TAYLOR ON IOWA DEPORTATION LAW
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill that would allow Iowa judges to deport illegal immigrants, although it’s application is limited.
State Senator Jeff Taylor says since Iowa is not a border state, like Texas, the law will not have the same impact.
Senator Taylor is not shure how the new law will be applied
Federal courts have previously ruled that the federal government has sole authority to enforce immigration laws. Reynolds says the Biden Administration is failing at that task and putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk.
LE MARS SCHOOL FACILITIES STUDY
A community input group is now considering how to make use of an assessment of school buildings in the Le Mars Community School District. Superintendent Dr. Steven Webner says a consultant conducted a thorough review of school buildings earlier this year.
The consultant took an in depth look at all the school buildings. The building assessment was turned over to the school board. The board prioritized the school buildings to focus on – the two oldest school buildings, Clark and Franklin elementary schools.
Clark and Franklin have been well-used, but are no longer up to date.
The Le Mars School District’s third elementary school, Kluckhohn, was also part of the building assessment.
The assessment also estimated the costs of renovating each of the five school buildings. Altogether, it would cost an estimated 9.9 million dollars to renovate Clark Elementary, 10.9 million for Franklin Elementary, and other 6.7 million dollars to improve Kluckhohn Elementary. Renovations at the Middle School and High School are estimated to cost 56 million dollars, but are not considered an immediate priority.
The school board formed a committee seeking community input to these reports.
The input committee will make recommendations to the board on future action concerning school improvements. A final decision on facilities will be made by the board later this spring.
REC TRAIL SAFETY PATROL
The Le Mars Police Department is forming a Trail Safety Patrol. Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says several volunteers have already stepped forward to apply. The patrol is becoming more of a priority as the 12 miles of trails in Le Mars are becoming well-used.
A specially equipped golf cart is going to be outfitted as a Trail Safety patrol vehicle.
Vande Vegte describes the responsibilities of the volunteers
Chief Vande Vegte says he’s looking for a certain type of person to serve on the Safety Patrol
The equipment is provided through area businesses.
Chief Vande Vegte days the volunteers will be asked to serve 2 hours a week, and you can set your own schedule.
Volunteers are still welcome to apply. Contract the police department by phone, or find the link on the Le Mars Police Department web page.
IOWA FARMERS ARE ALREADY PLANTING THEIR 2024 CROPS
The weather is warming and the tractors are chugging away as Iowa farmers are starting the planting season. Angie Rieck Hinz, a field agronomist with the Iowa State University Extension, says she’s seeing plenty of activity this week in the northern part of the state.
The new map released Thursday by the Iowa Drought Monitor shows slight improvements in all categories, though there’s still a big splotch of red in northeast and east-central Iowa — as 32-percent of the state remains under severe or extreme drought. Rieck Hinz says, as always, rain will be key in the success of this next crop.
The short-term forecast calls for rain late Monday and much of Tuesday.
TWO DORDT COMMENCEMENTS
On May 10, there will be two commencement ceremonies held on the campus of Dordt University.
The undergraduate commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. in the B.J. Haan Auditorium. The graduate commencement and hooding ceremony will be held on Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. in the B.J. Haan Auditorium.
This is the first year in Dordt’s history where two commencement ceremonies will take place. The decision was made in part due to the growth of the master’s programs at Dordt and the interest that graduate students had in attending the graduation ceremony.
RFK JR. WILL BE ON IOWA’S GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Junior says he’s gathered enough petition signatures to qualify for Iowa’s general election ballot due to turnout at a campaign rally in central Iowa. Iowa law gives independent presidential candidates the option of holding an assembly and collecting at least 500 signatures from Iowa voters. Nearly 700 attended Kennedy’s “We the People” party convention in West Des Moines Saturday and there were people from 35 different counties there, fulfilling another ballot access requirement. Utah officials have announced Kennedy has qualified to be on their state’s General Election ballot. Kennedy’s campaign says Iowa is one of seven other states where they have met the requirements for ballot access.
EFFECTS IN IOWA FROM BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Supply chain experts say the bridge collapse that closed the Port of Baltimore last month likely will -not- have a major impact on Midwestern manufacturers, even though it could be the end of May before the port reopens. Frank Montabon, a professor of supply chain management at Iowa State University, says farmers buying equipment could see cost increases related to the collapse, but the average consumer likely won’t, as firms adjust their supply chains. Henrik Sternberg, also an I-S-U professor of supply chain management, says domestic impact from the collapse will be small, but overseas may be a different story, as lead times may grow to roughly three times longer.
