always be a major priority.               In District 5, we know that we must take care of our veterans. It is no secret that I want to take care of those who served our country. For that reason, a bill has been proposed to allocate $800,000 of lottery revenue each fiscal year to the Veterans Affairs trust fund. It is the intent of the assembly to raise that fund to $50 million dollars each fiscal year, and this is an important step to achieving this ambitious goal.               We are continuing our important work on the Public Safety Committee. We are working to find solutions to drug abuse in our communities to create safer environments in all of Iowa. We are also working on Supplemental State Aid (SSA) school funding. We are in negotiations with Governor Reynolds and the Senate to find the appropriations to provide these students with the funds that they need to focus on studies and excel in the classroom. More on this as things develop.               As always if you have any questions, comments, or concerns – do not hesitate to reach out.

Representative Tom Jeneary

 

 

 

 

Taylor Times

The Taylor Times by Senator Jeff Taylor  1-21-22

Our second week of the Legislature began with Martin Luther King Day, so we were not in session on Monday.  I honor Dr. King because he was a champion of liberty and justice for all.  He was also an advocate for peace, at home and abroad.  He viewed and practiced these important values with a Christian perspective.  He’s an American worth remembering.

This week we had our second Senate Education Committee meeting.  In addition to passing several bills, the meeting included a presentation about the importance of K-12 fine arts and performing arts in our state.   One of the major topics this year is educational transparency and empowering parents in the schooling of their children.  One of the bills we approved in Committee was Senate Study Bill 3005, which prohibits school districts from administering an invasive physical examination of a student, or a student health screening, that is not required by state or federal law, unless the school district has acquired the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian.    SSB 3004 protects parents from having additional vaccines added as a requirement of enrollment by local child care centers and K-12 schools, and provides that medical and religious exemptions for required vaccinations still apply in times of emergency or epidemic.

Tuesday evening, I participated in a Zoom discussion about the possibility of criminal justice reform.  This policy area was a priority for President Trump, which culminated in his signing of the First Step Act in 2018 (legislation sponsored by Senator Grassley).

Wednesday evening,  I went to the Department of Public Safety open house.  I enjoyed talking with several Iowa Highway Patrol officers.  I met Capt. Richard Pierce, DPS Communications Bureau Chief, and was given a tour of the mobile interoperability communications center.  Aurelia Fire Chief Lucas Erpelding, from Cherokee County, was on the truck and he talked about the importance of communication during the Aurelia tornado in December.  Public safety is a foundational responsibility of state government and it should be well funded.   Thursday morning, I chaired a subcommittee for Senate File 493.  The bill will provide some accountability and oversight in regard to labor brokers who bring workers to a construction job site in Iowa—some of whom are brought here illegally from out of the country and are then exploited by “coyotes” and unscrupulous general contractors.  This will expand the definition of “contractor” under Iowa Code to include a labor broker or recruiter, and will require registration with the Iowa Division of Labor.  Labor unions, including the Carpenters Union, spoke in favor.  I have been a strong supporter of the bill and its predecessor (SF 69).

This week it was announced that a record number of new Iowa businesses were launched last year with over 35,000 new filings.  This number means Iowans have enough confidence in the economy and the stability of the tax and regulatory climate in the state that they are willing to invest in themselves.  These filings represent additional income for Iowa families and pursuit of personal dreams.  We have long said that Iowa should be the best state in which to live, work, worship, and raise a family.   In the coming weeks, we will review legislation and look at various proposals from legislators on how we can continue to move Iowa in the right direction.  We will also look at the governor’s proposals, at some of her priority legislation dealing with workforce and education.  Senate Republicans share many of the governor’s priorities and we look forward to working on these policies.