JENEARY – LEGISLATURE UPDATE
3rd District State Representative Tom Jeneary successfully managed a bill that supports a listing of accesssible trails for persons with disabilities. Jeneary says work is already underway on this project.
The information gathered in DNR listing will benefit everyone.
Jeneary is the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee.
E-15 SALES TO GO YEAR-ROUND IN IOWA AND SEVEN OTHER STATES
Iowa and seven other states will be able to sell E-15 blended fuels year round beginning in 2025. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the move late last week. They also delayed implementing the rule for a year, making it two and a half years late.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds requested E-15 sales without a federal waiver 18 months ago.
The EPA was required by law to take action within 90 days, but defied the Congressional deadline.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird sued to protect the governors’ rights.
U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra was happy with the announcement. Feenstra helped introduce legislation in Congress to make E-15 available nationwide year round.
Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, says the delay in implementation is unnecessary and unjustified.
The Iowa Corn Growers Association welcomes the EPA’s final rule and applauds Governor Kim Reynolds for leading the effort.
SIOUX CENTER ARREST
A Sioux Center man was arrested on a pair of charges. The Sioux County Sheriffs Department charged 47 year old Onofre Bernardo-Mendez with Sex Abuse and tampering with a witness. The arrest occured after a reported incident southeast of Sioux Center Thursday night. An investigation revealed that the suspect used force commit sexual abuse with a 20-year-old female, and also offered the victim cash to influence her testimony to authorities.
FARMERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DRY SOIL HEADING INTO PLANTING SEASON
Farmers are starting to worry again about moisture levels, because the latest U-S Drought Monitor map for Iowa shows almost a fifth of the state is in extreme drought, with more than half of Iowa in severe drought. Angie Rieck-Hinz, a field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says it’s been 190-some straight weeks of drought for the state and planting season is just a few weeks away.
Even with several heavy snows in January, now February is wrapping up warmer and drier than normal, which is worrisome for farmers.
Forecasters say there’s a chance for a mix of rain and snow next week, but it likely won’t be significant enough to make a dent in the drought.
March 19th is the first day of spring.
AKRON NATIVE AT GAZA
An Akron, Iowa native currently working for the United Nations in Gaza appeared Sunday on the CBS news program Sixty Minutes. Scott Anderson, the son of Rick and Marlys Anderson of Akron, is helping provide emergency response and humanitarian services during the Israel-Hamas war and Gaza conflict.
During an interview with Charlie Stone of sister station KSCJ, Anderson, speaking from Gaza, gave an overview of the long standing conflict in that area…
Anderson said that not everyone in Palestine and Gaza is part of Hamas..
Anderson said the mood from the October 7th masacre was similar to the mood after 9-11 in New York.
Scott Anderson graduated from Akron-Westfield High School in 1985. He served 21 years in the Army followed by 10 years with the United Nations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. He is currently on leave from his position with the USDA in Sioux Falls.
The connection with Scott Anderson in Gaza was recorded using WhatsApp.
SUPREME COURT RULES ON LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in the first review of whether state lawmakers have immunity when it comes to releasing information on their discussions. The League of Latin American Citizens of Iowa (LULAC) served subpoenas on several legislators seeking copies of communications they had related to changes in the state voting law. LULAC wants the information for its lawsuit that claims the changes were unconstitutional and meant to discriminate against some voters. Lawmakers argued they are protected by a legislative privilege under the Iowa Constitution. The Iowa Supreme Court says an individual legislator’s intent is not relevant to LULAC’s claims at this point in the case. The Supreme Court says legislators do have a privilege to not reveal the information in this case, but stop short of saying the legislative privilege is absolute.
REPORT FINDS MAJORITY OF RURAL HOSPITALS DON’T DELIVER BABIES
A report by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform finds 61 percent of Iowa’s rural hospitals no longer deliver babies. The report analyzed federal data and also found that of the 36 rural hospitals still providing the care, 58 percent reported losing money on the service. The C-E-O of the non-profit, Harold Miller, says insurance companies and Medicaid need to reimburse hospitals for the cost of supporting the births, not just the births themselves. Miller says it’s really hard to reopen the birthing units once they close so it’s really important to try to prevent more of them from closing now. Miller says policymakers also need to find ways to recruit and train more people to work in rural health care.
SENATE BILL ADDRESSES COMPUTER BOTS AND TICKET BUYING
The Iowa Senate has entered the chat about computer bots programmed to buy big bunches of tickets for concerts and sporting events. Senator Jeff Reichman (RIKE-man), of Montrose says the bill would ban people from using bots to buy more than eight tickets to an Iowa event. Reichmann says computers, apps and smart phones have helped consumers find less expensive options in most everything BUT concert tickets. The bill gives Iowa’s attorney general authority to sue people caught using bots and disabling website waiting periods or other security measures meant to prevent mass ticket purchases. The bill cleared the Senate by unanimous vote and has been sent to the Economic Growth and Technology Committee in the Iowa House for review.
