Iowa Legislature Has First Deadline Known As “Funnel Day”
(Le Mars) — Last Friday was the first deadline for the Iowa legislature. Known as “Funnel Day” bills must have cleared the committee level if they are to be debated and discussed in the House and Senate Chambers. Unfortunately for both State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars and State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center, their eminent domain bill requesting the Iowa Utilities Board not to grant eminent domain powers for the three proposed carbon dioxide pipelines did not pass the committee level. The Republican lawmakers say they were disappointed, but they will not give up on the bill. Jeneary tells of some of the bills that did not get through the funnel deadline.
State Senator Taylor also talked about the cameras in school classrooms bill.
Jeneary says only those bills that have a budget component can be brought back up, or if the Speaker chooses to re-direct a bill for additional consideration.
Jeneary says the Iowa House will debate a bill in the House chamber this week that he floor managed dealing with eligible welfare recipients through the House Human Resources Committee.
State Lawmakers Pass School Supplemental Aid Funding Bill — Reynolds Signs Bill Into Law
(Le Mars) — Governor Kim Reynolds’ first legislation signed into law this year was the school supplemental aid bill which will allocate to Iowa’s schools a 2.5 percent increase for school spending. The plan gives schools an estimated 159 million dollars in new money. Republican State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars tells of what is and was is not included in the bill.
State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center says Democrats were wanting a larger percentage devoted to school funding, but he says Republicans wanted to be certain they could pay for the increase, and be sustainable.
FFA Chapters To Celebrate National FFA Week This Week
(Le Mars) — Today, (Monday) marks the start of National FFA Week. Jacob Spencer is a senior at Le Mars Community High School, and serves as the local chapter’s president. He tells of the importance of the youth organization, and why they celebrate FFA week in conjunction with George Washington’s birthday.
During National FFA week, members will participate in the sub-district contest where members will compete in various speech contests, including Ag Sales, Creed Contest, Extemporaneous speaking, Parliamentary procedure, and several other categories. As for Jacob Spencer, he says he will compete in the Radio Broadcasting category. Spencer received the “Iowa Degree” last spring during the State FFA Conference. Spencer also explains what the Le Mars High School FFA chapter will do this week to call attention to FFA.
Ames Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing of Roommate
(Ames, IA) — Ames Police have charged a man with murder following the fatal stabbing of his roommate. Police were called to a house Saturday and found 39-year-old Maccrone DeClemments suffering a stab wound in the chest. He was taken by air ambulance to the hospital, and later died. Police charged the roommate, 39-year-old Robert Lyon, with first-degree murder. Police have not released any details on what may have led to the stabbing.
Reynolds Suggests Changes in Private School Scholarship Plan
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds’s plan to provide state scholarships to parents who start sending their kids to private schools is being changed to try to find more votes. Rural lawmakers worry the concept will put more financial strain on small school districts, and the plan has stalled in the House for a second year. Reynolds last month suggested a new fund for public school districts with fewer than 500 students. This weekend during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S, Reynolds said they’re looking at maybe an occupational sharing and that would cover an even broader group of rural districts. The state already provides increased state funding to Iowa school districts that share superintendents, social workers, custodians or business managers.
Racial Profiling Bill Dead This Year
(Des Moines, IA) –The Governor’s proposal to ban racial profiling by law enforcement is likely dead for the second year in a row. The bill was filed just a few days ahead of a legislative deadline. And Republican leaders didn’t bring it up for a single hearing. Reynolds says she will continue to work on it and continue to do what she can to make progress. Reynolds hasn’t publicly advocated for her standalone anti-racial profiling bill this year.
Supreme Court Rules on Drug Search
(Sioux City, IA) — The Iowa Supreme Court has thrown out a drug possession case in Sioux City based on how the search was conducted. Yale Stevens of Sioux City was convicted of possessing meth following his arrest when his brother was pulled over in February of 2020 for having a taillight out. Stevens was a backseat passenger in the car and says the evidence should be suppressed because a drug dog indicated drugs were present at the driver’s door — but never indicated he had the drugs in his pocket. The Supreme Court agreed the drug dog’s positive alert outside the driver’s door did not alone create probable cause to search a backseat passenger without a warrant.
