SITZMANN READY FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Travis Sitzmann of Kingsley, newly-elected to Iowa House District 13, is getting ready for the legislative session.
Sitzmann has been preparing for the job since his election in November.
What was the orientation like?
Sitzmann has been learning much from constituents in his large district.
Any particular issues he’s hearing about from his district?
The Republican House caucus has also discussed their priority issues for the upcoming legislative session.
Sitzman thinks the cell phone issue is best left to local school officials. Sitzmann will be busy with committee work in his first year in the legislature.
The GOP will have a supermajority in the chamber
Sitzman will continue to learn all he can about the district and its issues as he prepares to represent his district.
The best way to reach Rep. Sitzmann during the legislative session is by email:
travis.sitmann@legis.ia.gov
The legislature convenes on January 13.
DISASTER DECLARATION EXTENDED
The disaster proclamation for bird flu in five Iowa counties has been extended. Governor Kim Reynolds’ decision extends the disaster proclamation for O’Brien, Sioux, Palo Alto, Sac, and Worth counties effective through February 1st.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected by the USDA in all five counties.
The proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection.
The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.
The recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products.
If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.
LEGISLATOR AND FORMER SUPERINTENDANT BACKS EXPANDED PRESCHOOL FOR LOW-INCOME KIDS
The incoming chairman of the Iowa Senate Education Committee says he supports anything that expands access to preschool. Republican Senator Lynn Evans — a retired superintendent from Aurelia — says if the state officials are serious about improving early childhood literacy, they need to ensure five year olds are kindergarten ready. Most children, by the age of five, recognize about ten-thousand words, but research indicates children who come from low-income households tend to have a smaller vocabulary. Evans proposed state funding last year for full-day preschool for children who live in a household with an annual income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Evans says he’s waiting to see what Governor Reynolds may propose later this month before filing his own bill on the subject.
APRIL COMMISSIONING FOR USS IOWA SUBMARINE
More than 500 Iowans have already requested tickets from the U-S Navy to witness the commissioning of the nation’s newest submarine — named for the state of Iowa. Mat Tanner, a retired Navy Chief submariner and executive director of the U-S-S Iowa Commissioning Committee.
Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack is the sub’s sponsor and she’ll preside over the event, scheduled for April 5th at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut.
Officials say the three-billion dollar submarine will have a crew of 120 enlisted personnel and 14 officers. The nuclear-powered Iowa is 377-feet long and was delivered to the U-S Navy in late December. It’s continuing to be put through its paces before it’ll be ready for missions, which may take it virtually anyplace in the world.
Prior to the commissioning, there will be dinners and receptions where Iowans can meet the crew. During the event where the warship “comes alive” in April, Tanner says there won’t be a bottle of champagne smashed on the bow, as that was done by Mrs. Vilsack at the christening event in June of 2023.
The pier can accommodate about 18-hundred people for the commissioning ceremony, and Tanner says those attending will include members of Submarine Veterans of Iowa and other veterans groups, officials with the Battleship Iowa, government officials, and members of the general public.
There’s another option if you can’t make the trip to Connecticut.
Tickets to the commissioning are free and must be ordered through SSN797.com. The submarine will become the fourth U.S. Navy vessel in history to be named after the state of Iowa.
NEW LAW ALLOWS ON CAR TITLE REGISTRATION
A state law that went into effect on New Year’s Day now allows the transfer of motor vehicle titles to be registered in any county. Previous law required title changes to be registered in the county where the new owner of the vehicle lives. Iowa Automobile Dealers Association president Bruce Anderson says it’s an adjustment to the way people buy vehicles online sll over the state. Anderson says a single dealer might be working with 40 or 50 different county treasurers and this gives them a local point of entry to file the vehicle’s title and handle other paperwork. The law has also increased the filing fees for vehicle titles by 10 dollars to12 dolalrs, 50 cents.
CHARGES FILED IN NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOOTING IN POMEROY
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department has filed multiple charges against one of the individuals involved in a New Year’s Eve shooting in Pomeroy that sent two people to the hospital. Information from the Sheriff’s Department says Nicholas Benedict is facing charges that include reckless use of a firearm, going armed with intent, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, willful injury causing serious injury, and obstruction of prosecution. Benedict is being held on a 29-thousand-dollar cash bond. The two people who suffered gunshot wounds remain in the hospital, but the Sheriff’s statement says they are expected to survive. Initial reports said five men were involved and two were taken into custody following a standoff at an apartment in Manson. The D-C-I and Sheriff’s office says they are still investigating to determine if any other charges will be filed and no other information is being released at this time.
