CAASA ANNOUNCES ADOPT A FAMILY LOCATIONS
This week, CAASA, the Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault, has announced the locations for their annual Adopt A Family program.
Executive Director Stephanie Henrich says they have places tree at retailers in each of their service counties, where people can help families in need this Christmas.
CAASA has placed giving trees at two locations in LeMars.
Henrich says this is a great way for people to reach out and partner with CAASA.
You can find a list of the Adopt A Family tree locations on the CAASA Facebook page.
NEW PLYMOUTH COUNTY DEPUTY
Plymouth County newest Sheriffs Deputy was sworn in at the county courthouse. Joe Winge (WIN-jee) Friday gave his oath of office before District Associate Judge Daniel Vakulskas. Winge is a Ft Dodge native. He’s married with two children. Sheriff Jeff Te Brink says Vaulskas will soon go to Des Moines for 16 weeks of training before beginning his duties.
SUPREME COURT ALLOWS PIPELINE SURVEYORS ON PRIVATE LAND
The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that allows surveyors for a carbon pipeline company onto the land of a Hardin County man. Kent Kasischke argued that allowing surveyors from Summit Carbon Solutions onto private property violates both the Iowa and U-S Constitution’s clauses preventing the illegal taking of land. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Kasischke was properly notified by the company, so he has no right to exclude the surveyors because it does not take away a property right. The unanimous ruling says Iowa has long authorized access to private property to conduct land surveys to determine routes for things such as roadways and utilities.
THANKSGIVING DINNER COST DROPS
The Farm Bureau finds the cost of the Thanksgiving dinner has dropped again this year, but is still impacted by inflation and the pandemic. Iowa Farm Bureau’s economics and research manager Christopher Pudenz (Poo-denz) says the decrease from last year has to do with a decrease in the overall demand for turkey. He says one thing to note is farmers are not seeing much of the increased cost of food.
The increase costs came after the food left the farm.
The other food items in the survey were frozen pie crusts, pumpkin pie mix, whipping cream, dinner rolls, fresh cranberries, whole milk, frozen peas, sweet potatoes, and stuffing.
DEMOCRAT FROM DES MOINES CONCEDES STATE SENATE SEAT
The recount of ballots in a race for a state senate seat in Des Moines has concluded and the incumbent has conceded.
Election night results showed Republican Mike Pike leading State Senator Nate Boulton by two-tenths of a percent — or 44 votes. Senator-elect Pike is a plumber who had never run for office before. Boulton, an attorney, had been expected to compete to be Senate Minority Leader, but conceded the race Friday. Democrats in the Senate are scheduled to select a floor leader at a private meeting early Friday evening.
Two other recounts for seats in the state legislature are not yet complete. The closest race is in a state senate district in central Iowa, where certified results showed the incumbent leading by 24 votes. Republican Mark Hanson, a current member of the Dallas County Board of Supervisors, requested a recount in his race against Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott, a state senator who’s a Lutheran minister.
In a Scott County race for a seat in the Iowa House, Republican challenger Nathan Ramker asked for a recount. Certified results showed Representative Monica Kurth, a Democrat from Davenport, ahead by a few dozen votes.
REYNOLDS RECEIVES TAX FOUNDATION’S ‘DISTINGUISHED SERVICE’ AWARD
Governor Kim Reynolds is being honored by a tax-focused think tank that was founded in 1937 by the executives of General Motors and Standard Oil. The Tax Foundation has presented Governor Kim Reynolds with its Distinguished Service Award. She is the first governor to receive the annual award, which has previously honored dozens of federal officials, business executives and educators. Reynolds has signed five bills to cut taxes since she took over as governor in mid-2017. The most recent will lower Iowa’s income tax to a single rate of three-point-eight percent next year.
