STATE SENATOR APPOINTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Governor Kim Reynolds has chosen a state senator from Le Claire to be her lieutenant governor. Chris Cournoyer took the oath of office in a ceremony at the statehouse this morning.
Cournoyer has served in the Iowa Senate in 2019. Iowa has not had a lieutnenant governor since September 2nd when Adam Gregg resigned to become C-E-O of the Iowa Bankers Association. Reynolds waited until after the election to begin interviewing candidates for the position and the governor says Cournoyer will support a wide range of policy priorities.
Reynolds, who was a state senator in 2010 when Governor Terry Branstad chose her as his running mate, says Cournoyer is ideally suited to join her administration.
A special election will be scheduled next year to fill the vacancy in the Iowa Senate, where Republicans will hold a super majority in 2025.
JUDGE DENIES MODIFICATION OF HARMS BOND
A district court judge has denied a request to adjust bond in for Reese Harms, who is held on charges of attempted murder and second degree murder. A bond hearing was held last week in Plymouth County District Court. The attorney for Harms says the 25-thousand dollars cash only bond was set when a charge of Attempted Murder was filed. Since that time, the victim in the case died and charges were increased to include second degree murder. Harms sought to have bond modified to allow him to post bond with the issurance of a surety, a move the prosecution resists. The court concluded that Harms is a risk to flee, and he is a risk to the community, given the nature of the charges. The bond was ordered to stay at 25-thousand dollars, cash only.
LITTLE YELLOW DOG AUCTION
The annual Little Yellow Dog auction in Sioux City Saturday had a Le Mars flavor.
The bidding on the Irish Doodle named “Ruby Sue” brought a high bid of 18,300 dollars. Bruce Brock of Brock Auction Co. of Le Mars kept the bidding lively. After an hour of bidding between three parties, the high bid came from Don Lemley of Sioux City, whose group, the Tailwaggers, has overseen the auction for over 20 years. There were also donations from people not bidding on Ruby Sue. Among them was a 10-thousand dollars donation from the Wells family of Le Mars in memory of Fred Wells.
Funds raised by the auction benefit the Mr. Goodfellow children’s toy fund of the Sioux City Journal.
BIRD FLU IN O’BRIEN COUNTY
There has been another case of bird flu found in northwest Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture says the latest case was detected in an O’Brien County layer flock. This is the eighth case of H5N1 HPAI found in Iowa poultry in 2024. Saturday, Governor Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster proclamation for O’Brien County, effective through January 15. The state Agriculture Department is urging stepped up biosecurity practices to reduce the spread of bird flu. Bird flu may also affect dairy cattle. It remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products.
HINTON RESIDENT THE FIRST FEMALE NCC POWERLINE GRADUATE
A Hinton resident made history as the first female to graduate from Northwest Iowa Community College’s Powerline program, which began in 1967. Mia Fleckenstein thought the Powerline Program would fit her goals when she enrolled. Her high school guidance counselor introduced her to the Powerline program, and Mia was intrigued. The Powerline program at NCC is well-known for preparing students for careers in electrical linework. It requires technical skills but also is physically demanding. Mia found more than just technical training at NCC. She appreciated the college’s small, welcoming environment. Fleckenstein also received a scholarship that helped support her education. She graduated last May.
VILSACK SAYS FARM BILL NEGOTIATIONS BOGGED DOWN OVER MONEY TRANSFER IDEA
U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says it appears Farm Bill negotiations have gotten more complex. House Speaker Mike Johnson says a majority of House Republicans oppose a Senate plan to take nearly 10 BILLION in unspent funds from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act and use it on conservation programs.
Vilsack says current budget rules would allow that 10 BILLION dollar transfer.
Funding for federal conservation assistance was increased dramatically by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Neither the House nor the Senate brought a new Farm Bill up for a vote this year. If congress fails to reauthorize the 2018 Farm Bill this month, federal farm policies revert to laws passed eight decades ago. Vilsack says that would create chaos in the markets.
Lawmakers from states hit by Hurricane Helene in late September are seeking federal disaster aid for farmers who lost crops, livestock and farm buildings.
REPORT SUGGESTS THERE’S A GROWING UNDERGROUND ECONOMY IN IOWA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
A new report suggests up to 10 percent of Iowa construction workers have been underpaid because they’ve been incorrectly identified as independent contractors rather than employees. Sean Finn, who authored the report for Common Good Iowa, says that “misclassification” is against the law.
About five percent of employed Iowans work in the construction industry. While the majority of them earn good wages and benefits, Finn says the report shows there’s an underground economy emerging.
Finn says billions of dollars will be flooding into the state in the next decade due to federal programs, but the very complicated web of general contractors and sub-contractors will make it difficult to hold bad actors accountable.
